Greenwood Forest Park Review
Greenwood Forest Park
North Wales
Reviewed by Jan Mellor
This was about the 10th time I had visited Greenwood Park so knew, especially with the sun shining – what a good day lay ahead of me and my 11 year old son. One of the only pitfalls we had experienced in the past was the difficulty in actually finding the place as it is in the middle of nowhere and very poorly signposted from any of the B roads. Today I was travelling via the A5 (A55) however, and this was well signposted. Arriving at the one of 2 large free carparks (gravel and little shade) we walked 100 yards to the entrance. Being half-term and sunny it was very busy but the polite staff got people through efficiently (entrance fees adults £13.95, children/concessions £13.60 under 2 and well behaved dogs on leads free) giving us a park map and showing us the days’ activities on the board (face painting, circus acts, donkey rides). We were off!
The park covers 17 acres and is made up of over 20 attractions spread across a stunning forest area. Each attraction is eco-friendly (not using electricity and 80% solar powered) and ‘Green’ hence the name. They include – a person powered dragon rollercoaster, (not too scary and great for young children and adults alike), toddler and child sledge rides (again adults love this too), a maze, a huge wooden climbing village Treetops Towers for kids (and a mini one for toddlers), peddle go- carts, den making areas, a huge bouncing trampoline ball, boat rides (through the crocodile swamp!) donkey rides, animal farms and the latest attraction ‘Solar Splash, were you ride through shallow water in boats and a slide or tube. One of the most popular things to do here is go to the shows. Here clowns or pirates give great entertainment and include children and parents alike. It is set up in circus style and the shows are loved by all. Today it was ‘Smartie Martie’ and he had everyone cheering and applauding. The park is best seen in the sunshine however on rainy days (and in Wales there are many!) there is the indoor play barn and a variety of activities – hair braiding, face painting stilt-walking, wood carving and painting, poets corner and the shows to keeps kinds entertained. The park had a lot of outdoor picnic areas, a restaurant, café, refreshment kiosks and a comprehensive gift shop to meet everyone’s needs. We took a packed lunch but heard that the coffee was very good and the meals were value for money.
The park has been voted by TripAdvisor 2015 as the 4th best attraction in the country and I can see why! This is a very unique park and even though it is not the easiest park to get to – is well worth the visit. The people there today obviously enjoyed the day and were excited and ‘giddy’ over what to do next.
I would definitely recommend the park for families – especially those with children under 11 or toddler age. It was value for money as after the entrance fee there were no further charges or limits and the attractions could be used again and again.
Excellent venue, staff, activities, variety and surroundings.
Rating: 5/5 
Tickets cost from £7.95 (child) to £13.95 (adult) – book online for discounts, or why not take advantage on an annual pass from £35 to £38 with discounts for additional children (see website for full pricing details).
For more information or to book tickets visit www.greenwoodforestpark.co.uk.
GreenWood Forest Park, Y Felinheli, Gwynedd, LL56 4QN | 01248 670076
