Bala Camping & Caravan Club Site
Cefn-Ddwysarn
Bala
Gwynedd
Wales
LL23 7LN

Tel: 01678 530 324

This rural site is a lovely one, quite small and tucked away a few miles to the North East of the small Welsh town of Bala. It has the usual club facilities on a site, which despite its location is pretty flat. It has a number of hardstandings towards the back of the site and if you like the peace and quiet this is where you’ll head.

Having said that, on both occasions when we’ve visited the site its been spring and the lambs and sheep in the surrounding fields make one hell of a racket right through the night. We live in the country and even we were unused to the cacophony of bleating, interspersed by a very noisy cockerel around 4:00 a.m.!!

The site is reached from the main road along a narrow lane so care is advised, but once there you can enjoy the delights of this quite lovely part of southern Snowdonia National Park. There are two well maintained amenity blocks (although one looks as though it has seen better days) and the main area of hard standings is towards the back of the site, offering less than generous sized pitches.

The nearby little town of Bala has a range of small supermarkets and pubs together with a few takeaways. It even has a small cinema although by the time latest releases have reached this part of the world they’re almost out on video. The best thing about Bala though, is its lakeshore at the western end of the town with canoe hire and lots of other watersports catered for. There’s also a rather nice indoor pool here too. Along the south side of Bala lake there’s a steam railway which is also worth a visit.

All in all, a lovely spot, and if you get the right weather (as we have done) its difficult to fault

Ron Miller. CLIC. August 2003

Beddgelert Forest Campsite
Beddgelert
Gwynedd
Wales
LL55 4UU

Tel: 01766 890 288
Tel: Bookings: 08451 308 224

E-mail: Via the web site
Web site: www.forestholidays.co.uk Beddgelert site

Map ref: SH577490

Camping and Touring Caravans only.

Level pitches set in forest environment.

Open all year but site shop sporadic out of main season.

Electric pitches available.

Two sets of ablutions both kept spotlessly clean and not too cold in winter.

Good local walking to all abilities.

Note that warden (sorry, manager) has changed recently and shop hours seem more regular.

One mile north west of Beddgelert on A4085.

Ian Willis. CLIC. June 2001

Bryn Gloch Caravan & Camping Park
Betws Garmon
Caenarfon
Gwynedd
Wales
LL54 7YY

Tel: 01268 650 216

E-mail: eurig@easynet.co.uk
Web site: www.bryngloch.co.uk

It is on the A4085 4 miles south of Caenarfon

This site is my favourite.
It has both camping and caravan facilities. You can even rent static caravans.
For caravans it has both seasonal and non-seasonal pitches. It also has electicity available around most if not all of the site now.

Apart from static caravans it is open all year round.
It also has good, especially clean, toilets showers and sinks, although there may be a queue at busy times. The site also has washing up areas too and a disabled bathroom/shower.

It has a shop which is open till around 8pm. It can be open until 10pm on busy weekends. No traffic is allowed on site between 12:30am and 7am.

The wardens are welcoming and friendly and happy.

It has good views of Snowdon’s nearby peaks and is surrounded by good views in any direction you look, especially at dusk.

The fact Caenarfon is four miles away means easy access to Snowdonia and Anglessey and other places of interest.

In a couple of years, you will be able to join the Welsh Highland railway nearby, which will run through the start of the campsite. They are currently working on constructing it through there but without disruption to the site. So the views from the fields arent spoilt.

Nearest pub - 2 miles left out of the drive of the campsite. Chippy - a couple of hundred yards more than the pub in Waunfawr.

Robert J Holdcroft. INTERNET. June 2002

Cwm Cadnant Valley
Llanberis Road
Caernarfon
Gwynedd
LL55 2DF

Tel: +44 1286 673196 Fax: +44 1286 675941

Web site: www.cwmcadnantvalley.co.uk/.----- The view from our pitch

Grid Reference: SH 487 628

This is a terraced site set in a fairly steep wooded valley. The pitching areas are reasonably level although motorhomes may need levelling ramps. Pitches are allocated when you book and you will need to specify size of unit as there are access restrictions. If towing, ensure your towcar has enough power/weight to pull your unit up a steep hill.

As you start down the hill into the site, reception is on your right. The area outside reception appeared to be used as a parking area when we were there, but I think it had ehu so can probably be grass pitches when they are full. The area just down from that on the right is reserved for back packers. On the left is the laundry room – we didn’t use this so can't comment on cost or facilities.

