Borth-Y-Gest near Porthmadog things to do

[Haywire]

We are going to be in the area for a weeks holiday starting this weekend. Never been to this part of Wales before, we live near Brecon so not too far away but have always gone to Ceredigion or Pembrokeshire for our hols.

Have been to Mach and Aberdovey but never further north. What are the best things to do with a 3 year old and two grandparents.... They all love beaches, castles and trains so we should be alright but weather not looking great so would be good to have some recommendations of other places to visit. Anglesey? trip up snowdon on train? any lovely cafe's or ice-cream places.

any suggestions much appreciated

[carocaro]

Halech Castle & Beach - bit of a treck to beach from car park but massive and spectacular, sod all facilities so take supplies and pee in the dunes!

Festiniog Railway

Shell Island

Defo Snowden

[moondog]

You can get the steam train all the way to Caernarfon now through the most beautiful scenery.

Portmerion is beautiful and you can eat in the two posh hotels for not much more than the cafe.Castell Deudraeth best as beautiful big safe walled garden so your child can run around safely outside while you view from withing, sipping wine.

A good softplay place in Caernarfon, the Hwylafan/FunCentre in an old church. From here you can stroll around the walls, visit the castle, the dock (nice shop or two, places to eat and good views across Anglesey. Black Boy is a great old pub near to have a drink/fod, and little safe playground next door.

Beddgelert well worth a trip. Walk around the river and visit Gelert's grave and have an ice cream and a pizza in the place in the centre of town. If you drive there from Borth y Gest you will pass a place where there are nesting eagles. You can watch them on close circuit tv. Very exciting.

Llanberis is fun. Slate Museum is great for everyone and walking by the lake with a picnic and visiting very nice park always good as well as strolling about and seeing old slate pits flooded with water. Stop off in Brynrefail for lunch in Cabn, which is like a treehouse, again with a beautiful garden. Llanberis has the famous Pete's Eats which has been a climbers/walkers hangout for years.

Have a nice time.

[Haywire]

Thanks so much moondog and carocaro that is really helpful Portmerion and llanberis sound great and soft play good to have for weather emergency situations.

having been doing some googling can't believe the price of the Snowdon Mountain railway £25 each and tripadvisor reviews are awful saying you are packed in like sardines. Hmmm with 3 year old on lap think we might give train a miss and walk up while grandparents babysit dd!

has anyone been to the Welsh mountain zoo or Greenwood park? also I quite fancy Llandudno, i do love a pier and they have a tram too. Like the sound lots of places on the Lleyn like Porthdinllaen and Llanbedrog but might not be so good in drek weather.

My 3 year old is so excited about going somewhere that is welsh speaking she has been practising un, dau, tri banana all week.

[meeliesmum]

The rabbit farm at Llanystumdwy is good.Llandudno is great-my two love it there.

[mummymeister]

Criccieth castle and an ice cream at Cadwalladers afterwards. Mini golf and a lovely beach too. Greenwood park, ropeworks, Llechwedd slate mine, Bedgellert, Electric mountain. You can walk from BYG to porthmadog then along the cob wave at the trains and cut through to walk up to Portmeirion. This is a whole day out and great fun. Shell island - gets cut off at high tide and fab shells everywhere. BYG beach parties in the evening and sometimes there is a fair too. The little local attractions are good value for money. Avoid Snowdon on the train unless you take out a second mortgage. Cramped in, get to the top, look at the view, cramped in again. Horseshoe pass by car and a wander around. Would suggest you buy some of the simple circular walks type books. Ours have been worn out over the years. Finally the rabbit farm- still appeals to a 12 year old!

[smaiwa]

Ffestiniog railway to Blaenau is good.Stop over at Tanybwlch station for playground and cafe.Some v nice walks nearby esp llyn Mair.Llandanwg beach just south of Harlech is lovely and there's a cafe and toilets v close to the beach.Greenwood is a good day out.If weather decent good pubs with playgrounds are the Brondanw Arms in Llanfrothen and Oakley Arms in Maentwrog (15/20 mins from b y gest and you'll pass the Oakley on the way up from Brecon) In Criccieth there's a cafe with soft play just off the beach(Caffi Morannedd) with car park alongside and I agree castle and Cadwalladers will hit the right notes as well.Barmouth is a bit kiss me kwik but we've always loved it- huge sandy beach ,smallish fairground/arcades and the harbour is good for a wander. The big train (Cambran Coast line)is gorgeous but best avoid the School trains which pass through Harlech at around 2.30)

[moondog]

Hay, Welsh Mountain and Greenwood are both great places to go.

[Haywire]

In case anyone is interested in going to this area and does a search a bit of feedback. Firstly it is fabulous, we loved North wales we live in mid wales which is lovely too but the scenery is so stunning in snowdonia. Weather was largely windy and cold, plenty of rain showers but we had a great time anyway and there was so much to do.

Highlights were Borth-y-gest itself lovely little harbour good walks all around and great little coves for rockpooling, nice bistro The Moorings here. Greenwood forest park dd's first rollercoaster she loved it, there is plenty to fill a whole day here. Llanberis slate museum was great free entry and the lovely slate miner doing a demo chiseled her a Slate heart! Ate at Caban (moondog's suggestion) was great menu and v. child friendly.

Had lunch at Castell Duedraeth dd (and IL's!) very impressed having lunch in a castle and great walks at Portmerion. Criccieth lovely castle, fish and chips for tea on the beach and then watched lifeboat practice launch (6.15 on a Thurs).

Railways went on Ffestiniog stopped at Tan-y Bwlch as suggested by smaiwa lovely walks and great childrens play area. My IL's took dd on the West Highland heritage railway and they let her change the signals etc, this was v. good for a little one as short train ride and look around engine sheds etc.

Beddgelert v. picture postcard village a bit touristy like a cotswold village but lovely walk along the river and great ice-cream.

Our worst day was trip to Caernarfon mainly weather related as it was hammering it down with rain but we went to the Black Boy Pub and we were not impressed, awful service and food was terrible so not sure if it has changed hands? however day redeemed in dd's eyes by soft play centre suggested.

Best day was only really sunny day which we spent on beach in Llanbedrog lovely NT beach with colourful beach huts fabulous beach for shells, cafe, carpark and toilets all very nearby but idyllic woodland setting. Was very sheltered so good escape from the wind we walked up 300 steps to the iron man on the headland wonderful view.

Thanks so much to everyone who replied you helped us have a really great holiday.

[anniebear]

go and visit the rabbit farm, it is a lovely place and my daughter spet most of her day holding baby puppies :)

I loved it also

[anniebear]

www.rabbitfarm.co.uk/

[anniebear]

oh I was too late haha