Adventure Activities to try in North Wales this Spring/Summer
As the weather heats up, perhaps your holidays should too. No, we don’t mean flying south – we mean trying something a bit more daring. North Wales is the ideal place to go. Packed full of stunning natural beauty from the lofty crags of Snowdon to the miles of beaches just waiting for you to explore. So here’s a little guide to the best activities to get your heart racing.
Velocity 2
Located in a disused quarry, or more accurately over a disused quarry in Bethesda, it is the longest zipwire in Europe where you can reach a frankly ridiculous 125mph. You can hire a headcam if you wish to relieve your fear/exhilaration.
Zip World Slate Caverns
If that’s more than you feel you can handle the same company run the Zip World Slate Caverns in Blaenau Ffestiniog where, after a brief training session, you can spend a morning or afternoon exploring their network of not just one, but tenzip wires. If you still have energy you can visit Bounce Below and explore a playground of nets, slides and bouncing!
Tree Top Adventures
Cross the pass out of Blaenau and you head towards Betws-y-Coed and Zip World Fforest, where you can take a Zip Safari through the trees, or climb aboard the Fforest Coaster (which is a bit like bobsleigh without the ice). Or you can scramble around the Treetop nets or have a go on the Skyride – a five-person swing that is out of this world.
Madog Quads
If you prefer your energy to come from an engine then Tremadog is home to Madog Quads where you can have a gentle trek to view the spectacular Welsh scenery or instead opt for a more exhilarating and challenging route involving bumps, dips and lots and lots of mud.
Mountain Biking
Snowdonia is home to some of the most thrilling mountain bike routes to be found anywhere. There’s a dedicated mountain bike trail network in Coed-y-Brenin, where you can hire bikes if you wish. The trails range from “The Foundary” – a beginners practice area to the Black “Tarw Du” which should take around 2-3 hours for experienced mountain bikers to complete.
For those who fancy something a bit different there are also several companies offering uplift services – basically a taxi service for bikes – so you can plan your own route across the hundreds of miles of bridleways and tracks that criss-cross the mountains.
Surfing
If you’d rather get wet from the sea than from sweat then North Wales is a great place for surfing, with over 7 beaches known for their surfing potential. Try the internationally known Hell’s Mouth, a four mile long stretch of sand with varying wave heights or nearby Aberdaron, Porth Oer or Porth Colmon which cater for all abilities from beginner to expert.
Where to Stay?
As a base for exploring North Wales, Porthmadog has much to recommend it. It is the terminus of not one but three heritage railways and within easy driving range of all the above listed attractions. For accommodation Porthmadog has a huge range from cosy traditional inns, self-catering or catered establishments.
Porthmadog allows easy access to the heart of the mountains by following the road to Blaenau Ffestiniog, whilst also being only a stones throw from the surfing along the Llyn peninsula. In nearby Criccieth, families can visit the castle and enjoy traditional seaside activities, perhaps to calm down from all the excitement earlier in the day or relax in one of the many fine restaurants or pubs the town has to offer.
Author: Ruby Daub. Ruby is a great writer who has been sharing her travel experience through her blogs and articles for the last couple of years. You can follow Ruby on twitter @rubydaub.
