Lightwater Valley is currently closed.
Re-Opens 4th April 2009.
Park Opens - 10am
Rides Open - 10:30am
Park Closes - 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Lightwater Valley is Open from 4th April through to the 2nd November on selected dates only, please visit the official web site for more details.
Take a look at our trip reports from Lightwater Valley. This feature contains all the pictures of the rides and park.
Coming Soon
Latest News
Update: 5th January - A brand new2009 Park Leaflet , which includes the 2009 Park Map has been added to the park literature section. Also a Corporate Leaflet has been added to the same section.
The 2009 Prices have been announced. There is a small increase in Admission Price for 2009, adding £1 to over 1.3m and 50p added to the under 1.3m. Season Passes remain the same price as last season.
Update: 23rd December - New Ride Announced! Click Here for all the information.
Update: 18th December - Lightwater Valley will re-open for the 2009 season on 4th April.
My Review Of Lightwater Valley
Lightwater Valley has always been a strange park for me personally. Of course I don't know the full extent of how Lightwater Valley's planning restrictions hamper them or indeed their finances. Lets not forget the surrounding parks and competition from Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Flamingoland. Lightwater Valley simply doesn't have the thrilling rides, or a selection of roller coasters, to take visitors away from those parks. So with tough competition you may understand how Lightwater Valley is operating. They will need something very special and new to the industry, to put it back on the map.
When The Ultimate was opened in 1991 Lightwater Valley was put on the map. Hundreds of thousands flocked to the park to see and ride this World Record. It was the place to be at one time. Since then we have seen a selection of rides come and go. It seems that Lightwater Valley take out an attraction to build a new one in the same space, this has been the case for 15 years or so now. With 175 acres of land to go at this seems very odd, as most of the site is just what I would call picnic areas with no tables, just plain cut grass.
However the park, and it's current state, looks fantastic. Lightwater Valley to me is the ultimate family day out. Every ride in the park is family orientated, so the whole family can ride and enjoy the attractions, whilst at other, bigger parks younger children and not so brave parents might be left wondering what they can or can't ride.
The park is very picturesque. The Lightwater Express is a wonderful way of getting around the park and to take in the fantastic views that Lightwater Valley offer. Take a nice trip on the lake with the swan boats powered by your legs.
Bird Of Prey Center
Hidden away at the side of the Theme Park and to the rear of the shopping village is a real gem. The Bird Of Prey Center offers a chance to see some great birds of prey up close and personal. They even offer a creepy crawly and reptile cave.
The Bird Of Prey Center offers over 50 Raptors and some Owls, Falcons and Britain's largest Golden Eagle. You can go and learn everything you need to know about how these birds are trained and handled. You can also learn about every aspect of the birds life and care.
Take advantage of the dramatic shows the Bird Of Prey Center offer at 2:00pm and 4:00pm every day. Why not volunteer to pull on a gauntlet and allow their trained raptors to land on your arm or even have your photo taken whilst holding Gizmo, the little owl who can fit in the palm of your hand?
If your feeling really brave why not ask for Claudia, Britain's largest golden eagle to sit on your arm. I did this in 2005 and it was worth every penny to see such a dangerous bird sat on my arm. She was so heavy, you wouldn't believe it until she is on your arm. You can then easily understand a bird of this size and weight carrying a medium sized mammal off for lunch.
The birds are so cute and very well trained and looked after. I have to compliment the staff too, they know every question you can throw at them. I found it all fascinating, if you do to you will love this place. They even had nest box cameras installed at the time and we saw very recent hatching's of some owls. They also had some Vultures, now they were strange birds.
Within the Bird Of Prey Center there is the creepy crawly cave homing snakes, spiders, frogs, toads, rats and even Australian bearded dragons. Dare you have your picture taken with the 10 foot Burmese Python?
Prices for a day ticket
Adult £3.50
Child £2.50
Family (2+2) £10.95
Discounts are available by pre-booking your Bird Of Prey Center when you purchase your Lightwater Valley Theme Park ticket. Book them both in advance at the same time and enter the Bird Of Prey Center for only £1.50.
