World’s fastest zipline is ready for take-off
THERE are just four days to go before the ziplines of Zip World’s first South Wales site at Tower Colliery are open to the public.
With the opening comes the world’s fastest seated zipline which can get up to speeds of 70mph over the Llyn reservoir, which is nestled at the foot of the Rhigos mountain.
Riders will also be able to whip across the forestry at the Tower site at a second, smaller four-person zipline which lands you back at the base of the park near the welcome centre and Cegin Glo, the 176-seater restaurant that also has an outdoor area for 100 people. The patio at Cegin Glo is made with slate from near Zip World’s original site at Penrhyn.
Also on the site is the Tower Coaster which will be ready to ride when it opens next month.
The Tower Colliery is an important part of Rhondda Cynon Taf’s history, closing finally in 2008, 14 years after the miners themselves paid £8,000 each and took ownership of it after previous owners claimed it was unviable.
And for the past decade or so the colliery site has been in a sad condition, which stung those who knew the story of how those miners believed in themselves and their pit.
But in 2019 plans were approved for the site to become an adrenaline junkie’s dream with Zip World, which has regenerated former slate mining areas of North Wales since opening in 2012. It would feature the fasted seated
zipline taking adventurers from the top of the Rhigos down to the base of Tower, where the pit head remains.
Miners Tony Shott and Wayne Thomas were there with us on the day, and were well up for testing out the line with us.
Sean Taylor, the founder of Zip World in Wales, said he drove past the Tower site in 2017 when looking for another site and that’s where Zip World Tower’s story began.
“I thought what an amazing backdrop that would be (for a Zip World), and then I learned about the history,” said Sean.
“They appreciate what we’re going to do with the legacy here. There’s a huge community engagement here, it’s really caught their imagination and 95% of our staff will be local. It’s hugely, hugely exciting. When you get to the top there and look over to the Brecon
Beacons it’s a phenomenal sight.” So what’s it like riding the Phoenix zip wire?
The view from the top of the Zip World site is obviously incredible. Even on a hazy Tuesday you could see the Brecon Beacons in the distance and imagine what it would be like on a crystal clear day. Riders get bussed from the base to get togged up with goggles, helmets and harnesses. There’s no denying it: your legs are a bit like jelly as you wait around for your turn and, as
you are about to hurl yourself off at 280ft up the Rhigos, it’s no wonder.
Staff have a thorough safety check of all the clasps and carabiners and then you have to be the one to make yourself exit the platform. No pushes, no staff-operated release, it’s down to you. But I’m so glad I did it. A reservoir, a view, a landscape I’d loved and looked at all my life, I was suddenly flying above it. It was bit windy but it felt completely serene.
The little less than 1km journey goes so fast, though, it was over in a flash (around 45 seconds) so I’d definitely try and savour it more if I did it again.
Tony agreed, saying: “It was absolutely awesome, I’m still trying to breathe, my eyes were locked open. It’s better than the one in North Wales.”
Wayne added: “When they were setting us up I thought ‘What am I doing?’ but as you went over the top, the views over the lake were fabulous, I’d recommend it to anyone. It’s a culmination of feelings, a dream come true, working in the depths is one thing, coming off that height is another thing.”
■ Zip World Tower opens on Monday, April 26.