North Wales or Lake District?

[WeeMadArthur1]

Looking for a UK holiday for us and teen DCs. Between us we all want different things so I’m trying to find somewhere that will have something for everyone. Things we’d like are:

• Nice walks (ideally hills)
• Beach, or possibly big lake
• Activities for teens
• Close enough to a town for eating out (within 30 mins drive)

I wondered whether somewhere near Barmouth/Harlech in Wales would work as it is close to beaches but at the edge of Snowdonia - it looks as though there are a few activity type places - the cave trampolining, zip lining, wild swimming near some waterfalls, Harlech castle (also Portmerion and the steam railway, although that’s more for us than the DCs).

The lakes might work as well for walks, but I’m not so familiar with the area - I can see there are lots of water activities - kayaking, etc but is there much else for teens?

Grizedale Forest in the Lakes has a Go Ape, with different routes for teenagers/the more adventurous.
Kayak hire at Coniston iirc.

Go to Pembrokeshire. Bit far from most places, but way nicer than the lakes , great accommodation available and the beaches are gorgeous.

There’s not much at Harlech Castle tbh. We only spend an hour or so looking round there and that’s going round a few times and up on the battlements etc.

Llanberis area - Lake Padarn, lots of activities incl water sports in the village, and south into Snowdonia and north to the Menai Straits, easy access to Anglesey and its lovely beaches, plenty of informal places to eat. It's also a transport hub for buses to all the starting points for big walks and mountains.
Caernarfon is the nearest proper town and very characterful and interesting.
Plenty to see and do in this area whether you walk to walk the mountains or not.

We did both Barmouth and the Lakes last year - and enjoyed it so much we're doing the same this year! We have a 15 yr old ds. Loads of fab beach and hill walking around Barmouth, some nice restaurants too. Loved Harlech Castle and ds loved the activities at Zip World, we've booked something similar for when we go back this year.
We also loved the Lakes, great walking and easy to find activities for ds, as mentioned, kayaking on the lakes, Grizedale Forest and lots of great pubs and restaurants.
You won't go wrong with either!

Love both areas. Think snowdonia area of Wales might offer a bit more in terms of organised activities… but both would be fab

If you go to North Wales I wouldn’t stay in Barmouth - you’re miles from any mountains/Zip World, Llyn Padarn will give you lake activities and mountains, Anglesey or the Llŷn have beautiful beaches. Somewhere around Beddgelert or Betws y Coed if you want a small town/village or Bangor is bigger would give you the best of both worlds.

I’ve only been to the Lakes once and we loved it but we had beautiful weather and it wasn’t in peak holiday season, it was half term though and so busy - we managed it by always leaving first thing and planning car parking etc meticulously!

Presuming that you are going in school holidays, then definitely North Wales. The lakes are sooo busy

Pine Lakes in Carnforth might fit the bill. It's 30 minute drive to Windermere for hikes, and a 10 minute drive to Morecambe beach. There is a pool, and a lake on site with water activities for teens.

This is really helpful - thank you for all the advice. It will be in the school holidays - do the lakes get more busy than other holiday places?

I’ve been to North Wales and the Lakes in school holidays and there isn’t much to choose between them for busy-ness. We tended to set off out early for the main activity to make sure of a parking spot, but that did get more difficult with a teenager in tow

Dolgellau area is nice. Coed Y Brenin Forest has mountain biking, with bikes for hire if you don’t have your own or take them. You can get to all the other places mentioned quite easily.

The last couple of years have been manic in the Lakes. I mean it's always busy, but the reduction in people holidaying abroad has made it noticeably busier, even with the reduction in overseas visitors. However I imagine it is much the same in any of the other popular holiday destinations in the UK so it's probably 6 of one and half a dozen of the other. Both areas you're considering are nice places to visit and they are both likely to be busy.
In terms ofvthings to do at in the Lakes for teens, as previously mentioned there's Go Ape at Grizedale and also Whinlatter. There are also well signed bike trails of varying difficulties at both places and you can hire bikes. Honister Slate mine and the Via Ferrata might appeal and there are plenty of watersports opportunities around. Brockhole Visitor Centre and the boat museum at Windermere are both worth a look, and in Keswick the Pencil Museum is suprisingly interesting, and The Puzzling Place and Kong Adventure (indoor climbing wall etc) will while away a few hours on a rainy day. The Lakeland Motor Museum and Lakeside and Haverthwaite railway are down at the Newby Bridge end of Windermere or if you go a bit further out there's the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, and you could visit Muncaster Castle at the same time.

