Introduction
North Wales is now famous for being the adventure and outdoor capital of the UK!
It is firmly established as one of the best places for a holiday where you can enjoy exciting, fun and unique experiences in beautiful settings, many of which are to be found in the spectacular Eryri | Snowdonia National Park itself.
In 2026 these are the must-do outdoor attractions, adrenaline activities and adventure days to try, all near Crafnant House, our boutique B&B near Betws-y-Coed in Eryri | Snowdonia.
Discover more about our B&B ⮕
Planning an adventure weekend or holiday in North Wales?
Book your accommodation at Crafnant House - our B&B near Betws-y-Coed in Eryri | Snowdonia:
Booking direct with us saves you money -
you always get a lower rate than anywhere else!
Where to find the best outdoor and adventure activities in Eryri | Snowdonia and North Wales!
Have a look at our map and see which of our favourite outdoor and adventure activities are near us in Eryri | Snowdonia and North Wales!
Just click on any of the links below for more information about each activity or scroll-down to read about them all:
Then all that is left is to do is start planning your adventure holiday in Eryri | Snowdonia and North Wales!
1. Zip World Adventures
With three locations in North Wales - all not far from our B&B - there are a unique range of outdoor adventure activities at Zip World that guarantee thrills and excitement!
Zip World Llechwedd
At Zip World Llechwedd in Blaenau Ffestiniog you will find Titan, Europe’s largest zip wire zone which will see you zip-wiring a total of 1890 metres.
Also at the Blaenau Ffestiniog location are Bounce Below, Slate Caverns Adventures, Underground Golf and a Deep Mine experience which are all indoors and therefore good options for a rainy day in North Wales!
Zip World Penrhyn Quarry
Zip World Penrhyn Quarry in Bethesda has Velocity, the fastest zip line in the world which sees you travel at speeds of over 100mph over an old slate mine!
Also at Penrhyn Quarry are the thrilling Quarry Karts, the UK’s only mountain cart experience - it is THE place to try downhill karting!
Aero Explorer is another activity you can try here - it gives you the sensation of flying through the air!
Zip World Betws-y-Coed
This is the nearest Zip World location to us, located just south of Llanrwst and north of Betws-y-Coed.
Here you will find the Fforest Coaster which takes you through woodland at speeds of 25mph and is the UK’s only alpine coaster of its kind, aswell as Zip Safari and the Treetop Nets.
Also at this location is Plummet - another world first which sees you drop through a trap door over 100ft high to experience the closest thing to freefall!
2. Mountain and Gravel Biking
Eryri | Snowdonia has without doubt some of the best mountain bike trails and gravel bike routes in Wales and the UK!
Whether you want a leisurely ride on forest tracks or more exhilarating downhill MTB action there is something for everyone.
The most popular mountain biking locations near to us are:
Gwydir Mawr and Gwydir Bach Trails
These mountain biking trails within Gwydir Forest are just two miles from our B&B in Trefriw and they both offer big climbs, thrilling descents, brilliant singletrack and amazing scenery.
If you prefer gravel biking then Gwydir Forest also has lots of tracks to ride along, and you can go further and deeper into Eryri | Snowdonia National Park on other awesome routes near us.
If you wish to rent a mountain bike locally then we recommend:
Snowdonia Bikes - they hire out e-mountain bikes in nearby Llanrwst
Bike Wales - they offer mountain bike rental from their base in Llandudno but will deliver to us in Trefriw!
Enjoy stunning views on your ride such as this one near Trefriw in North Wales
Antur Stiniog
In Blaenau Ffestiniog, Antur Stiniog has downhill MTB trails with 14 routes graded green to black and it is one of the best mountain bike uplift services in the UK.
Coed-y-Brenin Forest Park
Near Dolgellau, Coed-y-Brenin has various trails on forest tracks catering for everyone from complete beginners to experts craving fast, flowing single track, and a skills area to practice in!
There is even more world-class mountain biking in North Wales at both Penmachno Forest (not far from us, near Betws-y-Coed) and Mynydd Hiraethog (on the Denbigh Moors), so mountain bike enthusiasts are just spoilt for choice!
As keen cyclists ourselves we are happy to advise you where to head, and bike storage and washing facilities are available at our B&B.
For more advice and inspiration why not read our blog on the best mountain biking locations in North Wales.
3. Go Below Underground Caving Adventures
From their base near Betws-y-Coed, Go Below offer unique underground caving adventures and activities!
During your experience you can try activities such as abseiling, a zip line, boating, scrambling and climbing a waterfall.
At one point during your caving adventure you abseil your way down to the deepest point in the UK!
Fantastic caving adventures at Go Below!
