Ideas of where to go and what to do when the Grandchildren say “I’m bored” and you don’t want to go to Wacky Warehouse again. All of these ideas are suitable for the under sevens and may be even older kids.
Criccieth
Ffestiniog Railway
Ffestiniog RailwayFfestiniog is> addictive. Small children love railways and being narrow gauge, this is a child-friendly size. It is a lovely run from Porthmadog up through the Vale of Ffestiniog to the slate town of Blaenau Ffestiniog. There are a range of steam locos with names to fire the imagination, like Meddyn Emrys and Taliesin as well as Prince, Linda or Blanche. The shop at Porthmadog has a range of pocket money toys for the children as well as Thomas the Tank Engine merchandise. Tan-y-Bwlch is the half-way point and a good place to break the journey, as there is an excellent children’s play area with signal box and wooden loco as well as swings. The cafe serves a range of food, drinks and ice creams. For those wanting a walk, the nature trail drops down to Llyn Mair, with picnic tables and ducks to feed. Alternatively the children can explore the footpath leading from the footbridge through the trees to a stile at a minor road. Children travel free with a fare paying adult.
Portmeirion
PortmeirionSt Cybi’s Well
St Cybi’s WellPorth Oer
Porth OerPorth Oer is our favourite beach. Set near the end of the peninsula, it is a small-sheltered beach with beautiful white sand. Nicknamed Whistling Sands, the dry sand really does sing as you shuffle your feet across it. At low tide there are rock pools to explore, rocks to scramble over and a small cave. There is a small shop and cafe on the beach as well as toilets. Parking is above the beach and the cliff path runs off from the corner of the car park. This makes a lovely easy walk along the coast and up to the lookout point on Carreg with its Jasper mines.
Porthdinllaen
PorthdinllaenPorthdinllaen is a nice easy walk for the children. It needs to be done at low tide when you can walk along the sandy beach from Morfa Nefyn to the tiny settlement of Porthdinllaen with Ty Coch pub providing drinks and food. The footpath beyond leads round to a tiny sandy cove with the lifeboat station. It continues round the grassy headland with views down onto the rocks where there may be seals. Return the same way, or along the track across the golf course, watching out for golf balls.
Madryn
MadrynGelert’s Grave
Gelert’s GraveGelert’s Grave is a good easy walk across pastureland along the banks of the River Glaslyn. Children love a good story and none comes better than that of Gelert, the faithful hound of Llewelyn, Prince of Gwynedd. A stone marks the spot of Gelert’s death and tells his story. The story may just be a story made up by an 18thC landlord of the Goat Inn to encourage tourists, but the kid’s love it. Treat them to an ice-cream at Cafe Glendwr and Glaslyn Ices afterwards.
