Discover Britain: High Lodge Community Centre

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Ashley Skillman
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  Recently my fiancé and I visited the High Lodge Forest Centre, which is a wonderful refuge for outdoor enthusiasts that helped cure my feelings of restlessness caused by the long winter season.

High Lodge Forest Centre is nestled in the midst of the Thetford Forest, just a 25-minute drive from RAF Lakenheath, and makes for a great day trip with friends or family.

During our visit, it was clear that the centre was a hot spot for families of all kinds. Upon arriving, I was surprised to see the number of activities available to visitors. Many families took advantage of the large grassy areas by stretching their legs in a game of Frisbee or playing a round of fetch with their four-legged friends, while others sought out the more adventurous activities the centre has to offer.

If you enjoy biking, then this is the place for you. More than 20 miles of bike trails extend throughout the forest, and rentals are available at the bicycle shop. Go-Ape, a high-ropes adventure course, is also on hand for those looking to experience the forest 30-feet in the sky! If interested, I suggest calling to book a reservation prior to going. Each session is two hours long and based on its popularity during our visit, last-minute tickets may be difficult to purchase -- better to be safe than sorry!

This centre is perfect for young children as well. Their extensive play area will easily provide hours upon hours of fun for your little ones. The High Lodge restaurant and forest shop are conveniently located nearby too, so emergency snack runs or visits to the restroom will not cause distress. I'd suggest packing a picnic though. The restaurant's prices aren't horrible, but tons of picnic tables are scattered throughout the area and nothing beats the classic PB&J's and lemonade on a sunny afternoon right?

If you have children who want to explore the forest more, I suggest you take them to the squirrel maze. It's adorable! Although it's technically supposed to be a 'children's maze,' that didn't stop my fiancé and I from taking on the challenge. Even as adults, we found the maze to be rather entertaining, and caught ourselves laughing amidst the confusion.

A variety of walking trails, ranging in distance, provide a more relaxed excursion to those simply wanting to take in the natural wildlife and scenery. The best part of these trails, in my opinion, were the intricate tree sculptures found along them. The detail and complexity of the sculptures were mind-boggling and absolutely beautiful. If nothing else, these sculptures made our visit worthwhile. Additional handcrafted play areas dabble throughout the trail areas, too, providing perfect resting areas for your little ones.

Luckily, admission to the forest is reasonably priced and administered via automated machine that charges according to the duration of your stay. I appreciated that, especially after attending other locations that charge a high rate regardless of the time spent there. Be sure to take a credit card, though, since the machines don't accept cash!

After seeing this beautiful oasis first hand, I would highly recommend everyone plan a visit, especially now that spring is just around the corner. The High Lodge Community Centre has something for everyone!