With COVID-19 Lockdown restrictions eased and a forecast for decent weather, we excitedly headed off for a mini-adventure weekend in Wales with the caravan.
Our destination was Glanllyn campsite, a large site on the shores of Llyn Tegid (Lake Bala), the largest natural lake in Wales. With restrictions and guidelines still in place, the campsite was quiet, and we couldn’t believe our luck with our pitch, with uninterpreted views over the mountains and lake – perfect!
Like most adventures, we go prepared for all weathers with waterproofs and warm kit, but for once we didn’t need them as the weather was on our side, and the sun shone.
With the excellent weather, we were keen to get out on Lake Bala, have some fun with our SUP and Canoe, and enjoy the spectacular scenery.
We’ve all paddle boarded before but not for a few years, so we were all feeling a bit rusty! There was lots of wobbling and the inevitable splash in the water!! Even the dog went for a swim! Tom and Amy were naturals, and with confidence, they seem to fly across the water, unlike us oldies!!
Lake Bala is exposed to the elements and usually pretty breezy. Still, for once, it was a scene of calm and tranquillity. Just beautiful.
With a picnic packed in the dry bag, we headed off in convoy upstream. It wasn’t about reaching a goal distance; it was all about having fun outside together as a family; just enjoying the moment and making memories. The picnic was very welcome, helping to keep the energy levels up! To mix it up, we kept taking it in turns to be on the board and in the canoe, which worked well to sustain the enthusiasm with the kids!
We found a beautiful river inlet surrounded by trees to paddle. It felt like we were in the Amazon with dappled sunlight seeping in through the trees and bouncing off the water.
After a day on the water, the cosiness of the caravan was welcome to get dry and refresh. We love cooking and eating outdoors, so with the gorgeous weather and hungry appetites, we planned a Mexican meal eating alfresco. It’s easy to forget the simplicity of just eating outside together as a family—the ability to chat and reminisce about the day’s adventure. With a glass of wine (adults only!) and dramatic landscape to admire, it was the end to a perfect day!
You don’t always have to wait for school holidays to have an adventure. Make the most of the weekends and create a mini-adventure. You don’t have to travel far. Some of the best experiences can be right on your doorstep! It’s important to remember that for your children, especially young kids, life is one continual discovery of new things. You don’t need to do anything extraordinary for them to have an adventure. So make some plans for the weekend and GetOutside.
You can follow more of their adventures at https://www.getoutwiththekids.co.uk/