Wild camping in
Snowdonia

A peaceful campsite on the banks of the River Glaslyn near the village of Beddgelert in Snowdonia. The village is one of the prettiest in Wales with stone bridges, the legend of Gelert's faithful hound, and access to Snowdon via the Watkin Path. The campsite has basic facilities with showers and a toilet block. The river running through the site provides a lovely sound track. Beddgelert Forest has excellent walking and cycling trails. The Welsh Highland Railway runs through the village. The Glaslyn Osprey project has returned breeding ospreys to the area. Portmeirion, the Italianate village, is a short drive away.

The highest mountain in Wales outside the Snowdon massif at 905m, Aran Fawddwy is a dramatic mountain with a steep eastern face above Llyn y Fign. Wild camping beside the lake or on the summit ridge provides a remote mountain experience away from the Snowdonia crowds. The ridge walk from Aran Fawddwy to Aran Benllyn is one of the finest in Wales. The terrain is rough with steep crags and some scree. Access from Dinas Mawddwy or Llanuwchllyn. The area sees far fewer walkers than the Snowdon ranges. The nearby village of Dinas Mawddwy has the famous Meirion Mill. Bala Lake is visible to the northeast. Serious mountain terrain requiring experience.

A lonely mountain between Bala and Trawsfynydd, Arenig Fawr (854m) is one of the least-visited summits in Snowdonia. A memorial on the summit commemorates the crew of an American B-17 Flying Fortress that crashed here in 1943. Wild camping on the flanks beside the mountain lake of Llyn Arenig Fawr is peaceful and atmospheric. The terrain is rough heather and bog with rocky outcrops. Views extend across central Wales in all directions. Access from the minor road between the A4212 and the A494 is along a rough track. Bala, a market town on the shores of Wales' largest natural lake, provides supplies.

Legend says that anyone who sleeps on Cadair Idris will awake either a madman or a poet. This dramatic mountain (893m) in southern Snowdonia has spectacular cwms, ridges, and Llyn Cau, a stunning cirque lake beneath the summit. Wild camping by Llyn Cau is a classic experience but the lakeside is fragile so camp on the grassy areas above the water. The Minffordd Path provides the most dramatic approach. The summit ridge is exposed and requires care in poor visibility. Dolgellau at the foot of the mountain is an attractive market town with shops and pubs. The Mawddach Estuary nearby is beautiful for walking and cycling.

A family-run campsite on the southern edge of Snowdonia near Tywyn, with views of Cadair Idris and the Mawddach Estuary. The site has good facilities with showers, a laundry, and electric hookups. The beach at Tywyn is a short walk and the Talyllyn Railway, a heritage narrow-gauge railway, is nearby. Cadair Idris is accessible from the campsite. The area is quieter than the northern Snowdonia mountains but equally beautiful. Bird Rock (Craig yr Aderyn), an inland cliff where cormorants nest, is a short drive away. Aberdyfi across the estuary is an attractive sailing village. Open March to October.

The Carneddau are the largest mountain massif in Wales, with vast stretches of exposed plateau above 900m. Carnedd Llewelyn (1,064m) is the third-highest peak in Wales. Wild camping on the plateau or beside the remote mountain lakes of Ffynnon Llugwy and Llyn Dulyn offers genuine wilderness in the northern part of Snowdonia. The area is home to feral ponies and the terrain is grassy with some rocky outcrops. The mountains are often bypassed by walkers heading for Snowdon and the Glyderau, making them quieter. Navigation on the broad summit plateau can be challenging in mist. Access from Bethesda, Ogwen, or the Conwy valley.

Camping within one of Wales' premier mountain biking centres in a vast Forestry Commission forest south of Dolgellau. The forest has world-class mountain bike trails from blue to black grading, as well as excellent walking and running trails. The visitor centre has a cafe, bike wash, and changing facilities. Camping facilities include showers and electric hookups. The Mawddach Estuary is nearby for coastal walking. Dolgellau is an attractive market town with independent shops. The forest canopy provides shelter from rain, of which there is plenty. Rhinog mountains are accessible from the forest. Open year-round.

