BEAR CUBS
Popular UK holiday park lowers entry age for kids – here’s what you can expect
THE intense sound of pounding drums greeted my family as we stepped underneath a military aircraft and into a world of exotic adventure.
Fearless survival expert Bear Grylls has taken world leaders and A-list celebs on life-changing excursions into the wild — and now he’s giving youngsters their first taste of exhilarating activities.
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For the first time, The Bear Grylls Adventure — a physical activity wonderland beside Birmingham’s NEC — has lowered its activity age limit to five and over.
Thrilling pursuits such as sky diving simulation iFly, climbing walls and archery will all now accommodate and captivate younger children.
My five-year-old son Clark and I tested them out and it’s safe to say it was a bonding experience like no other.
The immersive setting features a large exotic aquarium containing black tip sharks, lush foliage, wild sound effects, downed aircraft and abandoned military vehicles.
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First up for us was the climb zone — a true test of the fingers and feet.
After a brief video pep talk from Bear and an in-person briefing from the instructors, we tried our hand at harness-free bouldering.
The floor was aptly cushioned for any tumbles, and the walls are low enough for those who might not have a head for heights.
Next came the more traditional walls that required us to wear snug harnesses.
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Difficulty levels varied, with all manner of knobbly grips to scale and you could chop and change between them quickly and easily.
The session finished with scaled-down recreations of some of the most famous cliff faces in the world from El Capitan to Fontainebleau.
Archery then beckoned, with my other half Nat kindly filling in for me as I rested my aching limbs.
Both she and Clark returned half an hour later beaming, having hit bullseyes.
It was then a swift dash over to iFly — a see-through fan-powered cylinder in which flyers feel the force of 100mph winds.
Kitted out in overalls, goggles, a helmet and ear plugs — to block out the roaring wind — you sense you’re on the cusp of doing something extreme.
After two one-minute sessions, the instructor finished ramped up the speed, taking me higher up into the cylinder where we circled, before returning in a controlled manner.
This high-fly manoeuvre costs an extra £10, and for me is worth the charge.
All in all, we had an incredible experience.
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GO: Birmingham
PLAYING THERE: Bear Grylls Adventure next to Birmingham’s NEC is now open to children from the age of five.
Prices for activities start from £20pp and spectators go free.
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