Days Out at Wendover Woods

Each Go Ape course is unique to its forest and surroundings, and Go Ape Wendover is no different.You begin the Treetop Challenge course via a rope ladder. You can enjoy the views from to the canopy. It’s a wonderful way to get active and enjoy the stunning woodland in a part of England renowned for its beauty. Don’t get too distracted by your surroundings though because before you reach the ground again you’ll have Tarzan Swings and zip wires to negotiate. The draw for some, they both require you to fully trust your safety equipment as you step off a platform and enjoy the ride as you embrace your inner ape swinging through the trees.

Young adventurers over 1 metre can have their own Go Ape experience on our Treetop Adventure course.

Easing them into their journey through the canopy, loop 1 on the course is all about building their confidence.

The crossing are at the more stable end of the scale and many have hand rails or course infrastructure to cling to.

Once they’ve found their feet and head for heights they can put their skills to the test on suspended crossings with far more wobble! Each of the loops of the course end in one of the longest zip wires that you’ll find on and of our Adventure courses at 85 metres, a sure way to bring them back to the ground with a smile on their face.

After the meandering drive along the track to the car park, you won’t even be out of your vehicle before your eagerness to explore the forest has reached fever pitch! The combination of towering pines with deciduous trees scattered between and views across the breath-taking Chiltern Hills is quite special. Wendover Woods is a whopping 325 hectares and on a clear day you can see both Oxford to the west and down the valley to London in the South East. The questions is how do you want to explore the forest?

Those choosing to experience the woodlands on foot can follow one of the four walking trails that take in the best of what Wendover Woods has to offer. A 2 mile wander on the Hill Fort Trail circumnavigates the Iron Age Boddington Hill Fort and includes signage to teach your about this ancient monument. Another claim to fame for Wendover Woods is that it’s home to Europe’s smallest bird, the rare firecrest. The walking trail named in its honour is 3 miles long and winds through the various habitats of the forest. Keep an ear out for the high-pitched song of the little firecrest and see if you can spot it darting between branches looking for a tasty insect.

Cycling is a great way to explore more of the vast forest and the Juniper Cycle Trail is perfect for experiencing the woods in combination with some two-wheeled fun. Measuring 6 miles in length it’s been given an intermediate blue grade by Forestry England meaning that you can put your off-road cycling skills through their paces on uneven surfaces as you take in the beauty of the forest around you.

The striking new Wendover Woods Café sits on the Chiltern hillside with incredible views to enjoy whilst you re-fuel on your day out. At the time of writing the café is just serving takeaway food following lockdown, however that’s even more reason to find a picnic bench or secluded spot in the forest so that you can continue to appreciate the natural world around you. Serving cooked food, salads, wraps and with a menu for children there’s top quality nourishment for every appetite, ready to energize you for more exploration and adventure. Also serving hot and cold drinks, pastries and ice cream, the Wendover Woods Café is also the place to get your caffeine fix and satisfy your sweet tooth.

Having smashed our Treetop Adventure course there’s loads more for children to enjoy at Wendover Woods. The 1km play trail is dotted with play structures inspired by the local area, and the fun continues for small children on the play area adjacent to the café. Further inspiration for children to enjoy the woods can be found by exploring the Gruffalo Orienteering Trail, follow the map to hunt for the 12 Gruffalo markers hidden in the deep dark wood. Remember to stop by the sculpture of the Gruffalo itself to get your souvenir selfie before you leave.