Go Ape Mallards Pike, Forest of Dean

If you've got kids who need to burn off energy and you're staying anywhere near Lydney, Go Ape at Mallards Pike is the sort of place that'll keep them occupied for a good couple of hours. It's a treetop adventure course - ropes, ziplines, swings, climbing nets strung between the oaks and pines of the Forest of Dean. You're harnessed in throughout, which means parents can actually relax rather than spend the whole time gripping the sides of a bench in panic.

The courses run at different difficulty levels, so it works whether your eight-year-old is a natural climber or your teenager wants something that'll genuinely test them. Most people spend two to three hours here, though you can easily stretch it if the queue's quiet. It's not free - you'll pay proper money for the experience - but it's the sort of activity that justifies a family outing.

Timing matters. School holidays get rammed, and you'll spend as much time waiting as you will actually on the course. Early mornings or midweek visits are far more pleasant. Weather's another thing - they close in heavy wind or rain, so check conditions before you head over.

It sits nicely within the Forest of Dean holiday park circuit. Whitemead Forest Park is barely two miles away, and there are a dozen other campsites dotted throughout the area. You could easily build a week around Mallards Pike and exploring the forest properly on foot or bike, rather than dangling from the treetops.