Fear factor: the four white-knuckle rides that terrify our trade panel

Louise Bebbington, product administrator, Funway Holidays, says: “Taking fearless riders up 335ft and then dropping them at 60mph, this ride mimics the flight of the bird itself. The view from the top is incredible.

“As we reached the summit, our seats slowly rotated forwards, and before I knew it I was face down staring at the floor. I didn’t have time to panic before we plummeted at speeds and power I’ve never experienced before. Falcon’s Fury is definitely the best free-fall tower in my books, and should be on every adrenalin junkie’s bucket list.”

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Chris Hagan, head of overseas, transport and ancillaries, SuperBreak, says: “I found Shambhala hugely scary. The initial climb to the top of the first drop felt so high that I’m sure I could see Barcelona in the distance. It’s the highest rollercoaster in Europe and, as I’m scared of heights, the first drop was definitely the best bit for me - at least I was coming back a little closer to earth. The rollercoaster is designed like the Himalayas, so there are lots of stomach-churning peaks.”

• portaventura.co.uk

Suzanna Smith, consultant, Thomas Cook Signature, says: “Beyond terrifying. I sat on the back row, closed my eyes then opened them at the top and the doors opened and I thought I was outside. Then we descended rapidly and my stomach turned. We didn’t know when the doors would open and we’d descend again.”

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Too scared to try these rides? Olympic diving star Tom Daley explains how to overcome the fear factor…

“Standing on the edge of the 10-metre board is always scary, but when you’ve done it for more than 10 years, you learn how to manage the fear and use the adrenalin to your advantage. It’s not natural to jump off anything that high, but I can’t think about all the “what ifs” when I’m about to dive, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to do it.

I’m a massive adrenalin junkie. Busch Garden’s Falcon’s Fury is the scariest ride I’ve ever been on. Your legs are underneath you, so you’re facing the ground 100 metres up in the air - it’s pretty terrifying, but the adrenalin rush is incredible. I don’t usually scream on rides, but I did the first time I tried Falcon’s Fury. I ended up riding it six times.

Aquatica’s Ihu’s Breakaway Falls is great fun with a group of friends. You’re all facing each other, then there’s the countdown and you have no idea who’s going to drop first, which is pretty unnerving. I met an engineer at Busch Gardens and he was talking about the amount of tests the rides have to pass before they let anyone on them; that should reassure a lot of people. When I’m diving, I have to keep my eyes open so I know where I am.

The same applies on rollercoasters. Keeping your eyes open is the only way to ride them.I always like to try new things. You don’t know what you might end up loving if you don’t give it a go."