Fun, experienced and qualified instructors guide you through the caves and abandoned mines, and absolutely no prior experience is necessary.
Guests who have stayed with us at Crafnant House have tried it and have come back absolutely buzzing, so this is definitely an experience to recommend!
New in 2023 was their ‘Deep Sleep’ experience where you can stay overnight in a cabin or grotto underground!
Maybe combine that with a few nights above ground with us!
4. Surfing
Adventure Parc Snowdonia offered inland surfing in their wave pool in nearby Dolgarrog, however, it unfortunately closed in 2023.
It is not yet known at this stage if or when the wave pool for surfing will reopen - watch this space for any news!
The Wave Garden Spa - offering luxurious spa treatments and packages - is next to the Ixora Hotel at the same location and it remains open.
In the meantime why not try these other popular locations in North Wales to try out your surfing skills.
We recommend these fantastic locations for surfing, which are all not far from us:
Hell’s Mouth on the Llyn Peninsula
Traeth Llyndan beach in Rhosneigr on Anglesey
Barmouth beach
5. Climbing Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon)
Of course the hike up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) is one of the most popular walks in North Wales!
Climbing the tallest mountain in Wales and England is a challenge most visitors to our region want to do at least once.
There are different paths and routes to hike to the top - some are easy whilst others are more difficult.
Llanberis Path
The Llanberis Path goes from the village of the same name.
It is the longest route (it takes about 6-7 hours to walk to the summit and back down) and some claim it to be the easiest, but this also means it is the most popular!
We are nearly at the top of Snowdon on the Llanberis Path!
Miners Track and PYG Track
The Miners Track and PYG Track both start at Pen y Pass car park.
We often recommend going up one and coming back down the other to get the most of the scenic views both offer - they are both a lot more interesting than the Llanberis path.
Watkin, Rhyd Ddu and Snowdon Ranger paths
Finally the Watkin, Rhyd Ddu and Snowdon Ranger paths all start on the west side of the mountain and are often quieter than the other walking routes.
Whichever path you choose you are guaranteed a great day out. You may even get views at the top if the weather ‘behaves’ and there is a cloud free summit!
You can get more detailed information on the different routes in this blog post:
The Best Walking Routes Up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) ⮕
Of course this is not the only great walk in North Wales - there are plenty of other alternative places to hike and ramble.
Ask us for tips and advice when you stay with us if you need any help or inspiration!
6. Wild Swimming
The therapeutic benefits of wild swimming are well known, promoting physical health, mental well-being, and a deeper appreciation for the environment.
Whether you want to swim in a river, a lake or even a waterfall, Eryri | Snowdonia and North Wales offer stunning locations to enjoy a swim outdoors.
You can get more information in this blog post:
The Best Wild Swimming Spots In Eryri | Snowdonia ⮕
For now these are some of our favourite locations for wild swimming:
Llyn Geirionydd
This is the nearest location to our B&B for wild swimming, located just above our village, Trefriw, and not far from Betws-y-Coed.
It is a beautiful lake surrounded by forests and is perfect for your cold water dip.
We regularly go for an early morning swim before serving breakfast and guests are always welcome to join us!
Wild swimming in Llyn Geirionydd
The Fairy Glen
Near Betws-y-Coed, The Fairy Glen is also not far from our village. It is a picturesque, narrow gorge for swimming with some large rocks to sit on. NB. Access is via private land so there is a small charge to pay.
Llyn Dinas
Near the pretty village of Beddgelert, this is a a 1km-long valley lake at the foot of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) in the heart of the national park, where you can have a swim with a beautiful backdrop.
Plenty of other locations offer you a chance to wild swim in open water, so get your wetsuit ready (or swimming costume if you are brave!) and plan your trip now!
Book an organised wild swimming experience
If you would prefer to build-up some confidence and be shown the best swimming spots in Eryri | Snowdonia and North Wales before you head out on your own it is well worth considering an organised wild swimming experience!
Booking an experienced guide for your first time jumping in cold water is a great idea.
We recommend Wild Wales and Vivienne Rickman - they both offer guided wild swimming trips and bespoke days out in Eryri | Snowdonia and North Wales.
7. SUP (Stand Up Paddleboarding)
Stand up paddleboarding (also known as ‘SUP’) is one of the fastest growing activities in the UK!
North Wales is the perfect location for your adventure with clear, still lakes to paddle on and stunning landscapes within Eryri | Snowdonia National Park to enjoy.