Call 0871 720 0011 or email leisure@lightwatervalley.co.uk for more information!
The Rides, Stats & Facts
Lightwater Valley has over 40 rides and attractions to suit all needs and ages. However this web site will be dedicated to the more thrill seeking aspect of riding. I will include children's rides, but only ones that allow adults to ride too. In this day and age you will appreciate why coaster enthusiasts take a step back when it comes to small children. I remind you that these reviews are my views and experiences of the ride. You may or may not agree with me. Everyone will feel and interpret things that happen to them in a theme park in different ways.
The Ultimate
Lets not waste any time and get straight to Lightwater Valley's world renowned attraction, The Ultimate. The Ultimate held the World Record for being the longest roller coaster for 10 consecutive years from 1991 to 2000, until Steel Dragon 2000 at Nagashima Spa Land was built. It does, however, still hold the European Record at a staggering 2.4km (1½ miles). Even with the money and technology around these days that will still take some beating.
It was opened on the 17th July 1991 by Frank Bruno MBE, at a cost of £5.2 million, taking 18 months to build. A competition to name the ride was run by Radio 1, opening as The Ultimate Beast.
Design and construction of the ride was done by Big Country Motioneering (BCM), but later went on to have some track issues. Lightwater Valley asked British Rail to step in and complete the ride.
The ride operates 2 trains, each with a capacity of 38 guests.
My Ride Review
Well if you have ridden The Ultimate then I need say no more, with tongue in cheek, that's if I haven't bitten my tongue off during the ride. No matter which web site you visit, visitor you speak to or even article you read about this ride, they all tell pretty much the same story, its painful and unpleasant. Ok some have a point in the pain but some enthusiasts are quick to judge on a coasters roughness, if its not smooth as silk its rubbish etc, and forget it ever existed. I think everyone in the world knows how the ride feels by now so lets concentrate on other things. Step back for a second and ask yourself one question. If The Ultimate was as smooth as silk, would it be the legend it is today?
The Ultimate has a unique way of hiding most of the mile and half twisting track from you in the darkest forest Lightwater Valley has to offer. That all adds to the anticipation and excitement, you have no idea what's coming for a 1st time rider or indeed a forgetful one. So here's a reminder...
You board the train, strap yourself in and prepare for the ride of your life, well just under 6 minutes of it anyway. Creeping up a 102ft lift hill and plummeting back down to earth, hurtling over hills and turns, and a series of bunny hops, before making another crawl to your biggest drop of the ride into the depths of the Lightwater Valley forest. The 2nd lift hill and turn towards the drop offers another panoramic view of the theme park and surrounding areas, before dropping you 107ft into the darkness of the valley. Brace yourself for another series of twists and turns at up to 50mph, two tunnels and then a breather to complete a mile and half of utter madness and excitement.
I say go and ride it, especially if you haven't for many years. It hasn't lost its roar of the T-Rex and is still one of the greatest thrill rides around by roller coaster.
Height Restriction 1.3m and don't forget to smile for the camera.
The Sewer Rat
Another unique ride at Lightwater Valley is The Sewer Rat. This roller coaster is deep underground and, as you have probably guessed, it's themed around sewers and rats. This roller coaster is also the only enclosed subterranean roller coaster in the UK. You would be forgiven in thinking that your walking through a real sewer on your walk down to the ride. With real water being pumped through the ride and the damp smell and the darkness, you really start to believe your walking through the sewers. As far as I'm aware the sewers are total mock ups of the real things under our villages, town and cities. At this point you really have to compliment Lightwater Valley on the theming of this ride. To create what they have for a ride of this nature is quite fantastic, some multi million pound coasters don't get the amount of theming that this roller coaster gets. With the UK struggling to create theming on a decent scale in their theme parks, The Sewer Rat is a nice reminder of what can be done with a bit of thought.
