| Snowdonia is a great place to visit if you're travelling | | | | If your kids are a bit too cool for building sandcastles |
| with children. The region boasts dozens of | | | | and a bit too young to enjoy sunbathing, sign them |
| family-friendly attractions including petting farms, | | | | up for surfing lessons provided by West Coast Surf |
| craft workshops, castles and museums. | | | | Shop on the beach at Abersoch. This is one of |
| But if your children are a little older, they may want | | | | Snowdonia's top watersports destinations, and very |
| to visit attractions that are a little 'cooler', where they | | | | popular with surfers. West Coast Surf Shop's qualified |
| can safely take part in exciting activities that are | | | | instructors will teach your children (8 years and older) |
| more suitable for teenagers than for younger children. | | | | how to surf during a two-hour lesson which includes |
| So, for all those families visiting Snowdonia with older | | | | board and wetsuit hire. |
| children, we've put together a list of ten Snowdonia | | | | 6. Ty Siamas |
| attractions that are ideal for children aged 12-16 | | | | Ty Siamas - the National Centre for Welsh Folk Music |
| years. | | | | - is a fascinating attraction for all ages. As well as an |
| 1. Greenwood Forest Park | | | | interactive exhibition where you can try out a |
| An attraction that's popular with children of all ages, | | | | number of musical instruments, there's a fantastic |
| Greenwood Forest Park is a unique eco-attraction | | | | shop where your budding Beethoven can buy |
| that brings adventure and entertainment together | | | | instruments, CDs and souvenirs. |
| with eco-awareness, teaching children about the | | | | 7. Redline Karting |
| environment through play. Top attraction is the | | | | Redline Karting in Caernarfon is a go-karting attraction |
| world's first people-powered rollercoaster. Older | | | | with a difference... it's indoors, so it's ideal whatever |
| children will love the 70-metre sledge run (Wales' | | | | the weather. There are a number of different circuit |
| largest), den building, stilt walking and archery. They'll | | | | layouts, and special karts for children aged 8 and |
| also enjoy a lot of the rides, though they may not | | | | upwards. Redline also offer a number of different |
| want to admit it! | | | | pricing options, ranging from "arrive and drive" to |
| 2. Centre for Alternative Technology | | | | grand prix - so you can pop in for a quick spin or |
| With its interactive and hands-on exhibits about | | | | make a day of it. |
| sustainable living, children's play areas, information | | | | 8. Go Ape |
| centre and water-powered cliff railway, the Centre | | | | Give your little monkeys an outlet for their excess |
| for Alternative Technology is a fun and fascinating | | | | energy at the Go Ape high wire forest adventure at |
| attraction for all the family. Learn about composting, | | | | Coed y Brenin, just outside Dolgellau. Climb, zip and |
| solar energy, organic gardening and water | | | | dangle through the trees (don't worry - it's perfectly |
| conservation, and look around an eco-home to find | | | | safe) and get a monkey's-eye view of the forest. |
| out more about creating a sustainable household. | | | | Not keen on heights? Not to worry - you can have |
| 3. Dragon Raiders Paintball Park | | | | plenty of fun walking through the forest, too. Suitable |
| Suitable for ages 11-80, Dragon Raiders Paintball Park | | | | for ages 10 and upwards. |
| is a fun and exciting attraction for families with older | | | | 9. Beddgelert Bikes |
| children. Set in 30 acres of prime forest on the Llyn | | | | Beddgelert Bikes provide mountain bike hire and sales |
| Peninsula, Dragon Raiders Paintball Park has four | | | | so you can cycle through the beautiful and peaceful |
| game zones, each with its own individual objectives. | | | | Beddgelert Forest at the foot of Snowdon. Totally |
| There's also a walk-on shooting gallery where you | | | | traffic-free, so it's safe for all members of the family. |
| can get a bit of practice in before starting your | | | | All trails are clearly marked, so you'll be able to find |
| battle. | | | | your way around easily. All sorts of bikes can be |
| 4. Glasfryn Parc | | | | hired - even a tandem - and hire costs include use of |
| Glasfryn Parc offers a packed roster of activities for | | | | a cycling helmet. |
| older children and adults, although there's also a | | | | 10. Snowdonia Riding Stables |
| dedicated play area with ball pool for smaller children. | | | | One of the nicest ways to see Snowdonia is from |
| At Glasfryn your teenagers can try go-karting, | | | | horseback. Whatever your level of expertise, you'll |
| archery, quad biking and bowling; and if you don't feel | | | | be able to enjoy a trek at Snowdonia Riding Stables. |
| like joining in you can grab a coffee and home | | | | So even if you're a total novice, you'll be able to join |
| cooked meal at the on-site restaurant or visit | | | | in the fun. Different lengths of trek are available, and |
| Glasfryn's farm shop and stock up on locally reared | | | | if you're inexperienced you'll be given a beginners' |
| meat and other produce. | | | | lesson before setting out on your accompanied trek. |
| 5. Surfing lessons at Abersoch | | | | |