MM's top five... thrill-seeking experiences in Manchester for the adrenaline junkie in you

By Alex Bysouth & Michael Kelleher

MM reveal the top five thrill-seeking experiences in the Manchester area.

Are you bored of dull weekends following the same old tired routine? Sick of being labelled an old stick in the mud? MM is here to help…

Here are the top five things in Manchester, guaranteed to thrill you, your friends, family and whoever else you can convince to join in the fun:

Go Ape, Rivington

Go Ape have proved increasingly successful over the last five years, with 28 courses sprouting up all over the country.

The treetop adventure offers fun for Baboons (Ages 10-17) and Gorillas (18 years +) taking on high wire walkways and cargo nets. Go Ape promise to get you in touch with your, ‘Inner Tarzan’, saying that, “Days out at Go Ape are about living life more adventurously, having fun with friends and family.”

Rivington provides the perfect back drop for an afternoon of fun, boasting the country’s longest zip wire, a 200m descent across the edge of the Rivington Reservoir.

A half hour drive from Manchester you can experience picturesque reservoirs and woodland at Chorley’s, ‘Mini Lake District’, whilst over coming that fear of heights or enjoy stepping outside your comfort zone 

Go Ape Rivington, Great House Barn, Rivington Lane, Horwich, Bolton.

Chill Factor

Chill Factor is home to the longest indoor real snow slope in the UK. It’s an excellent way for winter sports enthusiasts to hone their skills or for families to enjoy an action-packed day of fun together.

Activities range from skiing, snow-boarding, tubing and if you are really looking to test your courage you can try the Avalanche. This involves hurtling down a slope at 30mph in a ball as big as an elephant. Needless to say, this is not an activity for the faint of heart.

Chill Factor is also home a to a 12 foot climbing wall which really rounds out the Alpine experience. All equipment is available to rent but customers are advised to dress warmly.

Chill Factor is situated at the Trafford Quays Leisure Village, right beside the Trafford Centre and is just 4 miles from Manchester City Centre.

Chill Factor, Trafford Way, Trafford Quays Leisure Village, Manchester.

LAC Flying School

Recently watched Top Gun and fancy yourself as a bit of a Maverick? Ever been at an airport and wondered what sunny paradise that smartly dressed cabin crew where off to today? Have you seen Leonardo DiCaprio pilot a plane in ‘Catch Me If You Can’ and thought it must be easy?

LAC flying school may not be able to fly you to the ‘danger zone’ or across the Atlantic in your first lesson, but the websites claims to offer flyers, “The longest running and most well established flying school in the Greater Manchester area.”

The rise from novice to expert pilot promises an adrenaline rush for even the most composed trainee.

Flying school could be an expensive hobby, birthday present or the start of a new career, as gaining a Private Pilot License is often regarded as the first step to becoming a commercial pilot and LAC does offer guidance for those who wish to make this progression.

A Private Pilot License starter pack is currently priced on the website at £599. So, if you’re merely a thrill seeker looking to learn a new skill, an enthusiast wanting to experience a birds-eye view of Manchester and its surrounding countryside or a budding pilot looking to crack the commercial industry, then give flying school some serious thought.

LAC Flying School, Barton Aerodrome, Liverpool Road, Eccles, Manchester, M30 7SA.

Pennine Soaring Club

Wanting to make the most of the windy weather? Pennine Soaring Club offers a fun and exciting alternative to outdoor activities.

Essentially a hang gliding and paragliding club, they welcome new members with a background in the extreme sport, the PSC website says, “As a club collective we are happy, chilled and eager to meet new people, either new to flying or new to the area.”

For those novices, the North West terrain makes for a paragliding heaven and ample training providers with fully qualified instructors are available including Active Edge Paragliding near Harrogate, Northern Paragliding of Kirkby Stephen and Airventures near Keswick.

Becoming a qualified hang gliding or paragliding pilot can lead to other adventures further afield, speedriding incorporates skiing for a fast, adrenaline fuelled downhill run, whilst speedflying uses a similar concept without needing a snow covered slope.

Airkix

Ever wondered what it’s like to jump out of a plane at 30,000 feet? At Airkix you can find out exactly what it feels like, thanks to one of the largest wind tunnels in the UK. Merely stepping into the wind tunnel enables you to experience the sensation of freefalling without ever having to set foot in an airplane.

This experience is suitable for thrill-seekers of all ages as long as you are relatively able-bodied and willing to test your courage. Whether you are a looking to take your family on an exciting adventure or you wish to hone your skydiving skills before attempting the real thing, Airkix caters for all.

Airkix is situated at the Trafford Quays Leisure Village, right beside the Trafford Centre.

Trafford Quays Leisure Village, 9 Trafford Way, Manchester, M417JA.

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