High Ropes Stag Do

A high ropes stag do is an obstacle course up in the trees. You clip into a harness, climb up into the canopy and make your way across wobbly bridges, swinging logs, cargo nets and tightropes, usually finishing with a zip wire back down to earth. It looks like a kids’ adventure playground until you’re up there and the bridge starts moving.

Here’s the beauty of it. Someone in your group is going to be terrified, and you can never predict who. It’s often the loudest lad, the one who’s spent all week telling everyone he’ll “smash it”. Trust me, someone will freeze halfway across a plank and need talking through it by an instructor who looks about twelve.

Every session starts with a harness fitting and a safety briefing. Pay attention, because the instructors show you how the clips and safety lines work, and you’ll be using them yourself up top. On many courses you’re attached to a continuous safety line the whole way round, so you can’t come unclipped even if you try.

Once you’re up, you go round at your own pace, one after another. Courses often come in different levels, so the brave ones can take the harder route while the rest stick to the lower one. The zip wire at the end is everyone’s favourite bit, and the best spot for the photo of the day.

Pretty much anyone with a basic level of fitness. You don’t need to be strong or sporty, just willing to climb a few ladders and trust a harness. It works for mixed groups, it’s daytime and sober, and it doesn’t take all day, so it slots in nicely before an evening out.

Be kind about heights, though. Winding up the nervous lad is fair game for about thirty seconds. After that, help him across. Plenty of people who hate heights end up loving it, and he’ll be telling the story at the wedding.

• Weight limits. Most courses have a maximum weight for the harness. Check it before you book, not at the bottom of the ladder.
• What to wear. Trainers, comfy trousers or shorts, and nothing loose or dangly. The stag’s inflatable costume can wait in the car until afterwards.
• The booze rule. No drinking before. Instructors will turn away anyone who’s clearly been at it, and they’d be right.
• Weather. Most courses run in the rain but may close in high winds or storms. Have a plan B.
• Phones and wallets. Anything that falls out of a pocket up there is gone. Zip it all up or leave it with someone on the ground.

High ropes sits nicely next to other daytime activities. Try rock climbing if the group wants more height, bungee jumping if someone needs properly scaring, or paintball to settle any scores from the ropes. At dinner, hand out medals for bravest climber and loudest scream, and grab a pack of stag do dares to keep the evening rolling.