'I visited the outdoor activity forest near Cambridge and it was a throwback to my childhood'
Cambridgeshire and the surrounding areas are not short on options for a peaceful walk. And there is no shortage of great days out within an easy driving distance - and these include High Lodge in Brandon.
The site is located within Thetford Forest and is known for its wide selection of attractions and activities, including mini-golf, archery and a Go Ape high ropes course.
I remember visiting quite a lot when I was younger and always had a good time. I was curious to see if it still held up well for me as an adult, so I decided to visit again.
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The first thing that caught my eye about High Lodge was before I had actually set foot on the site itself. The drive between the entrance and the car park was long, way longer than I thought it would be, and the narrow single-track road was definitely a jolt to the nerves.
Eventually, I managed to get myself parked up and I was able to start exploring the site. As I looked around, I was a bit taken aback by how busy it was, with many school trips visiting the site that day, but it showed how popular this place was and how much it catered for younger people.
I saw the mini-golf course and the archery range, but the centrepiece for me is definitely the Go Ape high ropes course, also known as Tree Top Adventure. I went on this quite a few years ago and managed to complete the whole way around (I still have the certificate prove it), with the variety of obstacles, platforms and zips still looking as amazing as they did back then.
One of the things that High Lodge is known for is its variety of walking and cycling routes, so I was definitely going to take one of them on. Initially, I was making my way through the 'Gruffalo Party Trail', but decided to break off once I got to the giant wooden sculpture and follow one of the other trails.
I chose to go on the Heritage trail and I found it to be a pleasant and peaceful walk through the forest. There were fact boards dotted throughout the route, which delved into the history of High Lodge and the wildlife that could be found on the site, which although it might not be something I would usually be interested in, it was a nice touch that added to the trail's atmosphere.
It took about an hour to walk the whole length of the route and thankfully, it was very hard to get lost as there were arrows pointing you in the direction of where you were supposed to go. The walk had also worked up a huge thirst so once I got back to the main hub, I decided to grab something to drink at the cafe.
I didn't spend too much time in the cafe and only went in to buy my drink, but it looked very inviting and had a good selection of treats on offer. Since the weather was nice, I sat outside, taking full advantage of the huge amount of outdoor seating provided on the site, and soaked in the atmosphere as I finished my drink.
After a brief walk around the field, it was time to head home, but overall, it was a lovely day out. For me, it felt like a throwback to my childhood as I had visited quite a lot over the years and had fond memories, so it was nice getting to revisit them for the day.
High Lodge is less than an hour's drive from Cambridge, but it is definitely a fun day for anyone of all ages. Its worth it for the Go Ape high ropes course alone, but if you're looking for somewhere to go for a relaxing walk through the woods, then there really is nowhere better.
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