Tourist Attraction

Caernarfon Castle

King Edward intended this castle to be a royal residence and seat of government for north Wales. The castle's symbolic status was emphasized when Edward made sure that his son, the first English Prince of Wales, was born here in 1284.

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Canolfan Bywyd Gwledig Cywain

Bala’s new rural heritage centre located in the heart of North Wales.

Cywain provides a host of indoor and outdoor exhibitions which celebrate rural skills. The Centre has a vibrant calendar of performances, shows and festivals in addition to exhibitions by some of Wales’s finest Artists.

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Centre for Alternative Technology

With over 7 acres of hands-on displays and gardens and with over 35 years of experience in sustainability practice, the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) inspires thousands of visitors every year. Based in beautiful Mid Wales, the Centre overlooks the Snowdonia National Park, renowned for its stunning scenery and outdoor activities. Join us with your family, friends or come alone and explore what you can do!

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Dolbadarn Castle

Llywelyn ab Iorwerth (Llywelyn Fawr) commissioned the construction of Dolbadarn Castle some time before 1230. The castle is strategically positioned on a mount above Llyn Padarn in Llanberis, and from this position, it was possible to defend Snowdonia from any threats that came from the direction of the Llanberis Pass. The road through the Llanberis Pass was a main route through Wales, and therefore, Dolbadarn Castle enabled the Princes to rule and monitor movements through north Wales.

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Electric Mountain

When it was fully commissioned in 1984, Dinorwig Power Station was regarded as one of the world's most imaginative engineering and environmental project.
Today, Dinorwig's operational characteristics and dynamic response capability are still acknowledged the world over. Dinorwig is the largest scheme of its kind in Europe.

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Fairbourne Steam Railway

The Railway has run from Fairbourne village to Penrhyn Point since 1895.
With the arrival of the Cambrian Coast Railway there were schemes to develop the area for tourism. There were several horse drawn construction tramway in the area, the tramway that was used to construct the village became the Fairbourne Railway

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Glasfryn Parc

Come and enjoy a great family day out in North Wales and try the many activities on offer at Glasfryn Activity Parc, Bowling Centre and Cable Wakeparc located near Pwllheli in the heart of the Llyn Peninsula in North Wales.

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Glynllifon Park

There are a number of attractions from the period of the Newborough to be found within the gardens, such as the boathouse and the hermitage, as well as more recent sculptures and attractions which have been inspired by famous Welsh literatures such as Kate Roberts, Caradog Pritchard and T.Rowland Hughes.

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GreenWood Forest Park

From giant toadstools to big bouncy pillows, GreenWood Forest Park is an award-winning family attraction packed full of eco wonders. Follow the leafy trails to discover rides and activities with a difference – YOU provide the energy! Hop on the world’s first people-powered rollercoaster and zoom down Wales’s longest sledge run. Get happy feet at Wales’s first BareFoot Trail and jump onboard for a Jungle Boat adventure. Conquer the Crocodile Maze, explore TreeTop Towers and build a forest fortress in Den Building Wood. New for tiny tots is LittleForest PlayBarn, a soft play paradise for toddlers and crawling babies. For something extra special during the holiday season, take a seat in the outdoor Forest Theatre and enjoy dazzling entertainment from magicians and pirates. Find a variety of crafts to keep little hands busy - make Rag Rugs, Monstrous Masks or Gypsy Flowers - and watch our Pyro Artist at work. Uncover a hidden talent for Maypole Dancing or spin a trick or two at the Circus Skills workshop. Whatever the weather, a trip to GreenWood guarantees big smiles from fun seekers of all ages!

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Gwynedd Museum & Art Gallery

This is Gwynedd's only general museum. Learning about the ways of life led by previous generations helps us to place our own experiences in the context of an unfolding story. This understanding enriches our lives. Which part of the collection will be of interest to you ? Every visitor will leave with a particular memory of a favourite object. What will yours be?

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Harlech Castle

Harlech Castle has had an exciting history and seen many battles. King Edward I of England built it as part of his ring of strong castles in north Wales, each within a day’s marching distance of each other and able to be supplied by sea. Master James of St George, Master of the King’s Works in Wales, was in charge of building the castle. Work began in spring 1283 and the castle was completed by the end of 1289. In 1290, in reward for his services, Master James was appointed constable of the castle and he lived there while carrying out his work for the king.

