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The Adventure Playground
The Adventure Playground at Bowood was first opened in 1978. Designed and constructed by Cornish boat builder Alistair Guy, using timbers from the Estate, it has become one of Bowood’s most famous features and has delighted hundreds of thousands of children ever since.
Children of twelve and under love spending the whole day at Bowood playing in one of the finest adventure playgrounds in the country. The playground is home to a full size pirate galleon called the ‘Centaur’, complete with rigging and a crow’s nest. There are also several very large slides and flume tubes, as well as high level walkways accessed by a huge scramble net. Most famous and popular of all is the ‘death slide’! This vertical drop slide is a modern version of a Victorian invention and starts with a shocking 19- foot vertical drop which then levels out for an exciting, fast and slippery slide.
For those not quite so daring, the Adventure Playground also contains swing boats, spinning discs, trampolines, a Wendy House, a ball pool, see-saws, swings and a sand pit.
Children are kept happy here for hours on end. It gives them a rare opportunity in today’s world to develop imaginative play and confidence – and all in the most beautiful surroundings. The children who first came here in the late 1970s and early 1980s are now returning with their children!
The Adventure Playground also offers a kiosk selling hot drinks, cold drinks, hot dogs, sweets, crisps and, of course, ice-cream. The kiosk is only open at weekends and school holidays.
Soft Play Palace
The Soft Play Palace at Bowood was erected in 2002 to provide younger children (up to 132cm in height) a safe, dry and fun environment for their first experiences of playing at Bowood. Located next to the Bothy Bonanza Party Rooms it can be found a short distance from the Adventure Playground. Equipped with a ball pool, slide, spinning discs and rope walks, the 1,500 square foot area is on two levels where children can enjoy themselves for hours. A particular favourite is the air blower, which lifts balls into the air and fascinates. There is separate seating where adults can relax and enjoy a coffee while the children burn off their seemingly endless energy.