You then enter the site one-way system (very necessary because the roadway is only just wide enough for 1 unit). As you go in you drive down round a corner past the facilities block to the lower roadway which runs along between grass pitches, round an U-bend to the next level up which has grass pitches on the right and hardstanding on the left. Motorhomes of any length will have sideways hardstanding pitches and may not be able to put an awning up. From there the road continues round the corner and back up the entrance road. From the lower level of the road way you can turn left across a small bridge to the grass pitches on the other side of the river/stream.

The facilities block is built on the hill, so the disabled and family facilities are at the top, down a few steps to the door for the ladies and gents facilities, down a few more steps for the dishwashing and down a few more for the loo–emptying point. Unless you are on the top levels, some part of the facilities block is likely to be on the same level as you are!
Facilities were clean and in good working order. Hairdryer in the ladies 20p. 2 showers in the ladies and half a dozen loos, half a dozen basins, not in cubicles. Water points, rubbish bins, recycling and fire points around the site.

The site was suffering a bit when we arrived because it had poured solidly all the day before, and the grass areas were pretty soggy with evidence of some vehicles having struggled to get off. I don't think that was particularly the sites fault – it seems to have affected other places as well. Thankfully while we were there the sun shone and the site was quite attractive as a result.

The children’s play area looked more interesting than many I have seen and I would imagine that children would enjoy playing around the site (may need watching near the stream/river, though).

Although the site has disabled facilities, it may not be ideal for those with mobility problems due to the slopes between levels (although some of the grass pitches are on the same level as the disabled toilet/shower facilities and the owners were helpful so if you explained your requirement when booking I'm sure they would allocate you a pitch on that level.) If you are interested in the site but have a disability I would suggest reading the access statement on their website and discussing it with the site before booking.

Within walking distance of the site entrance is a fish and chip shop, a convenience store (Spar I think it was) and a bus stop. I am told it is within about 10 mins walking distance of the town, but we didn't try it.
The site has wifi, although I didn't ask how much it cost. Phone reception was ok for T-mobile and Vodafone. The site is on an A-road but because you are below the road level you get very little noise from it at all - it is next to the fire station but the bell only woke one of us, one night out of the five we were there (they tend not to switch the siren on until they are a bit away, so if you hear anything it is the bell to notify them of a call-out).

So would we go again? Probably not - we booked having read the access statement and the reviews, so we knew what we were letting ourselves in for, and we coped ok, but each year arthritic knees get a little bit worse so we will probably look for somewhere more level...... Shame really, because if you and your vehicle are fit and healthy to cope with hills, it’s a nice, reasonably priced site (£17 for MH and 2 adults in Easter holidays).

Date visited: April 2012

Myra Sears. CLIC. April 2012.

Dwyros Campsite--- A second report
Aberdaron
Pwillheli
Gwynedd
Wales
LL53 8BS

Tel: 01758 760 295

Contact: Mrs C.A. Jones

Cost (June 2001) £4 for two people in tent - showers extra

All types of unit accepted. Open March to October.

Directions: on B4413 in Aberdaron village, turn R SP Uwchmynydd and St Mary’s Well. Site is 0.25 miles on right.

This is a really nice site with fabulous views over the beach at Aberdaron and back towards Snowdonia. It is a large, flat field with one toilet block, which has hot showers at an extra cost. Otherwise it’s just cold water & there are no washing up sinks. The facilities are a bit of a walk from some of the pitches & the main water tap is here. There is a smaller field behind the toilet block with a few static vans, but these certainly do not dominate the site.

The site is on quite a high level and it can get a bit windy - some friends of ours were unable to get their frame tent erected during August due to the high winds and had to bail out to another site! However the views are worth it.

The site is within an easy downhill stroll of Aberdaron (it’s a less easy uphill slog on the way back!) where there are various shops & a couple of hotels with public bars - one has a beachside terrace which is a pleasant place to sit watching the waves roll in. There is a lovely long sandy beach & I think dogs are allowed on part of it. There is also a wonderful little church right on the edge of the beach that is worth a visit - there is a history of the area inside which is interesting.

There are loads of walks in the area - one footpath starts immediately opposite the entrance to the site which takes you westwards toward the end of the peninsula - unfortunately this was still closed due to the foot & mouth outbreak when we were around last year. It is possible to drive out to the end of the peninsula, which overlooks Bardsey Island. There is some good walking here too and again great views.

Janette Lee. CLIC. March 2002

Dwyros Campsite
Aberdaron
Pwhelli
Gwynedd
Wales
LL53 8BS

Tel: 01758 760 295
Contact: Mr Jones

Cost: £7 per tent (2006) You’ll need to phone for prices of motorhomes and tourers
Units accepted: Motorhomes, tents, tourers.

