Camping in Wales – 5 Welsh campsites to try
Self-contained accommodation has been allowed in Wales since March 27th and now that April 12th has passed, campsites in England are open too, meaning camping season is here! Please scroll to the bottom of the blog more information*
Walking, climbing, coasteering, surfing, zip-lining and more; Wales offers a wealth of opportunities for those who want to go outdoors. It’s the go-to location for adventure in the UK and a camping holiday is the best way to make the most of its epic scenery. We’ve asked Amy Woodland from coolcamping.com to suggest a few of her favourite sites…
Check COVID restrictions beforehand and enjoy the outdoors responsibly.
Wales has three national parks, 750 miles of coastline and more than its fair share of mountains, forests and farmland. You can climb Snowdon, walk the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path, hike in the Brecon Beacons or simply relax on some of the world’s most beautiful beaches. It’s a paradise for lovers of the great outdoors and a perfect place to go camping. Here are five of the top spots to pitch a tent, as approved by the experts at Cool Camping…
Dinas – Hideaway in the Hills, Gwynedd
Whether you’re after rest and relaxation or adrenaline-fuelled adventure, Dinas – Hideaway in the Hills, in the west of Snowdonia National Park, is ideal. A stream, woodland and lake, mean you can have a great time without wandering beyond the campsite’s boundary, while campfires, den building and tree swinging are all allowed. When you do decide to head elsewhere, you don’t have to venture far for a taste of Wales’ other treasures. Snowdon is less than an hours drive, Zip World is closer still and the sandy beach at Harlech is just three miles down the road.
Big Barn Camping, Carmarthenshire
Pitch up at Big Barn Camping to enjoy Dylan Thomas country. This rural retreat is just a short walk away from Laugharne where the Welsh writer lived, overlooking the estuary of the River Taf. The campsite is blissfully bijou with pitches for just seven tents alongside three camping pods, or ‘little barns’, which are kitted out for those who fancy camping but don’t have the gear. This little camping paddock can be found at Lower Cresswell, a 36-acre small holding with sheep, pigs and chickens as well as an ancient woodland within its walls. It’s only a ten-minute drive to some seven miles of South Wales beaches at Pendine Sands.
Heritage Coast Campsite, Glamorgan
Occupying one of the best locations on the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, just meters from the waterfront footpath, this homely campsite offers views across the Bristol Channel and ample space for ball games and fun. The on-site bar and kitchen rustles up superb meals (even locals come down to the campsite for a dish) and it’s just a 15-minute walk to the nearest beach. There’s room for around 30 tents and a handful of small campervans, with pets permitted too. Walk your pooch along some of the 14-mile-long Glamorgan Heritage Coast Path, which takes in some spectacular seaside scenery, including Whitmore Bay, the dunes of Merthyr Mawr and Nash Point Lighthouse.
Bon Camping, Pembrokeshire
For wild Welsh camping in woodland or meadow, Bon Camping is the place to be. You’ll find the site’s nine pitches, and their glamping options – a yurt and 1970s Mercedes caravan – in a valley within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. The site is based within a 21-acre nature reserve and small-holding. Camping here is off grid with eco-friendly facilities including composting toilets. Once the crackle of your campfire subsides you can hear the sound of the waves crashing on to nearby Newgale Beach, easily reached on a circular walk from the campsite.
Camping at Ynysfaen, Powys
The dark skies over the Brecon Beacons are perfect for stargazing and Ynysfaen is the ideal base. Deep within the Brecon Beacons National Park, this quiet site has pitches for tents and VW campervans only, as well as glamping in bell tents and a lone shepherd’s hut. With a maximum of 40 people on site at any one time it never feels busy and leaves the birds and local wildlife relatively undisturbed – so spotting red kites, woodpeckers and otters in the River Usk is a real possibility. The Black Mountains make for excellent local hiking and mountain biking, while the nearby Usk Reservoir is excellent for angling.
Based on their leading guidebooks, coolcamping.com offers an online collection of the very best camping and glamping sites in the UK and Europe. Discover their full collection of campsites in Wales here.
Be prepared for your trip and shop all things camping here at Go Outdoors!
* Self-contained accommodation has been allowed in Wales since March 27th and now that April 12th has passed, campsites in England are open too, meaning camping season is here! People living in England can also travel to Wales to campsites and other self-contained accommodation.
Don’t forget though, only self-contained accommodation is permitted and holidays which include shared facilities will not be allowed until at least the 17th May. It’s also worth noting that campers and caravanners will only be able to holiday with other members of their own household.
Holiday accommodation in Scotland isn’t expected to reopen until April 26th at the earliest.
Please see our Camping After Covid Blog for further information and advice.