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Inigo Jones Slate Works

In the days before computers, and when children were too poor to be able to afford paper, a thin piece of slate and chalk was used in schools. Inigo Jones was established in 1861 to meet this demand for school writing slate. They were produced by their thousands in the workshop. In addition to these small pieces of slate, some really large pieces were crafted, the biggest being for ICI measuring 6.9m x 2.1m. Inigo Jones slate was also used for electrical panels by Cunard famous ships Mauritania, Queen Elizabeth 1 and the Queen Mary. The slate panels can be seen on board the Queen Mary which is now a visitor attraction in Long Beach, California. Today, the company used the same material, 500,000,000 year old slate to create architectural, memorial, landscape and craft products. A visit to Inigo Jones will give an insight into the history of the slate industry and also shows the current processes to prefabricate its various slate products. The café there is convenient if you are cycling along Lôn Eifion from Caernarfon to Criccieth. The cafe and showroom is open 7 days a week throughout the year.

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King Arthur's Labyrinth

Collect your hard hat and make your way to the Labyrinth entrance to join your guide; a mysterious hooded boatman.  Climb aboard the underground boat, and set sail on a journey which takes you along winding tunnels, through a great waterfall and across a thousand years. Deep inside the Labyrinth and far back in time, you leave the boat and, with your hooded boatman as a guide, explore the spectacular underground setting.  As you discover the labyrinth, thrilling tales of King Arthur and other ancient Welsh legends are told, complete with dramatic scenes, light shows and sounds effects which all add to this amazing underground adventure.

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Llanberis Lake Railway

Discover the timeless appeal of our narrow-gauge steam trains - a more leisurely way to travel and the perfect way to savour the grandeur of Snowdonia.
Starting at Gilfach Ddu, the journey takes you past the 13th century Dolbadarn Castle, crossing possibly Britain's shortest river and passing Llanberis' twin lakes as the train negotiates the extension (opened in 2003) to Llanberis village. From here the train runs non-stop through the Padarn Country Park, joining the 1845 slate railway route to run along the shores of Lake Padarn to Penllyn, and giving stunning views of Snowdon, the highest peak in England and Wales.

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Llechwedd Slate Caverns

Llechwedd Slate Caverns offers a choice of two spectacular rides into the vast slate mines of Blaenau Ffestiniog. Travel on the Miners Tramway Tour in carriages hauled by a battery driven locomotive into a network of man-made underground caverns. This is a guided tour and at various points you will alight to learn about the skills needed to extract slate – conveniently bedded between layers of granite like chert, which give integral strength to the mines’ 16 floors. Or descend into the Deep Mine for a 25 minute walk through ten sound and light sequences via underground chambers. Meet ‘Sion Dolgarregddu’, the twelve year old miner who will guide you through the social life of a mining community in the late nineteenth century.

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Lloyd George Museum

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Nant Gwtheyrn Welsh Language and Heritage Centre

Fancy a great day out or short break in the Llŷn Peninsula?
Looking for a peaceful location with magnificent views?
Interested in the many folk tales and mysterious legends of Wales?
If so, why not visit the old granite-quarrying village of Nant Gwrtheyrn, where there’s plenty for all the family to enjoy:

• Visit the restored cottage and discover what life was like for a Victorian quarry family

• Uncover the Nant’s past and present in our Heritage Centre, in Capel Seilo

• Learn about the many myths and legends of the Nant such as the disgraced king of Britons Gwrtheyrn (Vortigern), the three curses of the Nant and the tragic love story of Rhys and Meinir

• Grab a bite to eat in our on-site restaurant, Caffi Meinir while looking out for the diverse range of wildlife which have made their home in the valley and surrounding waters

For those who would like to stay a bit longer:

• We offer a range of residential Welsh language courses

• 4* standard en-suite accommodation is available in our former quarrymen’s cottages

• The village presents a striking venue for weddings and conferences

We look forward to seeing you very soon

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National Slate Museum

Step back in time at the National Slate Museum Llanberis and uncover the secrets of slate and the people who quarried it. Shadowed by towering slate mountains, the Museum is housed in the Industrial Victorian Workshops that once serviced and maintained the enormous Dinorwig slate quarry above it. The workshops catered for all the repair and maintenance work demanded by a quarry, which once employed well over 3,000 men. From strikes and suffering to craftsmanship and community, this is an unique opportunity to glimpse the lives of the slate workers and their families. Attractions include our stunning introductory film, To Steal A  Mountain, daily slate splitting demonstrations by quarry craftsmen and our giant waterwheel - the largest of its kind on mainland Britain.   Wander through the Quarrymen’s Houses - re-erected stone by stone at the museum and  furnished to show key dates in the slate industry’s history. Step back in time in the foundry or workers’ mess room or why not get all steamed up with UNA  - our  Hunslett Locomotive  - once used to haul rubble in the quarries but now  - at over 100 years old – is the Museum’s pride and joy. 

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Padarn Country Park

This wonderful 800-acre Park includes Llyn Padarn Lake, the ancient Coed Dinorwig oak woodland and the Vivian Quarry. Visit the old Quarry Hospital, now a Visitor Centre, and see the restored ward, operating theatre and gruesome implements and other Park related exhibits. Or, explore woodland, lakeside and industrial heritage trails and visit the many other varied attractions on site – there’s loads to do! Ample car parking & facilities on site.

