Penllyn Leisure Centre

The leisure centre in Bala isn't going to win any architectural awards, but if you're based at Tyn Cornel Camping and the weather's turned properly grim, it's a genuine lifesaver. Penllyn Leisure Centre is the sort of place where families go to burn off energy on rainy afternoons - indoor pool, gym equipment, probably a soft play area for the littler ones. Nothing fancy, just functional.

It's the kind of facility that serves the local community rather than draws tourists, which means it won't be heaving with visitors. The pool's the main draw if you've got children who need to splash about, and a few lengths are manageable for adults too. You're looking at maybe two hours maximum before everyone's had enough, unless your kids are genuinely water-obsessed.

From Tyn Cornel it's a short drive into Bala proper, so it works well as a backup plan if you've exhausted the outdoor options. Don't expect anything memorable - it's purely functional. Admission details can be fuzzy depending on the season, so ring ahead before you bundle everyone into the car. The real draw around here is the lake and the walking, so treat this as your rainy-day option rather than a destination in itself. Worth knowing about when you're packing, certainly, but don't plan your trip around it.