Ten best outdoor & adventure activities in North Wales!
1. Zip World
With three locations across North Wales, Zip World has a unique range of activities that will guarantee you thrills and excitement! At Zip World Slate Caverns in Blaenau Ffestiniog you will find Titan, Europe’s largest zip zone which will see you zip-wiring a total of 1890 metres. Also at this location is Bounce Below and Slate Caverns Adventures. Penrhyn Quarry in Bethesda has Velocity, the fastest zip line in the world seeng you travel at speeds of over 100mph! Also at Penrhyn Quarry are the thrilling new Quarry Karts, the UK’s ONLY mountain cart experience. Finally Zip World Forest Adventures near us in Llanrwst has the Fforest Coaster, a Zip Safari, Treetop Nets and Plummet - another world first which sees you drop through a trap door over 100ft high to experience the closest thing to freewill! So much to choose from!
www.zipworld.co.uk
2. Mountain Biking
North Wales has some of the best MTB trails and routes in Wales and the UK. Whether you want a leisurely ride on forest tracks or more exhilarating downhill action there is something for everyone. The Gwydir Mawr & Bach trails are just two miles from us and offers you big climbs, thrilling descents, brilliant singletrack and amazing scenery. Beics Betws in nearby Betws-y-Coed hires mountain bikes, including e-mountain bikes. Antur Stiniog in Blaenau Ffestiniog has downhill MTB trails with 14 routes graded green to black and the best mountain bike uplift service in the UK, whilst Coed-y-Brenin Forest Park has various trails on forest tracks catering for everyone from complete beginners to experts craving fast, flowing single track, and a skills area to practice in! There’s even more world-class mountain biking at Penmachno Forest and Mynydd Hiraethog. Riders are just spoilt for choice! As keen cyclists ourselves we are happy to advise you where to head, and a hose and bike storage facilities are available at our B&B.
3. Go Below Caving Adventures
From their base near Betws-y-Coed, Go Below offer unique underground caving adventures that include abseiling, a zip line, boating, scrambling and climbing a waterfall. At one point you abseil your way down to the deepest point in the UK! Fun, experienced and qualified instructors guide you through the caves and abandoned mines, and absolutely no prior experience is necessary. Guests who have stayed with us at Crafnant House and tried it have come back absolutely buzzing, so definitely an experience to recommend!
4. Surfing
Adventure Parc Snowdonia (formerly known as Surf Snowdonia) in the village of Dolgarrog is the world’s first inland surf lagoon and a justifiably popular place for surfers to practice their moves as you are guaranteed a wave every 90 seconds! Beginners are welcome too with lessons available from expert instructors - they’ll have you performing tricks on the waves in no time! Also on site is Adrenaline Indoors which has climbing walls, indoor caving, extreme slides and a zip line over the lagoon. All of this is only 3 miles from us at Crafnant House.
www.adventureparcsnowdonia.com
5. Walking up Snowdon
Of course Snowdon is one of the most popular walks in North Wales, and climbing the tallest mountain in England and Wales is a challenge most visitors want to do at least once. Snowdon (NOT Mount Snowdon as it is often called!) has six different paths to climb to the top. The Llanberis path goes from the village of the same name - it is the longest (it takes about 6-7 hours to walk to the summit and back down) and some claim it to be the easiest, but this also means it is the most popular! The Miners Track and PYG track both start at Pen y Pass car park and we often recommend going up one and coming back down the other to get the most of the stunning views both offer - they are a lot more interesting than the Llanberis path. Finally the Watkin, Rhyd Ddu and Snowdon Ranger paths all start on the west side of Snowdon and are often quieter than the other routes. Whichever path you choose you are guaranteed a great day out - you may even get views at the top if the weather behaves and there is a cloud free summit.
Of course Snowdon is not the only great walk in North Wales - there are plenty of other interesting places to hike and ramble - just ask us for tips and advice!
6. Climbing
Snowdonia and North Wales are popular for climbers from all over the UK, who come here to enjoy the major mountain crags situated in breathtaking scenery. Whether you come to the region for clambering, climbing, abseiling, traversing or bouldering, expert instructors at outfits such as North Wales Active will help find the best locations for your adventure. If the weather is not so good there are great indoor climbing centres too, such as Beacon Climbing Centre in Caernarfon - the largest indoor climbing centre in North Wales.
7. Paddleboarding
Stand up paddle boarding (SUP) is one of the fastest growing activities in the UK and our region is the perfect location for your adventure with clear, still lakes to paddle on and stunning landscapes to enjoy. Snowdonia Watersports in Llanberis offers paddle boards for hire on beautiful Llyn Padarn, so you can head out onto the water at your own pace and without an instructor. Psyched Paddle Boarding are one of the leading specialists in this exciting area and offer guided trips to explore the rugged Anglesey coastline.
8. Wild Swimming
Whether you want to swim in a river, a lake or even a waterfall, North Wales offers some stunning locations to enjoy a swim outdoors. The Fairy Glen near Betws y Coed is not far from our bed & breakfast - a picturesque, narrow gorge with some large rocks to sit on. Llyn Dinas near Beddgelert is a a 1km-long valley lake at the foot of Snowdon in the heart of the national park, where you can have a dip with a beautiful backdrop. Plenty of other locations in Snowdonia offer you a chance to swim in open water - why not plan your trip now!
9. Cycling
North Wales is not just a destination for mountain biking - quiet roads and traffic free cycle paths allow cyclists to enjoy panoramic vistas and combine rides with wonderful sightseeing. You can cycle from our B&B right into the heart of Snowdonia, with some challenging climbs along the way! The Brailsford Way offers you 50 mile or 75 mile circuits around the national park with breathtaking scenery at every turn. The North Wales coastal route from Chester to Holyhead is largely traffic free and offers you coastal towns, mountainous scenery and sea views along the way. The Lon Eifion cycle path departs from Caernarfon and runs parallel to the Welsh Highland Railway for some of the ride,with the 24 mile traffic free cycle path giving you fantastic views of the mountain ranges around you. So bring your bike with you when you come to Crafnant House - we’ll gladly advise you of the best cycling routes, and the best cafes too!
10. Rib Rides on Anglesey
For something completely different why not try an exhilarating boat trip on Anglesey? RibRide in Menai Bridge offer you their Velocity trip which sees you flying down the Menai Strait on the world’s fastest RIB, whilst other trips allow you to go under Thomas Telford’s Menai Suspension Bridge and see other sights along the Menai Strait - the body of water separating Anglesey from the mainland. Seacoast Safaris offer a variety of trips from their dock in Beaumaris on their hybrid rib boat which has 700HP of power!
We hope this gives you some ideas of what to do in North Wales when you plan your visit and choose your accommodation - don’t just come for two days!
www.crafnanthouse.com