Local Area Information

There is a wealth of interest and marvelous scenery in this part of North Wales.

Llanberis is a mecca of the climbing world and has a number of outdoor shops, cafes and eateries. Snowdon rises above the town with its famous Mountain Railway (www.snowdonrailway.co.uk) to trundle you to the summit with the hope of a clear day so you can see the panoramic views. The more energetic can grab boots and waterproofs and choose one of the footpaths to the summit. Enjoy the views from the lake with a boat trip on the Snowdon Star(Seren yr Wyddfa) or from the lakeside narrow gauge steam railway. The National Slate museum evokes the lives of the quarrymen and shows how the slate was exracted, processed and transported. There are also woodland walks to explore. If you are interested in doing a diving course there is the Vivian Diving centre.(www.viviandivingcentre.co.uk)in the disused quarry of the same name. Llyn Padarn has become very popular for Paddle Boarding

Thrill seekers can easily get to Bethesda and enjoy the Longest ZIP wire in Britain.(The speed of descent can reach up to 100mph!).(www.zipworld.co.uk) Zip World FForest is 40 minutes away in Betwys Y Coed and has 6 different Exciting adventures for adults and children. Perhaps you might like to zoom along the along the Straits in a R.I.B. (www.ribride.co.uk) 45 minutes away in the Conwy Valley the newly opened Surf Snowdonia in Dolgarrog offers water adventures with a world first inland lagoon with a wave garden (www.surfsnowdonia.co.uk)

The historic town of Caernarfon has an impressive castle built for Edward 1, where Prince Charles Investiture took place in 1969. You can walk from the old harbour around the walls and see Anglesey on the other side of the Menai straits. There are some small streets with interesting shops and pubs and also the bigger supermarket stores of Tesco, Morrisons and Asda. The Beacon climbing wall is just outside Caernarfon(beaconclimbing.com)

A little further afield are the castles at Beaumaris on Anglesey, and of Conwy further east along the coast and they are both attractive towns well worth a visit.(www.castlewales.com/cadw.html‎)

Anglesey has a coastal path, numerous walking routes and beaches. Newborough and Aberfraw for example have breathtaking views across to the Llyn Peninsula. There is the North Wales Path on the mainland.

Bangor is a University town and has two shopping centres and you can promonade down the fine pier to the cafe at the end. Just ouside Bangor is Penrhyn Castle (www.nationaltrust.org.uk) seat of the Douglas Pennant family.

Llandudno (35 minutes away) is a seaside resort boasting two beaches, a ski slope, Great Orme tramway and a cable car.(www.visitllandudno.org.uk). A few miles up the Conwy Valley is Bodnant one of the finest gardens in the country. (National Trust)

There is much more, so please visit the web sites below for more information on some of them.

www.adventuremap.co.uk/‎

www.gardensnorthwales.co.uk

www.sustrans.org.uk/shop/route-maps.../north-wales-cycle-map‎