As we wound our way through the rolling hills of North Wales, the excitement in the car was building. We were en route to Llanbedrog where we would be staying with my parents for a week of relaxation. But before settling into the comforts of home and grandparents on hand to help with childcare, we had an adventure planned—a visit to GreenWood Family Park. A hidden gem just off the beaten path, perfectly accessible for anyone traveling up to Anglesey or further afield like Abersoch, Llanbedrog, or even the Haven site in Pwllheli and not too far if you are considering this as a day trip from Cheshire.
Based near the Snowdonia National Park, a short hop from the A55 coastal highway, if you’re driving up from Cheshire, the park is conveniently located. It’s an ideal stop whether you’re heading to your holiday destination or looking for a fun-filled day out. The journey was smooth and lovely….. who am I kidding! I have a toddler so after 500 “Are we they yet” we arrived to an amazing forest setting.
GreenWood Family Park is renowned for its eco-friendly ethos and is one of North Wales’ top attractions. As we pulled into the car park, we were pleasantly surprised to find that entry was a breeze having pre booked tickets. Despite it being a sunny weekend, which we feared might lead to long queues, the park had plenty of staff on hand, efficiently managing the flow of visitors. Within minutes, we were through the gates!
The park itself is great, it’s a large circular walk with attractions that are integrated into the surroundings. One of the park’s highlights is its commitment to sustainability, with many rides powered by solar energy and other renewable sources, a fact we were delighted to learn as we explored.
Our little girl was buzzing with excitement as we approached the rides, and we were relieved to find that she was just tall enough to enjoy them all. GreenWood Family Park is considerate in this regard, with clear height restrictions marked on each ride, ensuring that children can safely enjoy themselves. The park features a variety of attractions catering to different age groups, with only a few rides requiring a minimum height of 100 cm, which our daughter just met!
Among the most memorable rides was the SolarSplash, the UK’s first solar-powered water slide. Our daughter squealed with delight (and I did too) as we raced down the slides, the cool water splashing around us under the warm sun. Luckily we managed to stay dry and had a great time- going down this again and again! The park’s roller coaster, the Green Dragon, was another highlight—a unique experience powered entirely by the energy generated by visitors themselves! Watching our little girl’s face light up as we soared through the trees was priceless, it was much faster than I anticipated but there were no big climbs or drops so my adventure seeking three year old loved it!
What made GreenWood Family Park truly special was its appeal to every member of the family, including our baby. While she was too young for the more thrilling rides, there was plenty for her to enjoy. The gentle boat ride was a particular favorite. We boarded a small boat that meandered along a tranquil river, shaded by trees. You are given an oar and there are ropes above to help pull you along the river, her tiny hands gripped the oar with determination and she wouldn’t let go!
Another hit with the children was the animal petting area. GreenWood Family Park offers scheduled times for kids to interact with friendly farm animals, we loved petting the bunnies!
Throughout the day, we were impressed by how well the park catered to families. The layout is spacious, allowing for easy navigation with a pram and safe places to leave it whilst we went on activities, and the facilities are thoughtfully designed, with plenty of seating areas, picnic spots, and clean, accessible bathrooms. The staff were friendly and attentive, always ready to help with a smile and they were plentiful which is somewhat unusual nowadays.
