Adrenaline Activities in Eryri

Eryri/Snowdonia National Park is well known for its spectacular and dramatic landscapes, with its mountains, lakes and forests attracting millions of visitors every year. Alongside this, in recent years the park has also developed a reputation as a location for adrenaline activities, establishing itself as one of the UK’s best destinations for outdoor activities for those who like to push the limits of their comfort zone. 

If you’d like to experience some real outdoor adventures and have a go at something new while you’re in Eryri, read on for our guide to the park’s adrenaline activities, covering watersports, gorge walking, paragliding and much more…

Ziplining adventures

When Zip World opened its first zipline park here in 2013, it quickly learned how much appetite visitors had for the thrill of zooming through Snowdonia’s scenery at speed. Since then, the company has expanded to several locations with a variety of activities that all ages can take part in.

Zip World Penrhyn Quarry

The original Zip World site is home to the company’s biggest thrill – the world’s fastest zipline. Riders on the Velocity 2 zipline can reach speeds of 100 mph as they soar over the gleaming waters of Penrhyn Quarry lake below. 

To ride Velocity 2 you’ll need to be at least 1.2 metres tall and brave enough to step up to the plate. For younger guests and those who aren’t quite ready to take on Velocity, the Aero Explorer and Quarry Flyer experiences give you the chance to fly through the air at lower speeds. At ground level, the three-kilometre Quarry Karts track is a great way to test out your driving skills, and there are also quarry tours for all the family.

Zip World Llechwedd

The ride that first brought Zip World to everyone’s attention is now in place at Zip World Llechwedd, near Blaenau Ffestiniog. Big Red makes a great introduction to ziplining for families, couples and groups of friends – it’s suitable for ages 3 and up (minimum of 20kg) and the side-by-side lines make for some fun races along the 30-foot descent.

Ready to go faster and higher? It’s time to take on Titan, which has four side-by-side lines where riders reach speeds of up to 50mph. This is a seated zipline (unlike Velocity 2, where you’ll go head first) and has some fabulous views to take in as you descend. 

All the details you need for all Zip World experiences – pricing, age suitability and safety information – are available on the Zip World website.

Rock climbing and abseiling

With so many mountains around, it’s no surprise to find that climbing and abseiling are popular activities around Eryri/Snowdonia. These landscapes have numerous excellent locations for bouldering, sport climbing and trad climbing, and companies such as Climb Wales and Rock Climbing Company ruin guided climbs for those who’d like some help from an instructor.

You’ll find more detailed descriptions of what to expect in our Snowdonia climbing guide, but here are a couple of quick tips for great locations to get you started.

• Snowdon Massif – Beyond the popular paths running up to the peak of Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa itself, there are lots of options for rock climbing, scrambling and abseiling in the area around the mountain.  

• Tremadog – Just on the edge of the park, the climbing area at Tremadog is well maintained and full of variety, with some of the best routes in Wales. A detailed guide book with photos and route maps can be bought at The Climbers Club website.

Mountain biking

Mountain biking is big in North Wales, so our Snowdonia mountain biking guide is the place to go for the lowdown on all the details you need for the best two-wheeled adventures in the park. As a quick taster, here are a couple of favourites from Pitchup’s mountain bike enthusiasts.

• Coed y Brenin – The UK’s first purpose-built mountain bike park is still one of its best, with trails suitable for everyone from novices to experts and some fabulous views to enjoy as you navigate the climbs and descents on the tracks.
• Gwydir Mawr – Formerly known as the Marin Trail, this challenging route near Llanberis has spectacular views along its 25-kilometre length. A shorter section called Gwydir Bach gives you an 8.7-kilometre taster if you’d like a more compact ride.

Watersports in Snowdonia

Eryri/Snowdonia is packed with gorgeous lakes and rivers that lend themselves to watersports of all varieties – and as the park runs down to the coast as well, you can even throw in some sea-based adventures nearby too. Check out our choices of the best Snowdonia water activities below.

