The 3-Year Transformation of Kids Berkeley Castle
Contact UsTony Cullimore, owner of Cattle Country Adventure Park in Gloucester, approached us with an ambitious goal: to transform an existing play area into a flagship, standalone attraction.
The site was far from a blank canvas. We had to work around a 12m x 12m existing fort, a steep wooded mound, and a critical farm access road that required clearance for massive machinery like combine harvesters. This led to a strategic three-year expansion plan to create the Kids Berkeley Castle.
Phase 1: Breaking Boundaries (2016)
The primary goal was to connect the existing fort to the crazy golf area. This required taking children safely over a concrete farm track with enough height to allow 5m of clearance for farm vehicles.
Access for this phase was incredibly difficult. All materials had to be transported up steep slopes and steps, and the design had to weave bridges through a dense canopy of trees.
The final phase focused on older children. Tony needed bigger, tougher challenges that would provide a visual WOW factor for visitors looking down across the park.
The Story Behind the Project
The Challenge:
Tony Cullimore, owner of Cattle Country Adventure Park in Gloucester, approached us with an ambitious goal: to transform an existing play area into a flagship, standalone attraction.
The site was far from a blank canvas. We had to work around a 12m x 12m existing fort, a steep wooded mound, and a critical farm access road that required clearance for massive machinery like combine harvesters. This led to a strategic three-year expansion plan to create the Kids Berkeley Castle.
Phase 1: Breaking Boundaries (2016)
The primary goal was to connect the existing fort to the crazy golf area. This required taking children safely over a concrete farm track with enough height to allow 5m of clearance for farm vehicles.
Access for this phase was incredibly difficult. All materials had to be transported up steep slopes and steps, and the design had to weave bridges through a dense canopy of trees.
The final phase focused on older children. Tony needed bigger, tougher challenges that would provide a visual WOW factor for visitors looking down across the park.
The Solution:
We designed a high-level net bridge that takes children from the fort and through the treetops. To ensure safety and confidence, the bridge over the lane was completely enclosed, allowing children to see the ground drop away while feeling totally secure.
Phase 2: Negotiating the Terrain (2017)
We created a large platform covering the top of the mound, which successfully eliminated slippery mud issues. We then built a midway tower and two-story tower, using flat-pack manufacturing to overcome the site’s access constraints.
Phase 3: The Final Expansion (2018)
We added two final towers to the far side of the original fort, featuring a large straight slide and a big tube slide. These were combined with more technical climbing challenges to push the physical skills of older visitors.
• Key Feature: A second tower featuring a high-speed spiral tube slide and a tumble tower for multiple exit routes.
• The Result: A majestic, imposing structure that can be seen from across the entire park.
• Key Feature: Tree-top bridges that make the area feel like a hidden jungle adventure.
• The Result: A hidden play zone that offers incredible views from the top tower and makes the most of the site’s natural elevation.
• Key Feature: Massive tube slides that provide a high-adrenaline exit from the castle walls.
• The Result: A completed project that looks imposing, professional, and exciting.
Project Gallery
A closer look at the materials, play value, detailing, and destination impact behind this Outdoor Play People installation.
Record-Breaking Success
Today, Kids Berkeley Castle covers a staggering 75m x 40m area and reaches heights of 12 metres from the road to the top of the mound. This long-term investment has turned the park into a premier destination for families in the South West.
It is a great success and gives the WOW factor. The investment has had a major impact. Apart from looking great, it has added extra value to the castle and kids spend hours playing on it. For the Outdoor Play People team, this was an incredibly rewarding journey. By overcoming the hurdles of a working farm together with Tony and his team, we have helped Cattle Country achieve record-breaking visitor numbers.
Stuart Burnell, General Manager of Cattle Country Adventure Park
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