A two day mountain biking and zip-lining adventure in North Wales

Nestled between the mighty Moelwynion mountains, Blaenau Ffestiniog is about as rugged and awe-inspiring as Wales gets. Fashioned over centuries by Wales’ hardy slate mining community, their quarries, canyons and caverns add yet another dimension to this epic landscape — ancient and reimagined.

Start your adventure with some world-class mountain biking at Antur Stiniog. Refuel and refresh with a night in a luxury safari tent before taking on the towering ziplines, subterranean trampolines and winding caverns of Zip World Llechwedd.

Exhilarating adventures with friends in epic landscapes.

Day 1: Attack the trails of North Wales’ mighty mountain bike (MTB) capital

Understandably considered a mecca for mountain biking, Antur Stiniog pulls in ambitious riders from across the UK keen to carve new lines through this former slate mining town. Antur welcomes all ages and abilities, with 14 routes in total, including some steep singletrack, tricky switchback berms and giant rock slabs for even the hardiest of riders.

Four people on mountain bikes riding down a single track mountain trail with mountain scenery in the background.

Three people on mountain bikes riding along a single track mountain trail with mountain scenery and a low sun in the sky in the background.

Mountain biking at Antur Stiniog, Blaenau Ffestiniog, North Wales

Once you’ve blown away the cobwebs racing along tracks, over bumps and around bends, be sure to take a second or two to admire the epic man-made vistas that make this part of Wales so unique.

Mountainous landscape of Blaenau Ffestiniog, with a cloudy sky

Epic mountain views in Blaenau Ffestiniog

Check out the best mountain bike tracks and trails across Wales or read this guide to MTB in Wales from MTB expert and guide Tom Hutton.

If you're looking for something a little easier to hone your skills, how about Welsh MTB trails for beginners, or Welsh MTB trails for intermediate riders?

With your adrenaline fix for the day complete, it’s time to refuel. Ffika’s ‘little white coffee van’ has made a big impression since it started doing the rounds in North Wales. Ffika derives from the Swedish word fika — the traditional time of day when Swedes take a break for a hot drink, something sweet and the chance to socialise.

Four people buying refreshements from Fikka, a bright yellow coloured caravan converted into a coffee hut. Mountains are in the background and a mountain bike in the foreground.

Taking a coffee break at Ffika in Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Owner Megan trained as a barista and craft cocktail maker in Melbourne, Australia, which means that you can expect freshly ground coffee of the highest order alongside high grade loose-leaf teas, an impressive organic food menu and even the odd tasty alcoholic beverage. You’ll usually find Ffika parked up opposite the Snowdon Mountain Railway on weekends.

Still hungry? Discover a culinary adventure along The North Wales Way.

Day 2: Adrenaline-pumping excitement above ground and below

Day two and back on the hunt for adventure. The miners of old never would have guessed at the extraordinary transformation that Wales’ historic slate capital has undergone in recent years. At Zip World Llechwedd board a former army truck and wind your way up the mountainside to the giddy heights of 1,400ft and the jumping off point of Titan 2, Europe’s first four-person zip line.

Share the pure exhilaration of tearing through the fresh mountain air at 70mph, flying high above Llechwedd’s caverns with the Rhinogydd mountain range and Trawsfynydd Lake in the distance.

Four people attached with safety harnesses riding a zip line over a slate quarry, with a misty sky line.

Person wearing a hard hat and safety harness riding a zip line, suspended over a slate quarry.

Man in a hard hat and safety harness on a platform ready to ride a zip line.

Zip World, Bethesda, North Wales

Once you’re done admiring the landscapes from above it's time to enter the mines themselves. At Bounce Below you’ll find a network of trampoline-style nets built into an area twice the size of St. Paul’s Cathedral, not to mention the world’s biggest subterranean trampoline.

People bouncing on underground trampolines.

Bounce Below, Zip World Llechwedd, Blaenau Ffestiniog

You can also check out Snowdonia’s other top adrenaline-fuelled activities or read about 10 top Welsh adventures closer to the coast.

Having pushed yourselves to the limit no one would blame you for feeling like you'd earned a treat.

At Llechwedd Glamping you’ll find six fully-ensuite safari tents, each of which has its own wood burning stove and has been fully insulated against the elements, which means you can all enjoy a hard-earned night’s sleep staying wonderfully warm at any time of year. Each tent also has its own power shower. Oh, and wifi, so you can share with everyone back home just what they’ve been missing out on!

Four friends laughing and socialising on the balcony of a glamping pod overlooking the slate landscape of Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Four friends socailising in a glamping pod. There is a lamp and bottles of beer on the table between them. A mountain can be seen through the window behind them.

Friends socialising in a glamping in a safari tent at Llechwedd Glamping, Blaenau Ffestiniog

If you’re interested in organising your own luxury glamping adventure, read more about glamping accommodation in Wales.

Be safe!

Exploring the outdoors is fantastic fun and provides great opportunities for adventurous activities, but please read up on the risks and make sure you are prepared.