Kletterwald Schwindelfrei: by train to the climbing forest

Brühl lies between Cologne and Bonn, the bus stops right at the park – a rare connection for a forest ropes park. Plus a Bambini course from one metre, winter opening and ten per cent off in the evening.

Rainer Schmidt answered our request for a photo with a single word – "gladly" – and attached a picture that shows Kletterwald Schwindelfrei in summer light: nets between the trunks, two climbers at different heights.

Reachable without a car

Most forest ropes parks are where the forest is – and that usually means at the end of a country road. Brühl lies between Cologne and Bonn, 15 to 20 minutes by train from either city, and bus route 705 stops right at "Am Wasserturm". In the whole directory only a handful of facilities are this easy to reach without a car.

From one metre in height

The Bambini course starts at five years and one metre – for two hours. One metre is one of the lowest thresholds in the directory; most facilities start at 110 or 130 centimetres. The other courses require 1.30 m. Accompanying adults who do not climb pay nothing.

It does not stop in autumn

Most facilities close from November to March. Here there are winter specials, children's birthdays in winter and Christmas parties – plus a 3D archery course, a forest kitchen, GPS tours, curling and a forest beer garden. And anyone arriving late in the afternoon pays ten per cent less in the last two time slots, with climbing time shortened by 30 or 60 minutes.

Tickets should be booked in the shop beforehand: the day ticket desk only sells what is left, and only by debit card.