When we think of alpine coasters, mountainous areas around the world come to mind, like, well, the Alps. However, what if we told you the adventurous attraction is not confined to the famous European mountain range, and that don’t have to travel that far to go on one? The Fforest Coaster is one of the two alpine coasters in the UK, located just two hours from Manchester.
The Fforest Coaster is situated in Zip World Betws-y-Coed in the stunning woodlands of the Conwy Valley in Snowdonia. Adventurers can embark on six adventures at the forest park: Treetop Nets, Tree Hoppers, Zip Safari, Plummet, Sky Ride and, of course, the Fforest Coaster. Plus, there’s Europe’s largest swing you can check out!
The Fforest Coaster
Probably the most exciting part of Zip World Betws-y-Coed is its alpine coaster. As one of the UK’s two alpine coasters, the attraction spans over one kilometre and reaches up to 25 miles per hour lasting around six minutes. However, don’t worry – if you’re speed-phobic like me, you can control the breaks.
To be able to go on their own, drivers must be at least one metre in height and nine years old, or be accompanied if aged between three and eight years old. A person nine years or older can be driving with the younger child, but underaged children must be supervised by an adult. There is also a weight limit of 150 kilograms for each coaster.
Boasting breathtaking views, riders can hop on the coaster at any time of day, whether it is to capture the sunset or even the starry autumn skies.
To book the Fforest Coaster, guests can do so on the Zip World website. Each ticket offers three rides, costing £25 for a single driver and £35 for two.
How to get there from Manchester
Zip World Betws-y-Coed is easy to get to from Manchester via the M56 and later the N Wales Expy and the A55, taking around two hours to drive.
Where is the other alpine coaster in the UK?
A new alpine coaster just opened in Edinburgh at the Midlothian Snowsports Centre located in the Pentland Hills Regional Park. The track is around 980 metres in length, with a 550ft vertical drop, and even a helix, reaching up to 28 miles per hour, being the UK’s fastest. However, it is only open on Saturdays and Sundays, so if you end up visiting Scotland, make sure to pre-book in advance!