At a glance
The world's fastest zip line — 1 mile over Penrhyn Slate Quarry at up to 100mph, 500m above sea level. Riders go four abreast in horizontal "Superman" position. From £60; advance booking essential at zipworld.co.uk. Minimum weight 50kg, minimum age 7. Bethesda, LL57 4YG.
About Zip World Velocity
Zip World Velocity launched in 2013 at Penrhyn Slate Quarry near Bethesda — one of the largest slate quarries in the world, covering over 1,300 acres of mountainside above the Ogwen Valley. The installation uses a 1-mile steel cable strung from the upper quarry terraces to the valley floor, carrying riders in groups of four, side by side, in a horizontal Superman position at speeds reaching 100mph. It holds the Guinness World Record for the world's fastest zip line.
The setting amplifies the experience considerably. Penrhyn Quarry is a landscape of extraordinary industrial drama — concentric slate terraces descending in steps to a vivid turquoise flooded bottom, carved over two centuries of quarrying that at its peak in the late 19th century employed 3,000 men and produced a third of the world's roofing slate. The launch platform on the upper terraces commands a panorama encompassing all of northwest Snowdonia and, on clear days, the Menai Strait and the coast of Ireland.
Zip World has subsequently expanded across North Wales and beyond, but Velocity remains the original and the most dramatic installation — the one that established the company and transformed North Wales adventure tourism. The full experience typically takes 3–4 hours when the pre-ride briefing, kit fitting, transfer to the launch platform and post-ride recovery are included.
Find it on the map
Frequently asked questions
Zip World Velocity reaches speeds of up to 100mph (160km/h), making it the fastest zip line in the world. Riders travel in groups of four, side by side in a horizontal (Superman) position with a full harness. The 1-mile descent takes approximately 60 seconds from launch to landing, dropping from the upper terraces of Penrhyn Quarry to the valley floor some 500 metres below the launch point.
Riders must weigh between 50kg and 130kg. The minimum age is 7 years. There is no upper age limit — the oldest riders have been in their 80s. All riders must be able to independently don a harness, lie in the horizontal riding position and be physically capable of the activity. Zip World staff conduct a briefing and check all riders before the ride. Specific medical conditions may exclude participation — check zipworld.co.uk.
Zip World Velocity is at the Penrhyn Slate Quarry near Bethesda, approximately 5 miles southeast of Bangor and 7 miles northeast of Llanberis. Use postcode LL57 4YG for sat-nav. The facility is well signposted from the A5 and from Bethesda. Free parking is available at the Zip World site.
Yes — advance booking is essential and walk-up tickets are not sold. Book online at zipworld.co.uk. Popular dates (particularly summer weekends) sell out weeks in advance. Arrival and check-in typically begins 90 minutes before your slot, allowing time for the safety briefing, kit fitting and transfer to the launch platform.
The launch platform is on the upper terraces of Penrhyn Quarry — one of the largest slate quarries in the world — at an elevation of approximately 500 metres above sea level. The view encompasses the entire northwest of Snowdonia, across the Menai Strait to Anglesey and, on clear days, to Ireland. The quarry itself — its concentric terraces and vivid blue-grey slate — is extraordinary from above. The ride itself is too fast to take in much scenery, but the platform views during the pre-ride wait are spectacular.
It is genuinely vertiginous. The combination of the horizontal riding position, the scale of the quarry below and the speed makes this a significant physical experience. Many riders report that the fear is concentrated at the moment of launch rather than during the ride itself. Zip World staff are experienced at supporting nervous riders. Those with a significant fear of heights should be aware that this is not a mild experience — but many people who have tried it report it as transformative.