The Ultimate (roller coaster)

The Ultimate begins by exiting the station on a short straight track, followed by a slight curve to the left into the first lift hill. After cresting the lift, the train proceeds into the first drop, followed by two airtime hills, a slight curve to the left, followed by another airtime hill. After another slight curve to the left, the train travels through a long stretch of straight track that cuts through a patch of woods. Following this section, there is a series of five small airtime hills (aka "bunny hops") that lead into the second lift hill. After cresting the top of the second lift, the train continues straight, followed by a curve to the left, followed by another straight section leading into the second drop. Following the second drop, the train weaves through six banked turns that cut through the woods, hugging the terrain. After a series of small airtime hills and slight curves, the train cuts through a short tunnel, followed by a helix up and to the left. Following the first helix, the train pulls into a second helix, down and to the right, into another tunnel. Following the second helix, the train continues on a long and slightly curved track into the final brake run, followed by a short lift hill back into the station.

Ultimate represented an investment of £5.2 million and was the concept of the park's original owner, Robert Staveley. Construction work began in early 1990 and took eighteen months to complete before the opening to the public on 17 July 1991.

While Ultimate was designed by Big Country Motioneering, they were not involved with the completion of the project. Lightwater Valley's owner had engineers from British Rail Engineering Limited oversee the construction. A few sections of track on the second half of the ride were redesigned to change their banking. The track was made by "Tubular Engineering".

Set within 44 acres (178,000 m²) of woodland, The Ultimate takes passengers on a 7 minute, 34 second ride along 7,442 feet (2,268 m) of tubular steel track and up two lift hills of 102 and 107 feet (31 and 33 m) (140 feet (43 m) in total when taking terrain difference into consideration) that rest on Canadian redwood trestles. The Ultimate travels an average of 11.2 mph (18.0 km/h). It currently runs two trains on a normal day, each of which can hold a maximum of 38 passengers. It originally had over the shoulder restraints but after complaints of discomfort, these were changed to a giant lap bar.

In June 1994, a deer from a nearby forest strayed onto the track and was hit by the train. A 12-year-old boy was taken to the hospital as a result of the accident.[2] In September 2014, another collision with a deer on the track occurred. No riders were injured, but the deer was killed instantly. Park officials stated that although the perimeter is fenced off, animals such as deer occasionally get in.[3]

Following their takeover of the park in 2021, The Brighton Pier Group’s Chief Executive stated, ‘The Ultimate is not dead in the water. It needs some work doing on it, but we are more than conscious of its iconic status. If we can do something with it, then we will. Obviously safety has got to be the priority, so in due course we will have a look at it and make sure it complies with modern standards. It is quite unique. There are options to shorten it a little bit or to change its track. You wouldn’t want something that large in your back garden and not be able to use it, would you?’ [4]

The park has confirmed via Twitter that the attraction will not operate for the 2022 season either, leaving its future uncertain.