What to do in Snowdonia When it Rains

March – a month that is often filled with unpredictable and transitional weather as we slowly move into Spring, the season that is best known in the UK for its showers as well as sunshine!

The Catch the Breeze Retreats team never allow the weather to determine the experiences our guests have on offer. A little rain never hurt anyone, but sometimes guests might want a cosier holiday experience than a valiant hike through the wind and rain. The team have an extensive knowledge of the location and the surrounding areas to suggest unforgettable, weather-appropriate experiences for our guests.

In this particular blog, we will be suggesting a wide range of activities that our Tan Llan & Coach House guests can try when it rains in Snowdonia. Whether you want to learn, explore, or be adventurous, Tan Llan & Coach House guests are in a fantastic location to try all the activities on this list even when it rains.

We cannot guarantee that you will not at least get a little wet at our first suggested location, which is the quaint, traditional seaside resort of Barmouth. Situated only a 15 minute drive away from Tan Llan, Barmouth is 2 miles of beautiful, bleached sands caught between towering mountains and crystal-clear waters. This Blue Flag awarded seaside resort is a fabulous place for families even on rainy days as you take shelter in any number of amusement arcades and help yourself to a delicious treat of fish and chips as you look out onto the promenade. If the weather is not too bad, you can even take a walk along the harbour and take in the picturesque views of boats bobbing along the water, some crab fishing might even be on the cards too!

Rainy days can often evoke a feeling of nostalgia or make us think back to a time before our own – a venue to visit to fuel these fantasies is the National Slate Museum which is just over an hour drive from Tan Llan. Be transported back to the Victorian era and discover the depths of the magnificent Dinorwic Quarry that encapsulates Welsh culture and heritage while being overlooked by the sublime Elidir mountain. The National Slate Museum offers a number of activities, from workshops, online events, demonstrations, and a gift shop and café. Although the quarry has not been in production since 1969 and you will not find anyone making wagons and railways like it used to back in the 19^thcentury, there is a deep-rooted Welsh history to be learnt at this museum and it has a fascinating story to tell too. 

For those guests who might be looking for an indoor-outdoor experience that will keep them out of the rain, you will find just the thing with Gwynedd Corris Mine Explorers. This exciting cavern exploration is located only a 15 minute drive away from our Snowdonia property and the group can guide you and your party through a variety of caverns and underground trails depending on your capabilities and bravery. Over the years, new and deeper levels have been excavated in the mine and with this comes new attractions to see such as King Arthur’s Labyrinth. This interactive underground storytelling exhibit will sail you through waterfalls and walk you through mountains as you learn about the myths and legends of Wales. Face fearless dragons, colossal giants, and ferocious battles as the dynamic underground scenes unfold before your eyes. When you are through with your cavern exploring and storytelling, you can visit the Corris Craft Centre which offers a range of fun activities such as pottery, chocolate making, candle dipping, and even furniture making. Gwynedd Corris Mine Explorers, King Arthur’s Labyrinth, and Corris Art Centre is the perfect experience for the entire family as the centre offers something for everyone, meaning everyone will have a great day out.

The most charming and driest outdoor excursion is the steam railway that crosses many areas of Snowdonia. A beneficial aspect of the steam railway is all its different locations and depending on your schedule you can travel as close as Talyllyn Railway which is only a 30 minute drive away from our Snowdonia property, Tan Llan, or go to the heart of Snowdonia on the Snowdon Mountain Railway which just over an hour drive away. Whether you travel the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway, the Llanberis Lake Railway, the Snowdon Mountain Railway, or the Talyllyn Railway you will pass majestic waterfalls, rolling hills, deep valleys, and tranquil lakes. The luxury of this nostalgic steam train journey is that although you will be travelling through these beautiful Welsh landscapes you will be cosy in the train carriage despite the rain outside. Similar to the slate mines, the steam railway is a true indoor-outdoor experience that we are sure all guests and visitors will thoroughly relish.

