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Planning a trip to Wales with kids in tow and don’t know where to start? Want to have some amazing outdoor adventures in North Wales but don’t know which ones are appropriate for children? Need some inspiration about where to go and what to do with the family? Then you have come to the right place!
Did you know that Wales accommodates three out of a total of fifteen National Parks in the United Kingdom? Whilst they are all utterly beautiful, they are also very different.
The hills in the Brecon Beacons National Park are covered with a carpet of lush green grass, whereas the rocky hills & lakes in Snowdonia National Park are the result of the last Ice Age. Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, in contrast, boasts a picturesque shoreline complete with sandy beaches as well as steep cliffs.
Wales is compact enough for you to explore all of its National Parks in one visit if time permits. We spent a total of four weeks road-tripping in a motorhome through all three of the Welsh National Parks. Hence, I recommend at least two weeks if you’d like to visit them all. Alternatively, choose only one or two parks and come back for the rest later.
It’s no secret that North Wales has become the “Adventure Capital of Europe”. Hence, we spent the majority of our time there to explore it all and have still only scratched the surface.
My children were 8 & 11 years of age at the time of our Wales road trip. They were able to participate in all the outdoor adventure activities mentioned in this article. Different activity providers will have different age restrictions – so, always check before you book.
Top Tip: If your child doesn’t meet a minimum age requirement for an activity, it’s always worth getting in touch with the activity provider as sometimes they’ll make an exception if they deem it safe to do so. A minimum age limit doesn’t always equate with a child’s capabilities. So, it’s worth asking.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Climb Snowdon
2. Go Rock-Climbing
3. Try Coasteering
4. Go Canyoning
5. Visit Llyn Idwal
6. Go Mountain Biking
7. Visit Waterfall Country
8. Go Kayaking
9. Hike the Welsh Three Peaks
10. Visit Anglesey
11. Go Zip-Lining
12. Visit a Waterfall
13. Visit a Slate Cavern
14. Go Paddle-Boarding
15. Visit a Lake
16. Visit a Beach
17. Go Tobogganing
18. Bounce on Treetop Nets
19. Go Horse-Riding
20. Go Camping
How To Use This Map: Click the Tab in the top left-hand corner of the map to view the Layers. You can click the Tick Boxes to hide or show Layers. If you click the Icons on the map, you can get more information about each activity/point of interest. If you click the Star next to the title of the map, this map will be added to your Google Maps account. To view it on your computer or phone, open Google Maps, click the Menu button, go to “Your Places,” click Maps, and this map will appear on your list.
1. Climb Snowdon
At 1,085 metres above sea level, Snowdon is the highest mountain in Wales & England. It is also the most visited mountain in the Great Britain with about 500,000 people making their way up to Snowdon’s summit each year.
Can you visit Snowdonia without hiking up Snowdon? Sure you can, but why would you want to miss out on the opportunity for a great day out and a feast for the eyes?
There are several routes up Snowdon (‘Yr Wyddfa’ in Welsh) – eight in total – hence, it can be tricky to choose the right one. After studying the different routes and seeking advice from a trusted mountaineer we decided on the Watkin Path.
LEARN MORE: Snowdon Watkin Path with Kids: The Ultimate Picture Guide
2. Go Rock-Climbing
in Snowdonia
Rock-climbing is a fun activity to embark on with kids. No matter whether you’re a beginner or a pro; there are countless opportunities for rock-climbing in Wales.
I enlisted the services of a climbing guide who had also guided us in the past. I highly recommend Bob Thomas at Contour Outdoor for any climbing or mountaineering activities in the UK or beyond. Once you’ve experienced the best, it’s hard to settle for anything less.
Bob suggested climbing a multi-pitch route up Cadair Idris via the Cyfrwy Arete which turned out to be the most amazing climbing adventure for us! After climbing up via the Cyfrwy Arete, we walked to Cadair Idris’ summit and finally returned via the Pony Path.
LEARN MORE: Climbing Cadair Idris via the Cyfrwy Arete: A Multi-Pitch Adventure
On another occasion, we climbed the Amphitheatre Buttress which is a classic climb in North Wales. Again, it was pitched at just the right difficulty and we had the most amazing day out on the Welsh hills.
LEARN MORE: Amphitheatre Buttress: A Classic Climb in North Wales
Our Verdict: This was the highlight of our summer adventures in Wales.
3. Try Coasteering
in Pembrokeshire
What is coasteering? Coasteering is a mix of shore-scrambling, rock-hopping, swell-riding, cave-exploring and cliff-jumping.
