Explore the forests on the latest in green technology – a self-balancing electric segway. From two legs to two wheels, this is the ultimate hour long forest segway adventure. It’s a totally unique way to tackle the trails in the forest. You don’t even have to be able to drive. With all-terrain tyres and gyroscopic sensors to keep you upright, all you need to do is enjoy the ride. For Jamie’s surprise birthday treat we went to the Sherwood Forest Go Ape to test drive the Segways. Even though I completed the course successfully, it wasn’t really my cup of tea so here’s Jamie’s review…
What’s the idea: A forest Segway experience
Who for: 10+, great for birthday, stag or hen parties
Cost: £35 each. Gift vouchers are available
Where can I do it: There are 10 Go Ape locations, find your closest here
Where can I book: Go Ape website
TIG’s boyfriend’s review
Driving a Segway is something I’ve wanted to do, so when TIG surprised me with it for my 29th birthday it certainly made my year!
We got kitted up, put the rather fetching helmet on and we were then presented with our two wheeled boy racing machines! We had an initial safety briefing, then we fired up the Segways on a small practice circuit. When I first got on the Segway it was such a strange feeling, I had to really concentrate on how to go backwards and forwards. If you want to go forward all you do is lean forward, and backwards, lean back (but not too far!).
Once our instructor was confident we could all steer, reverse, stop and move forward we continued the experience into the forest. The terrain was extremely bumpy, uneven and muddy so on a self-balancing, all-terrain electric Segway you felt every pothole! We went up and down hills, round in circles, high speed along the straights and I loved every exhilarating second of it. It took a while to be able to relax with a large piece of machinery that at times seemed to have a mind of it’s own but I loved it. The experience lasted about an hour and was simply an epic off road adventure that was certainly unique!
Top tips
- Wear something you don’t mind getting grubby – the terrain was rather damp and muddy in places
- Make sure you follow instructions at all times. You wouldn’t want to fall off and get run over by your own Segway (just ask TIG’s dad!!!!)
Would I go again?
This was an incredible and slightly surreal experience and I have already done it again at Centre Parcs! This was a truly fantastic, well organised and an extremely safe Segway safari. The Segways certainly felt odd at first, but hang on in there, once you get the hang of them you’ll be whizzing around wondering why you haven’t done it sooner! I highly recommend you try a Segway course at least once in your life.
If you have done Segway at Go Ape it would be great to hear from you. Just comment below which location you visited and what you liked about it – hopefully we can cover all 10 Segway locations between us!
For more photos on Idea #13: Go Ape forest segway, visit my board on Pinterest
