ACTION HEROES; Indiana Jones, eat your heart out. There's action and adventure galore here in the Midlands. Thirteen year-old schoolgirl CORA BATLEY-MOSS has an adrenalin break in leafy Shropshire.

Byline: CORA BATLEY-MOSS

AS I looked down 40ft from the top of a wooden tower at the ground below, I was determined to jump.

After all, I was the last in my team to go and they were all watching me.

Fortunately, I was safely strapped inside a harness attached to a wire, with little chance of falling.

The feeling as I stepped off the ledge and rushed down the zip wire to the helpers below was wonderful - I'd never been so fast, outside of a ride at a theme park or in a car.

It was one of the highlights of my week-long stay at Boreatton Park near Shrewsbury, run by PGL, which I'm told stands for Parents Get Lost.

I was helped on my high-wire adventure by groupies aged around 18 to 20.

Mostly taking time out from university, they're like big brothers and sisters.

I got there on a sunny Saturday during the school holidays with my parents and my older brother Greg, who was also staying.

It was nice to know he was around if I needed anybody, but actually I saw very little of him because we were in different groups for activities.

Once mum and dad had signed all the forms, one of the groupies took me through to the cabins. You can stay in the house, in wooden cabins with dorms, or in tents.

My big sisters have stayed in tents and said it was fun - until it rained. So I was glad I had the chance of a proper room.

As I was the first there, I got the pick of the beds, and chose a top bunk. Mum helped me to unpack my wash bag and roll out my sleeping bag and pillow.

I was lucky and got on with all the girls in my dorm - Cath, Tiffany, Molly, Primrose and Amanda.

They were mostly from England, but also at the centre were teens from France, Germany, Spain and America.

I've kept in touch with quite a few on the internet.

We had a great time with all the activities during the day, and in the evenings it was cool hanging out with my room mates.

After dark, when the groupies had been round to make sure the lights were off, we giggled and talked while we were supposed to be sleeping - although we got told off a few times.

However, it wasn't as noisy as my brother's dorm.

He got on with all the lads and he told me later his room was really wild at times - though he claimed he slept through some of it! I don't know how the groupies put up with it.

As well as the groupies running the activities, there were others just to look after us. They put us in teams, got us singing songs and making things, so it was a great time.

There was a talent show at the end of the week and Greg and his room-mates all played music. Greg's a drummer and the boys he was sharing with played guitars and one sang really well.

Another night, there was a disco and we girls had a wonderful time getting ready.

I'm good doing make-up and hair so I helped the girls in my room. Good job I'd remembered to take smart clothes among all the old ones mum made me bring.

My sisters had warned me it got really muddy so it wasn't worth taking smart stuff for activities. There is a drying room, which means when you've got soaked on one activity you can leave your trainers or trousers to dry for another day.

There was so much to do.

As well as the high wire, there was canoeing, kayaking, raft building, swimming, and obstacle courses. The centre also runs specialist courses - I would love to have done the horse care one.

If I'd wanted, I could have a big breakfast but usually I went for toast or cereal, rather than cooked stuff.

There was always food on the go, including healthy stuff, which I prefer.

My brother was seen eating an apple and salad - I thought he was allergic to green food!

Every night the groupies handed back part of the pocket money we'd brought so we could buy sweets. They keep it for safe-keeping and just give you some each day. I even had enough left to buy mum and dad some presents.

I was able to phone home a couple of times to make sure mum and dad were coping without us.

I couldn't believe how quickly Saturday came, when they arrived to take me home. I didn't want to leave my new friends but I couldn't wait to see my pets and tell my mates from school what I'd done.

Mum and dad worried that because Greg was nearly 16, he'd find it boring, but he said it was brilliant.

This year, now I'm a bit older, I'm hoping mum and dad think about PGL again - but perhaps they could take us to the one in France while they go for a few days by themselves.

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TRAVEL FILE

Cora Batley-Moss stayed at PGL, Boreatton Park, near Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

One-week stays in May cost from pounds 309 in a tent, and from pounds 379 in a lodge or the main house. The price rises to pounds 399 and pounds 479 respectively in August.

PGL runs holidays where seven to 17 year-olds can enjoy activities from zorbing to quad biking, abseiling to rafting in 16 centres in UK and Europe.

They also offer three-day/2-night introductory breaks for first-timers only at five UK centres, including Boreatton Park, for just pounds 99 per child.

For details call 08700 507 507 or visit website www.pgl.co.uk.

CAPTION(S):

GO FOR IT: from high-wire thrills to having a splashing time, Boreatton Park offers a real adventure