Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
palace. He did so, fell asleep on a hilltop, and awoke at dawn to find the palace and prin-
cipality drowned beneath the lake.
Activities
National Whitewater Centre
( 01678-521083;
www.ukrafting.co.uk
; Frongoch, 3.5 miles northwest of Bala on A4212; 1-/2-hr trip £32/60)
Due
to the damming of the River Tryweryn in the 1960s, this and the River Dee are among the
few Welsh rivers with fairly reliable white water year-round. This centre runs rafting,
kayaking and canoeing trips on a 1.5-mile stretch of the Tryweryn that is almost continu-
ous class-III white water with class IV sections.
Bookings are best made at least two days in advance and are subject to cancellation in
the event of insufficient releases from the dam - call to check the day before.
The centre's Adventure Breaks schedule marries rafting with another activity, such as
rock climbing, mountain biking, pony trekking, high ropes, 4WD off-road driving,
canyoning, clay-pigeon shooting or quad biking; prices start at £135 and include accom-
modation.
RAFTING
Bala Adventure &
Watersports Centre
( 01678-521059;
www.balawatersports.com
; Pensarn Rd)
This one-stop activity and hire centre, be-
hind the leisure centre by the lakeshore, offers windsurfing, sailing, canoeing, kayaking,
white-water rafting, mountain biking, rock climbing and abseiling courses (most courses
cost £38/75 per half-/full day). Rental gear includes kayaks (£12), canoes (£25), rowboats
(£27), pedaloes (£15), windsurfers (£19) and sailing boats (from £28); all prices are per
hour.
WATER SPORTS
Bala Lake Railway
( 01678-540666;
www.bala-lake-railway.co.uk
;
adult/child return £10/3; Apr-Sep)
This narrow-gauge
trainline was opened in 1868 to link mainline stations at Bala and Dolgellau. In 1965 the
entire route from Barmouth to Llangollen was shut down. Volunteers reopened the
4.5-mile stretch from Bala to Llanuwchllyn in 1971, with vintage locomotives departing
from a little station at Penybont, half a mile from Bala town centre, off the B4391. There
are now up to four daily services skirting the lake for a scenic 90-minute return journey.
HERITAGE RAILWAY
