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RAVEL along the narrow lanes around Snowdonia and what immediately strikes you is the lush landscape made up of a thousand shades of green.

This part of Wales is as dramatic as it is beautiful with its many mountains, rivers, lakes, valleys and beaches.

It means, of course, that there is plenty to explore – climb a mountain one day, relax on a beach another.

So with waterproofs packed alongside shorts and T-shirt (this is Wales, remember) we set off to discover just a few of the sights this breathtaking part of the UK has to offer.

Our base for exploring was the Oakley Arms Hotel, an old coaching inn on the edge of the sleepy village of Maentwrog – cited as the prettiest in Wales.

We stayed in one of the cosy selfcatering cottages at the back of the hotel. It’s an ideal place for children, as you can self-cater, pop into the hotel for breakfast or enjoy good hearty pub food in the evening. It’s a popular choice for locals and you can’t beat sitting in the beer garden, soaking up the view with a pint of real ale.

You feel a million miles from the bustle of life.

The beauty about North Wales is there is SO much to do, so we packed our weekend with plenty of trips and sightseeing. Here are five things we recommend. You can’t go to North Wales without a visit to an underground mine. But this is extra-special, because it has been transformed into an attraction telling the story of Welsh legends celebrating the coming of King Arthur, complete with special effects, a boat ride, underground waterfalls and dragons!

A storyteller takes you on a journey through winding tunnels, on a boat along an underground river where at various points you will hear the mystical tales, with waxworks and special effects helping you to visualise them.

I was worried that my fiveyear-old would be scared (it’s dark and eerie down there) but she was totally engaged and loved sailing under waterfalls and seeing a surprise dragon. Take a thick coat because it will get cold.

Outside, you can continue listening to more tales in the Lost Legends of The Stone Circle – a ■■Tickets for the Labyrinth cost £11.50 for adults and £7.70 for children. Entrance to the Lost Legends is extra. See kingarthurslabyrinth.co.uk ■■Corris Craft Centre, SY20 9RF Made famous by the 1960s cult TV classic The Prisoner, this spectacular Italianate village is both fascinating and beautiful.

Marvel at the buildings brightly painted with hues of terracotta and yellow, and walk down to the sandy beaches or enjoy a woodland walk.

Created by architect Clough Williams-Ellis who began building it in 1925, it was designed to show how a naturally beautiful site could be developed without spoiling it, and it is certainly stunning.

You will need to pay to get in (£11 in advance for adults and £7 in advance for children, although under-fives go free), but it’s worth a trip.

Get there early and you can explore it without the crowds.

There are restaurants and cafés if you want to stay for lunch and make a day of it, and there’s a plush-looking hotel on the water’s