This campsite is very close to Aberdaron, up a steep hill from the village.

A VERY windy site, probably due to the height and closeness to the sea. The wind makes it quite unpleasant from the point of view that even in nice weather it is not pleasant to sit outside on the field, ball games are useless as the wind carries the ball off, and when it rains you need to be prepared to go and check you are not about to take off during the night when the noise from the wind against a tent makes it impossible to sleep.

There is one toilet block which I found was quite dirty, there was dog excrement on the floor of the toilets fresh one day and still there three days later. I found it quite a primitive set of toilets and the shower was dirty and I felt reluctant to use it.
As there is only one shower the queues were long at peak times. When we were there last week the men’s block had a cold shower to begin with and then when the head of the shower was broken off, no shower at all for the gents. This meant that when no repair was carried out two or three days later the men started using the women’s shower which was hot for an additional 20p charge.
In fairness the owner of the site was away on holiday, with his son looking after the place, but I am sure that he could have called someone to fix the shower for the men, who I felt so sorry for.

There is a nice block to wash up with two washing machines along with a chemical waste disposal.

Being close to the village, we found there were a few large single sex groups on site which meant that we were often disturbed by these groups returning late at night. As there is no lighting on the site, these groups whilst being drunk, could never find their tents or vans and everyone knew about it.

The village is tiny, with two shops, two pubs, two cafe’s and two gift shops. THAT IS IT. Be prepared to travel 8 miles for petrol or 17 miles for a supermarket. The beach is nice and sandy whilst also being long. The church is very nice and open from 10-4 most days. Like most other places, this place is expensive compared to being at home but then it cannot be blamed for cashing in as it is probably dead for most of the year.

We ended up coming home early. A combination of
1) bad weather (not the site’s fault) but the wind augmented it greatly
2) Desperate need for a clean toilet, clean shower and decent wash
3) Need of a night’s sleep not disturbed by yobs or gale force wind and...
4) boredom, as the there was nothing to do after three or four days as we are not walkers.

Mrs A M Bradburn. Internet. August 2006

Eisteddfa Camping & Caravan Park
Pentrefelin
Criccith
Gwynedd
Wales
LL52 0PT

Tel: 01766 522 696

E-mail: eisteddfa@criccieth.co.uk
Web site: www.eisteddfa.fsnet.co.uk/..

Stayed:
4 Nights in July 2000

Site facilities:
Showers 20p, Electric pitches, Laundry, Freezer, Children’s play area, Small shop.

Attractions:
Portmadog, Criccith, Port Merion are close by.

Nearest Pub:
Pass none that close.

Opinion:
A quite site that can get very busy at times, the owner could not do enough for us, the showers requires 20p in the meter. The location is ideal for touring this part of Wales. We will consider staying here if we are in this part of Wales again.

Phil & Lee. CLIC. August 2000

Glanllyn caravan & camping Park
Bala
Gwynedd
Wales
LL23 7ST

Tel: 01678 540 441

E-mail: Via the web site
Web site: http://www.bigfreeguide.com/camping/...

Stayed:
2 Nights in July 2000.

Site facilities:
Free showers, Electric pitches, Laundry no drier, Charge for hot water to wash your dishes, Small shop, On the lake side.

Attractions:
Bala lake.

Nearest Pub:
Pass none that close (3 miles approx.)

Opinion:
A large site that gets very busy, may be a good site for small sailing craft. We won’t consider staying here again due to us having 2 kids and not being into water sports.

Phil & Lee. CLIC. August 2000

Hafan y Mor Holiday Park (Haven site)
Pwllheli
Gwynedd
North Wales
LL53 6HJ

Tel: (customer care team) 08712 301 908

E-mail: (site direct) Tracy.Williams@bourne-leisure.co.uk
Web site: www.haven.com/parks/hafan_y_mor/

All other contacts via the web site

This is the old Butlins campsite; there are signs of the old management everywhere from old buildings to the trackbed of the 15 inch railway still visible. There are also lots of new ideas from very strange lodges to the evidence of being very nature orientated, right down to Solar powered games, and dynamo powered audio messages for the nature walk.

The Touring site is better than the Mablethorpe (Golden Sands) site, but still not brilliant as lots of the pitches are uneven even if they do have lots of grass it is not lawn cut like CC sites... not seen any grass cutting yet.

