Highgate School Outdoor Centre

The Outdoor Centre sits on the edge of Garndolbenmaen in Gwynedd, a working base for the school's outdoor education programmes rather than a public visitor attraction. That said, the location itself tells you everything about why they chose it - you're right at the gateway to some of North Wales' best walking country, with the Snowdonia peaks rising up not far off.

If you're staying at Beddgelert Campsite or Cae Du nearby, this is worth knowing about mainly as a landmark - it's a proper hub for outdoor learning, and you'll spot groups of schoolkids doing expeditions from here throughout the year. The centre itself isn't really set up for casual drop-ins, but the surrounding area is absolutely cracking for families who want to base themselves at one of the nearby campsites and explore on foot.

The real appeal is what's around it. From here you can head into Snowdonia proper, tackle some of the lesser-known ridges, or do gentler valley walks if you've got younger kids in tow. Garndolbenmaen itself is tiny - more village than town - but it's perfectly positioned if you want serious mountain access without fighting the crowds at Pen-y-Gwryd or Llanberis.

I'd recommend checking ahead if you're curious about visiting the centre itself, as it operates on a school schedule. But if you're camping nearby and looking for walking routes, this is a useful reference point on the map. The area punches well above its weight for outdoor types.