With its stunning beaches, awe-inspiring scenery and rich history, it's no surprise that Wales is one of Britain's favourite camping destinations.
Here we focus on two of the most popular reagions - the Brecon Beacons and the north west - picking out some of the highlights of each area as well as top campsites.
BRECON BEACONS
Summer has to be the very best time for camping in the Brecon Beacons National Park. Other times of the year have their appeal with the snows of winter giving beauty to the towering mountains, autumn bringing wonderful colour and spring giving crisp clear days for outdoor enjoyment.
But it is during the long days of June, July and August that this stunning region is at its very best. Wonderful summer days give endless daylight for enjoying the sights and the great hill paths and tracks, the weather is more settled and the feeling of wilderness that prevails in this area is very much at its height.
Fforest Fields Campsite
This is a remote and medium sized site located in a secluded valley in rolling farmland with access to hill walks behind the camping fields.
The site is located down a very long farm track that makes you feel as though you area heading into the middle of nowhere. You are actually not too far from Builth Wells where you will find shops and places to eat and drink.
At the end of the farm track you drop left to the site and pass right of the area where the site puts seasonal touring vans. Reception is in a new wooden building which also houses the site facilities. These include showers and toilets which are kept spotlessly clean, a drying room, a laundry and a kitchen area where you can charge your mobile phone. Reception has a small shop with an honesty box to pay for goods you take.
The site is family run and the owners are very friendly and knowledgeable about the local area. The site covers about seven acres in all and pitches are on grass and hard standing (for caravans) and there are plenty of electric hook-ups available for those who need them.
The site often hosts events so it is best to check their web site before planning a stay here to make sure you will be able to get some space when you arrive.
Fforest Fields has several areas to camp on and there is a good road network connecting them all. The pitches are numbered and the site is very organised overall. Tents and caravans generally share the same areas and the main field to the left of reception is very large with lots of space to spread out on.
The site has a lake next to it and here you can swim or take a canoe out. The site can provide some equipment for this. Families will love this site and kids in particular find plenty to fill their days when they stay here.
The biggest problem families with kids will have is getting the youngsters in the car and off the site to explore the surrounding as they will make lots of friends and will tire themselves out exploring the site and joining in the games with others.
FFOREST FIELDS
Hundred House, Builth Wells, Powys LD1 5RT
01982 570406
www.fforestfields.co.uk
Anchorage Caravan Park
Anchorage is a family run site and very handy for using as a base for touring this area from as a whole. Although the site is open all year, it only takes tents and tourers from March to October with the rest of the year being for those who have static caravans here.
The site is south facing and has a sunny aspect and is set on a hillside with trees behind it and some nice views of the Brecon Beacon and Black Mountain summits to the front. For campers, you may have to scout around to find a fully flat pitch if the site is busy but there are plenty of them around and the higher up the field you go, the better your views. You will find that many more caravans use this site than tents, which is great for campers as it means more room to spread out and extra pitches to choose from.
The site has a shop and TV room near the entrance and a play area for children as well as a payphone. There are pitches on grass (for the tents) and hard standing (for the caravans) and there are lots of electric hook-ups available so campers can get one if they require it.
There are a lot of seasonal caravans and static vans on Anchorage and you will find the owners very friendly and helpful when you arrive. They can point you in the right direction for all the best local attractions and give you the easiest route to take no matter where you fancy going. The field is large and well landscaped and has a good road network giving access to all areas of it.
The tents pitch on the flatter areas (where possible) and mix in with the caravans. The toilet blocks are centrally located and are kept clean and tidy. There is a disabled toilet and a bathroom too. The site also has a decent laundry.
The owners will freeze ice packs and charge batteries and you can even buy gas from them. Overall, this is a well run and pleasant site with lots of facilities that will suit family campers just fine and will give you a great base to explore the Brecon Beacons National Park.
ANCHORAGE CARAVAN PARK
Bronllys, Brecon, Powys LD3 0LD
01874 711246
www.anchoragecp.co.uk
Penlan Caravan Park and Campsite
Penlan is a family run site in the hills above Hay-On-Wye. This is a remote site accessed down quiet country lanes and offering the chance for a really quiet break in peaceful tree lined surroundings. The field is sloping with trees at the top where you will find the caravan pitches and electric hook-ups. There are nice views over the Black Mountains and surrounding areas from the front of the field and the area behind the caravan section is tree lined and sheltered.
