Picture yourself flying high across a forest, the wind in your hair.

A fantasy, you may think – after all, you’re not Harry Potter.

But while your chances of riding the skies on a broomstick are slim, it is possible to take to the air and whizz high above the treetops, without a care in the world.

This exhilarating experience is part of the Tree Top Adventure offered at Go Ape, which gives adults and children the opportunity to swap lives with Tarzan and spend up to three hours in the trees.

To describe it as exciting would be an understatement. ‘Thrilling’, ‘Amazing’, and ‘Cool’, were some of the comments I heard from a bunch of teenagers who had just finished the course as we arrived.

We’d gone to the middle of Dalby Forest on the North York Moors, where Go Ape runs one of 28 UK-wide courses.

Whereas Tarzan inhabited the jungle, this is coniferous forest, with towering trees spilling down each side of a small valley. And where the king of the jungle wore a loin cloth, visitors to Go Ape are decked out with harnesses and a belt bearing clips and ropes, rather like that of an abseiler.

This equipment is issued at the start of the course, where groups gather around an expert to, quite literally, learn the ropes.

“You must learn the safety rules,” says instructor Sara Long, stressing that “you are responsible for your own safety.”

This is what amazed me most about Go Ape. I’d always imagined that an instructor would accompany people around the course, but, once you know what you’re doing, you’re on your own.

Though not entirely – staff are never more than a whistle away. “You have a whistle and staff out patrolling are in constant radio contact with one another,” explains Sara.

Instructions are thorough and checks meticulous. Sara took her time demonstrating the use of safety lines and colour coding. Safety lines are attached to robust wires around trees, enabling you to safely stand on wooden platforms before launching into each challenge. The instructions are easy to follow.

‘Always stay attached’, is the golden rule, of which participants are reminded on signs attached to each platform.

The highest tree platform is 16 metres (52.5ft) from the ground, and a maximum of three people can stand on it at any one time.

“Be patient,” is another piece of advice from Sara, as she demonstrates how to clip yourself to the ropes and pulley.

The course is split into six sites, and obstacles includes Tarzan-style swings into large ‘cargo nets’, long wooden poles, stirrups dangling from long straps, and – the highlight for many people – zip wires.

The highest zip wire in Dalby is a dizzying 35metres (115ft) high and an exhilarating 250metres (820ft) long. When we first arrived, I was amazed to spot figures flying across the forest so high in the air. It looked terrifying, and I had second thoughts about allowing my teenage daughters to have a go.

But I soon realised that despite it looking scary, so long as rules are observed, it is perfectly safe. My daughters loved it. “Fantastic!,” one said, after crossing the longest zip wire, “The views are incredible.”

You don’t start off at such heights – the course begins with lower challenges, gradually moving higher up the trees.

My sister, who accompanied them – under 18s must be supervised by a participating adult – described it as “surprisingly scary.”

A time-served daredevil who has bungee-jumped over mile-deep canyons, she faltered at one of the ‘extreme’ crossings – you can select between varying levels of difficulty – involving loops of rope. “I don’t like this, I’m going back,” she said, before gritting her teeth and braving the challenge.

Site manager Nick Mallett knows what attracts people to Go Ape. “It is the adrenaline buzz,” he says. “We see a lot of people who are a bit wary of heights, and we see their sense of achievement.”

I’m one of those wary people, and admit to looking on with envy as I walked underneath, supervising my eight-year-old nephew, Ned, who was very ably taking photographs.

“It is a great activity for families,” adds Nick, “Looking after one another up in the trees puts another dimension to the family dynamic.”

He adds: “This is such a beautiful place, and afterwards you can sit on the sun deck at the visitor centre with a coffee.”

A short walk away, Treetops Restaurant serves hot and cold food.Looking over the valley, the sun deck lives up to its name – in fact, the whole of the site is sheltered, and when the sun shines, it is enveloped in warmth.

Ned was itching to join his mum and her nieces, but the minimum age is ten. You must also meet minimum height requirements of more than 1.4metres (4ft 7in), and also below 20½st (130kg).

However, he may be in luck later this year, as – subject to official consents – a junior course for younger children is planned.

The trees were mostly bare when we visited. In a couple of months, when the forest is lush and green, visitors will get a different perspective. “On the zip wire it’s like being in a tunnel of green,” says Nick, “Then you fly into the light, then back into a tunnel, it takes your breath away.”

Go Ape is a popular venue for birthday parties, stag and hen parties. “Some people dress up as monkeys,” says Sara. Corporate events are also catered for.

Around the course, seats are provided in small stockades, and water to quench your thirst. There are also information boards about the struggle to preserve forests across the globe.

My daughters loved it. “It is great to go around by yourself, and at your own pace. It is a real adventure,” they said.

Factfile

  • Go Ape is at Dalby Forest, about 20 minutes drive from Pickering on the A169 Whitby road, from where it is signposted.
  • There is a £7 daily parking charge.
  • An adult can supervise either two children (where one or both of them is under 16) or up to five 16 and 17-year-olds.
  • It is advisable to book in advance. For details of prices and to book, visit goape.co.uk/adventure, or call 0845 0948634.