Did you know that coasteering was pioneered in Wales? In Pembrokeshire to be precise; by TYF Adventure to be more precise. When I was researching coasteering in Wales, I simply had to try “the originals”; and we weren’t disappointed! There are two sessions you can choose from: one for families and one for 16+ years.
Located on the beautiful St. David’s peninsula on the Pembrokeshire Coast, you’re spoilt for choice for beaches depending on the weather, the swell, your guide, etc. Our amazing guide, Jamie, took us to Abercastle Beach and we experienced a great new adventure.
Our Verdict: After multi-pitch rock-climbing Cadair Idris, coasteering was the next best adventure we had in Wales!
4. Go Canyoning
in North Wales
Whether you call it canyoning or gorge walking; it’s one and the same thing. Once you put on a wetsuit; off you go wading through a river, sliding down waterfalls, scrambling up rocks and jumping into pools.
We chose Snowdonia Adventure Activities and had a fun and exhilarating day. Due to age restrictions, we booked the Family Canyoning session but they also offer Canyoning Extreme for the age range of 12+ years.
5. Visit Llyn Idwal & Scramble up Devil’s Kitchen
in Snowdonia
When you first visit Llyn Idwal in Snowdonia, it’s like stepping into a magical wonderland. How can such a small lake be the setting for some of the most dramatic mountainous scenery in the UK at the oldest Nature Reserve in Wales? Well, the last Ice Age bears the answer for that.
It has everything you’d ask for an adventurous day-out: slabs for rock-climbing, a pebble shore for a dip in the lake, a scramble up Devil’s Kitchen and hikes to the peaks surrounding it as well as a gentle walk around the lake itself. There are three routes you can take around the lake.
LEARN MORE: See Top 12 Family Outdoor Activities in Snowdonia for more information on the three routes around Llyn Idwal.
Starting Point: Ogwen Visitor Centre, Nant Ffrancon, Bethesda, LL57 3LZ
Ordnance Survey Map: OS Explorer OL17 Snowdon & Conwy Valley
LEARN MORE: Devil’s Kitchen Snowdonia with Kids – The Complete Picture Guide
6. Go Mountain Biking
in North Wales
Wales offers some of the best MTB trails in the UK. You are spoilt for choice as there is something for every ability.
We tried out two mountain-biking trails in Snowdonia: one that I recommend for families and another that I wouldn’t recommend for novice mountain bikers.
1. Coed y Brenin Forest Park
Coed y Brenin Forest Park offers cycling trails for all abilities; from Easy to Moderate to Difficult. You only pay for parking – there are no entrance fees for the forest park. You can easily spend a whole day here taking on various mountain bike trails.
Address: Coed y Brenin Visitor Centre, Dolgefeiliau, Dolgellau LL40 2HZ
For more information, check out the National Resources Wales website.
Cycling Facts
Trail: MinorTaur
Grade: Blue
Ordnance Survey Map: OS Explorer OL18 Harlech, Porthmadog & Y Bala
2. Penmachno MTB Trail
This trail is only recommended for proficient mountain bikers! I do not recommend it with kids in tow. We only chose this trail because my son wasn’t keen on going on an easy Green trail and there were no Blue trails in our vicinity. So a Red trail it was! We decided to cut this ride short as it wasn’t becoming any easier. But we’ve certainly learned a lesson: “It’s great to try out new things and push our limits, but we also need to recognise when to abort a mission.”
Cycling stats
Dolen Machno (Loop 1)
Grade: Red
Ordnance Survey Map: OS Explorer OL18 Harlech, Porthmadog & Y Bala
Dolen Eryri (Loop 2)
Grade: Red
Ordnance Survey Map: OS Explorer OL18 Harlech, Porthmadog & Y Bala
For more information, check out the Penmachno Mountain Bike Trails website.
LEARN MORE: See Top 12 Family Outdoor Activities in Snowdonia for more information on these two MTB trails.
For other MTB trails in North Wales, as well as the rest of the country, check out the MB Wales website.
7. Visit Waterfall Country
in the Brecon Beacons National Park
If you plan to explore the Brecon Beacons National Park, you’ll need to pay a visit to Waterfall Country.
There are several waterfall trails to choose from – we visited two.
Four Waterfalls Trails
This popular, circular walk is about 9km long but we somehow managed to complete 16km by also walking the few diversions along steeper and rockier, and thus more strenuous, paths.
The main car park is at Cwm Porth, which gets very busy quite early on. Instead, we parked at the quieter car park at Gwaun Hepste. The distance to the waterfalls are pretty much the same from both the car parks.
And the most fun of all: You can walk behind the last waterfall, Sgwd yr Eira.