The site is entered near a lovely country house down a pretty access drive. The toilets and showers are in a brick building on your left as your arrive and they are kept clean and tidy and are heated in cold weather. The owners are friendly and helpful and don’t allow excessive noise or disruptive behaviour.
The tents are allowed to camp in the lower parts of the field alongside the fences where the ground is flatter. The owners advise people coming to book in advance as the site has a lot of seasonal caravans on pitches so there is limited space for caravans and campervans and also for electric hook-ups.
There are in fact only ten hook-ups available and these are generally reserved for caravans and campervans so campers will have to live without it I am afraid – it’s a small price to pay for such a great location. This is a great site for getting away from it all and just soaking in the view. However, it would be a good place to base yourself for walking the mountains of this region of Wales and for touring from generally.
But do remember to book in advance at peak times as even though Penlan is remote, it can get very busy. For parents with jaded nerves, the site would provide a perfect antidote to the stresses of workaday life and for kids, the pleasant field will give plenty of opportunities to explore and play games.
Penlan Caravan Park and Campsite is well run and feels just right to stay on on warm summer days. A great day in the mountains, or touring the sights of The National Park, can be followed by a barbeque next to your tent with great views over the hill country to the south of you.
It’s as near perfect as you could hope for anywhere in our isles, let alone in the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains.
PENLAN CARAVAN PARK AND CAMPSITE
Brilley, Near Hay-On-Wye, Herefordshire HR3 6JW
01497 831485
www.penlancaravanpark.co.uk
NORTH WEST WALES
North west Wales is a delightful area and, for early season campers, it gets some lovely late spring and early summer weather with glorious sunsets and lingering twilights.
Beaches, castles, mountains and numerous attractions mean that this area is a magnet for not only family campers but is very popular with walkers, climbers, mountain bikers and those in search of some heritage and culture.
Nant Mill Touring Caravan And Tenting Park
Nant Mill Family Touring Caravan and Tenting Park is a long standing and friendly family-run site where the Rowley Family will give you a very warm welcome. The site is located on the side of the A548 Flint to Rhyl road about half a mile from the long sandy beach that runs along the coast here.
Despite the road being so close there is little road noise on the site itself although tents camping along the edge of the field closest to the road may experience a small amount.
The site has been here for a long time and is a large affair with four fields that can take around 150 units. There are quite a few seasonal caravans on pitches but still plenty of room for weekend visitors to pitch a tent. The fields are slightly sloping and best for tents at the bottom areas.
The furthest field on the left as you enter the site is usually kept as an overflow area for busy times. Booking is advised here most of the time as the site is very popular and regulars return year after year. The pitches are predominately grass with electric hook ups for the caravans and for the tents that require it.
From the moment you turn into the fields from the main road you get the feeling of arriving at a well presented and lovely landscaped site with closely cut grass and a neat layout. On arrival you report to the farmhouse which is at the top of the field to the right of the toilet block and here your pitch will be allocated.
The toilet block is located centrally near the top of the field too. The toilets are key coded and are neat and clean and more than adequate for the site. There is a charge for showers. There is a disabled facility, washing up area and a small and functional launderette (charge). To the rear of the toilets there is small children’s play area and there is lots of room on the site for kids to run around.
This is a real family site with mums and dads basing themselves here and driving the family in and out of nearby Rhyl or along the coast to the other resorts, but being able to return to the relative peace of a site away from the main hustle and bustle of typical seaside towns in the summer season.
There is a nice mill pond at the top of the site and the town of Prestatyn is a five minute stroll away. A walk to the beach takes about 15 minutes and some field paths can be used to avoid the busier sections of the road. All in all this is a very useful site for anyone wanting to stay near the coast in the northern areas of West Wales and have a good base to explore it from.
NANT MILL TOURING CARAVAN AND TENTING PARK
Gronant Road, Prestatyn, Denbighshire LL19 9LY
01745 852360
www.nantmilltouring.co.uk
Aberafon Camping and Caravan Site
The site is reached via a long and narrow descending driveway which you turn right into about one mile beyond the village of Clynnog-Fawr (if approaching from the Caernarfon direction).
