The ECC join Gully and his friends at Gulliver's Valley and Gulliver's Kingdom...
The ECC join Gully and his friends at Gulliver's Valley and Gulliver's Kingdom...
Back in 2014, the European Coaster Club organised its first trip to Gulliver's Kingdom - a park usually off limits to many enthusiasts as the Gulliver's company operates a strict families only policy at its parks.
The trip was fantastic, and the Club ran another successful weekend at Gulliver's World and Gulliver's Land in 2019. The plan had been for a follow-up trip to visit the as-then under construction brand new Gulliver's theme park in Rotherham when it opened the following year, but Covid put those ideas on hold.
Finally the long awaited trip took place on the weekend of 9-10 July 2022, visiting Gulliver's Valley on the Saturday followed by Gulliver's original park Gulliver's Kingdom on the Sunday. The weather remained hot and sunny over the two days, and it was a great chance to make new friends and re-kindle friendships with many members I hadn't seen in over two years!
We met up outside the main Gulliver's Valley entrance around 9:45am
Walking over to the park's new Gears area
We had a 30 minute ERS on Grand Prix Racers before the park opened
Setting off
Climbing the lift hill
The spiralling helix gives some nice views over the surrounding countryside
Dropping down under the lift
Despite some bumpy transitions, Grand Prix Racers was lots of fun
Carfari took us on a trip through the woods, past ... mainly just trees actually
Tombstone Mine is the park's dark ride
It's a higher quality version of similar dark rides at the other Gulliver's parks
Rocky Ridge Railway is a small Zamperla Mini Mouse coaster
It was moved to Gulliver's Valley from Gulliver's World
Having fun on Rocky Ridge Railway
Desperado Drop is a really nice family drop tower
Some of the gang having fun on Desperado Drop
Train driver
Sioux City Express is a tiny train ride
There are some big empty spaces within the park, ready for new areas to be built over the next few years
The statue of Gulliver which is common to all Gulliver's parks ... and currently the only real reference to the Gulliver's Tales stories in the park
Lunch in the Lilliput Theatre Restaurant
Gully and his friends put on a dance show, but given the heat the characters didn't stay out too long
Ghostly Galleon was nice but lacked any pops of airtime at the extremes of the swing
Lost World is Gulliver's Valley's prehistoric themed area
Several groups managed to ground the boats on Lost World River Tour!
A family of birds were nesting in the station
A dinosaur rock band
Gyrosaur is the most intense ride at Gulliver's Valley
Stuffing four adults into a single Jurassic Jeep was an interesting experience!
Sunshine selfie
Apache Falls got everyone soaked and was the perfect ride to cool off in the heat
Monster Mansion is a spooky walkthrough
Which witch?
Chuckle Street, a tribute to the Chuckle Brothers
Views across the park from the Ferris Wheel
The castle is actually the entrance to the park's overnight accommodation
The heat was affecting Jumbo Jetters and stopping the elephants rising to their full height
Down on the Mini Farm
Billy
Mr Whippy time
We'd had a lovely day at Gulliver's Valley in the hot sunshine
Gulliver's Valley feels very much like a new park, which is both a plus and a minus. Everything is new and shiny (even the rides brought over from other Gulliver's parks!), but there are big gaps and empty spaces. The park is effectively built in the middle of a field, meaning all the themed areas are visible from each other and there aren't many trees to provide either screening or shade - something which would have been most welcome on our visit. There is a lot of promise however, and the Gears area that opened the year after the park's debut has added another rollercoaster and more attractions to the mix. From what I've heard, there's much more to come.
Our park for Sunday was Gulliver's Kingdom, set high up on the slopes above Matlock Bath
Waiting inside the park
We were treated to an ERS on Log Coaster
Since Switchback was removed, Log Coaster has been Gulliver's Kingdom's only rollercoaster
It was a brilliant ERS with lots of fun and laughter
Mr Whippy, I'll be back for you later!
Some ECC members had a go on the park's zip line
Other chose something more leisurely
Zipping overhead
There was a wild swing out near the end of the zip line
Gulliver's Kingdom's pirate ship has a little more kick than the Gulliver's Valley version
Contining with our Pirate Adventure
The Kingdom's Gulliver statue
Reflecting on our carousel ride
Catching the chair lift back up the hill
Time for the Log Flume
Hey Paul
Just time for a go on Silver Mine before lunch
Grillin' an' Chillin'
Lost your horse?
Here he is!
It's OK, I've found it.
Chillin' in a dinghy
Water slide
Antique (cars)
Everyone digs the JCB Zone
The diggers were a little smaller than expected
These folk LoveTwoExplore
A view over Matlock Bath and the Heights of Abraham
Remember at the beginning of the day when I said I'd be back for Mr Whippy?
Rounding off the day with a round
A final ride back to the top of the hill
Despite the heat, we'd had another great day at Gulliver's Kingdom. On my previous trips I've found the park to be very pleasant, the rides fun and the staff friendly. Today was no exception. Overall it had been a great weekend, and a welcome chance to join an ECC trip for the first time in much much too long.