Family holidays require careful planning when the kids have outgrown bucket-and-spade beaches yet are not quite ready for solo travel. North Wales is the perfect destination, featuring an epic landscape of mountains, lakes, caves, and beaches, setting the stage for active adventures that teenagers and their families will love. Mostly located within Snowdonia National Park, many activities are free, while others incur costs; all promise never to be boring.
Castles
Due to a tumultuous history, particularly English invasions in the 13th century, North Wales is rich with castles, many of which are impressively well-preserved and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Exploring dungeons and walking along the battlements provides a perfect day out, serving as a stealthy history lesson for children. The highlight is Caernarfon Castle, featuring massively thick walls and enormous octagonal towers accessible via a spiral staircase. Wooden swords will keep younger kids entertained, while teenagers can engage in the “Game of Crowns,” showcasing life-sized models of significant historical figures on a giant chessboard.
Zip Lines
North Wales boasts high mountains and steep cliffs, making zip lines the ideal way to descend from the heights. The standout experience is Velocity 2, renowned as the longest zip line in Europe and the fastest in the world. Forget about video game simulations; this is the real thrill. After being outfitted with helmets, goggles, and aerodynamic suits, participants can speed over a former slate quarry and a deep blue lake, reaching speeds of 100 mph (160kph) under optimal conditions. With four lines running side by side, families can embark on this exhilarating journey together, where screaming is obligatory—fear or exhilaration, the choice is yours!
Hiking and Biking
Snowdon, the most famous and highest mountain in North Wales, presents a rewarding hike that takes a few hours but is not overly challenging, making it ideal for junior trekkers. Upon reaching the summit, hikers are greeted with stunning views across Snowdonia National Park toward the coast, with clear visibility sometimes extending as far as Scotland and Ireland. The popular paths to Snowdon can become crowded; therefore, if appropriately outfitted, consider venturing onto quieter trails on nearby Glyder and Carneddau ranges. For those interested in exploring the wilder areas confidently, local guides can be hired through regional tourist offices.
In addition to hiking, active teenagers can also take to two wheels on the numerous tracks and bridleways available in the region. That said, keep in mind that many bridleways were originally designed for pack-horses and may pose challenges for all but expert bikers. For more family-friendly options, purpose-built mountain bike parks like Coed-y-Brenin Forest Park offer bike rentals and varying difficulty levels. Moreover, North Wales features delightful and flat cycleways on former railway lines, such as the Mawddach Trail, while the historic Ogwen Trail connects the mountains with the coast.
Underground Adventures
During North Wales’ industrial heyday, slate was quarried from deep underground, creating vast caverns that today house incredible experiences. The Zip World Slate Caverns offer a series of zip-wires, where the thrill of flying is heightened by colorful spotlights above and a dark abyss below. With additional challenges like monkey bars, cable bridges, and ladders, it’s an exhilarating spot for older or energetic teenagers. For younger kids, the same location features Bounce Below, an underground trampoline park.
For a more profound exploration of the area’s history, local company Go Below offers an energetic underground adventure, shedding light on the area’s rich historical background. Unlike the vibrant lighting of zip lines, this genuine experience relies solely on the illumination of your helmet-mounted lamp as you traverse shafts and levels carved from the natural rock by miners centuries ago. The activity involves climbing ladders, rappelling down rock faces, and crossing deep chasms, demanding a degree of fitness. Suitable for families, these excursions typically have a minimum age requirement of 10 or 14, depending on the tour.
Quarry Karts
The massive slate quarries of North Wales have evolved into adrenaline-fueled activity centers, featuring the exciting Quarry Karts. These robust three-wheeled buggies race downhill on a dirt track filled with sweeping curves, steep berms, chicanes, and tunnels, blending elements of skeleton-bob and mountain biking into effortless fun. With a minimum age of 15, younger teenagers under 17 require an accompanying adult, urging the whole family to join in on the fun!
Surfing
North Wales is home to many exceptional surf beaches, particularly on the Llyn Peninsula. An unexpected gem is the inland lagoon at Surf Snowdonia, where a giant paddle generates perfect waves every 90 seconds. Remarkably, the height of the waves can be adjusted, catering to beginners, intermediates, and advanced surfers. Once you’re familiar with your breaks and barrels, simply book a surfing slot and hit the waves, or opt for lessons. Kids must be at least eight years old for beginner waves and over 13 for intermediate levels. A great strategy might include some instruction in the lagoon followed by a beach day.
Inside Activities
Every parent’s dilemma: what to do with the kids on a rainy day? Enter Adrenaline Indoors, located beside the surf lagoon at Adventure Park Snowdonia. Parents can send their teens to navigate the aerial assault course, parkour bars, giant slides, or colorful climbing walls. For even more excitement, there’s artificial caving—ideal for contortionists—while outdoors (if the rain stops) stands a zip-wire across the lagoon along with a heart-thumping freefall drop.
Practicalities
Most visitors can easily reach North Wales by car from Chester, just over the English border. The closest mainline train station is Bangor. As a popular tourist destination, North Wales offers numerous family-friendly accommodations, ranging from campsites and hostels to hotels and self-catering cottages. It is advisable to pre-book organized activities online, especially during school holidays and busy periods; many can be reserved via the Snowdonia Attractions portal site. Additionally, the Snowdonia Pass provides discounts for families.
