aberfoyle

I’M staring at the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park stretching ahead of me in all its splendour.

Two slightly-faltering steps later and the forest is suddenly racing past me in eye-popping fashion.

I’ve been standing on the wooden launch platform at Go Ape in Aberfoyle, now I’m on a seemingly-endless zip wire taking me into the most adventurous few hours I can remember.

First things first. Very reassuringly, they don’t let you dangle 120 feet in the air on said wire without safety being of prime concern.

We’ve already had an extensive briefing, lightened by a bit of instructor Mark’s cheeky humour.

Jokes aside, he’s rigorously checked and tightened the harness I’ve stepped into and now comes the all-important chance to practise clipping and unclipping our safety hooks.

You’ve got two, a red and a blue, ensuring you’re doubly protected at all times. And when climbing the ladders up the trees there’s a third green one just for good measure.

With all that out of the way it’s off of the platform and down that wire, anxiety quickly giving way to sheer exhilaration.

There’s even time to appreciate the sight of a roaring, tumbling waterfall on the way.

The zip wire takes you into a series of five stations with lines to scramble across, logs to traverse and nets to swing into.

It’s a bit hard work at times but great fun nonetheless and there was plenty of encouragement from the other dozen or so in our party.

Although you’re on your own as you make your way around, the instructors are never far away with an encouraging word or helpful advice on where to put your hand or foot. As well as an eagle eye on your karabiners – as we’ve learned the hooks are called.

After a full-on couple of hours we’re on the even longer zip wire – 1400 feet – back to the start, a little tired but having had a splendid time.

If you do want to see the natural beauties in a less frantic fashion, though, there are a series of scenic trails posted at the Forestry Commission Scotland’s Lodge Visitor Centre just next to the Go Ape base.

And after all the excitement we were in need of a calming cuppa and a touch of the slower pace of life.

Fortunately there was plenty of opportunity for that.

Loch Lomond National Park covers a massive 720 square miles.

That’s a lot of space and opportunity to be as active or laid back, busy or chilled out as you like.

And as half of Scots live within an hour’s drive, it’s really our backyard adventure – or non-adventurous – playground.

We’ve headed the 40-or-so minutes to Luss.

The sign that greets us says; “Welcome to the prettiest village in Scotland”.

And with picture postcard little houses and the magnificent loch, it’s a real magnet for tourists.

Even on a weekend afternoon, though, it doesn’t feel uncomfortably crowded and we’ve booked the perfect escape from it even if it was.

We reckon the best way to see the loch is by getting on it on the 90-minute Capercaillie

cruise operated by Cruise Loch Lomond.

It proves to be the perfect antidote to the morning’s exertions.

We set off from the pier briskly but we’ve soon slowed down to almost nothing as we come through the narrows.

The skipper shares tales of monks and wallabies, protected lily pads and even water speed record-setting grannies.

Unlikely but true apparently!

They’re just the start of a host of interesting tales that really add some marvellous colour to the trip.

But there’s plenty of time too, just to sit back, relax and drink in the spectacle all around.

Wispy ribbons of clouds run like fingers along the sides of the hills.

We’re just at the point where the trees are starting to turn. They’re not yet in their autumnal glory but it’s enough to make us vow to come back in a few weeks.

And with a gentle stroll along the beach once we’re back ashore and a wander round the quietening streets, it’s a lovely contrast to the gung ho monkey business that started our day.