If you want outdoor activities organised, whether horse-riding, canoeing, diving, mountain-biking or walking, there are lots of good places to help you. Here are some of the ones which have been recommended to us by visitors:

• Due to open in summer 2006 is a very exciting-looking project - Ropes and Ladders, the Snowdonia Rope Centre. This is being built (writing in Spring 2006) in the Padarn Country Park, close to the Slate Museum, and looks as though it will feature high climbs, ropes, swings, and all sorts of thrills. Should be a really exciting addition to the village facilities.
• Stone Adventures is a small company (Will Stone and Andrea Williams) who are highly-qualified mountain leaders, living in Llanberis and extremely familiar with the area. They have programmes for both summer and winter walks, as well as specific skills training courses. A walk with a guide is quite different from going out on the hills on your own, and is always an exciting and rewarding experience.
• Surflines - on the shores of Llyn Padarn, offers all kinds of courses on the lake, in the sea, and up the mountains. Follow the High Street to the north end of the village, then take the road directily opposite which goes down to the lake.
• Snowdonia Adventures do guided adventure holidays including rock-climbing, scrambling, hiking; mountain biking; and navigation work using maps and compasses.
• A little further away but an excellent centre for the kind of holiday we are not equipped to provide is another adventure centre - High Trek Snowdonia
• If you like horse-riding try the local, family-run Canolfan Marchogaeth Gadlys (Gadlys Riding Centre) in Llanwnda. They are only about a 20 minute drive from here, and though we don't have personal experience of them, several of our guests have been there, and all of them have returned very impressed at the qualtiy of the rides, the courtesy, and the personal service they received. 2003 rates ranged from £13.50 for an hour's ride, to £50 for a full day, and they welcome both beginners and experienced riders. Telephone them on 07880 732 880, or 07974 586 479
• For mountain bikes there is now only one local firm (Energy Cycles in the village here has recently closed down, unfortunately). This is Beics Mynydd in Beddgelert and Caernarfon. In the past they have volunteered to deliver the bikes to Llanberis from Beddgelert, and their charges seem very reasonable. You can contact them in Caernarfon or in Beddgelert. Telephone 01286 677 400 for Caernarfon, or 01766 890 434 for Beddgelert. E-mail address is beics@beddgelert.softnet.co.uk
• Climbing is not something we are qualified to talk about, but if you fancy a safe indoor introduction to this sport, go to the Canolfan Dringo Beacon(Beacon Climbing Centre). This is a very reputable place, on about 10 minutes drive from us in the next village (Llanrug). Take the Caernarfon road out of the village and turn left when you see the signs for the centre (the turning is just by the Glyntwrog pub).
• There is sub-aqua diving locally - the Canolfan Deifio Vivian (Vivian Diving Centre) in the Vivian quarry (a few minutes walk from our house, in the country park). The quarry goes to about 18 metres deep and the diving centre is now (since October 2003) under new ownership. Ring John Bushell on 01286 870889.
• For diver training at all levels, go to Anglesey Divers. One of our daughters has done her 'PADI' and her 'PADI Advanced' open water diving course here, and has nothing but praise for them. We ourselves have done our RYA powerboat certicate there and can confirm that they give an excellent, personalised service,