SPLICE the main brace me hearties, pirates have never been more popular.

And, either through good planning or serendipity, Lightwater Valley's new attraction for 2011 is its first themed area, the £1.2m Skeleton Cove – five major rides with a pirate motif all designed to shiver the timbers of even the staunchest theme-park ride veterans.

Centrepiece of the new development, built on the former Grand Prix Go-Karts site, is The Black Pearl, a frankly terrifying 360 degree voyage into the skies.

As white knuckle rides go, The Black Pearl is a classic . The “boat” is attached to a huge arm which swings higher and higher into the sky. Eventually, the weight of the boat and the momentum of the swing comes into play and it does a full 360-degree loop.

On the upside you do get some wonderful views of the entire 175-acre park (albeit from an upside down perspective). On the downside, I'd recommend you don't launch a raiding party on the nearby Hungry Harbour restaurant until you've completed your voyage and brought your stomach safely under control.

In the interests of journalistic endeavour I had one go – that was more than enough, thanks.

If you don't have the nerve for The Black Pearl maybe The Flying Cutlass will be more your cup of grog. Based on one of the most successful and popular amusement rides of all time, the Cutlass is a swing boat that gently lifts passengers out of their seats. Big enough for the whole family, The Flying Cutlass is a far milder theme park ride compared to the tricky Black Pearl, perfect for pirates young and old (provided they are over 1.1 metre tall).

A powder keg was the preferred method of storing and transporting gunpowder until the 1870s and the development of the metal cased shell.

Powder kegs had to be handled with care – a single spark could spell disaster – so it's no surprise the Powder Keg ride is one of Lightwater's most explosive attractions. Based on the classic spinning gondolas idea, Powder Kegs is an assault on the equilibrium – a fast and sometimes dizzying ride.

If your little pirates are still at primary school, Skull Rock and the Pirate Swinger offer a gentler experience than the major attarctions. A sixth ride, a junior pirate ship, may make its debut later this summer.

Of course, there's lots more to do at Lightwater Valley than visit Skeleton Cove. The park has more than 30 major rides and attractions, including Europe's longest roller-coaster (The Ultimate, which cost £5.2m to build 20 years ago), the dizzying Eagle's Claw, Falls of Terror, one of the highest white water slides in the world, the underground Raptor Attack (which I remember as the Rat Ride) and the sick-making Twister (formerly called the Treetop Twister).

We liked the way the park groups its attractions – jaw droppers for adults and teens, whipper snappers for younger children and nippers for guests of all ages – making things easier for harassed parents and avoiding tears when you've queued for half-an-hour only to fail the height restriction.

Lightwater Valley started life as a small pick your own fruit farm. When disaster threatened the crop in the summer of 1976 a lake was excavated to overcome any further drought problems.

Almost by accident the lake proved a surprise hit with visitors, encouraging the Staveley family (who had owned the land since 1516) to add an adventure playground which was quickly followed by crazy golf and a miniature railway.

In 1987 Robert Staveley pressed ahead with his plan to transform Lightwater Valley into a full blown theme park. Two years later he opened the Soopa Loopa – the UK's first double loop rollercoaster.

Lightwater Valley followed that with the spectacular Ultimate which was, at the time, the biggest roller coaster in the world. Bigger, even, than the thrill rides at Disneyland.

As The Ultimate proved, the staff at Lightwater Valley really know the ropes and with Skeleton Cove this year they have certainly pushed the boat out.

* Lightwater Valley is well signposted, turn off the A1 onto the A61 towards Ripon, then take the A6108 for 2.5 miles. Follow the brown tourist signs for Lightwater Valley which you’ll pick up as you get closer. Gates open at 10am and the park closes from 4.30pm. A family ticket for four costs £72.