Some pitches are 100% grass others are not.. some (ours is one) was situated next to the old car park area of demolished Chalets so our ’van was on tarmac the awning on the grass.
Electric is 16amp and standard IEE plug normal polarity.

Water is available at the end of every other row of pitches.
There is Re-cycling its basic (glass/paper/tins) but its there

The site has:-
A swimming pool complex with kiddies pool and three very big water slides at least 5 others inside, and it’s very clean.
There are three entertainment complexes each with stages and bars as well as slot machines and other amusements. Food is available in all three.
There are two dining complexes, one being the Lakeside Inn but both offering similar fare. The cheapest meal on offer is Breakfast (2.79 ukp).
There is a Burger King, Starbucks, and a Chip Shop. There is an Everydays shop on site as well.

There is a boating lake (Pedalo 7 ukp for half an hour) and a Carp fishing lake (which is not advertised until you get to it when it says tickets from reception ).

There is a Ropeworks for those who do not have a fear of heights includes trapeze and climbing walls and a flying bungee.
There are five areas of outside play equipment from the iPlay to baby toys.

The site beach is not very clearly signed (only 2 signs say Beach), but it is clean and popular. There is access at the eastern end of the site where jetskis can be launched. There a few signs for the Cliff walk which runs the entire length of the site and on to Cricieth.

This site is on the Lynn Peninsula and from it you can see Porthmadoc and Cricieth Cader Idris is obviously very clearly seen even on cloudy days when it disappears into the clouds. You will have noted I dont mention Pwllwheli as we visited it on a day when there was no market, it was a miserable place.

Graham Wilson. CLIC. September 2009
For more of Grahams reports visit http://www.madcaravanner.co.uk/

Penrallt Costal Campsite
Tudweiliog
Pwllheli
Gwynedd
North Wales
LL53 8PB

Tel/Fax: (44) 01758 770 654

Email: Penrallt@aol.com
Web site: www.penrallt.co.uk

Penrallt campsite is a coastal campsite on the Llyn pennisula of North Wales. It’s about a mile outside the village of Tudweiliog.
Basically a farmhouse surrounded by 6 acres of fields approached down a long lane with fields going down to the coastal path.
A very quiet and peaceful location with good clean facilities and two toilet/shower blocks.
You can camp in the field by the house or out in other fields with direct access to the coastal path which leads to secluded beaches and coves along this undeveloped coastline.

It’s a great base for fishing, birdwatching, walking, sailing, diving etc. I have been going there regularly for about ten years and the owners are very friendly and welcoming.

The nearest pub The Lion in Tudweliog and it serves food, there is shop in the village as well and a harbour suitable for boat launching is about a mile away from the campsite.

Steve Joyce. Internet. December 2004

Twll Clawdd Caravan Site
Llanrug
Caernarfon
Gwynedd
Wales
LL55 2AZ

Tel: 01286 672 838

E-mail: Via the web site
Web site: http://www.bigfreeguide.com/camping/...

Stayed:
4 Nights in July 2000

Site facilities:
Showers 20p, electric pitches some 6A some 10A. Laundry ie. A twin tub.

Attractions:
Caernarfon, Llanberis (Snowdon railway etc.) are close by.

Nearest Pub:
In the village approx. 10 min. walk.

Opinion:
A quiet site that can get very busy at times, the showers requires 20p in the meter which are all located together on the outside wall of the showers so if your 20p’s run out you don’t just loose the hot water you loose the cold as well then it’s a quick streak to put more money in. The location is ideal for touring this part of Wales. We won’t consider staying here again because we’ve seen everything we wanted too.

Phil & Lee. CLIC. August 2000

Tyddyn Du Touring Park
Conway Old Road
Penmaenmawr
Gwynedd
North Wales
LL34 6RE

Tel: 01492 622 300

E-mail: stay@tyddyndutouringpark.co.uk
Web site: www.tyddyndutouringpark.co.uk/

open March to October

Adults only site - over 18.
Take all units, tents, caravans, motor caravans.

Directions - going west - go through the Penmaenbach tunnel on the A55 Expressway, take the 1st exit off the roundabout just after the Little chef, then immediately left and the site is on the right in approx 200m.

Set on a hillside, all pitches terraced, might not be too practical for someone with mobility problems.

Showers/toilet block, new - very clean - lots of hot water, hair drier. All free.

All pitches have sea view, the higher up the better the view! Lots of hard standings. Most of the pitches seem to have electric.

Pub serving food about 200m away.

Access to the beach about half a mile with footbridge over the A55 Expressway and the train line. Can see both from site, but no noise from either.

