Things to do with your family in Snowdonia (Eryri)

If you’re looking for things to do with the family in Snowdonia, you’re in the right place. Our guide to family-friendly activities in and around Eryri has suggestions suitable for kids of all ages, from castles and beaches to family theme parks and underground adventures, as well as suggestions for some great family walks and cycle rides.

Best Snowdonia family walks 

Snowdonia/Eryri’s mountains, forests, lakes and historic houses are just waiting to be explored. Here’s our pick of some of the best family walks in Snowdonia.

The Branwen Walk

This gentle two-mile circular walk around Harlech’s UNESCO-listed castle has excellent views of the coast and the park’s mountain peaks. You can add on as much distance as you like if you continue along the town’s glorious beach, a National Nature Reserve backed by impressive sand dunes.

Gwydir Forest Park

A choice of family walks at Gwydir Forest Park near Betws-y-Coed takes in waymarked walking trails, a gentle boardwalk stroll, tranquil lakes and forested hillsides with far-reaching views. Take your pick of anything from the gentle 30-minute Coed Tan Dinas Walk, on a boardwalk through the fir trees, to the more strenuous six-and-a-half mile walk to Llyn Parc lake, with forest artworks en route. All walks begin from the Pont-y-Pair car park.

Llyn Padarn Circular Walk

This waymarked six-mile walk around Llyn Padarn takes in historic ruins including 13th-century Dolbadarn Castle, the National Slate Museum, woodland trails, a waterfall and steam trains on the Llanberis Lakeside Railway, with some great viewpoints overlooking the water and Snowdon in the distance. A handy trail map highlights many of the points of interest along the way.

Glynllifon Park

Just to the east of Eryri, the historic Glynllifon Park estate, set around a grand 19th-century manor house, has eight miles of paths to follow through 16 acres of gardens and woodland that have been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Along the way, look out for giant redwoods, an old water mill, streams and waterfalls, a fountain, follies and carved wooden animal sculptures. There’s also a charming café, picnic areas where you can stop for lunch, and a craft shop with resident artists. Dogs are welcome.

Family cycling

If you’d like to take your family cycling in Snowdonia, here’s our pick for a couple of routes that all but the smallest children can enjoy.

Mawddach Trail

This easy family cycling trail follows the shore of the Mawddach estuary for nine miles from Dolgellau to Barmouth, finishing by crossing the old railway bridge over the mouth of the estuary. The Mawddach Trail is clearly signposted all the way, with great views of Y Garn mountain and Cadair Idris. Bikes are available to rent from Dolgellau Cycles, right by the start of the trail.

Llwybr Trawsfynydd

This eight-mile loop around Traws Lake is well signposted and takes in paved roads, gravel tracks, wooden bridges and a ride across a dam, with great views of the lake, countryside and surrounding mountains. There’s one (short) steep hill near the dam, but you can always push up that bit, and you’ll be rewarded with an incredible view. Bikes are available to hire from the visitor centre at the north end of the lake, which also has a café and a car park, so it’s the ideal place to start. The Flattyres website has a comprehensive guide to the route, with a GPS file to download.  

If you love life on two wheels, check out Pitchup’s guides to cycling and mountain biking in Snowdonia.

Scenic Snowdonia train rides

Snowdon Mountain Railway

Not everyone has the energy to walk to the top of Yr Wyddfa, Wales’ highest peak, but if you want to experience the incredible vista from the top, the Snowdon Mountain Railway has the answer. On the way up there are great views of the surrounding mountains, waterfalls, gorges and medieval settlements. At the top, you can take in the view from the Hafod Eryri Visitor Centre and café, and wander up to the cairn on the 1085-metre summit.

The train runs from Llanberis station to the top of the mountain from mid-May (or the lower Clogwyn station from March to May), with half-hourly services until the end of October (from 9am, please check dates and times). The round trip takes around two-and-a-half hours, including 30 minutes at the summit. Both steam and (cheaper) diesel trains make the journey, so check the timetable if you’d like to ride the steam service. 

Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways

If you love the thought of a ride on a steam train, there are two more services in the park that can grant your wish.

The Ffestiniog Railway runs from Porthmadog harbour to Blaenau Ffestiniog, a journey of around 14 miles, passing pastureland, forests, lakes, waterfalls and tunnels on its way up into the mountains

The Welsh Highland Railway runs for 25 miles from Caernarfon, past Yr Wyddfa, through Beddgelert and the dramatic Aberglaslyn Pass on its way to Porthmadog.

Services on the two lines run from March to November and it’s possible to make shorter journeys to the stations en route. Dedicated steam enthusiasts can take a guided tour of the Boston Lodge Engineering Works, or book a three-hour workshop that sheds some light on how the trains work and even allows you to drive. Full details of train times and services are available on the Festrail website. 