The Sewer Rat was guarded by the 'Rat King' for the 1st few years it operated. The 'Rat King' used to be played in the queue lines and on your walk down to the ride in the sewer. He had a very evil voice and was inviting you to dare enter his sewers and home. Sadly, I haven't heard the 'Rat King's' voice being played for many years now, which is a shame, because it added a huge amount of anticipation to the ride and just what you were queuing up for.
This roller coaster is also the eldest in the theme park opening in 1987. The roller coaster itself is designed by Schwarzkopf and the model is a Wildcat. Another type of ride that can be bought from a roller coaster manufacturer's brochure. Lightwater Valley don't actually own The Sewer Rat, they lease the ride from a private owner. The ride was bought and was buried deep underground to add the thrill of what otherwise would be a fairly standard 'off-the-shelf' roller coaster.
My Ride Review
Protected by the elements underground, I make it one of our smoothest roller coasters in the UK. You will start by queuing up above ground just along side The Ultimate for quite a while I have found. Once your at the front a ride attendant will tell you to go ahead and enter the sewer. If your above 4ft you will have to duck to enter the sewer and for a few meters along the path, don't let that put you off though.
The sewer opens up further ahead so you don't have to duck all the way through, it's still a tight squeeze for some don't get me wrong. It will take you a couple of minutes to walk down to the ride. I should mention to be very careful too at this point, with real water being pumped around you it's very wet in places and quite slippery. You walk down some spiral stairs with water running down the middle and wait to be called to board your rat. You then sit in a car disguised as a rat and its pretty much pitch black from there on in.
During the ride you will drop from 35ft and hit speeds of 30mph, with a few turns thrown in for good measure. Prepare yourself for a very sudden stop at the end of the ride. Once you leave your rat it's another short walk back up some spiral stairs with more water running down the middle. Your final walk is quite an experience, as you see daylight approach and the fresh air hits you, your then faced with a walk up a total circular sewer pipe. It's quite a bizarre feeling.
The height restriction is 1.2m and with no great drops or speed it's fun for everyone underground on this one.
The Twister
It's very likely you already know about this type of roller coaster, you may have seen one at another park or even at your local fair. Yet another 'off-the-shelf' roller coaster built this time by Reverchon and the model is a Spinning Mouse. Think of this ride as a waltzer on a roller coaster track. If you get the weight in the right spots you really will be left feeling dizzy. There's no real theme to the ride as is the case with many UK coasters.
My Ride Review
The only real thing I can say is just go and try it, it's so much fun especially when you can sit with the family. The height of the ride is around 42ft but as you can see there's no huge drops to worry about, this ride is all about the corners. With a top speed of 29mph and you could even hit G-Forces of 2.5.
Every time you ride this one it will be different due to the spinning & weight distribution, sometimes you won't really spin other times you wont stop spinning. You may be facing forwards for the drops and turns, maybe sideways or even backwards. It's one crazy ride. Smile for the camera too.
Height Restriction 1.5m or 1.2m accompanied by an adult.
Eagles Claw
Ever wondered what it would feel like to be prey caught in the claws of an eagle? Well this is your chance. Again you may have come across one of these rides at your local fair. The Eagles Claw is designed by KMG and the model is the Afterburner. Some season ticket holders and many thrill seekers regard this ride to be one of the best rides at Lightwater Valley. Not very well themed, although the area it sits in is starting to look very nice.
My Ride Review
Well I haven't actually ridden a KMG Afterburner yet, so why not contact me and review the ride for yourself to appear here, until I get the courage to board one of these things. My Mum has ridden it and she says it's very forceful and fast and a lot of fun, she also mentions the feeling of being thrown out from the ride with the forces involved. She isn't wrong, just by watching the ride you can see the speed and forces at work for yourself. There's no substitute for actually riding it of course. It looks full of 'air time' and 'float time'.
The Eagles Claw will swing riders to a maximum angle of 140° at dizzying heights of around 98ft. Certainly not for the faint hearted and well worthy of a Jaw Dropper place. The ride opened in 2004 and the gondola that seats the guests resembles the giant yellow claw of Wingnut - one of the more famous birds that live in the Bird Of Prey Center. The ride cost around £500,000.
