Things to do in Snowdonia

The perfect base for exploring North Wales

The mountains of Snowdonia are breathtaking in their quiet beauty, and that’s if you see them from a distance. Try a hike up any one of them, and your breath will be whipped away, and not just by the steep climbs to towering summits but by the stunning views of valleys, hills, coastline and cliffs.

It’s true that North Wales hasn’t always been a hip holiday destination, but it’s catching up fast. Do your own exploring and you’ll find strong local communities that take pride in their heritage; a culture and language that arrived in Britain about 1,000 BC; castles and ruins packed full of history and legend and the kind of amazing scenery that makes you wonder why on earth you didn’t visit sooner.

And situated right in the heart of the National Park, the Oakeley Arms Hotel is the perfect location for exploring all the Snowdonia attractions and activities that are on offer.

Whether you fancy an active holiday in Snowdonia or a more leisurely pace, there’s loads to see and do so check out our top North Wales attractions below.
If you need any help or advice about any of the area’s activities or attractions, then any of our staff will be happy to help.

Get Active

Snowdon may be the biggest sibling of this range, but don’t discount the other rugged peaks that lie close by. Cadair Idris, Cnicht, The Moelwyns, Tryfan and the Carneddau are just some that are well worth the hike to the top.

And, if a mountain summit is a bit too adventurous then there are almost 1,500 miles of public footpaths in the national park, so there’s bound to be a walk to suit.

We can arrange for a guide to help you with your mountain or hill walk, or why not explore some of the fabulous countryside and woodland surround the Oakeley Arms? Try one of our recommended walks that leaves straight from the hotel.

And for cyclists, there’s the ultimate challenge! Lon Las Cymru is Wales’ finest cycle route, stretching for 250 miles from Anglesey to Cardiff. It takes you over three mountain ranges and two different national parks so the scenery is unbeatable. The route passes right by the Oakeley Arms and cyclists are always guaranteed a warm welcome. We offer secure cycle storage and a dry room for any wet clothes or kit.

And if golf is your passion, there are two world class golf clubs within a short distance of the Oakeley Arms Hotel. is an internationally renowned golf course with stunning views of the coast, and Porthmadog Golf Clubis the beach-side course with views across Cardigan Bay.

Family

Zip World
Zip World has many sites across North Wales offering all range of attractions from the fastest zip line in the world to underground trampoline parks and roller coasters in the forest. If you’re up for thrill then you can’t go wrong with a trip to one of the Zip World experiences. www.zipworld.co.uk

Ffestiniog Railway
The oldest independent railway in the world. Little and big kids alike will love the charming shiny steam trains and the journey through beautiful Snowdonia. And the Ffestiniog Railway isn’t the area’s only fabulous little train. Take look here – Ffestiniog Railway. You’ll also find steam trains at Fairbourne and Bala Lake. For more information on all of Wales’ steam trains at The Great Little Trains of Wales.

Snowdon Mountain Railway
The more leisurely way to reach the top of Snowdon! www.snowdonrailway.co.uk

Greenwood Forest Park
Loads of fun activities to keep kids entertained all day, including the Green Dragon rollercoaster that produces more energy than it uses! www.greenwoodforestpark.co.uk

Electric Mountain
Visit one of the largest hydro-electric power stations in the area, the visitor centre is a wealth of information for knowledge hungry kids, all set against the backdrop of the stunning Llanberis mountains. www.fhc.co.uk/electric_mountain

Gypsy Wood Animal Park
Visit the animals and find the fairies at this delightful animal park www.gypsywood.co.uk

Go Ape (Coed-y-Brenin)
Your little monkeys will love this tree top adventure in the heart of the forest (over 10’s only) www.goape.co.uk

Glassblobbery
This quirky sounding attraction is well worth a visit to watch glass sculptures and crafts being made. www.glassblobbery.com

Historical and Cultural

Llechwedd Slate Caverns
An underground adventure and a peek into the tough life of a nineteenth century slate miner.

Edward I’s Castles
To end a bloody battle with Welsh rebels in the 15th century, Edward the king of England built a ring of castles along the north Wales coast, and most are well preserved 600 years later. Visit all, or just one of them – Caernarfon, Beaumaris, Harlech and Criccieth www.cadw.wales.gov.uk

Portmeirion
Wonderful or weird; unsettling or idyllic; Welsh or Italian? Portmeirion is Wales’ village with a double identity, but one thing’s for sure the surreal landscape and peaceful atmosphere will stay with you long after you leave. www.portmeirion-village.com

Bodnant Gardens
One of the finest gardens in Wales, with stunning views across Snowdonia and the Clwydian mountain range. www.bodnantgarden.co.uk

Gelert’s Grave
Learn the sad, sad story of a Welsh prince’s faithful hound and explore the pretty village of Beddgelert.

We couldn’t fit an exhaustive list here, but you can find out details of loads of other Snowdonia attractions on the Visit Wales tourist information websites