Located in Penrhyn Quarry in North Wales, at one of the most historically significant slate quarries of the 19th century, Zip World is a playground for adrenaline junkies (or so it would seem). If you are hard to scare, the experience is a sightseeing expedition of mountainous landscapes and, if you know where you’re looking, Snowdonia—Eryri National Park.
Upon arrival, I was surprised to learn that the car park is chargeable (thankfully, only £1.60 for the day), but considering the zip line is £92 per person — with a £5 booking fee — I think the car park should be complimentary. Having arrived earlier than our scheduled booking time, we were graciously allowed to join the group that would have gone before us. This, however, is where things went wrong; there was reportedly a power outage (we eventually found out) that led to a delay of nearly two hours.
While waiting for our turn at “one of the top UK attractions,” we explored the site’s other attractions.
Looking on in awe at people riding the “Big Zip”—the one where speeds of up to 100mph are reached—my group and I were hit in the nose by a big stench.
It would turn out that the pretty blue lake in the quarry came with whiffs of a pungent smell reminiscent of sewage. That, thankfully, is where the complaints stop.
There was a convenient café and bar on site, which meant we could enjoy a drink while watching people being thrown about on the Aero Explorer.
You could hear some screams from Velocity (the fastest zip line in the world) and peruse the gift shop at your leisure.
When it was time to put on our harness, helmet, and goggles, the team at Zip World cross-checked our fittings, and a safety briefing ensued.
After a quick flight across the pretty blue lake (with no bad smells reaching that height), the group was quickly led towards an ex-army truck to climb the mountain.
Along the 3km track, up towards Velocity, there were spectacular views to take in (and capture) and the spectacle of Quarry Karts speeding down the hill. There was even a pitstop on the way up for everybody on the truck to get out and take some pictures.
Very soon, we arrived at Velocity, with another viewing point to take in Snowdonia before taking on the “Big Zip.”
While placed horizontally for the ride, with your arms reaching behind you, it’s hardly the most comfortable position to be suspended from for a minute or two.
However, as soon as you’re literally flying through the air, travelling across one mile of the mountainous quarry and lake, it’s an amazing experience.
Safely pulled down to the ground at the end, the experience is over in as little as a few minutes – but the feeling afterwards is somewhat euphoric.
Plus, for an extra £20, I’ve got my ride down recorded so that I can look back at the experience with a smile.