After all the limits we’ve had on what we can do, this summer could be the one to push yourself a little and try some new mini adventures.
There are plenty of challenges out there that are confidence building and fun for you, and your kids. So why not head out to one of our local activity centres and try something different – maybe reach for new heights over the holidays and try a climbing wall?
You can give this a go at Peterborough’s Nene Park on special activity days throughout the summer break but regularly at Tallington Lakes.
Climbing is a great mental and physical workout and believe us, when you reach the top you’ll be fist pumping the air with such a great sense of achievement whatever your age!
Chas Shrosbee at Tallington Lakes told ESP – “Physically it's a whole-body workout; strengthening your muscles and improving flexibility (you’ll be surprised the positions you’ll get yourself in). Picking your route up is a mental puzzle, requiring problem solving skills.
“Ours is an outdoor climbing tower, so once again you have the benefits of ‘being outside’ and the challenge of reaching new heights is great for focusing the mind. Most people find it great for their self-esteem and feeling good. And, as we have often witnessed, you may surprise yourself!”
The brilliant 15 metre climbing tower at Tallington Lakes has four sides to it that vary in difficulty getting progressively more challenging as your confidence grows and your abilities improve. It’s a great one to get you started and then let you progress if you take to it.
It’s completely safe as you’re securely harnessed and a rope runs from the instructor up to the fixture at the top of the tower and back down to you at the other end. By feeding the rope through (belaying) as you ascend it's always tight, so if you were to slip you'd only ever fall a few centimetres at most.
ESP’s ‘action man’ Darren Grigas gave it a go but while he might be used to pushing himself on some heavy duty challenges, he told us this climbing wall is an ideal activity for all ages and fitness levels to try – “Once we'd nailed the first wall we each tried the more difficult sides working up to the hardest wall facing an overhang when you're already about 7m up, at this point you realise it's not as easy as it looks from the ground.
There are a select few holds to choose from and those you can reach don't offer much for you to grip easily. There’s certainly enough to challenge climbers of varied strength and ability.”
The thing with climbing of course is the reward of some great views when you reach your goal. From the top of the tower at Tallington Lakes you can see right across the park; the dry ski slopes and pro-shop neighbouring the tower, holiday homes, lakes and woodland off into the distance showing just how big the place is.
If you just don’t have a head for heights there are plenty of ways to challenge yourself, or of course just have fun, on the water too. The vast lakes are a wonderful playground and you can easily entertain yourself for a day trying different things with or without the kids.
During these hot summer days you could have a go at canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing, water zorbing, SUP-ing (stand up paddle boards), even water skiing, so you really can make this summer the one when you and the family try something new.