"DON'T worry, no one gets hurt in fencing," said our instructor as we put on masks and padded jackets for our first taste of this noble sport. You can go wild on a "Ouch!" I yelled as the ten-yearold next to me jabbed his foil hard into my side to test the theory out. week in North Wales ¦ by NIGEL ROE and take a trip through the mountains to the old slate mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog.

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Acres are all the makings of a great British family holiday - from the fantastic indoor pool with its flumes and water slides to amusement arcades and a roller disco. Three days into our stay at Haven Holidays' Hafan y Mor site near Pwllheli, I was looking blacker and bluer by the day. But I was loving it. You'll ride behind a pint-sized but powerful steam loco straight out of an episode of Ivor The Engine.

There are all-weather soccer pitches, playgrounds and plenty of bikes and buggies to hire.

My back bore the bruises from too many bumpy go-kart races against my wannabe F1 star son while my legs were aching from a few too many laps of the boating lake by pedalo. We booked seats in the glass-sided viewing carriage at the back of the train and travelled in style, waving to walkers from our armchairs as we wound our way through what Ivor creator Oliver Postgate called "the top left corner of Wales".

As well as fencing, kids can try out archery, air-rifle shooting or enjoy football coaching sessions under the expert eyes of the Haven instructors.

And my arms felt like they were about to fall off after monkeying around at the on-site climbing centre. It's definitely worth paying the extra few quid to travel first class and really soak up the sights.

It was nice to be able to act like a teenager again for a few days, although I was definitely paying for it. In the evenings, if you've got any energy left, you can eat out at the excellent Mash & Barrel restaurant and take in some live entertainment in one of the two show bars.

This summer's acts include Britain's Got Talent stars Stavros Flatley and The X Factor's Chico. Thankfully, we had a fantastically comfortable base to crash out in every evening. The journey to Blaenau is 13.5 miles but if you've got a bit more time you can head northwards on the 25-mile trip to Caernarfon, where the investiture of the Prince of Wales took place in the huge castle in 1969.

Our Prestige caravan was the last word in luxury. On the way, keep an eye out for ospreys which have now begun breeding in the area.

When you finally drag the family away from the action at Hafan y Mor there's loads more to see and do in this beautiful part of Wales.

Roomy and spotlessly clean, it even had central heating - and that's no bad thing in North Wales in spring.

You're midway between the pretty seaside towns of Pwllheli and Criccieth, which has a dramatic headland castle. Looking out over the mountains and Cardigan Bay, we also had one of Britain's very best views to enjoy. They nest near the railway at Glaslyn and wildlife charity the RSPB has set up a free viewing centre during the breeding season.

You can see the nests via CCTV or peer through telescopes hoping to catch a glimpse of the huge birds flying in with fish for the chicks.

Further afield is bustling, surfmad Abersoch which hosts next weekend's Wakestock music and wakeboarding festival headlined by Calvin Harris, Dizzee Rascal and Ed Sheeran.

From our spot right by the shore on the pretty Llyn Peninsula, we could gaze across the water to mighty Snowdon and the imposing castles at Criccieth and distant Harlech. The ospreys have been returning to the area from their winter home in Africa since they first nested in 2005.

If you're looking for a different sort of rock, jump on the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway ten miles down the road at Porthmadog The park itself offers wall-to-wall fun for all ages. Packed into its 500 We might see them again before too long, because we'll certainly be going back.

"DON'T worry, no one gets hurt in fencing," said our instructor as we put on masks and padded jackets for our first taste of this noble sport.

"Ouch!" I yelled as the ten-yearold next to me jabbed his foil hard into my side to test the theory out.

Three days into our stay at Haven Holidays' Hafan y Mor site near Pwllheli, I was looking blacker and bluer by the day. But I was loving it.

My back bore the bruises from too many bumpy go-kart races against my wannabe F1 star son while my legs were aching from a few too many laps of the boating lake by pedalo.

And my arms felt like they were about to fall off after monkeying around at the on-site climbing centre.

It was nice to be able to act like a teenager again for a few days, although I was definitely paying for it.

Thankfully, we had a fantastically comfortable base to crash out in every evening.

Our Prestige caravan was the last word in luxury.

Roomy and spotlessly clean, it even had central heating - and that's no bad thing in North Wales in spring.

Looking out over the mountains and Cardigan Bay, we also had one of Britain's very best views to enjoy.

From our spot right by the shore on the pretty Llyn Peninsula, we could gaze across the water to mighty Snowdon and the imposing castles at Criccieth and distant Harlech.

The park itself offers wall-to-wall fun for all ages. Packed into its 500 acres are all the makings of a great British family holiday - from the fantastic indoor pool with its flumes and water slides to amusement arcades and a roller disco.

There are all-weather soccer pitches, playgrounds and plenty of bikes and buggies to hire.

As well as fencing, kids can try out archery, air-rifle shooting or enjoy football coaching sessions under the expert eyes of the Haven instructors.

In the evenings, if you've got any energy left, you can eat out at the excellent Mash & Barrel restaurant and take in some live entertainment in one of the two show bars.

This summer's acts include Britain's Got Talent stars Stavros Flatley and The X Factor's Chico.

When you finally drag the family away from the action at Hafan y Mor there's loads more to see and do in this beautiful part of Wales.

You're midway between the pretty seaside towns of Pwllheli and Criccieth, which has a dramatic headland castle.

Further afield is bustling, surfmad Abersoch which hosts next weekend's Wakestock music and wakeboarding festival headlined by Calvin Harris, Dizzee Rascal and Ed Sheeran.

If you're looking for a different sort of rock, jump on the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway ten miles down the road at Porthmadog and take a trip through the mountains to the old slate mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog.

You'll ride behind a pint-sized but powerful steam loco straight out of an episode of Ivor The Engine.

We booked seats in the glass-sided viewing carriage at the back of the train and travelled in style, waving to walkers from our armchairs as we wound our way through what Ivor creator Oliver Postgate called "the top left corner of Wales".

It's definitely worth paying the extra few quid to travel first class and really soak up the sights.

The journey to Blaenau is 13.5 miles but if you've got a bit more time you can head northwards on the 25-mile trip to Caernarfon, where the investiture of the Prince of Wales took place in the huge castle in 1969.

On the way, keep an eye out for ospreys which have now begun breeding in the area.

They nest near the railway at Glaslyn and wildlife charity the RSPB has set up a free viewing centre during the breeding season.

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You can see the nests via CCTV or peer through telescopes hoping to catch a glimpse of the huge birds flying in with fish for the chicks.

The ospreys have been returning to the area from their winter home in Africa since they first nested in 2005.

We might see them again before too long, because we'll certainly be going back.

FactFile ¦ PAY £514 for a three-night break in two-bedroom accommodation at Hafan y Mor starting on July 29.

Haven has 35 UK holiday parks offering three night breaks from £269 in the summer holidays. Price based on a family of up to six people.

To book visit haven.com or call 0871 230 1900.

FACTFILE

A round-trip adult day ticket on the Ffestiniog Railway costs £19.60 per adult. One child under 16 travels free with each adult. Travel first class in the observation carriage for an additional £5 each way. See festrail.co.uk or call 01766 516024.