Nice quiet site, very tidy and clean, wardens very friendly and can’t do enough for you.

Photo is the view from caravan looking towards The Great Orme.

Will go there again when we are in the area.

Carol Hodgson. CLIC. April 2004.

Tyddyn Llwyn Caravan Park
Morfa Bychan Road
Portmadog
Gwynedd
LL49 9UR

Tel: 01766 512 205
Fax: 01766 514 601

E-mail: info@tyddynllwyn.com
Web site: www.tyddyn.com

Site visited April 2002.

Tariff:-
Low Season March/April/June/September £8.00 per night
High Season Bank Holiday Weekends/July/August £10.00 per night

Pitch prices are for a caravan/motorhome or tent, with two adults.

Extra’s (same price high/low season)
Extra Adult £2.00
Child 3-16yrs £1.00
Electric hook-up £2.00
Awning £2.00
Extra Car/Boat/Trailer/Jet Ski £1.00 per item
Pup Tent/Gazebo £1.00

Doesn’t appear to be a charge for dogs - our friends didn’t get charged.

£15.00 deposit required at time of booking, balance due on arrival.

We went here Friday 26th April till Monday 29th April, 2002, with friends who had just bought their first tourer. Having never been to this area of Wales before we were pleasantly surprised to discover so much to do, all within a short distance to the park.

The park itself is very good, just a short distance from the centre of Portmadog itself, certainly close enough to walk. The site shop is well stocked and the staff are very helpful. Toilets are immaculate - heated shower blocks with lots of free piping hot water. Hairdryers also free of charge. Good washing up facilities provided for tenters. Nice safe play area for children. Good dog walk (according to our friends!). The pitches have electric hook ups and a tap shared between two pitches. One of the field areas has also had electric put in to provide hook up for tenters, although this isn’t finished yet.
Quite a lot of static’s on site, although these are away from the tourer/tenting area. There are quite a few tourers that seem to be permanently sited on hardstandings, they are all people who enjoy watersports judging by the boats and paraphernalia that are around them. The owners bought the site 18months ago and have started to divide the rows of pitches up with shrubs etc., although not between pitches. We were the only tourers on the site at the time of our visit, although quite busy with tenters. Also situated within the park is the Tyddyn Llwyn Hotel, soon to be owned by the owners of the park. We didn’t actually go in, but they do bar meals/sunday lunch etc., and also means that there is a bar on site. The site overall is very clean and tidy and we will definitely return in the not too distant future.

Couple of minus points are that the TV signal is really chronic. We noticed that in the top of a very large tree next to a static, was an aerial, which explained why our status got nothing but fuzz on the screen. Our travelling companions had a ’stick to the window’ type aerial with a booster on, which gave a snowy but viewable picture. I guess this is only to be expected when the park sits underneath a blinking great mountain! (very picturesque mind!) Second minus was the rubbish disposal. This is a compactor skip by the entrance/exit to the park and tended to make the place look a bit untidy. Maybe there are plans afoot to change this scheme but at the moment, it was a bit of a pain.

Samantha Potter. CLIC. April 2002.

White Tower Holiday Park
Llandwrog
Nr. Caernarfon
Gwynedd
Wales
LL54 5UH

Tel: 01286 830 649
Fax: 01286 830 649

E-mail: Via the web site
Web site: www.whitetowerpark.co.uk/

Site visited: July/August 2002

Web site: www.whitetower.supanet.com/

Directions:
From Caernarfon follow the A487 Porthmadog Rd for approximately quarter of a mile. Go past Tesco supermarket, straight ahead at roundabout then first right. Site is 3 miles on right.

Access to the site is up a narrow-ish country lane which becomes only wide enough for one vehicle in places.

Once in the site you have to do quite a sharp left through the static caravan area. The service roads are pretty narrow with very high speed bumps, although they have been kind enough to place large rocks around the edges of the corners just for fun.

The site itself is kept clean and the staff are quite helpful. The toilets/shower block is also kept clean.

There is a very small open air swimming pool and a children’s park with four things on it. The ’games’ room has half a dozen video machines and a pool table. We didn’t really bother with the small clubhouse which has entertainment on at weekends.

What they refer to as a ’Super Pitch’, is hard standing (pebbles), electric hook up and a tap !!. Those with awnings seem to use storm straps to hold them down.

Working out at around £18 per night we considered it to be over-priced for the facilities that are available and there was really nothing on the site to tempt us back !!.

Karen & Robert (Vanner). CLIC. August 2002

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