Beardsley is so good in the air

May 23 2009 by Ben Guy, The Journal

VISITORS to a Northumberland hotel might have spotted a former football star monkeying around in the treetops yesterday.

Former Newcastle United star Peter Beardsley officially opened the Go Ape High Wire Forest Adventure at Matfen Hall Hotel, and couldn’t wait to try out the course himself. Director and general manager at the hotel David Hunter said: “He cut the tape and then got up there himself – he thought it was really good.

“We had just asked him to come and open it, but he came in his tracksuit and had a go.

“We see it as being a good asset to the hotel as well as to the community. It is something new and a bit different.”

Mr Hunter added that 100 people had already booked time on the course today.

The course is split into five sections, with each made up of obstacles such as ladders, walkways, bridges and tunnels that are made of wood, rope and super-strong wire. Each section begins with a rope ladder climb into the treetops and ends with an adrenalin-pumping zip back down to the ground.

Those monkeying around on the treetop obstacle course will spend three hours trying out life up to 40ft from the ground.

The course is the latest in a series to be launched across the UK – four others were also opened in March – but is the first of its kind in the region.

Go Ape was founded in 2001 by husband and wife team Tristram and Rebecca Mayhew. Mr Mayhew said: “We are very excited about launching the first Go Ape course in the North East and partnering with Matfen Hall Hotel.”