Another magical attraction guests can visit is the ruins of Caernarfon Castle which is also an hour away from our Welsh property. Take a trip back in time to the Middle Ages when you visit the exquisite Caernarfon Castle; the fortress is still so well-maintained it has been recognised as the greatest Middle Ages building in the UK. You will feel like the king and queen of the castle as you take in the beauty of the architecture; the grandiose of this castle is truly breathtaking and it has a long standing history through wars, battles, and in more recent years holding the historical event of Prince Charles being invested as the Prince of Wales in 1969. This castle has a lot to offer its guests and has a good mixture of indoor and outdoor exploring with its exhibitions, gallery, museum, and of course delicious refreshments in the café. And while you are in Caernarfon visiting, why not stop off at the Airworld Aviation Museum which is only a 15 minute drive away from Caernarfon Castle. The museum holds an extensive collection of aircraft and aviation memorabilia with its wide range of exhibits sure to impress anyone who visits. The site holds a great deal of history as it was thought that during the Second World War that the Nazi army would storm from the Irish sea, so defences were installed along the coast of west Wales. So, the museum, much like Caernarfon Castle, has seen its fair share of battles.

Our next suggestion is a bit more on the adventurous side as you will be travelling through the air at Zip World. Zip World has four different locations with the two closest being in Penrhyn Quarry which is just over an hour away and Llechwedd which is only a 30 minute drive away from our Snowdonia property. The Zip World Penrhyn Quarry location is home to the world’s fastest zipline, Velocity 2, which is also known as the longest zipline in Europe. But Zip World, contrary to the name, has much more on offer than its famous ziplines, such as the underground trampoline park, Zip World Bounce Below which is fantastic for families looking to shelter from the rain. Zip World also offers deep mine exploring with their Llechwedd Deep Mine adventure. Upon entry into the mine, you will aboard Europe’s steepest cable train as you travel down into the depths of the mine and discover the fascinating history surrounding Llechwedd Mine. When you eventually reach the bottom, you can take in the spectacular light exhibition on display and learn more about what it was like to work in these mines from the owner and founder of Llechwedd, John Whitehead Greaves. Zip World is the perfect rainy day activity for families as it has a blend of indoor and outdoor activities that are fun for everyone.

There are some tantalising attractions around Snowdonia if you do not mind a little drizzle, and a trip through Snowdonia would not be complete without at least one walk through Snowdonia National Park. Snowdonia National Park is 823 squared miles, which is a lot of ground to cover, but also means you can tailor your hike to be as close or far away from your stay with us at Tan Llan; if it is raining, it might be advantageous to hike near our property so you can quickly get back and get cosy by the hearth and enjoy the beautiful, homely furnishings lovingly handpicked by our interior designer Gillian Doxford. We have already written a guide to all the best hiking spots near our national park properties, so you can find out more about the hikes near and around Tan Llan in our blog. If you’re looking for a nearby hike, we would recommend the Dolmelynllyn Estate Walk as it is only a 10 minute drive away; the full route might be very long, but if the weather is not too severe you will surely enjoy the wildlife and nature you will see along the way.

And finally, an option that may not be everyone’s first point of call for when it is raining, but certainly a fun and interesting one is visiting the National White Water Centre near the River Tryweryn which is only a 30 minute drive from Tan Llan. A visit to this location will certainly be an escapade to remember, even more so in the rain as the rapids of the River Tryweryn become even stronger. This will not be a rainy day activity for the faint of heart, but we are sure that some guests will love the thrill of white water rafting or canoeing in these exciting weather conditions, and if it does not sound like something that interests you, there are trails and cafés at the centre where you can recline and relax while the rest of the party gets heartily soaked.

Here at Catch the Breeze Retreats, we pride ourselves on being able to offer our esteemed guests a personalised experience when they stay at one of our properties. Karen, who is the resident eyes and ears of Tan Llan & Coach House, knows everything there is for activities and sight-seeing attractions that guests can venture out to see, and she even knows the best food and drink spots for miles around. So even if nothing on this particular list tickled your fancy, you can always get in touch with us so we can help you plan the retreat of a lifetime.

For further information on our properties and their availability all year round contact us on 01829 700125 or email at info@catchthebreeze.co.uk.

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