Height Restriction 1.3m
Hornet's Nest
As mentioned earlier this was new for 2007 season. It was brought in from Pleasureland, Southport, where it was named Chaos. The ride designers are Chance Rides and the Model is a standard Chaos ride. It's had a few problems since it's arrival at Lightwater Valley in 2006. The ride never opened in the 2007 season to my knowledge. It first opened on 15th March 2008, but was soon to break again and was unavailable for our visit on the 15th April 2008. I'm sure it's all ready and operating now though.
My Ride Review
It was closed on our visit in 2008 and to be honest it's not really my kind of ride anyway. I have seen it operate at Southport and the ride will spin and flip you in every direction possible and reaches heights of 70ft.
Height Restriction 1.5m
The Wave
Another of Lightwater Valleys classics. The designers are Zamperla and the model is a Swinging Galleon. The ride was opened in 1991, beautiful location and beautifully themed, this pirate ship was an instant hit for the Theme Park. In 2008 on my visit the lake was empty and the waterfall not working, a real shame, as Lightwater Valley really hit the nail on the head with location and theme for this ride. It seems, as seasons go on, The Wave gets more and more hidden from view. You could easily miss this ride if you weren't looking for it. Of course when the Soopa Loopa was down there, they had no such problems. Could there be a re-location of The Wave to a different part of Lightwater Valley?
My Ride Review
Everyone has come across a pirate ship sometime in their lives, they are not considered rides people are scared of really. However don't let this one fool you. Opened in 1991, it still holds the record as the biggest pirate ship in the UK. Seriously, this ride will reach heights of 60ft at an angle of 90°. Higher and steeper than most! If you want to train the body in what weightlessness or 'float time' feels like, then this is the perfect starting point. The feeling of your being just about to be flung out of the ride to floating back down gently to your seat is an experience not to be missed, the further back you sit, the greater the impact on your body. Hands in the air all the way for this classic. Easily one of the best pirate ships of my life so far!
Height Restriction 1.1m
Trauma Tower
I know I said I would concentrate on the thrill seeking side, but this ride is well worth a mention. Lets start with the designer and model again. Designer is Moser Rides and the Model is a Spring Ride 10. You may also have come across this ride at other parks or fairs too. Opened in 2004, it will reach a height of about 28ft.
My Ride Review
Well lets start with the name. Many parents may look at the name and be put off. I suppose they have a point, you don't want to put children through a traumatic experience on a fun day out. Let me reassure you right here, this ride is probably the best ride for family fun in the park, it's far from traumatic. The name is simply there to enhance the ride, as it doesn't do much.
The reason I chose to mention this ride is quite simple. I have come across these rides before and to look at the ride, it does look like a ride just for small children. I've always wondered what it would feel like to ride however. Lightwater Valley offered the chance for me to try one of these as there was no queue and not many people around too see a 25 year old climb aboard this children's ride.
It's one of the best things I've done. Take your seat in the nice comfy seats and get strapped in. Suddenly that 28ft tower seems to be growing. Once you're at the top of the ride you can easily look down onto, and over, the Pub In The Wood. The ride will suddenly drop you and gravity takes over from there. The forces involved are quite good, little pockets of 'air time' as the ride drops away from your whole body, the process is repeated 4 or 5 times with different drops in height and sudden unexpected drops. At 25 years old I thought this ride was quite superb and offered a lot of sensations roller coasters are designed to do. I now know to ride one of these whenever I come across them.
Height Restriction 1.1m
Skyrider
Now many wouldn't class this as a thrill ride, I certainly would argue that point. Well, especially this wave swinger at Lightwater Valley. The designers are Technical Park and the model is a Flying Swinger. It reaches heights of 42ft and is again beautifully decorated and placed in the Theme Park. This ride is considered to be one of the most intense wave swinger types around the country at the moment. The ride opened in May, 2006.
My Ride Review
If you have walked past this ride or you have ridden one of these at another park and thought rode one, rode them all, think again, I made this mistake too. I do agree to a certain extent, as all wave swingers generally do the same thing no matter where you ride them. Lightwater Valley's however seems to be different, the height and speed on this one seems to be greater than others I've ridden, and if it's a slightly breezy day it will add to the experience.
