If you’re afraid of heights, we recommend that you stop reading now. If the idea of standing on a platform high above the ground doesn’t make you stomach lurch, congratulations - you’ve passed the first test. But it’s going to take a lot more than just standing there for you to join the ranks of the elite thrill seekers who have looked into the void - and jumped. This is bungee jumping, the sport that involves overriding your sense of self preservation in order to dive towards the Earth, with only a giant elastic band to keep you in the air. It might sound crazy, but it’s known to produce one of the biggest adrenaline rushes of any sport out there. We’re recommending Cheshire, a place with a history of aerial bravery, and one of the highest bungee jumps in the country, as an epic activity destination.

Where to do bungee jumping in Cheshire?

Tatton Hall is a stately home set in 2,000 acres of parkland in the north. In the Victorian era it was the site of high society parties and balls, but during the Second World War, it was used as the chief training venue for paratroopers in the UK. In all, about 60,000 trainees made their first jumps here, bailing out from planes and using parachutes to descend to the wide, open spaces of the park. You might feel the energy of these courageous soldiers as you prepare to make your own descent, and we hope it helps you because some huge challenges await you here. As well as the typical 160 ft jumps that are available in numerous locations around the country, there's a much more extreme experience in Tatton Park - a 300 ft bungee jump! The only thing that isn’t astronomical is the price.

Kinds of jumps on offer

- 160 ft Tandem: This might be the best introduction to this sport if you’re not the kind of person who’s normally seeking out hair raising stunts like this. The height is as impressive as any other jump, but you have the advantage of a companion when you complete a tandem jump. You’ll be fastened together and attached to the same bungee cord, so you can offer each other support and encouragement in the build up to the jump. Best of all, you choose the lucky (or unlucky) individual who gets to share this experience with you, so it could be the best way to surprise your best friend, your partner, or someone who needs a good fright!

- 160 ft Individual: If you’re more of a lone wolf, if you don’t need someone to hold your hand, you should opt for an individual jump. 160 feet is 50 metres, about the height of a 15 storey building, so think carefully before booking this experience! You’ll feel the wind in your face, see the landscape of Tatton Park beneath your feet, then hear the jumpmaster say those fateful words - “3,2,1 - jump!” Suddenly the winds feel stronger, the green woods and fields blur together, and your brain kicks into fight or flight mode. By the time you’re back on solid ground, you’ll feel like you’ve travelled to another planet and back.

- 160 ft FAB: One jump is all very well and good, but what if we told you that you’re able to get double the fun with this awesome package - a Front And Back jump. The first jump is a normal jump, but you get to follow that up with the acrobatics of a backwards. This time you’ll stand on the platform with the drop behind you, and place all your trust in the cord, and whoever it is that you pray to, and lean back into the void. A normal bungee jump can’t prepare you for this sensation!

- 300 ft Individual: As if those weren’t enough, Tatton Park presents you with the opportunity to turn the dial up to eleven. And that means raising the platform to 300 feet, or 90 metres, above the ground. You’ll fall further and faster, bounce higher on the end, and scream even louder! There are only a handful of locations around the country where jumps of this magnitude are on offer, and few of them are so well located as Tatton Park is to the cities of Manchester and Liverpool, so don’t miss out!

Requirements to do this activity

Back in the days when this region was the most important training ground for paratroopers in the country, the squadron leaders, pilots and parachutists themselves, had to calculate the weight of the troops and equipment precisely to ensure that the jumps were completed safely and effectively. It’s exactly the same with bungee jumping today. The team provider needs to know your weight so that they can attach you to the right type and length of cord. The working limit of their equipment is 18,9 stone, that’s 120 kilograms, so you need to weigh less than this to take part.

As well as the cord, the harness is a key part of the equipment. It’s this that connects you to the cord, and distributes the forces equally around your body so that it slows you steadily and comfortably. There are various sizes of harnesses, meaning that you can jump provided your waist measurement is between 15.7 and 49.2 inches, or 40 and 125 centimetres.

There’s one final thing to take into account. Although it’s very safe, this is a sport with some inherent risk. The provider team has to make sure that you understand what’s involved, and consent to take part, and to do this you need to be over 16 years of age. For any youngsters reading this and feeling disappointed, we’ve got some good news. You can complete a gravity-defying jump here before you turn 16 if you have your parent’s permission, signed and dated, and you’re over 14 years old.

Do you have what it takes to pull off one of these epic stunts? Make a booking with us, and prove it!