National White Water Centre

Wetsuits at the ready, adrenaline junkies – the National White Water Centre, a few minutes’ drive from Bala, is one of the UK’s best places to experience the thrill of white water rafting. The enhanced dam-release flow on the Afon Tryweryn means it has more rapids per mile than any other natural river in the country – and the fabulous woodland views alongside make this a memorable activity all round.

Several different adventures are available for individuals and groups – there’s a minimum age of 10 and you must be fairly fit and able to swim at  least 25 metres. Experienced kayakers with their own kit can also book sessions on the rapids.

SUP and canoeing

Several of Snowdonia’s lakes are suitable for watersports, although the overall need to keep things peaceful and avoid damage to the landscapes means it’s mostly non-motorised craft that are welcome at the park’s lakes. We’ve listed some of the best places to start here.

• Llyn Padarn – In the shadow of Mount Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa and the Glyderau, Llyn Padarn is a scenic place indeed for a day out on the water. Kayaks, paddleboards, wetsuits and other kit can be hired from Snowdonia Watersports in Llanberis, or you can launch your own kayaks/paddleboards for free.

• Llyn Geirionydd – This is the only lake in Snowdonia to allow motorised watersports, with waterski permits managed by Llyn Geirionydd Water Ski Club.

• Llyn Tegid (Lake Bala)– The biggest natural lake in Wales has several places to launch canoes and paddleboards; you’ll need to pay a small fee at the warden’s office before launching. Bala Adventure and Watersports Centre has kit hire and instructor-led paddleboarding, windsurfing and kayaking sessions.

Wild swimming

There are several lovely places to take a dip, whether you’re making that the focus of your day or including a swim as part of a hike. These are a couple of Pitchup’s favourite Snowdonia wild swimming spots.

• Watkin Pools – A series of natural plunge pools connected by small waterfalls, this is a gorgeous place for a dip, and as it’s right next to the Watkin Path it can easily be incorporated into an ascent of Snowdon.

• Llyn Padarn – The water here is designated as bathing water so it should be very clean for swimmers. There are a number of easy entry points close to picnic areas and car parking along the southern shoreline.

• Llyn Cau – You’ll have to work a little harder for your dip here, as it’s around a mile and a half from the nearest place to park. The hike is worth it, though, as you’ll be rewarded with a cool dip in a cirque lake surrounded by soaring mountains on each side.

Up here in the mountains, the lake water can be very cold, so as always with wild swimming, make sure you’re doing it responsibly and safely – identify good entry/exit spots, enter slowly to avoid cold water shock and pack warm clothes and hot drinks to help you warm up afterwards. Learn more about wild swimming safely with these open water swimming tips.

Surfing

Snowdonia was once home to the world’s first artificial surf lake at Adventure Parc Snowdonia, but the cost of maintaining the complex equipment was too high and the facility closed in 2023. Surfers can still get their fix nearby, though – Snowdonia’s proximity to the coast means that you just need to head a little way out of the park to places like Aberdaron or Rhosneigr.

Coasteering and canyoning

The exhilarating experiences of coasteering and canyoning have a lot in common, both combining time on land and time in the water and both requiring a certain amount of bravery to get around the courses, made up of climbing, jumping, scrambling and swimming. The main difference is that coasteering takes place along the coast while canyoning adventures take you inland to gorges and waterfalls. As Snowdonia has both features, you can take your pick – or try out both activities during your trip.

Companies like Snowdonia Adventure Activities and Seren Ventures have good reputations for their canyoning activities within the park for both families and adults; coasteering days can also be booked with several local providers (such as Coasteering Now) but these will often take you out to the more rugged coastline of Anglesey, a short drive away.

Paragliding in Snowdonia

Can’t get enough of that spectacular scenery? How about seeing it all from above while you’re here? Soaring above the stunning mountains and lakes of North Wales is a truly memorable experience, whether you’re a novice or an experienced paraglider.

If you’ve never tried paragliding before, a tandem flight is the way to get started – for this you’ll sit alongside an experienced pilot who will deal with all the technicalities and allow you simply to enjoy the breathtaking views. For a real epic day out, sign up for a ‘hike and fly’ expedition, where you’ll climb to a start point and then paraglide down.

