Camping is a practical way to vacation in Snowdonia National Park. Well-located, clean, and well-maintained campsites are often much closer to lakes, trails, and other park attractions than scattered villages and towns. And the feeling of being protected by the high peaks of Snowdonia is magical. We’ve heard good things about these top eight campsites.
Lower Gernf Camping
A camp and barrack on a 750-acre National Trust farm, this has been named one of the “World’s 50 Best Campsites” by a UK newspaper. Its location, between the town of Capel Curig and Lake Llyn Ogwen, is stunning. The Today the owners are the eighth generation of the same family that founded it in 1906. In addition to the camping ground, for tents and with connections for motorhomes, there are also two bunks that together can accommodate 18. For outdoor enthusiasts Free camping, and rappelling are available on site. Plas-y-Brenin is only three miles away. Unfortunately, no dogs allowed. The site is open year-round and is remarkably inexpensive for its beautiful location outside of Capel Curig.
Bodnant Caravan Park
Close to Llanrwst, a small market town that claims to be the ‘capital’ of the Conwy Valley, this campground may be a little high priced for common tent pitches, but it is a reasonably priced prize winner for caravans. The 35 caravan pitches are all firm with multiple utilities. They offer standard pitches for tents without services or pitches with service with electrical and TV connections. It is run by a Welsh-speaking family of farmers and ancient farm implements are a feature of the landscape. Watch out for hay fever sufferers – it’s landscaped within an inch of its life, having won the ‘Wales in Bloom’ Award for touring caravan sites for over 26 years in a row. The site is level and has a separate toilet block with handicap facilities.
Pen y fur
Near Lake Bala, this 4-star family camping and caravan park is popular with water sports enthusiasts. It offers camping in tents on Bala Lake, caravans and motorhomes in Bala Town and if you prefer to immerse yourself in the waters camp with a little luxury, there is glamping in a traditional gypsy caravan with a bow roof or ‘the little green cabin’. It is less than 100 yards from the lake, known for its water sports. Dogs allowed on site dog friendly store. Open from mid-March to the end of October, there are seasonal pitches for visitors wanting a place to leave their caravan while exploring the rest of North Wales.
Camping Llyn Gwynant
This campsite is located in one of the most beautiful valleys in Snowdonia, Nantgwynant. Close to swimming, walking trails, and adventure activities, you can hike Snowdon right from the campground. Best of all, if you still dream of camping freedom – hitting the road in your motorhome and stopping where you want, this is the place. Reservations are not required for groups of less than 20. So just show up and if there’s room, you’re welcome. Peace and quiet are assured, as there are no radios allowed on site, only acoustic music and only until 11pm.
Tyn Cornel Riverside Camping & Caravan Park
Separate caravan and tent camping areas ensure that different styles of camping are catered for here. This campground, near Bala y Bala Lake, is convenient for water sports and the National Center for Aguas Blancas is just a five-minute walk away. There is also fishing, with permission, at this riverside site. Recent additions are two large, secluded Lotus Belle frosting tents, fully equipped with beds, linens, and linens, as well as kitchen equipment and an indoor wood-burning stove to cool off on colder nights.
Smuggler’s Cove Shipyard
If you like the idea of boating to your campsite, this working shipyard on the Dyfi estuary might be just what you need. There are tent plots on a raised slate plateau, as well as holiday homes, and a rickety Scottish fishing boat, the Boy John, suitable for two. For boat owners, there are moorings and all the other facilities you can expect in a working shipyard.
Graig Wen
This site regularly makes the top ten lists. It offers glamping, traditional camping, cabins and slate cabins. Glaciers have many options to choose from with tents, yurts, pop-up yurts, and a Welsh cabin, a romantic wooden pavilion suitable for two. The tourist campsite on the Mawddach Estuary has pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes.
Snowdonia base camp
This is a wild camping, or tent, for people who like to have their cake and eat it too. It is a camp, near the shores of Llyn Cwellyn, at the base of Mount Snowdon. But there are many home comforts after a night on a grassy field. There are fire pits on wheels so you can remember a campfire before unrolling your sleeping bag for the night. The modern shower and toilet block is open 24/7, and for those cold camping mornings, the floors are heated. And if you’d like someone else to cook your breakfast and dinner in a royal kitchen, the partner Cwellyn Arms Hotel is just a 15-minute walk away. This is a very quiet, peaceful and scenic lakeside campground.