Adventure parks

GreenWood Family Park

A family attraction with a sustainable ethos, this park just outside the boundary of Eryri uses a solar array to generate 80% of its electricity and encourages visitors to embrace a greener lifestyle. There’s plenty to keep kids of all ages busy at GreenWood Family Park, with rides like Solar Splash, with two 60-metre water chutes, the people-powered Green Dragon roller coaster, treetop walkways (with safety nets), pedal-powered karts and the self-paddled Enchanted River Ride. There’s also a craft zone with eco-friendly activities, a soft play area and a petting zoo, plus a huge inflatable bouncing pillow.

Gypsy Wood Park

Located in Caernarfon, just outside the national park, Gypsy Wood Park is particularly good for younger children. Set in natural woodland with fairy-themed attractions, it’s home to Shetland ponies, alpacas, goats and rabbits, many of which you can feed. Gentle wildlife walks wind through the trees, and there are mini diggers, trampolines, indoor and outdoor play areas, a maze and an electric railway, 

Open from March to September, 10.30am-5pm (please check times and prices.)

Beaches and coastal fun

If you like nothing better than a day at the beach, you’re in the right place. There are several sandy beaches within the national park where you can build sandcastles, swim, play games and soak up the sun, with shops and cafés close at hand. We've picked out a couple of our favourites below:

Barmouth Beach

At the mouth of the Mawddach Estuary, Barmouth beach is a popular traditional resort with amusement arcades, donkey rides, watersports rental facilities and a promenade. Fishing and boat trips run from the nearby harbour.

Harlech Beach

Renowned for its views of Snowdon, Harlech’s beach has a huge stretch of dune-backed sand and is a National Nature Reserve. Just inland, you can visit Harlech Castle, a World Heritage Site with great views of the coast and mountains. 

Educational museums and centres

National Slate Museum 

The fascinating National Slate Museum in Llanberis traces the history of Wales’ slate industry through films, interactive exhibits, talks and demonstrations. You can take a tour of workshops and buildings on the site to see original tools and equipment and discover how the workers lived. Look out for the giant waterwheel and the Hunslett Locomotive, which once pulled rubble from the nearby Dinorwig slate quarry. It's open daily from 10am to 5pm, from March to November.

Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT)

Based at the former LLwyngwern Quarry near Pantperthog, CAT is the UK’s leading centre for ecology and sustainability. It’s open for pre-booked group visits only, which take in bespoke workshops, talks and guided tours of the visitor centre, green buildings, wind, solar and hydro technology facilities, plus organic gardens and woodlands. If you’re interested, please contact the centre for details.

Wildlife and nature reserves

RSPB Conwy Nature Reserve

Encompassing wetlands, grassland, lagoons and a wildlife garden, RSPB Conwy, on the eastern edge of Eryri, is a big draw for families. It’s home to bird hides and three nature trails where, depending on the season, you can spot reed warblers, curlews and redshanks among a plethora of waders and waterbirds, and dramatic starling murmurations (in winter). Look out too for dragonflies and butterflies hovering over the pools, and rare orchids in summer.

Ceunant Llennyrch National Nature Reserve

Another great place for a family walk, Ceunant Llennyrch is a deep woodland gorge embraced by 80-foot cliffs, with waterfalls on the Prysor River. The oak woodland is home to redstarts, wood warblers and pied flycatchers, and there’s a waymarked one-mile trail (not for younger children) that leads to the dramatic Rhaeadr Ddu waterfall.

Indoor activities for rainy days

Beacon Climbing Centre

The all-weather Beacon Climbing Centre in Caernarfon (on the edge of the park) is the largest indoor climbing centre in North Wales. Activities for all ages include the Crazy Climb section - colourful walls suitable for anyone from the age of five upwards, with supervised sessions and a fully automated safety system. For those who already have some experience, there are roped walls with routes for all abilities and a bouldering area. Courses on offer range from one-hour introductory Climbing Experience sessions to an eight-hour Learn to Climb course. For non-climbers, there’s a café and a viewing area. Book in advance online.  

Bounce Below at Zip World Llechwedd

The perfect answer to a rainy day: go underground. Suitable for anyone over a metre tall, Bounce Below features six suspended bouncing nets in a huge, colourfully lit subterranean cavern that was once a slate mine. Under-13s need to be accompanied by an adult, but this one has to be seen to be believed – and who wouldn’t want to try it out? Older children can take on rope bridges, tightropes and no fewer than 13 zip lines in the Caverns obstacle course, and there’s also a guided Deep Mine walking tour.

Caernarfon Fun Centre

This indoor adventure centre in a former church on the edge of the park in Caernarfon has slides, ball pools, a maze and various climbing challenges. Caernarfon Fun Centre also has a special soft play area for under-fives, electric go-karts and a laser tag arena – plenty to keep every member of the family busy.

King Arthur's Labyrinth

This underground boat and walking tour in Corris features sound and light displays themed around the legend of King Arthur. Led by a costumed guide and storyteller who reveals the secrets of this and other Welsh legends, King Arthur's Labyrinth is suitable for children of all ages, but they must be accompanied by an adult.   

 

With everything from beaches to steam train rides and nature reserves, there’s certainly no shortage of great family activities in Snowdonia. Whether you want to explore the park’s beautiful lakes and mountains, learn about local history or just go crazy on an underground trampoline, all you have to do is choose.