Tis’ the season for wondrous light trails that illuminate the dark evenings with a luminescent splash of colour, and, lucky for those of you in the Birmingham area, Light Cycles has just opened – or should I say, burst into light. Created by immersive entertainment studio Moment Factory, the magical night trail invites you to connect with the natural world with five multisensory installations. So, we put on our cosiest coats, grabbed our hats and headed out on a crisp, autumnal evening to experience it for ourselves. Here’s our review of Light Cycles…
How to find it…
You’ll need to hop in a car or go with a train to Birmingham International and then a taxi (or Uber) combo to find this nighttime walk, which winds through the idyllic lakes next to Stonebridge Golf Course in Meriden. Ok, so it turns out it’s not technically in slap-bang central Birmingham – but it makes sense you have to venture outside the central concrete labyrinth to find yourself in the thick of nature, and, as you’ll soon learn, Light Cycles is all about nature.
First impressions
When we first arrived, wheels crunching along a long gravel drive flanked by leaf-stripped trees, we saw the first glimmers of what was to come. And by glimmers, I mean glimmers, just a flash of colour among branches in the distance and silvery beacons of light that, for a brief palm-to-face second, I mistook for moonlight. It’s enough to get you intrigued, without giving too much away.
Then, after a warm welcome by the staff and perusal of the merchandise, we wandered down to the entrance. Unexpectedly, the food and drink are located at the beginning of the trail – as opposed to the typical place to sit, eat and reflect at the end – but it worked well in this case.
You can satiate any rumbling stomachs with some classic comfort food (think burgers, hot dogs and loaded fries) and then start your illuminated journey with your hands clutching a warming drink (let’s just say mulled wine fans will be happy). Plus, it’s a good meeting spot to gather your group or conduct a headcount of your kids beforehand.
Highlights (get it?)
There are five different installations to enjoy on the one-kilometre trail: Crystal Grove, Forest Frequencies, The Hearth, Invisible (don’t worry it’s not actually invisible) and Into The Sunset. Like moths to a kaleidoscopic flame, once we reached the first moving rainbow of lights we were pretty much hypnotised. Luckily, you are free to move at your own pace and can always step to the side to let others pass while you soak up the surroundings.
There’s a therapeutic element to these mesmerising displays. Not only because of the brain-pleasing sequences and atmospheric melodies; each one begins with a voice, encouraging you to ‘witness the songs of the forest’ and ‘let their music carry you’. Now, this might be due to my recent Lord of the Rings rewatch, but it instantly felt reminiscent of the disembodied whispers you could hear in a certain Elvish forest. It was strangely soothing.
Speaking of magical things, this trail could convincingly double as a fairytale realm. With a sprinkle of kid-like wonder, it was easy to imagine the sea of lights next to a path as luminescent toadstools, glowing brighter with every swelling twinkle in the harp-like music, or the mysterious bamboo sculpture, where red light spills through the woven fissures, as the giant beating heart of an otherworldly beast that slumbers just beneath the earth’s surface. I think we have a potential children’s book on our hands…
It’s not just the little ones that will be enchanted. With every step you take along the trail, the quieter your mind gets. It’s a perfect excuse to switch off from reality for a moment and just enjoy the striking visuals in front of you. A few installations are actually more like light shows, where you can plonk yourself down on a tree stump, watch how the lights respond to the rhythmic music and see the colours play out on nature’s canvas (aka the trees, the sky and the rippling waters).
While each art installation had its unique charm, I found my favourite to be the climactic ‘Into The Sunset’. It was a striking combination of digital art and nature, where you wander through a forest bursting with (thankfully non-lethal) lasers of light that dance across your face and reach the warm embrace of a giant orb-like sunset which fluctuates between a fiery amber and a soothing blue. While we didn’t encounter anyone resorting to the distinctly British pastime of formal queuing, it will likely be a popular spot for a unique photo op. Basically, just expect shadow puppets, romantic gestures and fun friendship pics galore. All soundtracked to a chorus of serene ‘ooohs’ spilling from the speakers.
So, to conclude this Light Cycles review, this is a bewitching experience that people of all ages can enjoy. For families, it’s a dose of magic (and fresh air) that can send young imaginations wild, for couples it’s a romantic escape for the evening, for friends it’s a chance to catch up (with a mulled tipple in hand) in a unique setting and for art-admirers it’s a mesmerising moment of reflection and appreciation. For me, it was the enjoyment of seeing nature and technology work in spellbinding harmony – and a great excuse to indulge in a hot chocolate topped with a small mountain of marshmallows.
