In a uncommon show of organisation, many months in the past I booked Snowdon Base Camp for a 3 evening break over the late Could financial institution vacation weekend. Seduced by the mountain and lakeside location, I packed my tenting and swimwear and headed for a weekend in Snowdonia. Learn on for my full evaluate.
The place did we keep?
Snowdon Base Camp – Cwellyn Arms, Rhyd Ddu, Gwynedd, LL54 6TL
Snowdon Base Camp on-line reserving
The lowdown
- Beautiful lakeside location
- Kiln-dried logs are solely allowed to be burned on web site (bought from them)
- Campfires are allowed within the provided hearth pits
- No music
- No noise after 12 midnight
Our keep
Friday twenty fourth Could 2024 – Sunday twenty sixth Could 2024
Campsite location
For me, direct and quick access to Cwellyn Lake was the true draw of this campsite, and for open water swimmers, kayakers and paddle boarders, this campsite actually is a dream come true.
Llyn Gwynant campsite, the place we’ve stayed at earlier than and loved, is simply 10 minutes away, however I feel it’s honest to say it’s so standard now that not solely can it’s tough to get a pitch booked, however it may be very busy, notably over peak vacation weekends.
Regardless of us spending 4 days at Snowdon Base Camp over a financial institution vacation and it being busy, there was nonetheless loads of house and we didn’t really feel like different campers have been too shut, nor did we wrestle to discover a pitch.
The realm itself is, in fact, beautiful, however if you wish to discover additional, there are many incredible locations to go to inside a 30-minute drive. Caernarfon isn’t distant and the luxurious fort is nicely value a go to, you’re additionally near Llanberis and our favorite city within the space, Betws-y-coed, which has some nice locations to eat in addition to loads of out of doors retailers and extra.
The perfect bits have been all due to the situation and vibe of this fabulous campsite. We love a back-to-basics really feel once we go tenting, and with our personal camp lavatory and bathe, shared services don’t actually affect us
For these wanting a base from which to discover Yr Wyddfa and the bigger Snowdon Massif, this campsite is ideal. Each the Rhyd Ddu path and Ranger path are accessible on foot from right here and given the recognition of this stroll and elevated crowds, tenting so near facilitate an excellent early morning hike earlier than the crowds arrive is an actual bonus.
Campsite services
There are two most important parking areas to select from and it’s essential to notice that this isn’t a campsite that permits automobiles to park subsequent to pitches. This implies you’ll want to hold your tenting gear to your chosen pitch.
Pitches right here aren’t mounted; you simply select the situation you need. We took our personal tenting trolley with us, however needn’t have bothered as there are many heavy-duty trolleys provided for campers to make use of on web site. Even with our massive tent and huge tenting set-up, it solely took us 4 journeys to and from the automotive in whole to get every little thing to our pitch.
On web site, there are 2 totally different bathroom blocks, one within the river discipline, that are fairly respectable and an older block of, not fairly nearly as good, shared services within the bigger lake tenting discipline.
There’s a chemical disposal level, an out of doors washing-up space and loads of bins and recycling factors. There are additionally a handful of pitches with an EHU, however these aren’t positioned within the prettiest space, with views that may’t actually compete with the remainder of the campsite.
The vibe
There have been a number of massive teams, which in fact, given the financial institution vacation, meant a variety of kids. The massive group in entrance of the place we camped left their children alone, a number of instances all through the weekend for a number of hours on finish, which did result in a rise within the already excessive noise volumes.
In the event you discover the sound of balls relentlessly being kicked and youngsters enjoying restful, you then’ll love this campsite. For us, we had hoped that the no music rule would preserve anti-social behaviour down, however we have been disillusioned to search out one couple in a chief location in entrance of the lake ignored the rule. Each time we walked previous their pitch, they have been enjoying loud music – no marvel there have been a number of metres of house on both aspect of them as others clearly clocked their show of poor tenting etiquette and stayed away.
The pleasant proprietor patrols on his bike a few instances a day, ensuring everyone seems to be OK and making certain campers are adhering to guidelines – however in fact, as quickly as he left the positioning once more, individuals would revert to banned behaviours.
Closing say
Regardless of the negatives associated to noise, the campsite itself is simply too great for us to not need to return. The spectacular location means we’ll completely be again, however subsequent time, we’ll make some extent of avoiding financial institution holidays or college holidays.
Discover out extra about Snowdon Base Camp.
DISCLOSURE | This tenting journey was booked and paid for independently. We weren’t paid to jot down this evaluate.
The place to subsequent?
