Proof that we did it

I'm scared of heights. But you only live once, so when we got the opportunity to do the roof walk at the Sage Gateshead for free (usual price of £69), we of course said yes! In order to get to the roof, you have to climb a vertical ladder. Then change from that ladder to another short, super narrow ladder. And then you are on the roof. We were a group of six with three guides looking after us, harnessing us onto the ropes on the roof and taking the photos (you are not allowed to bring your own phones/cameras).

What an experience! I'm not sure whether I found the ladders more terrifying than the actual roof walk. I mean what good is the harness going to do when dangling inside the vertical ladder?
Check out how the roof curves:

And as you can see there is nothing on the roof. Just the ropes to hold onto. When climbing back down, you have to go backwards. Without gloves on, your hands quickly warm up from sliding down the rope... Getting down was definitely scarier than going up. Quite possibly, as you can't see where you are going.

Apparently they are planning to put a walkway with railings on. Understandable from a health & safety point of view - but I am glad we did it without. I'm sure it's a much more exciting experience!!

Can you see the massive dent on the roof 'tile' to the left of us?
They stopped taking 10 people up there after that incident...