The site is signposted from the road but you need to drive slowly or you will pass it. Run by husband and wife team Hugh and Clare Bird-Jones, Aberafon is set in fifteen acres of beach side farmland with the actual camping and caravanning areas covers about five acres. After the narrow and winding drive you check in at the farmhouse and are allocated a pitch.
The site is set in lovely surroundings with many of the pitches having sea views and the main camping area, near the bottom of the site, just above the beach itself.
Some of the fields are tree lined and quite sheltered with one or two being open. The pitches are on grass and the caravan areas have electric hook-ups. Tents can book electric hook-ups but it is best to do so in advance to avoid disappointment on arrival.
There is boat launching facilities at the beach and this is a site that is popular with general tourists, boaters, mountain bikers and walkers – the site has the 1,500ft Gryn Goch summit above it, which is part of The Rival chain of Snowdonian hills. Hugh and Clare are very friendly and extremely knowledgeable about the local area and can point you in the right direction for walks or the best tourist attractions.
There are quite a few seasonal pitches for caravans on the site and regulars who discover Aberafon Camping and Caravan Site come back year after year to enjoy the peace and quiet and wonderful views.
The site comprises four to five fields which are interconnected by hedge gaps and joined by a track. The site is set on a sloping hillside and can be quite exposed if the weather is very windy and wild.
Aberafon has good facilities with the main toilet and shower block being located at the site entrance near to the farmhouse and two more smaller facilities located on the fields. The site has a laundry and washing up areas too. The farmhouse runs a small shop and there is also a games and TV room. This is a great site for hill walking, mountain biking, walking on beaches or just sitting and unwinding amidst lovely scenery.
It is well positioned for touring the Llyn Peninsula and close enough to the main three thousand foot peaks of Snowdonia National Park to make it a good base for exploring the area from. Great views and a stunning location make Aberafon a good choice for camping in this area of West Wales.
ABERAFON CAMPING AND CARAVAN SITE
Gryn Goch, Caernarfon, Gwynedd LL54 5PN
01286 660295
www.aberafon.co.uk
Pentre Mawr Farm Camping Site
If you want a ‘no frills’ site close to a stunning beach in the Mid-Wales area, then look no further than Pentre Mawr Farm Site. Situated amid the breathtaking scenery of the Barmouth to Harlech coastline, overlooking Cardigan Bay and backed by the ancient and mysterious Rhinog Mountains, this is a popular region with holiday makers from all over the country.
Pentre Mawr Farm Camping Site is within five minutes of a glorious flat beach backed by miles of sand dunes that you access via beach paths near the entrance to the site or through the adjoining site which also has a shop.
Pentre Mawr is the exception rather than the rule along this area of very big commercial sites, and you will find it a bit different.
Don’t come here expecting lots of facilities because there aren’t! This is a traditional farm style site of the variety usually found hidden amongst the mountains and the prices are very competitive. For your fee you find yourself on an enormous field with great mountain views. You can camp anywhere but the edges are the most popular and the area near the entrance has high gorse bushes that a lot of people pitch among for screening.
There are no showers and toilet blocks but the farmer puts several portaloos around the field and they are emptied regularly and kept clean but be aware, that after a long and busy Bank Holiday Weekend they can get a bit full and smelly! The site is currently seeking planning permission for building better facilities. There is a large skip for rubbish and taps for getting water and that is about it. It all works very well and everyone finds a pitch and simply gets on with it.
There is always a great holiday spirit about the place and you’ll meet lots of like minded people and have plenty of laughs. The farmer calls daily for the money and the only thing to be aware of is that part of the beach, about a mile up from the site, is a dedicated naturist area where nudity is allowed. It is well marked but if you wander on to it, your kids (and probably you too) could be in for a bit of a shock!
Next to the site is the huge Dyffryn Seaside Estate Complex which has the aforementioned shop and a decent chippy but you are not allowed to use the other facilities if you are not staying on it.
Pentre Mawr is a great beach site if you are looking for something cheap with no hassle and nothing but a big field, views and peace and quiet. Nearby Barmouth is a typical Victorian seaside resort with lots of shops and a wonderful seafront and harbour. This is a great area for a beach and water based holiday or a mountain break too. Hidden valleys and tiny roads give access to the heart of the Rhinog Mountains and the whole area is a Pandora’s Box of hidden delights just waiting to be discovered.
PENTRE MAWR FARM SITE
Tal-Y-Bont, Near Barmouth Gwynedd
01341 247413
No website