Hiking Stats
Car Park: Gwaun Hepste – Four Falls Trail Car Park, Aberdare CF44 9JF (day ticket for £5)
Distance: 16.26km
Elevation Gain: 312m
Moving Time: 4h 23 min
Ordnance Survey Map: OS Explorer OL12 Brecon Beacons National Park (Western Area)
Elidir Trail
The Elidir Trail is an easier and less busy alternative to the Four Waterfalls Trails if you’d like to avoid the crowds.
We chose to walk the Elidir Trail as a rainy-day activity instead of hiking up South Wales’ highest peak Pen y Fan. It’s a gentle walk for the whole family. We hardly saw anyone on the trail when we visited in late July, but that might have also been due to the bad weather on the day.
Hiking Stats
Starting Point: Waterfall Country, High Street, Pontneddfechan, Neath, United Kingdom
Distance: 15.51km
Elevation Gain: 162m
Moving Time: 3h 54min
Ordnance Survey Map: OS Explorer OL12 Brecon Beacons National Park (Western Area)
8. Go Kayaking
in West Wales
Ever tried kayaking before? It’s a fun activity to explore a lake or a river. You’ll find a plethora of locations to go paddling in Wales. The location you choose will depend on your ability as well as whether you’d like to paddle on a lake or a river or even in the sea.
I highly recommend Llandysul Paddlers in West Wales who offer several paddling sessions for every ability. We chose the “Run the Rapids” kayaking session but they also offer other paddling activities as well as coasteering, rock-climbing and more.
9. Hike the Welsh Three Peaks
If you are after a hiking adventure, why not hike the Welsh Three Peaks?
The Brecon Beacons National Park has Pen y Fan, the highest peak in south Wales and the UK’s most southernmost range of mountains; there’s Cadair Idris in Southern Snowdonia; while Northern Snowdonia boasts Snowdon, England & Wales’ highest peak.
1. Pen y Fan
Hiking Facts
Starting Point: Storey Arms Outdoor Centre or the nearby Pont ar Daf car park
Distance: 6km
Elevation: 886m
Ordnance Survey Map: OS Explorer OL12 Brecon Beacons National Park (Western Area)
This circular walk from the Storey Arms Outdoor Centre or the nearby Pont ar Daf car park is a classic. But there are also other routes to choose from.
2. Cadair Idris
Hiking facts
Elevation: 893m
Distance: 9.2km
Path: Pony Path (easier), Minffordd Path (more challenging)
Ordnance Survey Map: OS Explorer OL23 Cadair Idris & Bala Lake
If you would like to combine hiking, scrambling and rock-climbing, you can also take the Cyfwry Arete starting from the Pony Path. Check out 2. Go Rock-Climbing in Snowdonia in this article. This is what we did with the help of a climbing guide. Do not attempt this route if you’re not a seasoned trad climber and know what you’re doing. I highly recommend a guide for this adventure – Bob Thomas from Contour Outdoor is my go-to guide for all things climbing & mountaineering.
3. Snowdon
Hiking facts
Elevation: 1,085m
Paths: 8 to choose from. Easiest: Llanberis Path; Hardest: Crib Goch (scramble) and Watkin Path (hike)
Hiking stats for Watkin Path
Starting Point: Pont Bethania Car park, Nant Gwynant, LL55 4NR (off the A498)
Distance: 17.72km
Elevation Gain: 1,233m
Moving Time: 6h
Elapsed Time: 10h
Difficulty: Strenuous
Ordnance Survey Map: OS Explorer OL17 Snowdon & Conwy Valley
LEARN MORE: Snowdon Watkin Path with Kids: The Ultimate Picture Guide
10. Visit Anglesey
Located off the North-West coast of Wales, Anglesey has a lot to offer; most of all, beaches!
The island is small enough for a coast-to-coast drive to visit a few different beaches. We visited Rhosneigr Beach in the North-West and loved it. There’s also Amlwch Beach in the North-East that was recommended to us.
South Stack Lighthouse is a place not to be missed; which we sadly did miss due to our schedule.
Ordnance Survey Map: OS Landranger 114 Anglesey
11. Go Zip-Lining in North Wales
Ever wanted to go zip-lining but haven’t had the chance yet? In Wales, you have the chance to go on the World’s fastest zip line with a top speed of up to 165km/h. Velocity 2 is immense fun and you feel like a bird as you zip across a quarry lake filled with turquoise-coloured water.
If you prefer something with a lower adrenaline rush, then Titan 2 might be for you. It’s way slower than Velocity 2 and you sit in a harness – as opposed to laying in it – as you zip across a slate site.
