Hurtling through the air headfirst at 100mph and 500 feet above a quarry lake, our short break at Zip World in North Wales got off to a heart-pounding start.
Myself, my husband, and our two young sons, Odhran, 10, and Reuben, 7, were side by side on four parallel lines, braving Velocity - the world's fastest zip line.
An icy wind blasted our faces and drowned out our screams. When our feet finally touched the ground, Odhran beamed and said 'that was incredible!'
Our February half term break was off to a thrilling start.
Passing the rolling valleys and snow-capped mountains of Snowdonia National Park (home to UNESCO World Heritage Sites) and the Victorian alpine village of Betws-y-Coed with it's distinctive black stone buildings, we'd arrived at Penrhyn Quarry (one of Zip World's three sites in North Wales) early in the morning.
We were checked in and had our harnesses on before we'd time to lose our nerve. Then we were taken to a lower platform for a slower practice zip line ride. It's quite an unnatural feeling to be harnessed into a horizontal position with your hands by your sides, while the bed lowers and you're dangling in the air before taking off at speed. So, this practice run gives adventurers the chance to prepare for the main experience.
Then, it was a rugged ride in the back of a bright red truck to the top of the quarry for the main event. We were lucky to get a cold but clear day and the views from the platform were incredible, though I tried not to spend too long looking down! Velocity is an exhilarating ride and unforgettable experience.
After all that excitement, we were hungry and headed up to the Blondin Restaurant on the second floor of the main building. There are floor to ceiling windows so you can look out over Penrhyn Quarry (which sits in a World Heritage Status area) and watch other people taking part in Zip World's activities.
Here, you can relax with a slice of cake and a hot drink (teas and coffees from £3.50 to around £4). Odhran warmed up with a delicious hot chocolate that came with cream, marshmallows and a flake on top. There are light bites such as soup and sandwiches, and main meals such as burgers or pie.
The food is tasty and portion sizes are generous. Sandwiches come with salad and some with coleslaw, and are priced around £11.50 (£2.50 for fries on the side). Main meals cost from £13.45 for a hot dog to £16.99 for Steak and Ale pie. There are veggie options and kids meals at £7.99 offer a choice of chicken tenders with fries and peas, tomato pasta with garlic bread, and veggie or pork sausage with fries and peas or beans. There's also a bar, and I couldn't resist a lager on tap.
After filling our tummies, we hopped back in the car and my husband drove us about half an hour to Zip World's Betws-y-Coed site. The wonderful thing about Zip World in North Wales is that each of its three sites there offer different surroundings. Here, we found ourselves on a forest adventure.
There are lots of family-friendly activities at Zip World Betws-y-Coed, from bouncy treetop nets to treetop adventure courses, suitable for all ages. Reuben was under the height requirement for Zip Safari - the highest course. So, we got strapped into our harnesses for Tree Hoppers.
This is described as 'a mini adventure course for brave young explorers' and Odhran thought it might not be challenging or exciting enough for him. But the great thing about Tree Hoppers is that it includes two courses. So, once we completed the easier part, we could move on to the red course, which was higher and more thrilling.
The red course made me a bit nervous and definitely had the thrill factor for Odhran, who was screaming with joy as he zipped through the air. Tree Hoppers felt perfectly pitched for kids aged 5-12, as it was tailored to different experience levels. The boys were balancing, hopping, jumping and zipping ahead. They and left me in their dust. 'Come on Mammy, what's taking you so long?' Reuben shouted. If you're visiting Zip World with a tot, Tiny Trek is an introductory course for children aged two to five.
After our high ropes adventure, we couldn't wait to hop on the Fforest Coaster - the UK's first and longest alpine coaster. Reuben was a little disappointed he was too young to ride independently and had to be accompanied by me. I was under his instruction to keep the levers fully pushed down and not to pull on the brakes.
It was a leisurely climb in the toboggan up a hill, with sunlight streaming through the tall trees. We enjoyed listening to tunes, as throughout Zip World there's music playing (at a nice volume and not too loud) to add extra energy to the experience.
Then we were whizzing downhill at up to 25mph, weaving round trees on 700 metres of track. It was a rush, and as soon as we hopped off, the boys were running back round for a second go (your ticket entitles you to three runs).
The day flew, and after hours of exhilarating fun, we were excited to explore our holiday cottage - a property owned by Zip World and located a few minutes drive from the Betws-y-Coed site. Talfryn Cottages are peacefully tucked away from the road. So, there's not a peep to disturb the sense of serenity. The two traditional Welsh cottages, sitting side by side, are surrounded by fields and trees. An abandoned little stone farm building, in a field next to the cottages, adds to the charm. If you like to sip your morning coffee al fresco, the cottage comes with its own garden and outdoor seating area.
Inside, the cottage has been stylishly decorated in warm colours and with furnishings from a local homeware store. There's a huge big sofa for snuggling together to watch a family movie, and a cast iron wood burner for a snug winter evening tucked up indoors. Well-placed lamps add to the homely feeling.
On a practical level, the cottage is equipped with a washing machine, oven and cooking hob, microwave, kettle, toaster, dishwasher, and vacuum cleaner. It's an open-plan kitchen living room area with a six person dining table. But there's also another little snug room, a large utility area, and a downstairs toilet and shower.
