Family Holidays in North Wales

If you’re planning on a family staycation this year but can’t quite decide on whether you want a road trip, a sightseeing tour, a relaxing getaway or an all-out adventure, why not take a trip to North Wales where you can have the lot?Take a trip along the coast and venture inland for some of the most beautiful sights the UK has to offer, pitching a tent along the way or staying in one of the many North Wales Holiday Cottages dotted around – perfect for the whole family and you can even take the dog, too.

Make the most of the coast

The North Wales coastline makes for a memorable drive, one side flanked by the Irish Sea, the other by a mixture of mountains, moorland, valleys and villages, with sights as diverse as the imposing Mount Snowdon and the stunning Italianate village of Portmeirion.

If you’re going to make the most of the North Wales coastline, you have to visit one of its many stunning beaches – the best of which is arguably at Barmouth, a huge beach that sits off both the Mawddach Estuary and Cardigan Bay and is set against the stunning backdrop of Snowdon’s foothills.

Further north and the Llyn Peninsula is home to the seaside towns of Abersoch, Pwllheli and Criccieth, all of which are great for sailing and windsurfing, while a trip to Llandudno offers great places to eat, drink and stay while enjoying the bets an elegant Victorian seaside resort has to offer.

Head to the hills

All that fresh sea air should leave you energized and up for adventure, and Snowdonia National Park has it in abundance.

If you’re an active family into cycling, the mountain biking centre at Blaenau Ffestiniog is a must, or if you’re after an even bigger adrenaline rush a trip to one of Zipworld’s three sites could see you speeding along Europe’s longest and the world’s fastest zipwire, or traversing subterranean slides and trampolines at Bounce Below.

And then there’s the National White Water Centre at Bala, where you can take a white-knuckle and white water safari down the River Tryweryn. If you’re into that kind of thing!
PictureCanolfan Tryweryn (National Whitewater Centre) (Stephen Dawson) / CC BY-SA 2.0

See the sights

Ascending Mount Snowdon on foot could be a bit of a stretch – a round trip on the Miners’ Track or Pig Track will take at least five hours – but that doesn’t mean you can’t make your way to the summit. Drop the car off at Llanberis and catch the Snowdon Mountain Railway for a fuss-free trip to the top where you can take in the spectacular views and enjoy afternoon high (altitude) tea.Get a glimpse of the history of the area by taking in one of its many ancient castles, and if you can only take in one, take a trip to Harlech Castle – the turrets of this UNESCO World Heritage Site is dramatically set above the golden sands of the Llyn Peninsula and against the backdrop of Mount Snowdon.A family holiday in North Wales wouldn’t be complete without a trip to picturesque Portmeirion – the stunning village is a slice of Renaissance Italy that has to be enjoyed at a leisurely pace, so book an overnight stay and enjoy the sunset behind the overlooking mountains.