Take a seat and the ride starts. Increasing in height, you can really feel the rides acceleration at this point. As you reach full speed and height, the top hat of the ride then tilts. The tilting top to the ride then allows the riders to be moved up and down at the same time, this increases the height of your seat even further. At this point the ride is in full motion and, you'll agree, one of the more intense experiences at Lightwater Valley. I'm not too sure why this ride seems to be more intense than any other, but it sure is. Don't overlook this next time, it's well worth a ride.
Height Restriction 1.2m
Black Widows Web
This is certainly a ride of ridden one, ridden them all territory. The model will give it away, its Designed by Huss and the Model is an Enterprise Wheel. Yes... you got it, it's a standard Enterprise. Again you will have come across many of these on your travels. The Black Widows Web opened in 2001 and is always a banker for the thrill seeker.
My Ride Review
Like all enterprises, they do the same thing. The only point worth mentioning if your a first time rider, you will be shocked by the fact there are no restraints. The ride uses centrifugal force to keep you firmly in place. Don't worry you wont fall out, as the ride hits full speed you will be pinned into your seat as the earths natural force takes over. The ride almost takes riders completely upside down but falls short at 87°. However that's just enough to fool the mind into thinking otherwise and, with no restraints, it's a very strange sensation. If you think you suffer from motion sickness, then this ride is where you will find out.
Height Restriction 1.3m
Wild River Rapids
Brand new for the 2009 Season, Wild River Rapids. The ride will built on the former Grizzly Bear site. The Grizzly Bear is now removed from the park to make way for this new ride.
It's not your normal Rapids. When Rapids are mentioned you may get the thoughts of Alton Towers and The Congo River Rapids or Thorpe Park's - Rumba Rapids. Lightwater Valley are getting the Wild River Rapids, it's the same principle but the ride doesn't need acres of land to pull off. The Wild River Rapids are a traveling version and will be leased to the park by James Mellor. If you have been to any 'big' fair around the UK, you could very well have seen one of these before.
Lightwater Valley say that this could be a temporary installation for the 2009 season only. That may be subject to change.
My Ride Review
The review will appear here, once I have ridden it.
Height Restriction 1.3m or 1.0m when accompanied by an adult.
Falls Of Terror
Opening in 1995, and still popular today, visitors will have a choice to make on this one. Which chute do you ride? Well that all depends on how brave you're feeling. Chute 1 is just a sheer plummet back to earth. Chute 2 is designed for a pop of 'weightlessness/float time' with a double down drop. Chute 3 is a twisty enclosed slide, with no huge drops and by far the wettest and longest.
My Ride Review
Again just by watching this ride you know what's coming, well except for Chute 3. Make your way to the stairs and personally speaking the walk to the top of the stairs is the most frightening part of this ride. With the stairs as they are, you can see down to the floor through the structure at any point on the stairs. Believe me it's high when your up there and if you have chosen Chute 1, you can now appreciate the drop your about to fall down.
Chute 1 does exactly what you think it's going to do. It is straight down at quite a steep angle. It's the shortest ride of the 3, simply because there's no quicker way down than straight down.
Chute 2 is the one people will ride if Chute 1 seems a little to steep. However your body will feel more sensations on Chutes 2 and 3 than number 1. Chute 2 has the double down drop, double downs are a way of making the body experience weightlessness/float time, the sensation of floating above your dinghy for a split second. Again it's all over in a few seconds, it's just longer than Chute 1 by a second or so.
Chute 3 is by far the longest of them all but again it's over in pretty much a few seconds. This one will have your body feeling the most pressure of all 3 too. You will get little pockets of weightlessness/float time, as there are a few sudden but not large drops. There's some good lateral G's too as your dinghy flies around the tight bends. Inside it is pretty much pitch black with a few rope lights switched on, and prepare to get wet to on this Chute.
