We gathered three extreme sports you have to do when visiting North Wales. Wales is full of the kind of Outdoor Pursuits that you can take the whole family on. There’s archery, hiking, canoeing and mountain climbing. All these things sound great on paper, but might add up to being just a little bit run-of-the-mill. Why not push the boat out a little bit and try something truly EXTREME and see how steely your nerves really are…
White Water Rafting
Messing about on a river, that’s all some people want to do. Give them a row boat and a nice placid lake, and they can paddle around with a picnic and no fear of getting wet. Well, you won’t find any of that serenity at the National White Water Centre. With several routes of varying Grades, there’s something for every ability here. The instructors are wonderful with absolute beginners, so even if its your first time on the rapids, you’ll still feel comfortable with an oar in your hand.
Rafts can hold up to 7 adventurers at a time and two hour rafting sessions cost £320. There may be other companies doing cheaper rates; but you’ll struggle to find the same level of professionalism elsewhere. All safety gear is provided; you can bring your own wetsuit or hire one there, just make sure to bring a towel with you for a hot shower after, you’ll need it!
Mountain Biking
If you’re looking to get down and dirty with some downhill courses, or take a blast through a forest train, then North Wales will have what you’re looking for. There’s plenty of decent bike rental places if you haven’t got your own; these centres are usually situated at the start of a few trails so all you have to do is park up, grab your wheels (strap on your helmet) and get going!
Right on the edge of the border, smack bang in the middle of Wrexham and the lovely village of Ruthin, is One Planet Adventure. They’ve specialised in mountain biking for the past ten years, and at their multi-purpose centre they provide everything you need to start your own biking adventure. With tracks ranging in lengths and difficulty, there’s even a café there for those of a less adventurous ilk.
Zip Lining and Caving with Zip World
There are plenty of small companies offering tailor made packages, but if you’re looking for value for money with a fantastic safety track record, Zip World are the guys to go with. They’ve got a whole load of different activities all based around the use of zip lines as transportation. From the over 100mph speeds of Bethesda’s Velocity to Europe’s first ever 4-person zip line ride – there’s a reason why they’re calling Wales the zipline capital of the world.
Another attraction that could have made it into our three extreme sports round up is absolutely unique to North Wales: Zip World’s Bounce Below. Recently reopened after a £3m investment, the indoor trampoline based experience is the only one of its kind in the UK. With an extra 400 square metres of new space as well as industrial slides and a new Cavern tour experience, it may be a little dear but it is so worth it.