Snowdonia and North Wales family holidays and breaks

Snowdonia and north Wales as a whole offer an astonishing mixture of mountains and coast, quiet getaways and seaside jollity. You can take a coastal break and stay by the sea and make a day trip to Snowdon – at 1085m the loftiest mountain in England and Wales – or you can hide away in a forest and make a dash for the beach. The scenery is superb, whether you’re looking down or looking up, and there’s a mass of options for family holidays, from lazy fun to family activity breaks.

 

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What to Do

Take the tiny cog steam-train with open-air carriages to the top of Snowdon, though it’s not cheap and gets hugely crowded. A new £8-million visitor centre and café in rugged stone now crowns the peak. The train goes from the busy village of Llanberis, which has plenty of other things to do – Electric Mountain, a power station deep underground (good for older children), the National Slate Museum (free, with things for youngsters to see and climb on in a lakeside setting), lake cruises, easy meadow walks and the Llanberis Lake Railway steam train.

In Snowdonia National Park children love Sygun Copper Mine, Dolgoch waterfall (a stop on the beautiful Talyllyn Railway), and the twin, tiny train-rides inside Llechwedd Slate Caverns in Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Active families with kids 12+ can try Canolfan Tryweryn National Whitewater Centre near the lakeside town of Bala – 8km of foaming excitement fed by the Llyn Celyn reservoir so able to operate virtually year-round. See our white-water rafting with kids tips page. There are plenty of other activity centres in Llanberis and elsewhere, along with biking and hiking trails. For younger children, Greenwood Forest Park is an eco-world of climbing, with a human-powered rollercoaster!

The north coast is a different world, with the Victorian prom of Llandudno with its own mini-mountain attractions (tramway, copper mine) and Rhyl with its kiss-me-quick feel. Anglesey is quiet and cut off, while on the west coast you’ve got delightful little resorts such as Abersoch, Aberdovey and Barmouth.

Where to Stay

Snowdonia and north Wales have all kinds of options for family holidays, from the boutique (Llandudno's Escape B&B – not suitable for under-10s) to the basic (Bryn Gwynant and other youth hostels), from the gloriously barking (the fantasy land of Portmeirion) to the stately (Porth Tocyn Country Hotel at Abersoch with its award-winning restaurant). See the right-hand column of this page for other recommendations and deals, from farm-stays (Feather Down Farms) to holiday villages with the likes of Haven and Hoseasons.

To hire a cottage take advantage of our exclusive discounts on Cottages 4 You (to get these, sign up to our newsletter and become a member of TaketheFamily), or browse Snowdonia hotels with Booking.com or Late Rooms. 

And don’t forget the great choice of campsites in fantastic locations.

When

Generally, it has to be summer for family holidays in Snowdonia and north Wales, although you have to trade off the best weather against the mind-boggling traffic. The low-lying western extremities of Anglesey and the Llyn Peninsula can be good out of season.

How

You'll need a car for family holidays in the region, but be warned that while access is easy from the Midlands (A5) or the north (the A55 sweeps across the north coast from Chester), it’s a long drive to Snowdonia and north Wales from the south.

National Express runs buses to many places, and there are trains via Chester and Crewe. See also our car-hire page.

Eat

Snowdonia and north Wales have lots of farmers’ markets selling local produce, including children’s barbie favourites such as sausages and burgers – all very good quality. On the west coast you’ll find lots of good seafood, while in Rhyl there’s endless chips and candyfloss – essential snacks for family holidays! 

Good restaurants can be found, not least the Castell Deudraeth Bar & Grill at Portmeirion (see above) and the famed café Pete’s Eats in Llanberis.

Cost

Though popular for family holidays, Snowdonia and north west is a relatively inexpensive option, especially if you self-cater.

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