A magnificent glacial cwm in the Ogwen Valley, Cwm Idwal is a National Nature Reserve and one of the most geologically important sites in Wales. Charles Darwin studied the glacial features here. Wild camping above the cwm on the approach to Y Garn is tolerated. Llyn Idwal sits in the cwm beneath the dramatic cliffs of the Devil's Kitchen (Twll Du). The terrain is volcanic rock with some loose scree. The area is very popular with walkers and climbers during the day but quietens in the evening. The Ogwen car park provides access. Bethesda is the nearest town. This is serious mountain terrain with steep drops and loose rock.

A small mountain shelter by Llyn Dulyn in the Carneddau range of Snowdonia. The bothy sits beside a dark, dramatic mountain lake beneath the cliffs of Craig Dulyn. The walk in from the Ogwen Valley takes about 2 hours up a steep path. The bothy is basic, sleeping about 4, with no fireplace. The Carneddau are the most extensive high ground in Wales and the bothy provides a base for exploring the range. Wild ponies roam the area. The terrain is rough with steep ground around the lake. Navigation on the broad Carneddau plateau can be challenging in mist. The setting by the dark lake is atmospheric and slightly eerie.

The Glyderau (Glyder Fawr, 1,001m, and Glyder Fach, 994m) are extraordinary mountains with summit landscapes of shattered rock that look like the surface of the moon. The famous Cantilever Stone on Glyder Fach is an iconic photograph opportunity. Wild camping on the summits or in Cwm Tryfan beneath them is excellent. The Devil's Kitchen (Twll Du) is a dramatic rock cleft on the approach from Llyn Idwal. The terrain is extremely rough volcanic rock with steep crags. The Y Garn ridge provides a classic horseshoe walk. Ogwen Cottage at the foot of the mountains has refreshments. Serious mountain terrain requiring proper equipment.

An award-winning eco-campsite on the Mawddach Estuary near Dolgellau. The site offers a range of camping options from wild pitches in woodland to glamping in shepherd's huts and safari tents. Facilities include hot showers, fire pits, and a pizza oven. The views across the estuary are stunning. The Mawddach Trail cycleway runs past the site, providing a flat route to Barmouth and the coast. Cadair Idris is accessible from nearby Minffordd. The campsite has a strong commitment to sustainability and wildlife conservation. Dolgellau is a pleasant market town with independent shops. Open March to November.

A small lakeside campsite on the shores of Llyn Cwellyn, a quiet alternative to the busy Llanberis side of Snowdon. The Snowdon Ranger Path, one of the oldest routes up the mountain, starts from nearby. The site has basic facilities and the lakeshore setting is peaceful. The lake is deep and cold but suitable for wild swimming. The Welsh Highland Railway runs past the site. Caernarfon with its magnificent castle is 7 miles away. Beddgelert is accessible by road or railway. The area is less busy than the Llanberis Pass approach to Snowdon. Moel Hebog and the Nantlle Ridge provide alternative mountain walks.

A shapely mountain (872m) overlooking Capel Curig, the mountaineering hub of Snowdonia. Wild camping on Moel Siabod's flanks offers a less-visited alternative to the Snowdon massif while still providing spectacular views. The summit looks directly at the Snowdon Horseshoe and across to the Glyderau. Camp on the grassy terraces on the eastern side for shelter from prevailing weather. The ascent from Capel Curig passes through remnants of old slate quarries. The terrain is a mix of grass, rock, and bog. Plas y Brenin, the National Mountain Centre, is in Capel Curig. Betws-y-Coed provides additional facilities. A rewarding mountain away from the main crowds.

