Go Ape – Moors Valley & Itchen Valley Country Parks

Go Ape at Moors Valley and Itchen Valley are outdoor adventure centres located within scenic country parks in the South of England. They primarily offer high-ropes courses, zip wires, and unique forest activities like Segway trails or axe throwing.

Where They Are
Located near Ringwood (Border of Dorset and Hampshire), easily accessible from the A31. It is part of the award-winning Moors Valley Country Park and Forest.

Situated within the 440-acre Itchen Valley Country Park north of Southampton, close to Eastleigh and Southampton Airport.

What You Can Do There
Both sites offer tiered adventures based on age and height:
High Ropes:
Treetop Adventure: A one-hour introduction for “little monkeys” (minimum 1m tall) featuring wobbly bridges and a zip wire.
Treetop Adventure Plus: A step up for kids over 1.2m and 6+ years old, with higher platforms and longer zips.
Treetop Challenge: The flagship experience for adults and teens (minimum 1.4m and age 10+), taking 2–3 hours to complete with Tarzan Swings and epic zip lines.
Unique Activities per Site:
Moors Valley: Features Nets Adventure (bouncy treetop nets 30ft up) and Forest Segway safaris.
Itchen Valley: Offers Axe Throwing for those 16 and over.

Who Should Go and When
Who: Families with children as young as 4, thrill-seeking adults, school groups, and corporate teams. It’s also popular for birthday parties and stag/hen groups.
When: They are open most of the year (usually closed on certain weekdays in winter). It is an all-weather activity, so you can go even when it’s raining—just dress for the elements and avoid wearing white as the woodchip landing sites can be messy.

What Makes Them Unique
Natural Beauty: Moors Valley is known for its extensive forest trails and steam railway, while Itchen Valley is set beside the River Itchen with beautiful water meadows.
Moors Valley Specifics: It is one of the most popular Go Ape sites in the UK and recently updated all three of its high ropes courses in 2024 to include more tree-to-tree zips.

Benefits of Visiting
Personal Growth: The courses are designed to boost confidence, coordination, and problem-solving skills in children.
Stress Relief: Activities like axe throwing and “forest bathing” on high ropes are marketed as great stress-busters.
Discounts: A 20% Family Discount is often available for Treetop Challenge from Sunday to Friday. You can also find 15% off vouchers via Hampshire Top Attractions.