30+ great campsites in Gwynedd

As the second largest county in Wales, there’s no doubt that Gwynedd is bursting with exciting things to do. Whether you’re camping in Gwynedd for a weekend or spending the week at our local campsites, you’ll be able to appreciate the stunning Welsh outdoors, breathtaking castles, gorgeous sandy beaches and picturesque landscapes.

Exploring the outdoors

A camping trip to Gwynedd is incomplete without visiting Snowdonia National Park. You could easily spend days exploring the park's natural features, including its mountains, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, moorlands, forests, glacial valleys and stunning coastline. The best thing about camping in Gwynedd and exploring Snowdonia National Park is that our Bala Club Site is only 8 minutes away. So you won't be far from the action.

Some highlights of Snowdonia National Park include,

• Mount Snowdon

The 1085-metre-high mountain is the tallest mountain in Wales that attracts thousands of visitors each year.

• Snowdon Mountain Railway

Don’t fancy trekking up Mount Snowdon? The Snowdon Mountain Railway takes you right to the top of the mountain, so you can still appreciate the magnificent views with minimal effort.

• River Dee

An 81-mile-long river that flows through Snowdonia, Wales and Chester.

• Aber Falls

A picturesque waterfall that’s easily accessible and worth the walk up.

• Gwydir Forest Park

An enchanting forest that can be found deep in the heart of Snowdonia National Park.

• Bala Lake Railway

The Bala Lake Railway that takes you through the beautiful national park and provides the most stunning views. Dogs are also welcome.

Looking to explore more of Snowdonia? Click here for campsites in Snowdonia and more thrilling activities you can do whilst visiting.

Discover Gwynedd’s castles

Plan a fun day out for the whole family and explore Gwynedd’s castles. The Welsh county has eight castles, each with a unique story.

Some popular castles include:

• Caernarfon Castle
• Criccieth Castle
• Harlech Castle
• Dolwyddelan Castle
• Penrhyn Castle & Garden
• Conwy Castle
• Dolbadarn Castle

Get stuck into Gwynedd’s History

Whilst camping in Gwynedd, you do not want to miss the opportunity to soak in the Welsh county's rich history. Visiting the Sygun Copper Mine is a great family fun attraction where you can venture into winding tunnels, colourful chambers, brilliant stalactite and stalagmite formations and see copper ore veins containing gold and silver traces. The Sygun Copper mine gives you a realistic glimpse of what life was like for a copper miner.

Another great historical visit that's fun for the whole family is the National Slate Museum. It’s set in the original quarry workshops and allows visitors to discover how people lived and worked in slate quarrying communities. Depending on what time of year you visit, you can take part in their unique workshops, such as an Introduction to Blacksmithing, or listen to great historical chats and learn more about the past.

More things to do when camping in Gwynedd

Although it's easy to spend days relaxing on the beach or exploring Snowdonia, there are also tons of other fun activities to do that’ll spice up your camping trip in Gwynedd.

Portmeirion

In Gwynedd, you’ll find the beautiful tourist village of Portmeirion. Inspired by Italian architecture, the picturesque village was designed by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis and is now owned by a charitable trust. There’s so much to explore in the village, including shops that sell a variety of local produce, an adorable book store, and you can take a trip to The Blue Cafe, which serves authentic pizza, cakes, pastries and Italian beers and wine.

Portmeirion is only 20 minutes away from our Llanystumdwy Club Site, so you can enjoy a peaceful day trip in the village and return to a cosy campsite ready for your next adventure.

Pistyll Rhaeadr Waterfall

Grab your camera and head down to Pistyll Rhaeadr Waterfall. It’s one of the highest waterfalls in Britain, plunging 73 metres (240 feet) down a cliffside. You’ll definitely capture the most spectacular views.

Zip World Penrhyn Quarry

An adventure for adrenaline seekers, Zip World Penrhyn Quarry is the fastest zip line in the world. You can fly 500m above the breathtaking blue quarry lake and see Snowdon from a whole new light.

Black Rock Llamas

Black Rock Llamas is a great visit for animal lovers. Book a llamas trekking experience where you’ll spend time learning all about the beautiful creatures, and you’ll get the chance to walk and interact with your llama. Once you’ve had some practice in handling your llama, you’ll be able to go on a peaceful trek and admire stunning views with your new companion.

Bala Adventure and Watersports Centre

A spectacular day out for the whole family, Bala Adventure and Watersports Centre offers exciting outdoor activities for families. These activities include:

• Canoeing and kayaking
• Climbing and abseiling
• Sailing
• Gorge walking
• Mountain biking
• Windsurfing
• Paddleboarding
• Raft building
• Whitewater rafting
• Powerboating

No matter what your age or whether you're a beginner or expert, there’s something for you to do at Bala Adventure and Watersports Centre.

South Stack Lighthouse

A great walk followed by a better view. Take a moment to visit South Stack Lighthouse. The lighthouse is a landmark and orientation light for vessels crossing the Irish Sea to and from the ports of Holyhead and Dun Laoghaire. On your visit, you can take the Lighthouse Tour and follow the keeper's journey down the 400 steps onto the island and view the fascinating geology of the surrounding cliffs.

Plas Glyn y Weddw Gallery

A gallery and art centre that hosts a variety of exhibitions, talks, concerts, workshops and theatre performances. If you’re feeling creative when camping in Gwynedd or you’re looking to wind down with some relaxing entertainment, we highly recommend checking out what's on at Plas Glyn y Weddw Gallery.

If you don't get the chance to hit all these places whilst camping in Gwynedd, worry not, you can visit our all year round campsites here and pick up where you left off.