Exploring North Wales - 5 Outdoor Adventures

A Collaboration With Palladium & Finisterre.

North Wales is primed for exploration, with 250 miles of coastline, thousands of square km of ancient forests, dozens of mountains and plenty of opportunity to head off the beaten track, this corner of the UK is perfect for those who want to get stuck into some outdoor adventure.

So when the folks at Palladium and Finisterre asked us to test their new waterproof boot collaboration we hit the road in search of Welsh adventure. Built to last, fully waterproofed and with recycled materials throughout, on the surface these boots tick a lot of boxes for us, but how would they perform out in the field? What better way to crash test them than in the no nonsense hard wearing terrains of northern Wales…

We explored for 4 days, below are some of our favourite outdoor experiences:

1. Bathing In A Rock Pool - Porth Oer Beach (Whistling Sands)

Porth Oer Beach is a popular beach on the Llyn Peninsula with a great little cafe (see below), however if you fancy something a little different we suggest, exploring the coastline to the left of the beach. Small tracks mark a coastal path of sorts, follow these round, taking the ‘low road’ option when faced with a choice. This will take you off the beaten path and bring you closer to the rocky beaches that line this stretch of coast. At low tide they reveal an intricate network of rock pools which are prime for exploring. Persevere and you will soon find yourself alone with just the waves for company - perfect for a private rock pool bath cool down… and please note it most certainly will cool you down!

2. Climbing Cadair Idris

This has to be one of, if not our favourite welsh mountain. Cadair Idris is a 893m tall peak in the Snowdonia National Park and is a belter of a mountain. For the fit amongst you it's an 2.5 hour accent and 1.5 hours down, making it pretty bite sized. However word of warning: It’s pretty steep on the way up so be prepared to graft!

The views for the entirety of the hike are ridiculously good as you climb high above Llyn Cau lake (see below), before eventually reaching the summit and being treated to 360 views of the surrounding landscape.

3. Beach Hopping On The Llyn Peninsula

The Llyn Peninsula is located at the most north-westerly extremity of Wales and is perhaps one of the country’s best kept secrets. Extending 50km into the Irish sea this thin strip of land is bordered by a collection of incredible beaches. The quantity and variety of which mean heading slightly off the beaten track can earn you on a beach all to yourself. We recommend exploring by hoping between a few, sampling the variety this stunning corner of the UK has to offer. Here are some of our favourite spots from our day road tripping there:

Early morning walk at Porthdinllaen - This gorgeous little village and beach is seemingly hidden away, tucked behind a golf course. However, due to its idyllic waters and picturesque buildings, this National Trust owned bit of land can get busy, so we suggest getting there for an early morning stroll and to experience it all to yourself. If you are there a little later however make sure to stop at Ty Coch Inn, ‘arguably the best pub in Wales’ for a pint and a bite. 

Lunch at Porth oer beach (whistling sands) - A short walk from the carpark you will find the beachside Caffi Porthor - the perfect lunch spot. With sausage rolls, toasties, jacket potatoes to name a few menu items, this little cafe does good, straight down the line grub as well as a variety of hot drinks that, weather dependant, you might need after a dip in the sea

Sunset Porth Coleman - With west facing views this vast beach is perfect for a sunset stroll. When we arrived there towards the end of the day we were the only one on this entire stretch of coast. In our opinion this is one of the best beaches in Wales.

4. Wild Swimming In A Mountain Lake - Llyn Cau

Is this one of the most epic spots to wild swim in the UK? If you ask us then it’s a yes. A vast, crystal clear lake nestled into the crater of Cadair Idris and surrounded by 400 meter high walls of mountain, you’ll be hard pushed to find too many other places on this scale in the UK.

Park your car at Dol Idris car park and climb the stone cut stairs taking you towards the Cadair Idris summit, this is a fairly gruelling but spectacular climb that eventually opens up, flattening for a short stretch. At this point head off the main path towards the lake where you will greeted by tropical looking water and a few little stony beaches. These are the perfect spots to strip off and jump in.

 Note: Despite the crystal clear Caribbean-esque water, this isn’t for the faint hearted, the water is VERY cold, however the trek there should stand you in good stead, warming you up and readying you for the plunge!

We would also recommend taking a picnic to eat on the banks afterwards, but please, please, please make sure you leave absolutely no trace.

5. Watching Sunset From The Dunes At Barmouth Beach

With views over Cardigan Bay and the traditional little harbour, the beach at Barmouth is a goodun. This small west coast town can get busy but by sunset the crowds have, on the whole, dispersed, leaving this large stretch of sandy beach for a handful of in the know sunset seekers to soak up the last rays of the day in silence.

For the full experience we recommend grabbing a fresh fish wrap from the nearby Celtic Cabin, a cold pint from the seafront pub and heading to the small set of sand dunes located at the near end of the beach. From here you’ll be able to watch as the last of the boats come into harbour and the sun slips off. On a sunny evening this is a gorgeous Welsh experience.

Conclusion:

Every time we go to Wales it delivers adventure and good times. This trip did not buck the trend. What really strikes me is the variety on offer for outdoor options, from vast golden sand beaches to jaw dropping green mountains, if it's a UK adventure you after then this is a very, very good option.

And what about the boots, how did they hold up? Well this was the perfect test as we clambered across sand dunes, crossed through rivers and climbed rocky mountains… The boots had an all terrain work out and very much passed the test. What’s more the ‘fully waterproofed’ promise was absolutely bang on, we literally stood in the sea, lakes and rivers with them and our socks remained bone dry. Brilliant.

Read more and shop the boots over at Palladium and Finisterre.