WE HEADED to GreenWood Family Park to explore their Festival of Fun - and to meet their newest (and fluffiest!) residents: three alpacas, one of which we were lucky enough to take for a walk!
The eco-park, located in Y Felinheli, has been given a summer makeover with pastel-coloured flowers, cheerful bunting, and a striking giant orange gorilla - perfect for a fun photo opportunity.
As part of the festivities, visitors can enjoy face painting, hair braiding, and crafts.
I felt honoured to take part in the alpaca walk - especially as I was told it hadn't officially opened to the public just yet.
I walked with Pasha and it was such a special experience from start to finish.
He was incredibly fluffy. I learned that alpacas prefer to be gently stroked on the neck, rather than on the head or at the back, so it’s important to approach them in a way that makes them feel comfortable.
The walk itself took place in Cwtch Corner and was just the right length for little legs and big ones alike - a gentle loop around the enclosure area, twice.
Qhari and Pasha are both one year old, and Simba, the youngest, will turn one later this month. All three arrived at GreenWood earlier this year.
Gwen, who has played a big role in setting up and implementing the new experience, said: "It has been really special to be involved in this. They are very special animals, very calming and funny.
"It has been something I've been focused on for months and I'm super pleased where we are with it now.
"We've done a lot of work with the alpacas and training has gone well. They were much more nervous at the start."
Gwen also shared that GreenWood's former alpacas have moved on to a carefully chosen new home and are happy and settled. She praised the The British Alpaca Society for their support.
This is the world’s only people-powered coaster. The ride included a 360 degree horizontal loop round the hill, but our little boy was completely unfazed - he was absolutely beaming the entire time.
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We experienced the Barefoot Trail and were thrilled that our 14-month-old could be part of it too. This unique sensory experience invites visitors to walk barefoot through different terrains including sand, bark, straw, timber, and water. It’s the first of its kind in Wales and was a real highlight.
There’s an impressive amount of activities across the park for little ones over 100cm tall which I feel is a rarity.
Our eldest also:
- Rode the Solar Splash, the UK’s first solar-powered ride, featuring a huge water slide with two wave shoots
- Sledged down the Little Green Run (designed for under 6s)
- Explored the Tree Top Towers, with netted walkways, tube slides and a built-in sand pit
- Bounced on the Giant Jumper — a 1,500 square foot pillow for kids under 12
- And both boys absolutely loved the soft play area inside the WoodBarn Café, which has a separate zone for under 3s.
We had a lovely meal at the Woodbarn Café, where the food was of excellent quality. I chose the Arrabbiata Pork Meatballs, served with rice and garlic bread. The dish had a bit of a kick but the flavours were fantastic and the rice was cooked to perfection. I thought this was great value for £9.50. My partner really enjoyed his Southern Fried Chicken Burger (£11.50), which came with lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, and a generous portion of fries.
A free orange or apple juice is included with these meal.
Overall, GreenWood Family Park offered a brilliant mix of outdoor adventure, hands-on animal encounters (we also met and stroked Misty the Rabbit!), and creative play - all wrapped up in a family-friendly atmosphere.
With the Festival of Fun running throughout the summer holidays, it’s the perfect time to visit.
The Festival of Fun will run until August 31.
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