There's plenty of worktop space in the kitchen to prepare dinner, and there's all the utensils you'll need. It was a lovely surprise to arrive to find a pint of milk in the large fridge, alongside several little glass bottles of fresh orange juice from a local supplier. There was also a welcome tray with tea bags, crisps, Welsh cakes and toffee waffles, also locally sourced. We arrived feeling peckish, so the snacks were much appreciated.
Upstairs is just as beautifully decorated. There are two bedrooms, one with a double bed and the other with a double and single. There's another bathroom with a big shower and towels and Odyssey shampoo/body wash and conditioner are provided.
The small town of Betws-y-Coed is about a five minute drive away if you fancy heading out to a restaurant, cafe or bar. But we chose to stay in our cottage on both evenings and headed to a large Co-op shop nearby. After a busy day filled with activities, it was lovely to return and relax in the warm cosy cottage.
I enjoyed curling up with my book, and as we'd remembered to bring our fire stick, we were able to connect to the apps on our home TV. We'd brought our new favourite board game Outsmarted, a live quiz show game that you can connect to your TV or your phone for an interactive experience. But there were also a few games and books in the cottage.
There was an issue with water supply in the area during our visit. But Zip World did everything they could to help. They offered to move us to one of their nearby Forest Lodges, which have their own water supply. But we were unpacked and cosy in our cottage. So, Zip World brought loads of bottled water round to cottage for all our needs and arranged for us to shower at another of their properties.
On the second day of our trip, we explored Zip World's third North Wales site - Llechwedd. After enjoying adventures in a quarry and then a forest, we were now ready for some underground fun. This site is steeped in history and totally unique. We pulled on our safety hats and took a one-of-a-kind cable railway and a steep narrow stone stairway into the Deep Mine Tour.
A passionate and knowledgeable guide took us on a tour of the slate mines and it was incredible to think about all the scenery we'd admired during our visit in a different way - many mountains around Snowdonia are a honeycomb structure inside with hollows and only supporting walls remaining due to centuries of intensive industrial mining, particularly for slate. At Llechwedd you can safely head to the depths of the caverns at 500ft.
As we stepped through tunnels and explored mining chambers, projections on the walls brought the heritage of this site to life. It was fascinating to learn how local people worked down the mines and hear about the hardships and dangers they faced.
The tour lasted about an hour and a half and ended with a visit to a striking underground lake. It was quite cold and damp underground. So, we were thankful we'd wrapped up warm and wore walking boots. After the Deep Mine Tour, we caught the cable train back up to the surface and grabbed soup, sandwiches, tea and cake at the on-site cafe.
There are lots of activities to choose from at Llechwedd. Kids (and adults!) can jump around a unique underground trampoline-style attraction called Bounce Below, where giant multi-level bouncy nets hang in a disused slate cavern. But we tried our hand at some underground golf. We headed deep underground to an old slate cavern to complete an 18-hole adventure golf course, across four levels.
There are neon lights and the course honours the site with its mining-theme. There are no toilets in the underground golf venue and no bar or place to grab refreshments or snacks. So, be sure to visit the facilities above ground before heading down on the cable train. The course had some interactive levels, and we enjoyed whizzing down the slide to complete the final section.
We love adventure golf and have tried some unique courses such as LEGOLAND Adventure Golf at the Windsor Resort, but playing golf in an underground cavern was a new and special experience. Time flies when you're having fun and between the Deep Mine Tour, grabbing lunch and completing the Underground Golf, we were surprised to check the time and realise we'd spent hours at Zip World's Llechwedd site.
The following morning, we waved goodbye to our holiday cottage and headed to the nearby Swallow Falls - a stunning 42-metre, multi-level waterfall on the River Llugwy. There was a small entrance fee to the viewing platforms but it was lovely to take in more of the beautiful landscape of North Wales. We then stopped off at Ty Hyll - The 'Ugly' House. It's called this due to its unusual higgledy piggledy stone build. But it's actually charming and like something from a fairytale. This teashop was the perfect stop for tea and scones and cake before we hit the road and journeyed back towards London after our fun break away.
How much does it cost?
Prices at Zip World vary by activity but range from around £20 per person for smaller adventures such as Underground Golf to high prices for the more premier experience such as Velocity, which costs from £92 per person. But Zip World offers Saver Bundles, so visit the website to find a package that offers best value for your family. I'd highly recommend booking in advance to avoid disappointment. Talfryn Cottages are priced around £150 a night (minimum nights stay applies).
In summary
Our visit to Zip World in North Wales is one of the best family short breaks we've ever experienced. We went for the thrills, and the unique and adrenaline-fuelled attractions certainly delivered. But there was so much more on offer that we hadn't fully considered, such as the stunning scenery and the rich heritage. Each of the three Zip World sites in North Wales has something special to offer, from their distinctive settings to the range of adventures available. Returning home to a peaceful cottage after an action-packed day, brought a sense of cosy relaxation. This is the perfect short break for adventurous families, who enjoy the outdoors and want to spend quality time together. We rate it a 5 out of 5!