WITH its zip wires and tree-top walkways, Go Ape is one of the most popular adventure days out in the UK. Kate Liptrot goes on a forest adventure.

STANDING on a tiny ledge 40 feet above the ground, I prepared to jump.

I barely registered the breathtaking view over the canopy of the trees at Dalby Forest as I religiously double and triple checked my harness was securely attached to the zip wire stretching into the far distance.

Swallowing a bitter sense of regret at putting myself into such a terrifying situation, I took the leap of faith and hurtled out over the trees.

And it was amazing. Flying through the air on a zip wire at high speed for hundreds of metres over lush forest was brilliantly exhilarating.

With tree-top walkways, numerous zip wires and the chance to leap off Tarzan swings into scramble nets, the best thing about Go Ape in Dalby Forest is that it allows adults to become children again.

Starting with an induction with instructors, you learn how to check the two safety lines on your harness and to make sure you are secured to the sustaining wire at all times.

It's crucial to concentrate at this stage as afterwards, you're on your own. As the instructors stay at ground level, you are left to your own devices and it's vital you have understood who to secure your harness when you are about to step off a platform and whizz along a zip-line high above the ground, skimming above the tops of the trees.

The whole course takes some two to three hours with six sections becoming progressively more advanced, combining high ropes, tunnels, bridges and epic wind-in-your-face zip wires to finish.

The first Tarzan rope swing into a climbing net was one of the most nerve wracking.

It took a fearless child who was delayed by my slow progress to kindly reassure me that I was"going to be okay" and I could do it.

Having been coaxed off the ledge and launched into the rope net, the first and most scary obstacle was over and while I admittedly felt frightened for a lot of the course, the challenge was exhilarating and came with a sense of accomplishment at conquering my nerves.

And it's a pretty good, but achievable, work out. From climbing up ladders and dragging a harness up with you, and hanging on as you balance over zip wires, it's quite good all round exercise.

I left having had a memorable and manageable forest adventure.

- The Go Ape treetop adventure costs £30 for adults and £24 for ten to 17-year-olds. Visit goape.co.uk for more.