Find your Hwyl in Eryri and Pen Llŷn
Is it high time you had some hwyl? What’s hwyl? It’s a word you’ll be very familiar with very soon. It’s the Welsh word for the feeling of fun and joy. It’s a sense of emotional fervor, enthusiasm or excitement. And if it’s fun you’re after, then Eryri (Snowdonia) and Llŷn are calling. Here you’ll find fun around every corner, from relaxing hwyl that helps you reconnect with nature, to heart-pumping hwyl that gets your blood flowing! Come with us to discover all there is to do across the region.
Why not start with a great day out for the whole family? Glasfryn Parc near Pwllheli is an ideal place to go; with ten pin bowling, archery and more it’s a fantastic place to take hard-to-please teenagers. Near Caernarfon you’ll find GreenWood Family Park featuring waterslides, roller coasters, climbing frames and more! This eco park is a must. Meanwhile Gypsy Wood near the village of Bontnewydd is another fantastic family destination where you can ride the miniature railway, meet the animals and whizz around on go-karts. And if the weather takes a turn for the worst, the hwyl doesn’t have to end; the Fun Centre in Caernarfon is a popular indoor soft play centre, with a giant play area and a separate section for under 5’s, it’s sure to be a hit with the whole family.
Head over to Dinas Dinlle and you’ll find another excellent spot; Caernarfon Airport! You can head to the skies on a helicopter pleasure flight and get a bird’s eye view of Caernarfon Castle, the Menai Straits or tour of the Llŷn Pensinsula. But if you prefer to keep your feet on the ground you can always sit and enjoy a panad and something tasty to eat at the nearby café, while watching the small planes and helicopters take off. A stone’s throw from the café you’ll find the Caernarfon Airport Airworld Aviation Museums. The museum has an impressive collection of aircraft and aviation memorabilia, and you can even get up close and climb inside some historic aircraft. If there’s still time you could head over to Porthmadog for a game of crazy golf to round off the day, or give golf frisbee or foot golf a go over at Criccieth Multi Golf.
Sometimes only one type of hwyl will do; the type that gets your heart racing and blood pumping – and there’s plenty of that waiting for you here in Snowdonia. If you get a buzz from climbing mountains, then head over to Snowdonia Adventure Activities or Ropeworks Active in Llanberis. Their skilled guides can help you conquer one of Snowdonia’s spectacular peaks with ease, not to mention the host of other activities they have on offer including canyoning, gorge scrambling, canoeing, and kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and much more. To ensure a fantastic and safe day for all, it’s always a good idea to read the Adventure Smart guidance before you set off.
If that’s not enough, why not head over to Zip World where you can – if you’re brave enough - go on the world’s fastest zipwire! You can also ride on the forest rollercoaster and bounce in underground caverns. Antur Stiniog translates at the Stiniog Adventure and they certainly have plenty of that in store; with 14 fantastic gravity fed mountain biking trails for all ability of rider from novice to world cup racer, you’ll be sure to feel the hwyl here. Coed y Brenin near Dolgellau was Britain’s first purpose-built mountain biking centre and it offers a range of cycling, walking, and running trails through Coed y Brenin Forest Park. So, get set, grab a bike and find your fun!
After all that excitement you might be ready to relax and to reconnect with nature. There’s nowhere better for that than Parc Padarn in Llanberis or Parc Glynllifon near Caernarfon. Two beautiful locations where you’ll find plenty of walks and scenic spots to relax and listen to the world go by. There are also playgrounds, cafes and a few shops selling local produce so be sure to bring some spending money! If you’re bringing your four-legged friend too, don’t forget to follow the Dog Walking Code to make sure that everyone has a great day.
And talking of dogs…if you do have little ones, you’ll know that they love nothing more than cute animals. So for a perfect day out head over to the Children’s Farm Park in Harlech, where the children can meet goats and cuddle the rabbits, before playing in the indoor and outdoor areas. Another farm that’s worth a visit is the Dwyfor Rabbit Farm in the village of Llanystumdwy. Under adult supervision the children can handle different animals including rabbits and guinea pigs, as well as hand-feeding goats, alpacas, pigs, lambs, ponies and donkeys! If you do have a soft spot for donkeys, then you must head over to the Snowdonia Donkeys Sanctuary in Moelyci, where you can feed the donkeys and mules, lead them on walks and enjoy being in their peaceful company. There’s also a café and plenty of footpaths for walks, including the nearby Lôn Las Ogwen.
It's hard to beat the thrill of heading underground, and there are a number of exciting venues where you can do so in Eryri. You’ve got the Sygun Copper Mine near Beddgeleri, and Llanfair Slate Caverns near Harlech. Then there’s the King Arthur’s Labyrinth near Corris. This epic underground storytelling adventure will leave you spellbound, and the fun continues above ground with a playground, café and numerous activities at the on-site Corris Craft Centre. There is also another opportunity to explore North Wales’s slate mines here too, at the Corris Mine Explorers. The trip takes you into the old Braich Goch slate mine, where you can follow the routes, hand dug by miners in the 1830. Grab a torch and get ready!
If you want to live in the moment, and feel the magic of the present, then why not try your hand at water sports? Immersing yourself in the epic activities will force you to think of the here and now, and the stresses and strains of daily life will soon disappear, leaving nothing but hwyl! You’re spoilt for choice with Plas Menai, Boulders Adventures, Tryweryn National White Water Centre and the Bala Adventure and Watersports Centre all on our doorstep. From Caernarfon to Llanberis and Bala you can enjoy the thrill of sailing, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, canyoning, coasteering and much more!
After all that excitement you might be ready for a slower-paced day out, hwyl that helps the entire family to relax. Why not unwind together on a leisurely train ride? There’s plenty of choice across Eryri, from the Welsh Highland Railway to the Snowdon Mountain Railway. Pack your binoculars, sit back, and breathe.
Speaking of trains, don’t forget that you can travel to many of these destinations on public transport. You can buy a North Wales Rover tickets that allows you to travel on trains and buses for a day, or why not see if you can make use of the area’s Fflecsi service? For friendly travel advice give Traveline Cymru a call on 0800 464 00 00.
Our majestic castles are also worth a visit; you can read up about the area’s past, and relive historic battles by visiting Castell Caernarfon, Castell Criccieth, Castell Dolbadarn and Castell Harlech. Hours of fun for children and adults alike.
You could argue that there’s nowhere better in the world to watch the sunset with your loved ones than on the beaches and coastlines of Llŷn and Eryri. Lose yourself and feel the magic at some of our most beautiful beaches, including Porthdinllaen, Cricieth, Aberdaron, Porth Neigwl or Mochras… the list goes on!
How about the hwyl you can have at a festival? Dancing with a stranger, enjoying a drink with friends or listening to brand new music – it’s hard to beat. Eryri is a hubbub of culture and events all year round. From food and music festivals, to live performances and historic walking tours. Get planning, and find your hwyl in Llŷn and Eryri this year.