Windsor Castle, an official residence of the British monarchy, has earned Berkshire the title of a Royal County. Built in the 11th century, this Norman castle is the longest-occupied palace in the whole of Europe, and one of the largest too. While this was once a military fortification and has seen numerous battles, the modern day life of a royal residence is more sedate and serious. But don’t worry, there’s something else in Windsor which attracts thrill seekers from far and wide. Your chance to become extreme sports royalty awaits you at Bray Lake, just outside Windsor, where you can experience the adrenaline rush of one of the most intense adventures of all: bungee jumping.

This sport takes its name from the bungee cord, a high strength elastic rope which was traditionally used for securing luggage during off-road travel until some daredevils decided to tie them to a bridge and jump off. That was over forty years ago and has since become established as one of the frontrunners in the world of extreme sports. There’s something about the simplicity of the activity, jumping from a high platform and dropping towards the ground, that activates our primitive survival instincts. If you can silence the internal voice telling you not to jump, the reward is a huge endorphin hit as you cheat gravity thanks to the cord at your waist. If that sounds like your idea of fun, you can dodge the crowd who visit Berkshire for its royal connections and join the elite in the world of extreme sports by completing jump.

Where to do bungee jumping in Berkshire?

Bray lake, in the East of Berkshire, is a recreational lake for sailing, windsurfing, open water swimming and other watersports. It’s surrounded by grassy banks and trees making perfect pitching spots for fishing. But rising above the calm waters, a huge crane will grab your attention. This lifts a platform which is the starting point for your adrenaline fuelled adventure.

Types of jumps available

- 160ft jump: to test your nerves to the limit, challenge yourself to complete a jump from 160ft, that’s 50 metres, above the lake. You’ll board the jump platform at ground level with the jumpmaster before the crane lifts you up into the air. Then it’s up to you to throw caution to the wind, and yourself into thin air! You’ll drop towards the water at high velocity as the cord extends and stretches to its limits and, just when you might think that the lake is getting a bit too close, bounces you back upwards. After a couple of bounces at the end of the cord you’ll be lowered down and onto dry land, and receive a hero's welcome from your friends and family.

- 160ft tandem jump: if the individual sounds like fun to you, you might want to share that excitement with a friend. On the other hand, if you’re worried that you’ll lose your nerve at the last minute, take someone with you who can hold your hand for the entire experience by booking a tandem jump. You’ll be secured to your partner, face to face, before ascending to 50 metres above the water with the jumpmaster. They’ll make sure that all the equipment is in order before opening the gate and inviting you to jump. With two people jumping instead of one, the nerves might be reduced but the thrill won’t be! You’ll drop faster, bounce higher and scream louder, before finally returning to the ground with a stronger bond with your partner than ever before.

- 300ft jump: as if you thought it couldn’t get more extreme, here’s to make your hairs stand on end. Imagine standing on top of the kind of crane which is used to build skyscrapers - then imagine jumping off it! 300ft is 90 metres, or the equivalent of a skyscraper with 30 floors. You’ll have plenty of time to consider your choices on the ascent to this dizzying height and, if you’re still up for it by the time you reach the top, your reward will be a full 4 seconds of freefall. That might not sound like much, but at the speeds you can reach during this unrestricted dive you’ll feel every millisecond of it, and by the time the bungee cord slows you down it will be a welcome relief from the madness.

- FAB jump: this fabulous experience takes its name from the fact that it includes two jumps: Front And Back. The standard front jump is what you’ll experience anyway and so if you want to take it to the next level we recommend that you follow it up with a unique gravity defying stunt. To complete a backwards jump you’ll need nerves of steel as you will stand on the platform facing in, and lean back into the unknown where gravity is waiting to pull you towards the lake. You might think that if you’ve done a front jump you’ll be ready for anything, but this is truly a new kind of challenge and only for the brave.

Requirements to do this activity

This sport involves overriding your survival instincts, and if you want to experience this it’s important to understand what’s involved. Informed Participation is the watchword in bungee jumping, which means that you need to understand the process of the jump and consent to taking part. That’s why, in Berkshire and across the country, you need to be at least 14 years old if you’re going to jump, and you’ll need your parents’ permission if you’re between 14 and 16.

Another factor to take into consideration is weight. In this activity you’ll be pitched against gravity with only a bungee cord to save you, and these cords have a limit on what they can support. For safety reasons, if you weigh over 18.9 stone, or 120 kilos, you can’t jump. In addition, you need to be able to use the harnesses on site in Berkshire, which can fit waists from 15.7 inches (40cm) to 49.2 inches (125cm).

Is it a safe experience?

Your safety is in the capable hands of the venue's team who have a foolproof methodology when it comes to this activity. First of all, they will make sure that only those who can jump safely will jump. If you’re sick, pregnant, or have another condition that could be affected by bungee jumping, you won’t be allowed to jump. Once you’ve been given the go ahead, you’ll be equipped for the adventure with high quality, regularly maintained kit: harness, cord and ankle straps. Finally, they’ll explain to you the system of redundancy . which means that the equipment is designed in such a way that the failure of one element does not compromise the safety and efficacy of the system as a whole. With all of these steps in place, the risk of injury is very low by the time you jump into thin air.

What should you bring the day of the activity?

Bring your game face! This is a life changing experience and you need to be ready. And attitude really is the most important thing, because it’s not necessary to wear anything special. Check the Berkshire weather forecast in advance and dress accordingly, with comfortable clothes, long sleeves and trousers or something that covers your legs (not a dress or skirt). You’ll have ankle straps for the jump, so trainers are better than boots which cover the ankle.

Don’t forget to bring some money as well, because you can buy a photo of your dare devil stunt to commemorate the experience, and finally, bring some spectators! There’s space for friends and family to watch you jump water at Bray lake.

If you’ve got a desire to jump, you can make it happen here. Let us know when you’re free and we’ll take care of the rest!