Tree Canopy Gondola

A tree canopy gondola is a seated ride that winches you up through the branches to the top of a tall tree. You sit in a small open gondola, wearing a helmet and clipped in with a harness, and ropes lift you slowly into the treetops. No climbing, no sweat. Just you, a seat and a very good view.

The canopy is the leafy top layer of a forest, where the crowns of the tallest trees meet. It's packed with birds, insects and other wildlife, and most people only ever see it from below. Scientists reach it with ropes, walkways and even cranes. You get to reach it sitting down.

First comes a safety briefing on the ground. The crew fit your helmet and harness, check every buckle and help you step up into the gondola. Once you're clipped in and comfy, the winch takes over.

Up you go, slowly and smoothly. The trunk slides past, the branches part and the view opens out across the forest and the countryside beyond. At the top there's time to look around, spot what you can and generally feel like the king or queen of the woods, before you're lowered gently back to earth.

This is a good way to find out. You stay seated for the whole ride, the pace is slow and steady and you're clipped in the entire time, so it's a gentle introduction to being high up. Gondolas are often built for two, which means you can bring a friend along to hold on to (or to blame).

It also suits anyone who fancies the view but not the effort of climbing. Harnesses and gondolas come with weight and size limits, so check those before you go.

From up in the canopy, the forest looks like a different place. Keep an eye out for nests, the tangle of branches below you and the way the light shifts as you rise above the leaves. On a clear day the view runs for miles over fields, hills and woodland.

Tall conifers such as redwoods are perfect for a ride like this, as they grow straight, strong and seriously tall. Redwoods are some of the tallest trees on Earth, which makes the view from the top well worth the (very short) effort of sitting down.

Comfy clothes that work under a harness, like trousers or shorts, and closed-toe shoes. Tie back long hair and leave hats and anything loose on the ground. Empty your pockets too. Nobody below wants your phone landing on their head.

You might also like Tree Climbing, Zipwire and Tree Nets.

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