10 Adrenaline Filled Activities for Your Welsh Bucket List

Known for its beautiful, relaxing countryside, many people flock to Wales each year for a peaceful break. However, for the adrenaline junkies amongst us, Wales offers an entirely different kind of break – one packed with excitement, fear and sweat, the perfect combination for the ultimate adrenaline rush. From travelling at over 100mph to sleeping on a cliff, we’ve put together the ultimate adrenaline-filled Welsh bucket list.

1. Abseil Your Way Down to the Deepest Point in The UK

Would you step off a 70ft abyss with nothing but a rope to hold you? If you’re an adrenaline junkie who has a burning desire to scramble into an abandoned mine to discover what lurks deep below, then this will be right up your street. You will climb, abseil, cross ancient timber bridges and zip line your way through slate mines left exactly as the miners left it. The mines are raw, uncontrived and there are artefacts along the way too. Go Below, in North Wales, offers you the chance to test your nerve whilst being expertly guided by industry-led professionals. Go Below will certainly give you the adrenaline kick you’re after whether you are a beginner or a thrill seeker, they have the right trip for you.

Price: £49 – £89 pp
Duration: 5 hours – all day
Things to know: Minimum ages for different courses – 10 years being the youngest
Where: They have two bases (different courses at each) – Conwy Falls near Betws-y-Coed and Tanygrisiau near Blaenau Ffestiniog. Click here for more information.
Contact: 01690 710 108; ask@go-below.co.uk;
www.go-below.co.uk

2. Fly Like Superman

Who hasn’t dreamt of flying? Many people can remember creating a makeshift cape and jumping from a small ledge as a child, inspired by the famous comic-book hero, Superman. Well, the good news is, you can finally bring those dreams to life. With speeds of up to 100 mph over a 1-mile stretch, Zip World has the fastest zip line in the world and the longest in Europe. It’s about the closest thing to flying you’ll find.

Prices: £60
Duration: 2 hours
Things to know: Min age of 10 years
Where: ‘Velocity’ – Zip World Penrhyn Quarry, Bethesda – LL57 4YG
Contact: 01248 601 444; info@zipworld.co.uk;
www.zipworld.co.uk 

3. Drop 12,000-feet from a Plane

Nothing will get your adrenaline pumping quite like sky-diving. From the plane’s steady 15-minute climb to the moment your hanging over the ledge, seconds before you begin your free-fall descent back to earth. Your initial 7,000 ft plummet will last 45-seconds and you will reach speeds of over 100 mph! At 5,000 ft, when your instructor deploys your parachute, you will begin the more gentle part of the experience.

Prices: From £160
Things to know: More information available here
Where: Swansea Airport, Fairwood, Swansea, SA2 7JU
Contact: 01792 207035; info@skydiveswansea.com;
www.skydiveswansea.co.uk

4. Swing from Tree-to-tree Like Tarzan!

This is the perfect chance for you to unleash your inner ape as you swing from tree-to-tree in this ultimate high-course adventure. With rope swings and zip wires, it’s no surprise that this attraction is among people’s favourites. Go ‘all out’ and raise a few eyebrows whilst you belt out your best Tarzan yell!

Prices: Tree Top Adventure: 10-15 years £25 and 16+ £33 
Things to know: For information on restrictions supervision, click here.
Where: Go Ape Margam, Port Talbot, SA13 2TJ
Contact: 0333 331 5995;
www.goape.co.uk/days-out/margam

5. Be Iron Man for a Day

Invented in 2012, the Flyboard has taken the world by storm. with the help of pressurised water, you can be projected up to 15-meters in the air. With steering coming from hand-held jets, we believe this experience resembles something similar to Robert Downey Jr in the recent Iron Man movies.

Prices: From £78 pp
Things to know: Min age of 16 years – adult supervision required
Where: Chepstow, Wales
Contact: 07703 795 053; bigcrazy@live.co.uk;
www.bigcrazyflyboarding.co.uk

6. Go Against the Flow

The Brecon Beacons is home to a range of magnificent rivers and is the perfect place to ‘go against the flow’ whilst you try your hand at gorge walking. This adrenaline fuelled activity requires you to scramble, jump and swim your way up (or down) a gorge. It’s a great way to experience the natural elements whilst getting your adrenaline kick.

Prices: From £35/55 pp (half/full day) – dependant on group size, see full prices here
Things to know: Buoyancy aids, wetsuits, footwear and helmets are provided
Where: Brecon Beacons, Wales
Contact: 01792 824119; enquiries@sbricymru.com;
www.sbricymru.com/activities/gorge-walking

7. Take a Leap of Faith on Top of a Mountain

Although perhaps not the tallest mountain in Wales, Tryfan is a reminder that bigger isn’t necessarily better. With its classic pointed shape and rugged crags, this peak is among many mountaineer’s favourites and is an exhausting, yet rewarding, scramble to the top. The infamous leap between ‘Adam and Eve’, the two rocks at the top, is too tempting to resist for many adrenaline junkies and daredevils alike. Although the gap may seem rather close in the picture above, it’s far bigger when you’re standing at the top.

Things to know: Tryfan is for experienced mountain scramblers. See safety advice here:
www.outdoornorthwales.com/en/venues/tryfan-north-ridge and www.trekkingbritain.com/tryfanthenorthridge
Where: Ogwen Valley, Snowdonia

8. Two Wheel Downhill Sprint

The dense Gethin Woods above Merthyr Tydfil is home to some of the finest ‘single track’ mountain biking routes in the UK. It has been nicknamed the ‘Welsh Whistler’, a reference to the famous mountain resort in British Columbia, and has been designed by riders for riders. With its uphill transportation, you can focus on the exhilarating downhill sprint to the finish.

Prices: Standard price £7; lift usage (all day) £32
Duration:All day (9am – 6pm)
Things to know: Bike and protection gear hire available. Advisable to check site for weather warnings prior to departure
Where: Gethin Woodland Centre, Abercanaid, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 1YZ (for SatNav use CF48 4TT)
Contact: 07730 382501; info@bikeparkwales.com;
www.bikeparkwales.com

9. Battle the White Waters

This action-packed adventure is among many adrenaline seeker’s favourites. Take on the rough white waters at the CIWW centre, in Cardiff, either on your own or as part of a group. While riding an inflatable raft, you’ll be required to navigate your way through rough, fast-flowing rapids – a great opportunity to ride the adrenaline wave!

Prices: White Water Rafting is between £40-£55 pp
Duration:2-hours (approx)
Things to know: Medical consent form requires adults signature if under 18-years old; equipment provided – you just need swimwear and a towel
Where: Cardiff International White Water, Watkiss Way, Cardiff Bay, CF11 0SY
Contact: 029 2082 9970; info@ciww.com;
www.ciww.com

10. Sleep on a Cliff

How many people do you know who can say they spent a night suspended off a cliff with a massive drop below them? If you’ve got a strong head for heights, Climbing Academy offers you, and up to two others, the opportunity to spend an entire (maybe sleepless) night suspended in the air. This gives “getting out of bed on the wrong side” a whole new meaning!

Prices: For 3 people – £190 pp (full price list here)
Requirements: A head for heights + warm clothes and a sleeping bag
Where: Anglesea, North Wales
Contact: 07814 412 439 or 07761 036 715;
https://www.climbingacademy.co.uk/

Fancy a hot bath and a warm bed after your adventurous day or scary night on a cliff? Then check out our selection of holiday cottages in Wales.