Is Alton Towers new Thi3teen ride as scary as they say?

Mar 21 2010 by Steve Wollaston, Sunday Mercury

The ride started as any good ride should – a great big climb – 60ft in fact. Then it’s the quick glance out over the rest of the park, a few swear words and cling on for dear life.

We were taken on an exhilarating adventure through the pitch black forest experiencing adrenalin-pumping speeds, rapid reversing and terrific twists.

TH13TEEN is great fun, until it starts being sinister, which is what happens when you enter the superbly themed and totally creepy crypt.

This is where the ride really takes hold of you, the lights go out, everyone screams, and then it does something totally unexpected.

I will spare you the details to save spoiling the surprise.

My daughter played her part brilliantly, with a blood curdling high-pitched teenage girl scream that lasted for the whole ride.

We had survived the evils of the forest and Britain’s scariest ride.

There was only one thing to do. Head straight back for the queue to get on it again – brilliant!

It is worth noting that the ride is actually really good fun. Rather than being utterly terrifying, it is really a very well-themed ride with some great excitement and a brilliant catch.

It is suitable for kids over the age of 10, though.

Nobody had a bad word to say about the ride, Bill Bailey described it as ‘awesome’ and Gail Porter said it was ‘out of this world’.

Riders must be taller than 1.2 metres. Alton Towers day tickets cost £30.40, £23.20 for children aged 4-11 and £21.60pp for families; 0871 222 3330, altontowers.com