5 Family hikes in North Wales

North Wales was made for family hiking trips and you can’t visit the area without squeezing in a family walk or two. The area is famous for epic hikes such as Snowdon but there are plenty of gentler and easy walks to enjoy too. Take a stroll around ancient glacial lakes or to the top of hills with historic monuments and epic views. 

These family hikes in North Wales are all suitable for kids and those with young children can simply stop and take breaks more often. Remember to pack a flask and plenty of snacks to keep tired little legs moving!

If you’re hiking with young children then they often need a little encouragement to keep going so these walks all feature plenty of distractions! Take your time to enjoy bubbling streams, spring flowers and watch birds soaring overhead. Keep your eyes peeled for puffins and butterflies and remember there’s always a nice cafe at the end of your walk where you can enjoy a Welsh cream tea or a cold drink!

These hikes are all easy routes to follow so give your children the challenge of map reading and leading the way. This will help improve their navigational skills while giving them a welcome challenge to distract them from their tired legs!

Here are five of our favourite family hikes in North Wales!

Tin Man, Llanbedrog

Length: 3 miles (4.8km)

Difficulty: Moderate

Average time: 2 hours

Starting point: Llanbedrog Beach National Trust Car Park

Parking is free for National Trust members (remember to bring your card). Non-members can pay via the PayByPhone app or with coins at the pay and display machines.

This beautiful family hike in North Wales is ideal for most abilities as the ever-changing views will keep the whole family interested. You can begin on Llanbedrog Beach where a steep, stone staircase will lead you into the forest. If you need a gentler start to your hike then start from the footpath in the grounds of Plas Glyn y Weddw, a stunning Grade II listed building and the oldest art gallery in Wales.

You’ll walk up through a woodland footpath until you reach the famous Tin Man sculpture. Make sure you get a photo with the Tin Man while you enjoy the views across Cardigan Bay and down to the colourful huts on Llanbedrog Beach.

If it’s a short family hike you’re after then you could turn around here, but you won’t be disappointed if you keep going for the full, circular walk. The walk will take you around the headland and you’ll enjoy views out to St. Tudwal’s islands and across to Abersoch. 

It’s a straight-forward walk to follow but it might be worth consulting a map at the end of the road when you come to the tarmac road.

More info: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/llanbedrog-beach/trails/llanbedrog-walking-trail

Top tip: Aqua Beach Bar on Llanbedrog Beach is a lovely place to refuel after your hike. Alternatively, there’s also the Glyn-y-Weddw pub nearby for hearty pub food and a great Sunday carvery. There’s a kid’s play area in the pub if your little ones have any energy left!

Holyhead Mountain Circular Walk, Anglesey

Length: 5.09 miles (8.2km)

Difficulty: Easy

Average time: 2.5 hours

Starting point: RSPB South Stack Car Park, Holyhead LL65 1YH 

This is a fantastic family walk in North Wales if you’ve got kids who enjoy a bit of a scramble! There is a short but fun section of scrambling at the top of the mountain where kids love to put their climbing skills to good use.

With a beautiful section of coastal walking and plenty of bird spotting opportunities, this walk offers plenty of distractions to keep little legs moving. Keep your eyes peeled for puffins, peregrine falcons, guillemots and razorbills.

You will also have the opportunity to visit South Stack Lighthouse, Anglesey’s iconic landmark. Tickets to the lighthouse can be purchased at the RSPB cafe and children must be 1.1 metres talls. Note that access to the lighthouse island is only permitted during opening hours.

More info: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/wales/anglesey/holyhead-mountain-circular

Aberglaslyn, Llyn Dinas and Cwm Bychan, Beddgelert

Length: 5.7 miles (9.1km)

Difficulty: Difficult

Starting point: Aberglaslyn National Trust Car Park

Any walk through Beddgelert is sure to be a winner but this beautiful, family-friendly hike is one of my favourites. It’s a long walk but there’s so much to see so families with younger children could easily make it a full day out.

Take in the sights of Aberglaslyn gorge, Beddgelert, the pretty lake of Llyn Dinas and many relic’s from the area’s copper mining history.

Be sure to take a detour to visit Gelert’s Grave when you arrive in Beddgelert. Gelert was the faithful hound of 13th-century Prince Llywelyn and kids will love the legend about this brave dog. According to the legend, Gelert saved the prince’s baby son from a fierce wolf but the story ends with confusion and tragedy. 

More information: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/craflwyn-and-beddgelert/trails/cwm-bychan-and-aberglaslyn-pass-walk

Top tip: This is definitely the kind of walk where a flask of hot chocolate and some sweet treats are needed!

Moel Famau, Mold

Length: 3.5 miles (5.8km)

Difficulty: Moderate

Average time: 2.5 hours

Starting point: Moel Famau Car Park, Bwlch Pen Barras, Mold CH7 5SH

Moel Famau is a favourite walk for my kids and they love that sense of achievement that comes from climbing a mountain! OK, it’s a hill but don’t tell them that!

Moel Famaur is the highest hill in the Clwydian Range at 554m and it’s located on the border of Flintshire and Denbighshire. Moel Famau Country Park is an Area of Outstanding Beauty and has the famous Jubilee Tower at the summit. The tower was built in 1810 to celebrate the golden jubilee of King George III. 

There are several well-signposted routes to the top and it’s great to take one route up and another one down. There’s even an accessible walk along the river which is suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs and an easy Forest Tracker Trail that’s great for toddlers.

When you’ve reached the summit you can expect to see views across to Liverpool and even to the Isle of Man on a clear day.

This is a popular family hike in North Wales as it’s an exciting adventure but achievable for most abilities. If the weather is nice it is best to arrive early as the car park does get busy.

Top tip: There’s often a pizza truck and a mobile bar in the car park. It’s the perfect place to refuel but it only takes cash so make sure you have some money!

More info: https://www.clwydianrangeanddeevalleyaonb.org.uk/projects/moel-famau-country-park/

Cwm Idwal, Snowdonia

Length: 3 miles (4.8km)

Difficulty: Moderate

Average time: 2 hours

Starting point: Ogwen Car Park

This beautiful family hike is a great walk because it offers you incredible Snowdonia mountain views without being too difficult!

You’ll begin at the Snowdonia National Park Visitor Centre, which is handy if you’d like to pop in and get more information about things to do in the area.

You’ll begin by hiking to Llyn Idwal, a stunning glacial lake in the Glyderau mountains of Snowdonia. You will pass Darwin Idwal Boulders, a collection of enormous rocks that were noted by Charles Darwin when he visited in 1842. Be sure to stop for a photo at the rocks before heading towards the Idwal Slabs, a famous training ground for mountaineers climbing Everest, including Edmund Hillary! You’ll see views over to the sheer cliffs of The Devil’s Kitchen and you’ll eventually come back to the shore of Llyn Idwal. More info: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/carneddau-and-glyderau/trails/cwm-idwal-walk

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