I don't have a favourite, as all 3 offer quite different experiences and thrills. If they could put all 3 together it would be perfect.
Height Restriction 1.0m
Special Events
I will update this, as Lightwater Valley create events for 2009. Whilst the Theme Park is closed, the Shopping Village and the Bird Of Prey Center are open all year round.
Admission Prices 2009
Over 1.3m |
£ 17.95 |
Under 1.3m |
£ 15.45 |
Under 1.0m |
£ FREE |
Senior Citizens / Disabled / Only 2 carers |
£ 8.95 |
Family ticket for 3 |
£ 46.50 |
Family ticket for 4 |
£ 62.00 |
Family ticket for 5 |
£ 77.50 |
Buy online and collect your tickets from Visitor Services on the day.
Pay an extra £2.50 and Lightwater Valley will post your tickets out to you,
so you can walk straight to the front of the queue.
Season Passes, Family Tickets ( up to 8 people ) and Group Bookings are also available on request.
Book Your Tickets Here - The more in advance you book, the less you will pay!
Directions
Lightwater Valley
North Stainley
Ripon
North Yorkshire
HG4 3HT
By Car - Lightwater Valley is well signposted, turn off the A1 onto the A61 towards Ripon, then take the A6108 for 2.5 miles. Follow the brown tourist signs for Lightwater Valley which you’ll pick up as you get closer.
By Train - Please visit The Train Line for Trains and Times
By Bus or Coach - Please visit Yorkshire Travel for details on timetables and an easy to use journey planner.
Rolling Back The Years
Lightwater Valley started life in 1969 as a self-pick fruit farm and in 1977 the first children’s attraction was built – ‘Fort William Adventure Playground’. Following this, a restaurant was the next major building to be constructed, closely followed by a crazy golf course, a miniature railway and a lake with paddle boats.
The first white knuckle rides were constructed in the mid 1980’s:
- The Rat
- The Wave
In February 2001 Heritage Great Britain plc took over the ownership and management of Lightwater Valley, with the aim of making them one of the UK’s strongest visitor attractions.
Other Heritage GB sites include:
- Land’s End
- Miniatura Park in Cornwall
- The Needles on the Isle of Wight
- John O’Groats
- Snowdon Mountain Railway in Wales
Further information is available from www.heritagegb.co.uk.
Past Rides
Depending on your age it's worth mentioning a coaster that became a bit of a legend at the park, that you may not have known was ever there. I was too small and probably not brave enough at that point to ride this, but I do remember it as a child.
The Soopa Loopa (1988 - 1994). At one stage this was Britain's only double looping roller coaster and was an instant hit. The back car being famous in its self, as the second last row faces backwards, so these riders are face-to-face with riders in the last row. So if you were lucky enough to be in the right place, at the right time in the queue, you would get a full ride backwards. Quite something I would imagine.
Soopa Loopa was manufactured by Soquet and the ride featured two 360° vertical loops, after a 60ft drop!
The ride was sold to The American Adventure, Derbyshire, which later went on to close down and now currently operates under the name of Tic-Tac Tornado at Silesian Amusement Park, Poland.
Thanks to the Rollercoaster Database for some of the information. A special thank you goes out to Michael S. Horwood for his permission to use the pictures of the Soopa Loopa.
Did You Know?
Each season approximately 320,000 people visit the park, although their highest ever figure was nearly 500,000 in 1983. Over 480,000 people also visited in 1992, the year they opened The Ultimate!
Each season the theme park visitors consume:
- 113,000 portions of chips
- 32,000 burgers
- 9,000 portions of popcorn
- 2,000kg of pick & mix
Lightwater Valley has been home to many park mascots, with some of the earliest being Edgar Fox, Cyril Squirrel, Reggy Rabbit, Woody Bear and Dozy Dorris.
kevonline.co.uk is a personal web site and all information contained are my views and experiences. All pictures and images are my own, unless otherwise stated. If you wish to use anything from here then please, just ask. Do not use anything without my permission, Thanks. Do you have questions or comments? Don't hesitate to contact me , all feedback is welcome. Enjoy the site.