Experienced paragliders are welcome to bring their own kit to Snowdonia as long as they practise their sport safely and respectfully. Sites such as Moel Eilio, Moel Wnion and Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) itself are popular launch spots; you can find details of these and other sites, along with safety tips and contacts at the Snowdonia Sky Sports website.

Snowdonia gorge walking

Gorge walking is a popular activity around the lakes, rivers and waterfalls of Snowdonia – and, much like canyoning, it gives participants a chance to test their own limits and build confidence along the way. The difference between the two activities is that canyoning often involves ropes (for ziplining or abseiling) and jumping from height, where gorge walking usually sticks to lower levels, with rock scrambling, swimming and smaller water jumps – this makes it a great activity for kids, groups and those who aren’t quite sure about canyoning.

If you’d like to have a go at gorge walking, you’ll need an accredited guide to make sure you’re doing it safely. Recommended providers in Snowdonia include Gradient Adventure, North Wales Active and Snowdonia Adventures.

Cave adventures in Snowdonia

Don’t restrict yourselves to the landscapes above ground – there’s a lot to see and do below the surface in Snowdonia as well, from intrepid caving expeditions to family-friendly underground activity parks.

Cave exploration activities

Using ropes and harnesses to explore, activity providers such as Corris Mine Explorers and Adventure Activities Wales take groups into former slate mining caves to follow in quarrymen’s footsteps as they navigate through narrow tunnels and underground rivers. If that sounds a bit too challenging, you can still get underground for a look around at places like Llanfair Slate Caverns and Sygun Copper Mine.

Family cave activities

For a memorable setting and a sense of adventure (as well as a handy activity on a damp day), take the kids along to Zip World Llechwedd, which has an underground trampoline park and adventure golf course as well as tours of the colourfully lit former slate mine caverns.

Snowdonia via ferrata

Via ferrata – series of metal rungs, ladders and cables attached to rock faces to provide a set climbing route – are not as popular in the UK as they are elsewhere in Europe, but they are starting to catch on in some places. One of the main issues with via ferrata is that they are not great in wet weather, so it’s no surprise to find that Snowdonia’s two routes are both located underground.

• Zip World Caverns is a family-friendly attraction that has a series of challenges taking you through a historic slate mine near Blaenau Ffestiniog. The route normally takes up to three hours and takes you along 13 ziplines as well as rope bridges and the via ferrata section. 

• Go Below offers three different routes made up of a series of challenges including climbing up a vertical shaft, traversing rock faces and boating across underground lakes. The longest of the adventures takes around seven hours, so it’s a full-on day of challenges. If you think it might be a bit tiring, you can also sign up to stay overnight in the underground cabins – said to be the deepest underground sleep in the world at 400 metres down.

Horse Riding and Pony Trekking

Heading out on horseback is a wonderful way to explore the scenery of Snowdonia, whether you choose a leisurely trot or a more adventurous ride through mountain terrain. Several farms around the park offer hacks, lessons and pony riding sessions so there should be something suitable for all ages and levels of experience.

Try some of these riding stables to organise your Snowdonia horse riding adventures:

• Gwydyr Stables – A well-established stables that’s been operating near Betws-y-Coed for over 50 years with a collection of horses suitable for complete beginners through to experienced riders.
• Snowdonia Riding Stables– Based on a farm between Caernarfon and Llanberis, this centre has shorter countryside rides and introductory sessions as well as longer mountain outings.
• Bwlchgwyn Farm and Pony Trekking– A campsite and equestrian centre all in one location, so you can come back to lovely views of the Mawddach estuary after you’ve taken a ride around the farmland or out onto the beach (rides available for ages 4 and above).

Planning your Snowdonia trip

Ready to get your Eryri/Snowdonia adventures underway? This is surely one of the best outdoor activity hubs in the UK, so it’s bound to be a memorable experience whether you pack your days full of a variety of adrenaline activities or just try out one or two while you’re here.

Staying in the open air is a good way to add an extra sense of adventure to your Snowdonia break, giving you the extra thrill of waking up to stunning views and spending evenings under star-filled skies. Pitchup’s collection of Snowdonia campsites and glampsites has everything from basic pitches to cosy cabins – take a look to find the place for you.