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Penrhyn Castle

This vast 19th century neo-Norman creation was built on the Pennant family fortune made from slaves, sugar and slate. Crammed full of curios the sumptuous interiors paint an ornate picture of Victorian affluence, while the restored Victorian kitchens offer a glimpse of life below stairs during the period.
Commanding magnificent views over Snowdonia and the Menai Strait, the magical gardens delight young and old with wildlife havens, parkland, an exotic tree and shrub collection as well as a stunning formal walled garden.

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Plas Glyn-y-Weddw Arts Centre

Oriel Plas Glyn y Weddw is one of the oldest galleries in Wales. The mansion was built in 1856/57 to house the art collections of Dame Elizabeth Love Jones Parry, Madryn. Following her death, the mansion was let to the Angerstein family and was subsequently sold, in 1896, to the Solomon Andrews family from Cardiff. The Andrews family was responsible for several business developments in Llŷn, including opening the mansion to the public as a centre for arts and entertainment. The mansion was purchased in 1979 by David and Gwyneth ap Tomos and, in a labour of love, they renovated the gallery during the 80s and early 90s, and formed the Friends of the Gallery. In 1996, the Gallery was purchased by a Charitable Trust  from amongst the Friends and a significant program of further renewal was undertaken. Today, the Mansion is a thriving arts centre, with its own collection of art and important exhibition of Swansea and Nantgarw porcelain on loan from the Andrews family. The Hall itself is architectural masterpiece with majestic Jacobean staircase and hammer beam roof. It is listed by CADW as a Grade II* building.

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Portmeirion

Portmeirion is one of Wales' premier visitor attractions, welcoming 250,000 visitors every year.

Portmeirion skyline from the seaSurrounding the village are 70 acres of exotic woodlands with easy to follow woodland trails and coastal walks.

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Quaker Heritage Centre

Discover the story of the Quaker community that once lived here and of the persecution which forced them to emigrate to Pennsylvania. Includes an audio visual presentation.

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Ropes and Ladders

Ropes and Ladders invite you to a memorable adventure at the foot of Snowdon for children and adults. Leap, balance, climb and swing on our aerial activities in the safety of your harness. Individuals, families and groups are welcome to test themselves against the challenges and enjoy the spectacular scenery of mountains and lakes.
No need for the younger kids to miss out. Get them into harness and helmet and away they go on their adventure.
All safety equipment provided.
Want to climb Snowdon or climb a rock face? We provide guided hill walking and outdoor rock climbing / abseiling. Choose from a day out with your own instructor or sign on to one of our scheduled days.

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Shopping in Bala

There is a wide-range of shops in Bala with the emphasis on quality, local produce for the discerning visitor to “discover”. These shops will cater for your visit and feature interesting local produce, gifts and the outdoors - as well the usual range of shops and banks found in a small, market town.

There are two traditional butchers with award winning local produce and “deli” sections and a traditional-style grocer, which has received national recognition for their own bread, cakes and savoury items.

For those going into the outdoors there is an adventure shop with canoeing and walking items and a bike shop. For those looking for gifts there is a choice of shops including an art gallery and some specialising in books in the Welsh language.

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Snowdon Mountain Railway

Let Snowdon Mountain Railway take you on a journey of a lifetime to the rooftop of Wales. Snowdon, at 3,560ft dominates the landscape of Snowdonia National Park in North Wales. Claim this mountain peak, the highest in Wales, as a lifetime’s achievement. With stunning scenery and awe-inspiring views it's all part of a great day out for you and your family in North Wales. 

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Sygun Copper Mine

A family attraction situated in the heart of the snowdonia national park.

Winner of the Prince of Wales award for tourism, Sygun Copper Mine is one of the wonders of Wales - a remarkable and impressive example of how our precious industrial heritage can be reclaimed, restored and transformed into an outstanding attraction.

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Talyllyn Railway

We hope you will come and visit our historic, steam-operated railway and enjoy meeting the friendly volunteer staff. The line runs for seven and a quarter miles (11.8 km) through the beautiful and unchanging Fathew valley.

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The Fun Centre

While the kids are wearing themselves out on the giant drop slides, ball pools, tubes, bridges, maze, climbing walls, net and ropes..... The adults can relax in the fully licensed restaurant enjoy the outside patio area or join the children in the play area.

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Ty Siamas - National Centre For Welsh Folk Music

Tŷ Siamas is housed in one of Dolgellau's grandest buildings

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Welsh Highland Heritage Railway

We'll take you on a short train ride, then we stop at the Engine Sheds where you get to climb into the cabs of the locomotives and see how things work.

Find out about the narrow gauge railways of Porthmadog and how they became famous around the world with your free visitor guide.

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