Did we enjoy Titan 2? Yes, we did. Was it worth the money? No, it wasn’t. At £60 per head, I don’t recommend Titan 2. If you really want to zip line, go on the World’s fastest, Velocity 2, for some real adrenaline rush and the feeling of “flying like a bird”.
Some relevant info (as of November 2021)
Titan 2
Minimum Age: 7 years
Minimum Weight: 25kg
Minimum Height: 120cm
Velocity 2
Minimum Age: 10 years
Minimum Weight: 30kg
Minimum Height: 120cm
12. Visit a Waterfall
What’s a visit to the hills & mountains if you don’t visit a waterfall?
Apart from the Waterfall Country in the Brecon Beacons National Park mentioned above; other parts of Wales boast stunning waterfalls, too.
Aber Falls, Snowdonia
Aber Falls is a stunning waterfall that gushes down 37 metres in Abergwyngregyn in Northern Snowdonia. The Aber Falls can be reached via an easy trail – ideal also for families with very small children.
Walking stats
Starting Point: Aber Falls Car Park, Abergwyngregyn, Llanfairfechan LL33 0LP
Distance: 4.5km
Time: 1.5-2 hours
Ordnance Survey Map: OS Explorer OL17 Snowdon & Conwy Valley
Swallow Falls, Snowdonia
The Swallow Falls are a spectacular waterfall on the Afon Llugwy. Conveniently located in Betws-y-Coed just off the A5, they are hard to miss when driving through the village. You can view the waterfalls from a location above the river; or, for the best experience, walk down the steps to view them from a platform near the river edge. The waterfalls are open all year round and admission is by turnstile entry.
Walking stats
Location: Betws-y-Coed LL24 0DW
Distance: 3.2km
Time: 1-1.5 hours
Ordnance Survey Map: OS Explorer OL17 Snowdon & Conwy Valley
WATKIN PATH WATERFALLS
The Watkin Path Waterfalls are located at the beginning of Snowdon’s Watkin Path hiking route. If you don’t want to hike all the way up to Snowdon’s summit, visiting the Watkin Path Waterfalls is still a worthwhile undertaking. Don’t forget to pack your swimming trunk or costume and a towel as you can take a dip if you’re brave enough, since the water temperature is naturally pretty cold.
Starting Point: Pont Bethania Car Park, Nant Gwynant, LL55 4NR (off the A498)
Distance: 2km
Time: 30-45 min
Ordnance Survey Map: OS Explorer OL17 Snowdon & Conwy Valley
13. Visit a Slate Cavern
Wales is the major slate mining region in the United Kingdom. Hence, there are numerous sites to choose from.
We visited Llanfair Slate Cavern near Harlech in Snowdonia National Park. It’s a man-made cavern that has stayed as the miners left it, built over 100 years ago. It’s a self-guided tour; so once you pick-up a helmet and a torch at the reception, you explore the cavern on your own.
14. Go Paddle-boarding
Stand-up paddling boarding (SUP) is becoming such a huge trend everywhere! Find a lake (or a calm sea), a SUP and have some fun!
We tried paddle-boarding with the Llandysul Paddlers during their “open sessions” which was a great introduction in a safe environment. Whereas TYF Adventure in Pembrokeshire offers SUP (and other equipment) rentals in the St. David’s area.
15. Visit a Lake
There are countless, breath-taking lakes to choose from in Wales. There’s even the Welsh Lake District in Mid Wales.
We visited two lakes in Snowdonia during our outdoor adventures. The first, Llyn Idwal, is stunning and very popular; while the second, Llyn Elsi, is less popular, it has fewer crowds and more tranquility to offer instead.
Llyn Idwal
Starting Point: Ogwen Cottage, Nant Ffrancon, Bethesda, LL57 3LZ
Distance: 4.8km
Ordnance Survey Map: OS Explorer OL17 Snowdon & Conwy Valley
LEARN MORE: See Top 12 Family Outdoor Activities in Snowdonia for more information on the three routes around Llyn Idwal.
Llyn Elsi
A tranquil lake in the woods only a stone-throw away from the buzzing town centre of Betws-y-Coed.
We chose this walk as an easy rainy-day activity and were greeted with peace and tranquility as it’s off the beaten track (or at least it was on a rainy day!). The first kilometre of the trail is fairly steep but there are benches to rest on at regular intervals. The smilie sign-posts along the way certainly help with the motivation to get going
Starting Point: St Mary’s Church Car Park, Holyhead Rd, Betws-y-Coed LL24 0AL
Ordnance Survey Map: OS Explorer OL17 Snowdon & Conwy Valley
LEARN MORE: See Top 12 Family Outdoor Activities in Snowdonia for more information.
