Tees Life Tees Life issue 7 | Page 4

Thrill-seekers’ paradise as 200-metre zip line opens And you land on top of an old London double-decker bus! N orth-East thrill-seekers looking for their next adrenaline fix can now try a unique zip line – with an old London double-decker bus as the landing pad! The 200-metre line is the latest attraction launched by the ROF 59 activity centre in Newton Aycliffe. Those brave enough to give it a go will leap from a 19-metre platform before racing across the skyline at speeds of between 30 and 35mph, providing scenic views of Aycliffe Business Park, before coming to a stop on the old bus. It’s thought to be the only zip line of its kind in the North-East, and it has now opened to the general public. ROF 59 founder John Finley said: “We wanted to come up with something completely different. “We’ve had the land for a lot of years, and I had the idea when we first launched ROF 59 nearly three years ago. “We were granted planning permission for it two years ago, so it has been a work in progress – but we’ve tinkered with it because ROF 59 owner John Finley tries out the new 200-metre zip line at his revamped activity centre in Newton Aycliffe. we wanted to get it absolutely spot on. “Then came the bus idea. We needed a landing area to be at least five metres up from ground level, and we acquired an old London-style open-top bus, so we secured it into place and renovated it to create a bespoke landing pad. It really is quite unique.” ROF 59 utilised the expert services of Lancashire-based Entre-Prises to install the new zip line, which is one of many new attractions added to ROF 59 in the last 12 months. Earlier this year, a hair-raising 19-metre drop-zone was installed, where daredevil participants must rustle up the courage to NEW ZIP WIRE IS A FIRST FOR THE NORTH-EAST Adrenaline Junkies! NOW OPEN Fly 200 metres across the skyline at speeds of up to 35mph And land on a double-decker bus! Also at ROF 59 Trampoline Park Restaurant Adventure Walls Bar/Lounge Climbing Centre Ice Cream Parlour 19m Drop-Zone Beer Garden Virtual Reality Suite Events Room Outdoor Laser Combat 4 Aycliffe Business Park, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham DL5 6XN throw themselves off a platform but land safely on the ground thanks to a harness and a freefall auto belay. ROF 59 last year invested £350,000 in relaunching its climbing area with five new elements – adventure walls, speed climbing walls, a tower climbing area, mosaic climbing walls and ‘bouldering’. The centre originally underwent a £1.1m redevelopment three years ago, rejuvenating the old Presswork Metals building and former World War II munitions factory into a 21st century entertainment and leisure venue. To book the zip wire, call ROF 59 on 01325 728222 or email [email protected] Visit the North- East’s most unique activity centre for a fantastic day of fun! Call: 01325 728222 Email: [email protected] W: rof59.co.uk