A stunning campsite in the Nant Gwynant pass, one of the most beautiful valleys in Snowdonia. The site sits between Llyn Gwynant and Llyn Dinas with Snowdon rising behind. Facilities include showers and a small shop. The Watkin Path up Snowdon starts from the valley and is the most demanding of the main routes. The valley was used as a filming location for several movies. Wild swimming in the lakes is popular. Beddgelert, a pretty village with Gelert's grave, is nearby. The campsite can be very busy in summer. The mountain views from the pitches are outstanding. Open Easter to October.

A lakeside campsite at the end of Bala Lake (Llyn Tegid), the largest natural lake in Wales. The site has good facilities with showers, electric hookups, and a camp shop. Bala Lake is excellent for water sports including sailing, windsurfing, and kayaking. The rare gwyniad fish is unique to the lake. The Bala Lake Railway runs along the shore. Arenig Fawr and the Aran mountains provide mountain walking. The town of Bala has shops, pubs, and the famous white water rafting centre on the River Tryweryn. The area is strongly Welsh-speaking with a distinct cultural identity. Open March to October.

The Rhinogydd are the roughest mountains in Wales, with terrain so broken and heathery that progress is measured in metres per minute rather than miles per hour. Wild camping in these mountains guarantees solitude because few people venture here. The two main summits, Rhinog Fawr and Rhinog Fach, are separated by the dramatic pass of Bwlch Drws Ardudwy. The Roman Steps, an ancient packway, provides the easiest access. The terrain is a mix of heather, boulders, and bog. Camp on the grassy sections near the small mountain lakes. Harlech with its magnificent castle is on the coast below. The area feels genuinely wild and untamed.

Wales' highest mountain at 1,085m offers wild camping on its flanks, particularly in Cwm Glas and on the Snowdon Horseshoe approaches. Wild camping is not legal in Wales but is tolerated at higher elevations if practiced responsibly. The summit area itself is too busy and has a cafe (Hafod Eryri) making it unsuitable for camping. Camp below the summit in the cwms for shelter and water. The Snowdon Horseshoe combining Crib Goch and Y Lliwedd is one of the finest mountain walks in Britain. Llanberis is the main base with outdoor shops and cafes. Weather changes rapidly and the mountain is frequently in cloud.

A small camping area attached to the Snowdon Ranger YHA, at the start of the Snowdon Ranger Path, the quietest main route up Snowdon. The site has access to the hostel's showers and kitchen. The lakeside setting on Llyn Cwellyn is beautiful and much quieter than the Llanberis approach. The Snowdon Ranger path was the first tourist path up the mountain and remains the most satisfying route for experienced walkers. The Welsh Highland Railway stops nearby. Caernarfon is accessible for supplies. The area has a genuine mountaineering feel without the crowds of Pen-y-Pass. Open Easter to October.

A campsite near Trawsfynydd Lake in southern Snowdonia. The site has good facilities with showers, electric hookups, and a small shop. The lake, surrounded by rolling hills, is popular for fishing and walking. The Rhinog mountains are accessible to the west. The area is quieter than northern Snowdonia but has its own rugged charm. The village of Trawsfynydd has limited facilities. The Trawsfynydd nuclear power station (decommissioned) is a curious landmark. The Sarn Helen Roman road passes through the area. Blaenau Ffestiniog with its slate mines and zip wire is nearby. Walking along the old Roman road is atmospheric.

Tryfan is arguably the finest mountain shape in Wales, with its distinctive twin summit stones of Adam and Eve and a continuous scramble on the north ridge. Wild camping in the Ogwen Valley or by Llyn Idwal provides a base for exploring this dramatic mountain. Llyn Idwal is a national nature reserve in a magnificent cwm. The terrain is volcanic rock with steep crags. The Ogwen Valley car park provides access. Camp away from the popular paths around Llyn Idwal to avoid disturbance. Bethesda is the nearest town. The A5 runs through the valley, giving easy road access. This is serious mountain terrain requiring scrambling skills.