16. Visit a Beach
Surrounded by sea on three sides, Wales is known for its rugged coastline.
We saved most of our beach visits for the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and weren’t disappointed. Our selection (in no particular order) is as follows:
- Poppit Sands Beach, Pembrokeshire
- Whitesands Bay, Pembrokeshire
- Caerfai Bay, Pembrokeshire
- Broad Haven Beach, Pembrokeshire
- Newgale Beach, Pembrokeshire
- Rhosneigr Beach, Anglesey
17. Go Tobogganing
Do you like the wind in your hair and a bit of adrenaline rush? Then you’ll have a lot of fun tobogganing and so will your kids!
Zip World’s Fforest Coaster near Betws-y-Coed was our first tobogganing experience with the kids when they were 4 & 7 years old – we all loved it. You get three rides per ticket.
18. Bounce on Treetop Nets
This isn’t your usual treetop walk; this is a super fun treetop bounce. You’ll definitely feel your quad muscles afterwards! Located at Zip World’s Fforest location near Betws-y-Coed, it’s a great activity to combine with the Fforest Coaster highlighted above or any other activity offered on-site. Afterwards, treat yourself to a delicious pizza at Hangin Pizzeria in Betws-y-Coed.
19. Go Horse-riding
in the Brecon Beacons National Park
There are beautiful spots for horse-riding in the Brecon Beacons National Park.
We booked a 2-hour pony trekking session with Ellesmere Riding & Trekking Centre in Llangorse. Unless you are a confident rider, I do not recommend this provider.
We arrived about 15 minutes early as requested. Along with another family, we waited for 30 minutes past our booked time until we were seen to and kitted out. The guides did not even introduce themselves.
Although I had noted on the booking form that we were “complete beginners”, we didn’t receive any instructions before or during the ride. There was no safety briefing given or any induction whatsoever. There were no hi-vis vests provided to clients nor did the guides wear any.
Since no instructions were provided ahead of the riding session, one hour in, when one of the guides suddenly shouted that we were going to trot now, I almost fell off the horse! Apparently, I needed to hold on to the horse rein and the saddle during the trot which I hadn’t heard as I was 5 horses behind the guide and well… horses do walk/trot noisily.
The riding sessions were provided by unprofessional guides, who had no sense for safety or customer service.
Most of the horse-riding took place on country lanes whereby only about 20-30 minutes were in the countryside.
Good luck & hold on tight if you do book with this provider!
20. Go Camping
Wales is a camper’s paradise; and not only because there’s a campsite on almost every corner.
Whether you’re a tent camper, or prefer the luxury of a camper van or a motorhome, you won’t have to search long until you find just the right spot for the night.
We visited a few campsites in Wales during our summer road trip in 2021 (that deserve a separate article!). A few months prior, we also spent May half-term in Wales exploring the nearby Wye Valley and Forest of Dean. Beeches Farm Campsite is a beautiful campsite with great facilities and stunning views over the Wye Valley. And if you like the views in the above photo, then ask for the “Stonehenge” pitch – you won’t regret it.
Resources
To plan our 4-week Wales road trip I used Rough Guide, Cicerone and Wild guide books. While there are a plethora of travel guides available, these publishers’ guides are my go-to ones as I particularly like the structure and information provided in them. Click the images below to shop them.
Travel & Adventure Guides and Adventure Map
Travel & Walking Guides for Snowdonia & North Wales
Walking Guides for The Brecon Beacons & Pembrokeshire National Parks
Maps
It’s critical to always carry a physical map with you on walking and hiking adventures; especially when in new territory. Below is a summary of the Ordnance Survey maps mentioned in this article – click the images below to shop them.
Final Words
I hope this article inspires you to explore Wales’ beautiful National Parks and experience some amazing adventures. Whether you hike a mountain, try paddling for the first time or marvel at the stunning scenery, you’ll have an unforgettable experience. We have fallen in love with a few of the places we explored and they now hold a special place in our hearts. Go, adventure & make memories!
Happy adventuring!
Related Posts
- Climbing Overlapping Ridge Route (First Pinnacle Rib), Tryfan
- Climbing Cadair Idris via the Cyfrwy Arete: A Multi-Pitch Adventure
- Amphitheatre Buttress: A Classic Climb in North Wales
- Top 12 Family Outdoor Activities in Snowdonia
- Snowdon Watkin Path with Kids: The Ultimate Picture Guide
- Devil’s Kitchen Snowdonia with Kids: The Complete Picture Guide
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