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Camping in Snowdonia
WE were all excited because it was Jac's first time camping.
I had chosen Llyn Gwynant campsite because it's right next to Snowdon, it looked very family friendly, and I wanted to take a boat out on the lake.
Jac, who recently had his second birthday, insisted on taking virtually all his toys, so in addition to camping gear we had piles of cars, tractors and farm animals - "Bob the Builder going camping," said Jac, holding his new favourite toy.
The sun was shining and as we descended the steep hill to the site the lake itself came into view.
"It's beautiful!" said Caroline, my fiancée. And indeed it was.
Snowdon towered up to our right and the valley, resplendent in blues and greens, unfolded before us.
Although the car was crammed full I had managed to forget one essential thing: a hammer.
The sun had dried the ground and it was difficult to get the pegs into the ground - and sadly Bob the Builder proved little help.
Luckily one of our fellow campers, a cheerful chappy dressed head-to-toe in walking gear, was kind enough to lend us one.
Before too long we had the tent up and we all played games as the sun set over Snowdon's brow.
Caroline smiled and declared it brew-O'Clock, despite it getting very late for Jac's bedtime. We drank tea and ate biscuits - Bob included - and dropped crumbs on the duvet.
The morning brought more sunshine and a sense of triumph that we'd made it through the night.
The air was still and the lake reflected the surrounding mountains. Campers started emerging from their tents and the sound of kettles and the smell of fry-ups soon filled the air.
We decided Jac wasn't ready to climb the highest mountain in Wales, so I enquired about boat hire instead.
The campsite had kayaks for £5 or £8 per hour, depending on size, but we went for a Canadian canoe for £10 that fitted us all in.
We were shown how to paddle it effectively and given all the buoyancy kit we needed. I didn't have the heart to say we'd probably stay within a few feet of the lake's edge.
Jac threw his tractor overboard and said it was swimming.
"You think this is fun?" I said. "You wait, I hear there's a great cafe near hear, where we can get tea and cakes."
I was talking about Gwynant Café, housed in a converted chapel. I'd sold them on the idea of cake, but I was set on a fry-up breakfast - we didn't have the kit to make one at the campsite.
"Sygun Copper Mine in Beddgelert might be nice," I said as we ate our brunch. "That's just down the road and there's a great place to get ice-cream in the village."
"I think Jac would like to go on Llanberis Lake Railway, that's not far from here either," said Caroline.
For once Jac was quiet - he just smiled as he shoved more beans in his mouth.
We laughed and agreed that camping in North Wales was much more fun than going abroad.
To see nearby
Sygun Copper Mine
Beddgelert
Snowdonia LL55 4NE
01766 890595
www.syguncoppermine.co.uk
Llanberis Lake Railway,
Parc Padarn, Llanberis,
LL55 4TY.
01286 870549
www.lake-railway.co.uk
Campsites in Snowdonia - Ten of the best
Llyn Gwynant
Hafod Lwyfog, Nantgwynant LL55 4NW
01766890340
www.gwynant.com
Pitches: Lots of tent pitches, up to 10 caravans.
Amenities: Toilet block, hot water, showers
Other: Boat hire from £5 an hour.
Prices: £6 camping, children £3, dogs £1, caravans £10 booking fee
Llys Derwen Holiday Park
B W Jones, Ffordd Bryngwyn, Llanrug, LL55 4RD
01286 673322
email: llysderwen@aol.com
Pitches: Camping and caravan pitches, two static caravans
Amenities: Electricity and water connections
Cwmrhwyddfor Farm, Tal-y-llyn
Mr & Mrs T.D Nutting, Cwmrhwyddfor Farm, Tal-y-Llyn, Cader Idris, LL36 9AJ
01654 761286 or 01654 761380
Open: March to October, tents all year
Pitches: 25 Tourers/Motorhomes, 30 Tents, 25 Hookups
Amenities: Flush toilets, razor points, hot showers and washbasins with hot water, children's play area
Other: Milk and eggs delivered daily.
Llanberis Campsite, Llwyn Celyn Bach
Fiona Davies, Llwyn Celyn Bach, Llanberis, LL55 4SR
01286 870923 or 07877 376423
email: daviesllanberis@aol.com
Prices: £5, Under 12s £4, Under 4s free, dogs £1
www.campinginllanberis.com
Pitches: Lots of camping spaces
Amenities: toilets and showers, laundry/drying room, small kitchen with fridge/freezer, plug points,
Other: Working farm, dogs must be kept on a leash.
Rynys Farm
Betws-y-Coed, Llanrwst, LL26 0RU
01690 710218
Prices: Adult £6, child £3, caravan £2, electric hook-up £3, dogs 50p
Open: Tents all year, caravans Easter to October
Pitches: Lots of camping space, up to three camper vans
Amenities: Hot showers, shaving points, metered power points, games room with pool table, electric hook ups
Other: Max two motorbikes on site
Maes-y-Bryn
Ffordd Abergele, Llanrwst, LL26 0NT
01492 640730
email: berylmyb@hotmail.com
www.maesybrynholidays.co.uk
Prices: Caravan/tent +2 adults £9, extra adults £4.50, under 12s £2, dogs £1, hook ups £4
Pitches: Caravan and tents
Amenities: Hookups, toilets, chemical disposal point, free hot showers, freezer
Other: Working farm
Garth Farm
Capel Curig, Betws-y-Coed, LL24 0ES
01690 720212
Prices: £2pppn
Pitches: Tents and campers
Amenities: Toilet block
Other: Working farm, dogs allowed on lead, next to Snowdon
Dolgam
Capel Curig, Betws-y-Coed, LL24 0DS
01690 720228
Prices: From £4 pppn
Pitches: Tents and camper vans
Amenities: Toilets, hot showers,
Other: Working farm, no dogs, near Moel Siabod
Gwern Gôf Isaf Farm
Capel Curig, Betws-y-Coed, LL24 0EU
01690 720276
www.gwerngofisaf.co.uk
Prices: From £4 pppn
Pitches: Tents, touring caravans, camper vans
Amenities: Toilet block, hot showers, power point on meter, electric hook-ups
Other: Working farm, no dogs, next to Tryfan
Cae Du Campsite
Beddgelert, LL55 4NE
01766 890345
email: stay@caeducampsite.co.uk
www.caeducampsite.co.uk
Pitches: 85 tents, 25 touring caravans
Amenities: Hot showers and washbasins, shaving points, power points on meter, laundry
Prices: From £8
