Go Ape Black Park

Swinging through the treetops isn't something you'd normally associate with a trip to Buckinghamshire, but Go Ape at Black Park does exactly that. This is a ropes course set among actual trees - you're clipped in, moving between platforms and taking on obstacles that range from mildly testing to properly adrenaline-fuelled depending on which course you pick. The whole experience sits within Black Park itself, so you're not just getting the thrills but also proper woodland surroundings, which beats doing this sort of thing in some concrete park.

It works best for families with kids aged eight or nine upwards and anyone who fancies themselves as reasonably fit. You'll need a couple of hours minimum, maybe three if you're doing multiple courses or taking photos. It's not free - you pay per person - but given the insurance and staff involved, the pricing is fair enough.

If you're based at Wyatts Covert or Highclere, both within easy reach of Uxbridge, Go Ape makes a brilliant half-day activity to break up a caravan holiday. Black Park's got walking trails and a lake as well, so you can pad out the day without travelling far. Fair warning though: it's physically demanding. You'll feel your arms the next morning, and anyone with height anxiety might find the higher courses genuinely uncomfortable rather than fun. Pick a quiet weekday if you can - weekends get rammed with school groups and the queues kill the buzz.