Things to Do
Here are details of some suggested things to do, to assist you to plan your stay with us.
There are many different activities to keep everyone occupied in the area.
You can cycle, learn to surf, coasteering, ride a horse, take a boat trip – the list is endless!
A choice of sandy beaches – the Llyn Peninsula is famous for its' beaches - what more could a child want?! Paddling, swimming, surfing, sailing, are all activities available on the Peninsula. Penllech beach is 2 miles from the cottages at Carrog, a lovely sandy stretch of beach. You can also visit the beaches at Towyn, Porthdinllaen, Porthor, Aberdaron, LLanbedrog, Abersoch, Pwllheli, Porth Ysgo, Porth Iago – to name but a few!
What about a boat trip to Bardsey Island, the burial place of twenty thousand saints according to legend. You can cross over from Porth Meudwy near Aberdaron, stay a few hours on the island and then return.
If you fancy a change, why not visit Glasfryn Park and try your hand at ten pin bowling or go-karting. The Park also offers off-road quad biking and a soft play area for toddlers.
There is now an Airsoft Play centre in the trees at Rhoshirwaun – great fun for a lively group of friends or family.
Gypsy Wood and the Greenwood Forest Park near Caernarfon are good days out for the family and the Italianate village at Portmeirion is well worth a visit.
There are castles to visit at Criccieth, Caernarfon and Harlech where you can experience the authentic medieval atmospheres.
Llanberis attracts thousands of visitors a year – to experience Snowdon on foot or by train, the Slate Museum, the lake and the Electric Mountain.
Zip World – we are within reach of the extraordinary zipwire experiences or their other exciting activities.
Golf – Nefyn, Abersoch and Pwllheli Golf Clubs are within easy reach of the cottages as well as the golf course at Penyberth which is ideal for beginners.
The perfect location to explore the Llyn Coastal Path
Bring your friends, family or your walking club/society to stay at Carrog Farm Cottages and enjoy the Llyn Coastal Path. Stay a week or ten days and walk the whole path or take a short break and choose specific parts of the path which may be of interest to you. Bring your dog with you – we welcome up to 2 dogs per cottage.
The Llyn Coastal Path is 84 miles long. It starts at Caernarfon and takes you right round the coastline of the beautiful Llyn Peninsula ending at Porthmadog. The coastal path has some of the most spectacular views in Wales.
Snowdonia meets the Llyn Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty meets the Irish Sea!! Spot the bottle nosed dolphins and Atlantic grey seals or do a bit of bird watching! Bring your binoculars – you might see a chough or two!
The majority of the route is public footpaths, quiet country lanes and beaches. Sometimes the path goes inland, on higher ground – there are a few steep climbs.
The coastal path is based on an ancient pilgrimage route to Bardsey Island, a tranquil and peaceful island off the tip of the Peninsula, a place steeped in history and traditions. Why not take a boat trip to Bardsey to end your holiday in style?!
Take a break from walking to sample some of the other sights and attractions of the area, eg:
- Caernarfon Castle – architecturally the most magnificent castle in Wales.
- Glynllifon – once the large estate and mansion of the Newborough family who made their fortune from slate – now a beautiful country park with woodland paths and café.
- Caer Arianrhod – seen at low tide at the beach at Dinas Dinlle, a kilometre from shore and said to be the castle of one of the legendary characters of the Mabinogi.
- Nant Gwrtheyrn – once a quarry village cut off from the rest of the peninsula by a steep climb, now a Welsh language and culture centre.
- Porthdinllaen – a beautiful beach with its' seaside pub the Ty Coch Inn. Enjoy a drink on the beach!
- Porthoer or Whistling Sands – a beach where the sand actually does whistle while you walk!
- Plas yn Rhiw – the old home of the Keating sisters, now owned by the National Trust. Enjoy the house and the spectacular gardens sheltering from the prevailing winds from Hells' Mouth (a surfers paradise).
- Cilan – the headland with spectacular coastal views.
- Cricieth Castle – this is the furthest West ventured by the English to subdue the Welsh in days gone by. The castle was left in ruins by Owain Glyndwr and his men in the fourteenth century.
- Llanystumdwy – birthplace of David Lloyd George – take time to visit his grave and the museum dedicated to his life and work.
Llyn Coastal Map - click here
The Cambrian Coast railway runs from Pwllheli to Aberystwyth giving you the opportunity to see the wonderful coastline from a different perspective.
The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways narrow-gauge steam railway link between Caernarfon and Porthmadog travels through beautiful countryside in a leisurely manner.
For those of you with a good head for heights, the Snowdon Mountain Railway will take you right to the top of Mount Snowdon – all 3,560 ft of it! The Hafod Eryri visitor centre on the summit will provide a welcome cup of coffee as you marvel at the view.
Plas yn Rhiw has a pretty organic garden nestling at the foot of Mynydd Rhiw Mountain. It has superb views of Hell's Mouth Bay and the garden is divided into rooms hedged with cherry laurel and bay which gives protection from the sea winds. The cosy café built into an old outbuilding is the ideal place for coffee and cake.
At Portmeirion there are woodland gardens, sub-tropical plants, giant yuccas, palms, tree ferns as well as formal borders for you to see. If it all looks rather familiar, it probably is as Portmeirion has served as a location for films and television shows, the most famous being The Prisoner.
Plas Tan Y Blwch is a 13 acre picturesque Victorian garden that overlooks the small village of Maentwrog. The higher parts of the gardens have formal terraces and a water garden. There is also a Japanese garden, rhododendron and azalea walks, a fern nursery and a wildlife garden. and exotic plants, ornamental shrubs and coniferous trees.