his band of brigands’ derring-do,
this high-ropes course could form
the initiation test, suspended
from the same trees Locksley
and co no doubt hid among. The
TreeTopAdventureherefeatures
outdooractivitiescompany
GoApe’slongesttree-to-tree
zip-wire,alongsidea meleeof
Tarzanswings,ropeladdersand
precariouspathsaround9moff
theground.Thesite, 19 miles
northof Nottinghamandsix
milesnortheastof Mansfield,
offersanequivalentchildren’s
course,andthelittle’unscan
alsogowildat NetsKingdom,
wheretheycanbouncehigh
abovetheforestflooronnets.The setting for this almighty
adrenaline rush is the largest
remaining tract of publicly
accessible forest in the East
Midlands, Sherwood Pines.
FStagecoachbusservices
14 and 15 stopin KingsClipstone,
a mileawayfromGoApe
SherwoodPines(childrenover
onemetretall£18,adults
£35;goape.co.uk/days-out/
midlands/sherwood).ISLEOFWIGHT
It’sonlya fewmilessouthof the
Hampshirecoastbut,in places,
theIsleof Wight’scoastlinefeels
surprisinglywild.Themost
entertainingwayto exploreupclose it is by kayak, canoe or
even stand-up paddleboard.
Experienced local guides will
help you find the many small
coves and sea caves that
pockmarktheisland’scoastline;
someof thecavesarebig
enoughto paddleinto.Mostday
tripsalsoincludea picniconan
isolatedbeach.
FGetto theIsleof Wightbyferry
fromPortsmouth,Southampton
andLymington(wightlink.co.uk).
A kayakingdaytourcostsfrom
£75(adventureactivitiesuk.com).LONDON
PassingthroughZones3 and4,
the78-mile-longCapitalRingpath encounters a surprising
amount of greenery as it loops
its way around London. With
some eight million people and
counting, London might not be
anobviouschoice for a rambler,
butpartsof theCapital Ring are
utterlycharming.Highlights
aboundat thecity limits, from
theArtDecograndeur of Eltham
Palaceandthewilds of
WimbledonCommon to
deer-filledRichmond Park and
thesoaringWharncliffe Viaduct.
FTheCapitalRingis divided into
15 sections,making the start and
endpointsmoreaccessible on
publictransport(tfl.gov.uk/
modes/walking/capital-ring).
PHOTOGRAPH: FRANCESCO CARUCCI/SHUTTERSTOCK