Adventure and Fun for Families in Wales
Experience Boat Trips, Fossil Hunts, Adrenaline-Packed Activities and more!
Wales is a paradise for family adventures. Whether you love the coast, crave high-speed thrills, or enjoy nature walks, there's something for everyone to enjoy. From boat trips and fossil hunting to surfing and hiking, Wales has it all.
Enjoy thrilling activities like ziplining and abseiling, or take a scenic walk along the coast. Let’s explore some of the best outdoor adventures you can enjoy with your family in Wales.
Family Days Out on the Coast:
High-Speed Thrills: RIB Ride in Anglesey
RIB Rides around Anglesey are perfect for families with kids over four. Choose from adventures like ‘Bridges and Swellies’ with shipwrecks and whirlpools, or the ‘Puffin Adventure’ for wildlife enthusiasts. The ‘Menai Adventure’ showcases Beaumaris Castle, or you can hire a whole boat for a bespoke trip.
Touch the Past: Fossil Hunting at Llantwit Major
Llantwit Major is Wales' best spot for Jurassic fossils. Mini explorers can find gastropods, corals and sea urchins in the rocks along the foreshore. Another great fossil-finding spot is Penarth, just outside Cardiff.
Hold on Tight! White Water Rafting in Cardiff and Bala
Experience the thrill of white water rafting at Cardiff International White Water, where family sessions are available for children aged six and up. They also offer family canoeing, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding.
For a real challenge, head to the National White Water Centre at Bala, North Wales, for the fast-flowing Afon Tryweryn rapids. The Tryweryn Safari is available for those aged 10 and up.
Take the Plunge: Coasteering in Pembrokeshire
The Welsh coast offers more than just sandcastles. With award-winning beaches, many near real-life castles, there’s plenty to explore. Coasteering, pioneered in Pembrokeshire, is perfect for thrill-seekers.
Celtic Quest Coasteering offers family days out for children aged eight and up, featuring activities like cave exploration, cliff jumping and playing in water features named the ‘Toilet Flush’ and the ‘Washing Machine’.
Walk the Worm: Worm’s Head, Gower Peninsula
The Gower Peninsula, the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is stunning. Take your family on the adventurous journey to Worm’s Head, accessible only during low tide.
Enjoy sweeping views over Rhossili Bay, rock scrambling and super-spongy grass. If it's not low tide, take the National Trust’s ‘Serpents, Seascapes, and Shipwrecks’ walk to admire Worm’s Head from the mainland.
Don’t Look Down! Abseiling at Morfa Bay
Morfa Bay Adventure offers coastal activities like bodyboarding and sea kayaking. Try abseiling for a new perspective. Beginners start on two-metre-high walls, moving to the nine-metre limestone tower when ready. For the truly brave, head to a coastal crag in Pembrokeshire or the Gower Peninsula for an ultimate abseiling experience.
Adrenaline Activities for Families with Teens
Ziplining
Wales is a top destination for ziplining. In North Wales, Zip World offers thrilling rides above old slate quarries. In South Wales, Zip World Tower has the world's fastest seated zip across a reservoir.
Gorge Walking
Gorge walking, or canyoning, involves swimming and climbing rocky mountain streams. It's available in places like the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons), Cardigan Bay, and Eryri (Snowdonia).
Underground Adventures
Explore disused slate mines with Bounce Below’s trampolines and zip wires, or go caving with Go Below in Eryri (Snowdonia). Learn about mining history with guided tours at Corris Mine Explorers.
High Ropes Adventures
High ropes centres like Zip World Fforest and Ropeworks offer fun in the trees with zip lines and Tarzan swings.
Family Cycle Trails in Wales
These flat, friendly cycle paths are perfect for families.
North Wales Cycle Route
The Mawddach Trail, from Dolgellau to Barmouth, offers scenic views along the Mawddach Estuary. It’s almost exclusively traffic-free, with plenty of café stops along the way.
Mid Wales Family Cycle Trail
The Ystwyth Trail follows the old Great Western Railway route from Aberystwyth to Tregaron. This 21-mile trail is perfect for a family day trip, with shorter, easier sections available.
South Wales Traffic-Free Cycle Route
The Cardiff to Castell Coch route is a six-mile section of the Taff Trail. It’s a great way for families to explore Cardiff and ends with a visit to the fairy tale Castell Coch.
West Wales Cycle Route
The Port Talbot to Afan Forest Park route starts at Aberavon Beach and ends in the Afan Forest. This 13-mile round-trip is perfect for families, with gentle climbs and a visitor centre at the end.
Thrilling Family Adventures in Wales
Oakwood Theme Park, Pembrokeshire
Discover the excitement at Wales' largest theme park, Oakwood. Home to the UK's favourite wooden rollercoaster, Megafobia and the ultra-fast Speed with its beyond-vertical drop.
Experience the thrill of the tidal-wave-inducing Drenched, or take on Vertigo’s extreme flight ride. For younger visitors, there are plenty of gentler rides. All of this is set in the beautiful Welsh countryside.
Folly Farm, Pembrokeshire
Starting as a traditional Welsh dairy farm, Folly Farm has grown into a full-blown zoo with 500 animals, including lions, rhinos, penguins and Wales’ only giraffes.
Enjoy hands-on encounters with farm and domestic animals at Cwtch Corner, and explore plenty of outdoor and indoor play areas, including a vintage funfair.
GreenWood Forest Park, North Wales
GreenWood Forest Park offers eco-friendly fun with the people-powered Green Dragon rollercoaster and the UK's first solar-powered ride, Solar Splash. Perfect for younger children, it features imaginative outdoor activities like the BareFoot Trail and Giant Jumper. The Enchanted Wood Barn provides an indoor play area for rainy days.
No wonder GreenWood has won North Wales’ best family attraction award for seven consecutive years!
Heatherton World of Activities, Pembrokeshire
Heatherton World of Activities offers a vast array of attractions including paintball, go-karting, bumper boats, body zorbs and laser clays across four activity zones – Family Fun, Adrenaline, Play and Golf & Bowls. There's even a dog agility course! Located just minutes from the seaside resort of Tenby, it’s a perfect spot for family fun.
Dinosaur Attractions
For a dinosaur adventure without the danger, visit The Dinosaur Park in Tenby, where life-sized models create a fun and safe experience. Explore the dinosaur trail and enjoy a range of indoor and outdoor activities.
At Dan yr Ogof National Show caves of Wales, see one of the world’s largest collections of full-scale dinosaurs, visit the shire horse centre and explore the magnificent caves.
The National Trust’s 50 Things to Do Before You’re 11¾
Get kids closer to nature with the National Trust’s ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾.
This list is packed with fun activities, from watching sunsets to creating wild art. There's something for every season, making it easy to enjoy the outdoors all year round.