Snowdonia Watersports in Llanberis offers both paddle boards for hire and lessons on Llyn Padarn, so you can head out onto the water either at your own pace or with an instructor
At Llyn Tegid in Bala, not far from us, Bala Adventure and Watersports also offer SUP rental and lessons and other watersport experiences
Whilst Psyched Paddle Boarding are one of the leading specialists in this exciting and growing sport and offer guided SUP trips to explore the rugged Anglesey coastline and Menai Straits
Other lakes not far from us that provide excellent conditions for SUP are:
Llyn Geirionydd - near both our B&B in Trefriw and Betws-y-Coed
Llynnau Mymbyr - near Capel Curig and the Plas-y-Brenin outdoor centre
Llyn Gwynant - near Beddgelert
Llyn Dinas - near Beddgelert
Llyn Padarn - at Llanberis
They are all very picturesque locations to practice your skills, guaranteeing stunning views all around you.
You can also store your paddleboard with us at Crafnant House if you are having a day off the water during your Wales holiday!
8. Rock Climbing
Eryri | Snowdonia and North Wales are popular for rock climbers and mountaineers from all over the UK, who come here to enjoy the major mountain crags and slate quarries situated in breathtaking scenery.
Whether you come to the region for climbing, clambering, abseiling, traversing or bouldering, various outfits such will help find the best locations for your climbing adventure!
Gibbon Adventures are based in Snowdonia and provide tailored courses in rock climbing, scrambling, and mountaineering delivered by qualified and highly experienced instructors.
If the weather is not so good there are some great indoor climbing walls and centres too!
Beacon Climbing Centre in Caernarfon is one of the largest indoor climbing centres in North Wales.
Whilst Boathouse Climbing Centre is highly-rated indoor climbing facility set in an old RNLI boathouse just 14 miles from us in Llandudno, on the North Wales coast.
9. Road Cycling
North Wales is not just a destination for mountain biking as quiet roads and traffic free cycle paths allow road cyclists to have a perfect cycling holiday enjoying both panoramic vistas and wonderful sightseeing.
And in 2027 the Tour de France Grand Départ excitingly comes to Wales with stage 2 going from Welshpool to Cardiff - definitely the perfect excuse for a cycling holiday in our region!
Our B&B is the perfect place to stay as you can cycle right into the heart of Eryri | Snowdonia National Park from us, with of course some challenging climbs along the way!
These are just some of the excellent cycling routes that we recommend in North Wales:
Ford Brailsford Way
The Ffordd Brailsford Way offers you 50 mile or 75 mile waymarked routes around Eryri | Snowdonia National Park with breathtaking scenery at every turn.
The Tour of Britain passing us at Crafnant House!
North Wales Coastal Route
The North Wales coastal route from Chester to Holyhead is a fantastic cycle route that offers you coastal towns, mountainous scenery and sea views along the way.
You can cycle on the section from Talacre near Prestatyn through Rhyl, Colwyn Bay and Conwy all the way to Bangor and almost solely on traffic free cycle paths.
Lon Eifion cycle path
The Lon Eifion cycle path is another highly recommended route that departs from Caernarfon towards Criccieth and the Llŷn Peninsula, and runs parallel to the Welsh Highland Railway for much of the way.
This 24 mile traffic free cycle path gives you fantastic views of the imposing mountain ranges around you.
So bring your bike with you when you stay with us at Crafnant House, and rest assured we have bike storage and washing facilities at our B&B.
As keen cyclists we will gladly advise you of the best cycling routes, and of course the best cafes and coffee shops to stop at too!
10. Rib Rides
For something completely different why not try an exhilarating boat trip on Anglesey?
RibRide in Menai Bridge offer you their Velocity trip which sees you flying down the Menai Strait on the world’s fastest RIB.
Rib Rides are a thrilling experience on Anglesey!
Other trips allow you to go under Thomas Telford’s Menai Suspension Bridge and see other sights along the Menai Strait - the body of water separating Anglesey from the mainland.
Seacoast Safaris offer a variety of trips from their dock in Beaumaris on their hybrid rib boat which has 700HP of power!
Summary
We hope this gives you some ideas of what adventure activities there are to do in Eryri | Snowdonia and North Wales if you are both planning your holiday and choosing a place to stay.
Guests often ask us how long should they come for, so our best tip is…
… don’t just come for two days !!!
Looking for a great place to stay in North Wales?
Crafnant House is our B&B in the village of Trefriw, Eryri | Snowdonia.
We look forward to welcoming you to Wales soon!
North Wales is now famous for being the adventure and outdoor capital of the UK!
It is firmly established as one of the best places for a holiday where you can enjoy exciting, fun and unique experiences in beautiful settings, many of which are to be found in the spectacular Eryri | Snowdonia National Park itself.
In 2026 these are the must-do outdoor attractions, adrenaline activities and adventure days to try, all near Crafnant House, our boutique B&B near Betws-y-Coed in Eryri | Snowdonia.