What are beaches like in the Lake District? Ant you'd particularly recommend? I know the Welsh ones are all quite nice.

The Cumbrian coast is quite undeveloped really, so it depends what you want, but there are some nice places. It's quite a drive from the main Lake District hotspots to the coast though. You've got the option of going to the south of Cumbria to places likecGrange Over Sands which are on Morecambe Bay, or to the west where it's the Irish Sea. This article might be helpful
www.lancs.live/whats-on/whats-on-news/best-beaches-youll-find-cumbria-18273865

We live between the two
The Lakes is a fantastic place but in general it has a lot more rain the name is a bit of a give away really.
We dont feel it is the best beach place.
North wales we consider to be a hidden gem
Loads to see and do it is wetter in Snowdonia but you can drive for 30 mins and be out of any rain
Many excellent beaches something for everyone really. The thing that stands out for use is the coast can be busy but two miles inland its so quiet and tranquil. Plenty of stuff to see and do.
It all depends what you want? Llandudno / Conwy area is a good base but if you want Fish Chips and Bingo then slightly further north Towny Rhyl.
We have done them all over the years and they all have different things on offer.
Some ideas
www.donthibernate.co.uk

We like Barmouth but as already said you need to plan your activities etc as it could be a long drive.
Now If isn Barmouth this is just up the road

The Lakes have been rammed with people these past few years, parking has been horrendous .

I love the Lakes, but when we went last year in Scottish - not even English ones - the popular areas were completely rammed. We were in Cockermouth which is Northern Lakes so a bit less busy, but some people at our cottage complex missed the cruise they'd booked as could not get a space for parking at Ambleside.

Might be a bit less busy this year though if everyone off abroad again.

Where are you coming from?
Heres an idea to brake the journey up
Llangollen
www.donthibernate.co.uk/winter-trip-to-llangollen-and-motor-museum/
Llandegla fishery Kids can fish all equipment supplied cafe is great very tranquil place to sit and read
www.llandeglafishery.com
On to Bala a nice little town on the Edge of the Lake visitbala.org.uk
Then on to Barmouth you might not arrive until evening but whats the hurry? and why drive past all this good stuff?

Thank you for all the great ideas. I'm now leaning towards North Wales because of potential busy-ness of the lakes (although I appreciate it gets busy everywhere in school holidays). What is the Portmadog area like? Just thinking that seems close to get to all the bits we'd like to see - mountains, down to Barmouth, up to Caenarfon, Llyn pardarn lake, etc. Don't mind being a little bit inland if it's within about 20-30 mins of a beach.

The Llyn peninsular Dont tell anyone how good it is!
Head down the coast to Criccieth Llanbedrog etc
Had some great times here not cheap and mixed reviews at the moment
www.glasfryn.co.uk/go-karting.html

Go to Llanbedrog beach, nice cafe on the beach nice walk to head land too
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/llanbedrog

www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g2139010-d12343085-Reviews-The_Llanbedrog_Beach_Bar-Llanbedrog_Pwllheli_Gwynedd_North_Wales_Wales.html

Porth Dinellen
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/porthdinllaen
Nice pub on the beach
www.tycoch.co.uk

Beddgelert. Spectacular scenery on your doorstep, beautiful village, good location.

Last Summer on a day trip we struggled to park in Barmouth but 10 mins drive up the road is a great beach with a great cafe and loads of parking
Follow the signs for this church its on the beach
www.facebook.com/Llandanwg
With an excellent cafe
www.ymaescafe.co.uk

Just have a back up plan incase your destination is rammed

I would go for North Wales. It’s always less busy than the Lakes and much better for families. The Lakes last year were another level of business. We couldn’t eat out when we were there because everything was booked up 2 weeks in advance

Thanks for all the fab recommendations - we’re going for north Wales - near Beddgelert. Within about 30 mins drive of all the things we want. Thanks for all the suggestions of things to do.