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To celebrate Wales’ Year of Adventure, we’re looking at the ways you can #FindYourEpic in Snowdonia. How will you find yours?
This year Snowdonia Mountains and Coast celebrates the vast choice of Wales’ fantastic adventure experiences, beautiful scenery and unique culture by taking part in Visit Wales’ “Year of Adventure” (so wherever you see the hashtag #FindYourEpic, that’s what it means – in case you were wondering!)
We believe that finding your ‘epic’ can mean different things to different people… it’s a matter of interpretation.
To some, ‘epic’ might relate to adventure activities, while others might consider Snowdonia’s history to be more ‘epic’ than dangling from zipwires or surfing man-made waves.
And ‘epic’ could also be used to describe Snowdonia’s landscape, our local produce, our wildlife, spending more quality time together as a family, or even learning to speak Welsh.
However you interpret the word ‘epic’, we hope the following suggestions will help you to #FindYourEpic next time you’re in Snowdonia!
Bouldering in Snowdonia
1. Epically active
Being active in Snowdonia is a piece of cake; it is, after all, the UK’s number one activities centre!
Zoom along a zipwire high above the ground at Zip World. Bounce on giant trampolines in vast underground caverns at Bounce Below. Have a go at wakeboarding, go karting or quad biking at Glasfryn Parc. Catch a wave at Surf Snowdonia. Get on your (mountain) bike at Coed y Brenin or Antur Stiniog. Make a splash with white water rafting at the National White Water Centre, or hone your watersports skills at Plas Menai.
These are just some of the adventure activities you can enjoy in Snowdonia – there are many more!
Snowdonia cheese
2. Epic edibles
The food and drink in Snowdonia are pretty epic, we reckon – why not give it a try for yourself and see if you agree?
Y Pantri Cymraeg in Caernarfon is a little Aladdin’s cave of Welsh food and drink. Bwtri has branches in Pwllheli, Porthmadog and Pen y Pass. Visit a genuine Welsh vineyard at Pant Du. Take cooking lessons at Bodnant Welsh Foods. Tour the brewery and take home a few bottles from the Purple Moose Brewery. Enjoy a very civilised cream tea at Fron Goch Garden Centre. Or take the healthier option at Blue Sky in Bangor. Delicious!
Llyn Llydaw
3. Epic scenery
‘Snowdonia Mountains and Coast’ should give you a hint of what to expect when you visit Snowdonia. But between our towering mountains and beautiful beaches there’s a wealth of natural beauty to enjoy. Lakes, rivers, waterfalls, forests, hills and fields – take your pick!
Talyllyn Railway
One of the nicest ways to see Snowdonia is to take a trip on a steam railway. Snowdonia has several, including Talyllyn Railway, Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway, Bala Lake Railway and the Fairbourne Railway.
Or if you want to up your epic another notch, how about seeing Snowdonia’s scenery from above with a pleasure trip in a plane or helicopter from Caernarfon Airport?
Enlli/Bardsey
4. Epic history and culture
The history and culture in Snowdonia, some might say, are extremely epic. Plenty has happened in the past few thousand years, and the evidence of the past is still here to marvel at in the present.
Our ancient history is evident when you visit Snowdonia’s prehistoric and Roman sites. The dark ages produced our rich tradition of Arthurian tales, and the Age of Saints can be revisited by following the Pilgrim’s Way. Evidence of the turbulent medieval period is everywhere – just visit any of Snowdonia’s many castles to get a feel for how tough life was in the middle ages. A lot was going on in the Victorian era, too; visit some of Snowdonia’s industrial heritage attractions like the National Slate Museum, Llechwedd Slate Caverns and Inigo Jones Slate Works to find out how slate changed Snowdonia’s fortunes.
Nant Gwrtheyrn
Snowdonia is epic when it comes to culture, too. Our rich tradition of storytelling is honoured at Nant Gwrtheyrn, where you can book a course of Welsh lessons if you’d like to be able to speak like a local. There are some fabulous museums, galleries and performance spaces – including the brand new Pontio arts centre and Storiel museum and gallery, both in Bangor, the Dragon Theatre in Barmouth, Neuadd Dwyfor in Pwllheli and Galeri in Caernarfon.
And the Porth y Swnt interpretation centre in Aberdaron is a great way to find out more about life past and present on the Llyn Peninsula.
GreenWood Forest Park
5. Epic family days out
For younger visitors, Snowdonia is a dream come true. They can build dens and ride a people-powered rollercoaster at GreenWood Forest Park. Or discover our fabulous folklore on an underground boat trip at King Arthur’s Labyrinth. Take them to meet new furry friends at Gypsy Wood Park, Dwyfor Ranch or Children’s Farm Park. They can explore old mines with Corris Mine Explorers or Go Below, or zip through the trees at Zip World Fforest.
And then there’s the seaside, that perennial favourite of children all over the world. Snowdonia’s 200-mile coastline offers everything from sand dunes and rock pools to ice cream parlours and funfairs. Or how about some dolphin spotting off the Llyn Peninsula?
Whatever your age and interests, you can #FindYourEpic in Snowdonia… how will you find yours?
