What's new
FORUMS - COASTERFORCE

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

European Coaster Capital - Part 1 - Woodlands (Heard of it?)

mouse

Giga Poster
Obviously by European Coaster Capital I’m referring to Devon, England.

PART 1: Woodlands
NOTE: This park, and therefore this part of the report contains NO ROLLER COASTERS. I’m sorry about this, I did call the day before to see if Woodlands could build a coaster for the sake of this report but apparently a day's notice isn’t enough. Here is a picture of a coaster for readers to look at if they get cred anxiety:
go-gator-kids-ride3b.jpg


NOTE 2: I didn’t take my proper camera with me, so all the pictures have been taken with an awful camera phone. They are blurred and the camera can’t handle light…

Now I’ve told you the reasons why you shouldn’t read this report, now for the reasons you should :). Woodlands is a small(ish) park in South Devon with larger rides such as water coasters (the flume ones) and toboggan slides, a big farm/animal area, a large indoor play centre and lots of outdoor play areas and walkthroughs. I’ve never heard the park mentioned on CF before (probably because it has no coasters :P) so don’t know if anyone has been there? It’s the largest park in Devon and miles better than Devon’s Crealy IMO. It’s a great park to visit with family and there is plenty to fill a day with – I can imagine it would be great fun to visit with a CF group!

On with the report.
We began by going to the bottom of the park to where the toboggan is, but there was a big queue so we went into a woodland area where there were some pedal boats. Much of the park is within woodlands (hence the name!) with lots of open areas containing rides and play areas.

DSC_0506_zpsef7mbalk.jpg

We managed to run our boat aground – the ranger had to come and rescue us.

We went further into the woodland area to have a look around, it contains lots of quirky little things to look at, such as this:

DSC_0508_zpsrcakkfjo.jpg

The floor to ceiling windows are a good selling point but I doubt anyone would buy because it’s upside down. You would think the park owners would have turned it the right way up by now.

DSC_0509_zpscivmxj75.jpg

This was a small indoor castle themed area that was built over a lake, parts of the floor have been cut out for feeding the fish. I fed them because I felt I had a responsibility to.

Next we went to one of the main areas of the park – the water coasters (not sure if that’s the proper term for them but I’ll go with it)

DSC_0511_zpsanbwtt7e.jpg


It is a nice area, and the water coasters look particularly good as they are set into the landscape. The purple one has a few twists and turns underground and is good fun, the orange one actually picks up a fair bit of speed and there is even a bit of airtime on the last bump. The green/yellow one is probably my favourite as it has lots of sharp turns and gets you quite wet.

DSC_0592_zpstusmdumw.jpg

Are these the best of their ride type in the UK??

The toboggans were right next to the flumes, so we did those next. Hard to get pictures of them…

DSC_0525_zpsihvx4jcz.jpg


They were good fun and the track is fairly long and a good speed can be achieved if you don’t use brakes.

DSC_0524_zpshjs7eifh.jpg

I DID LEAVE MY BELONGINGS HERE!!! HA!

Next we went to have a look in the indoor play centre, which had a large children’s play area with slides etc as well as larger kids rides. I went on the drop/bounce tower.

DSC_0585_zpsrfwlj9dr.jpg

It cut between floors which made it seem taller, and was actually quite fun with multiple drops. Lots of willy lift to be had, which felt somewhat inappropriate in a children’s play centre.

Then it was back outdoors to some more toboggan/sledge type rides.

DSC_0522_zpsskip9apf.jpg


The sledges on the left can either be really fast or really slow depending on weather conditions. Luckily today they were fast and I didn’t have to walk half of it. Only the blue tracks are rideable for some reason.

The steep toboggan thing next to the sledges is called Avalanche, and is actually pretty fast.

DSC_0518_zps2ehcrena.jpg

Probably the most thrilling ride at the park.

Now for the farm/animal area, which is fairly new to the park.

DSC_0530_zpsoi6fetqu.jpg


There is a mirror maze on the way to the farm bit. Just saying.

DSC_0532_zpsob3okxmg.jpg

This isn’t any ordinary ship. It swings.

DSC_0533_zpslmvra6ve.jpg

These aren’t any ordinary boats. They bump.

DSC_0536_zpseqjc3dhc.jpg

I think this is some kind of dog with rectangular eyes.

DSC_0539_zpsctuxnhip.jpg

I was trying to feed the small brown one but the others kept getting in the way. Eventually I got a friend to distract the others with a goat mating call while I fed the small one.

DSC_0548_zpsn6usblyu.jpg

I can only see one side of the horse in this picture, so not sure whether it was blinking or winking at me.

DSC_0550_zpsiwnrwzx4.jpg

Gooses!

DSC_0554_zpsynzze7jk.jpg

This goat was very horny.

DSC_0569_zpsj3nikigf.jpg

Meerkats! Clever how they managed to construct an electric fence around their enclosure.

DSC_0581_zpsjbzfmfaf.jpg

This is good advice, the end of a pen can be very sharp and painful if leaned into.

DSC_0574_zpsp3mm5enk.jpg

Really long lizard. I felt sorry for it as it had no feet.

DSC_0584_zpshym8uvsi.jpg

CUTE ANIMALS SLEEPING TOGETHER! Either that or they were dead.

DSC_0573_zpsqls5rpg1.jpg

I spent about an hour trying to find whatever was in this enclosure. In the end I gave up.

At the top of the farm bit there was a dinosaur themed tractor ride.
DSC_0557_zpsdtas5go7.jpg


DSC_0559_zpsst69kaia.jpg

Great bit of theming here, she is clearly a dinosaur scientist or whatever. I think the mannequins may have been bought from a nearby M&S that was being refurbished.

The farm area has the usual farm animals, some emus and llamas, a reptile and nocturnal (including bats) house and more.

We finished with a quick walk around the park, having a look at the different play areas and walkthroughs.

DSC_0586_zpsgvxqhpqy.jpg

DSC_0587_zpsv0ofqi7r.jpg


The park has lots of quirky little areas and walkthroughs, some of which are quite hidden away. They give Woodlands a certain charm similar to Blackgang Chine.

DSC_0589_zps9jxtslj7.jpg

This was genuinely quite unnerving in a quirky kind of way… Like a little maze with lots of things hanging down from the ceiling and stuff.

DSC_0596_zpsy9o333pe.jpg


DSC_0590_zpsh5afvdsd.jpg


DSC_0600_zpsykpr6wlj.jpg


So there you are! I think Woodlands is a great little park with lots to offer, and is probably the best park in Devon. I reckon a few decent coasters would really put it on the map, due to its quirky charm similar to Blackgang Chine. If a CF group is ever going on a trip down to Devon I would definitely recommend a trip here – It is so much better than Crealy!

NEXT UP: Random and unheard of creds/small parks in Devon and Crealy.



DSC_0582_zpszqrmmaj7.jpg

Bubbles is a great mum.
 
Re: European Coaster Capital - Part 1 - Woodlands (Heard of

I'm getting emotional. So many memories have been brought back <3
 
Re: European Coaster Capital - Part 1 - Woodlands (Heard of

Never heard of it, so it was interesting to read that. Looks nice; kind of reminds me of Duinrell, but in its earlier years.
 
Re: European Coaster Capital - Part 1 - Woodlands (Heard of

Pink Panther said:
I'm getting emotional. So many memories have been brought back <3
Ha, so you went here lots as a kid too?
I hadn't been for years, so it brought back memories for me too. It's primarily aimed towards families but I was surprised at how entertained I was at the park now I'm older :).
 
Back
Top