Christmas has been and gone and last weekend welcomed in the new year of 2017. There’s still a crisp chill in the air, and the thought of going outside and into the cold can be a bit of a chore.
However, after indulging a little too much over Christmas, many of us make New Year’s Resolutions to keep ourselves a little bit fitter in the New Year. As daunting as this sounds, there truly is no better place to start keeping active than North Wales – and Snowdonia in particular.
If you are planning on taking a walk through the stunning landscape which surrounds our holiday park in Snowdonia, here are some scenic walking trails to try. Don’t wait until spring arrives to experience the natural beauty of North Wales!
Tryweryn Trail
This riverside walk is fantastic for children, yet will appeal to all ages. It takes around 1 ½ hours to complete, and begins at the Canolfan Tryweryn, which is the National White Water Centre for Wales. You’ll find some useful facilities here for the start (and end of) your walk, including parking, a café and public toilets.
There’s plenty of nature to observe along the river Tryweryn, and there’s a good chance you’ll see some of the daring white water rafters sailing past you! Due to the fast flowing water in some areas of the trail, children must be supervised at all times. Lifejackets for children are on loan at the Canolfan Tryweryn for extra precaution.
Circular around Bala
This very scenic circular walking trail typically takes around 2 to 2½ hours to complete. You’ll begin the walk within the town of Bala at its leisure centre, before progressing on to the surrounding farmland which can become quite steep at times, as well as walking along rapid flowing riversides.
You’ll have some fantastic views along the way, including the surrounding Snowdonia Mountains, Bala’s rivers and even some small caves which are part of an old stone quarry at ‘Craig y Fron’.
Accessible Bala Circular Trail
For those looking to explore Bala along a more accessible trail, there is an additional circular trail which takes 1 to 1½ hours to complete. This path is also suitable for those with wheelchairs, mobility scooters and pushchairs.
You’ll have the same scenic views as the previous trail, yet there are no steep farmland paths for you to have to walk on. This particular trail also begins at the same place at the previous – the Bala leisure centre.
On rainier days, the grassy sections of this trail may be difficult for those with wheelchairs and pushchairs.
Moel y Garnedd
The Moel y Garnedd trail is a circular walk which takes you over the moorlands and farmlands of Bala.
On this trail, once you’ve reached the top of Moel y Garnedd, you’ll experience some incredible views of the surrounding mountain ranges. If you look far enough, you may even catch a glimpse of the popular Snowdonia mountain, Cadair Idris in the background.
The moorland is often wet, so it’s advised you bring some waterproof wellies or boots for this particular route. It usually takes around 2-3 hours to complete this walk, so it’s a little more of a challenge than the previous ones.
Llyn Tegid Trail
This is another very accessible walking trail, which can be completed by those with mobility scooters, wheelchairs and pushchairs. It’s a fairly level trail which is set on tarmac.
This trail offers fantastic views of Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake), as well as the surrounding hills and meadows. You’ll find a few areas of the trail will allow you to get down to the lake’s shore via designated steps.
A section of the trail is along a busy road, so those with small children or pets must ensure they are well supervised along this stretch of road.