Camping in North Wales: Road trip & Camping Guide

If camping in North Wales conjures up memories of school trips centred around outdoor activities in the wind and rain, give it another chance! Take to the road and campervan your way around this beautiful part of the UK on a road trip that will sweep away the cobwebs of normal life and leave you feeling refreshed and restored. We can’t guarantee that the weather won’t occasionally be the same as you remember it, so pack your waterproofs and get ready to feast your eyes on some of the best scenery Britain has to offer on this 7-day road trip camping in North Wales.

Day 1 – London to Llandudno

Set off on your adventure from London to Llandudno. The drive should take around 4 hours; go via the M6 and M40 to avoid tolls.

What to do

• Happy hiker: Stretch your legs after the drive and stop off at Penrhyn Bay. You can walk along the beach or up to Porth Dyniewaid Angel Bay where there’s a circular walk around the Little Orme headland and the chance to spot seal pups in October and November.
• Refuel: Drive into Llandudno and stock up on your essentials, and then pick up some fish & chips for dinner – Nana’s Fish & Chips comes highly recommended.

Where to stay

Book a spot at Tan y Bryn Glamping in the nearby countryside where you’ll find views of both sea and mountains, the Queen’s Head Glanwydden pub just a 20 minute walk away, and the gorgeous nature reserve at Bryn Pydew.

Day 2 – Llandudno and Conwy

Spend the morning in Llandudno and then head to charming and historic Conwy.

What to do

Llandudo

• Beach bum: In Llandudno find some peace and quiet at West Shore beach, usually quieter than the beach near the pier.
• Happy hiker: The Great Orme at Llandudno is a limestone headland rising out of the sea with its name originally coming from the Old Norse for snake. There are a variety of walking trails up and around the headland as well as a tram or a cable car that will take you to and from the summit (cable car tickets are cash only).
• Activity lover: In the mood for a quintessential British seaside town tradition? Explore Llandudno pier with its arcades, funfair rides, ice creams and candy floss. Just north of the pier is Happy Valley, home to the Great Orme cable cars and landscaped botanical gardens. Continue up Happy Valley Walk Road to the Llandudno Ski and Snowboard Centre for an artificial ski slope and a 700m metal-lined toboggan run.

Conwy

• Beach bum: Deganwy Morfa is clean and serene, the perfect escape from the bustle of Conwy town. Conwy Morfa is a large sandy bay to the west, and the two beaches are joined by a path that skirts the golf course for a good walk.
• Happy hiker: Stop at the Pensychnant Nature Conservation Centre to walk through ancient and Victorian woodland and along the archaeology trail that takes in Bronze age, Iron age, and Medieval sites.
• History buff: Conwy Castle was built in the thirteenth century and is still a foreboding presence in town. Explore the fort and then walk along the medieval town walls before dropping into town. Two further stops on your route should be Plas Mawr, an impeccably restored Elizabethan town house giving an insight into life under the first Elizabeth to rule these lands (closed November to the end of March), and the smallest house in Britain on Conwy’s quayside.
• Refuel: Conwy boasts plenty of cafes and eateries to pick from if you don’t feel like cooking at the campsite.

Where to stay

Take the Sychnant Pass Road from Conwy towards Penmaenmawr to immerse yourself in the stunning Welsh hills with views to the sea. Continue to your stop for the night, the idyllic Trwyn Yr Wylfa campsite.

Day 3 – Penmaenmawr to Anglesey

On the drive from your campsite to Menai Bridge (also known as Porthaethwy) there are plenty of spots to stop off. Once you cross the strait try to stop at the Menai Bridge viewpoint, where on a clear day you can see all the mountains in Snowdonia.

What to do

• Happy hiker: On the way to Anglesey park at the Aber Falls car park and take a circular walkto the scenic Aber Falls. For a proper hike, try the 2-2.5hr returnwalk to Llyn Anafon.
• Activity lover: Zipworld Penrhyn Quarry is adrenaline central, regardless of what level of adrenaline you’re comfortable with! The Velocity 2 ziplines take you 1.5km across the quarry and can reach 100mph, while the Quarry Flyer is for those wanting a more sedate pace. There’s also a downhill Quarry Kart with 3km of slate track to descend. RibRide in Menai Bridge has a variety of boat rides including the speedy Strait Sprint and the cruisey Menai Voyager around some of the local coastline.
• Refuel: Menai Bridge is full of places to eat. There’s the Freckled Angel, the famous Michelin starred Sosban and the Old Butchers (book well in advance), Hydeout or Tom’s Hamburger House for burgers and Bocca for delicious pizza.

Where to stay

Oyster Farm Caravan Site is a 15 minute drive from Menai Bridge, surrounded by fields where you can find evidence of prehistoric communities.

Day 4 – Anglesey

Anglesey and Holy Island offer up at least a week of exploration; dip your toes here and you’ll want to come back for more on your next trip!

What to do

• Beach bum: Close to last night’s campsite is Trawth Llanddwyn and historic Llandwyn Island. The beach is perfect for picnics on a good day or a blustery walk when the weather’s not so good, with Newborough Warren behind it a great forest to explore if you need a little more shelter. The car park has toilets and picnic benches, making it a great place to park up for the day. On Holy Island, Trearddur Bay has golden sand, crystal-clear water, and plenty of amenities. For something more remote head west to Porth Dafarch, another tranquil bay with nothing but cliffs surrounding it.
• Happy hiker: Some of the most stunning walking is on Holy Island which is covered in footpaths along its coast and over its heather-strewn moor. Walk out to the lighthouse at South Stack where in the right season you may be able to spot Orca out to sea.
• Wildlife watcher: Between April and July take a boat from Seacoast Safaris in Beaumaris out to Puffin Island, where puffins are joined by kittiwakes and razorbills.
• Activity lover: Rhosneigr’s ​​Gecko Surf School is a one stop shop for surf and SUP lessons and equipment hire, offering instruction for both beginner and intermediate water babies.
• History buff: Incredible Beaumaris castle is another medieval fortress in amazing condition that really gives a sense of what it was like to live within its towering walls.
• Refuel: If you’re in Beaumaris, get fish & chips from Neptune, Dockshack, or templetons and take it out to the seafront to enjoy with a hefty dose of fresh air. At Trearddur Bay you’ll find a cafe, restaurant, bar and pub in the area.

Where to stay

Stay another night at the Oyster Farm, or stay at Blackthorn Farm on Holy Island for sea views and a real sense of peace.

Day 5 – Snowdonia

A 40-minute drive from Menai Bridge takes you to Pen-y-Pass in the heart of Snowdonia.

What to do

• Happy hiker: Drive to Pen-y-Pass and put on your walking boots – the mountains are ready to be conquered! Most people are here for Snowdon via the Miners track, descending on the less steep Pyg track (easier on the knees), but there’s hair-raising Crib Goch (do some research to know what you’re getting yourself into) and the Snowdon Horseshoe for a longer day in the hills. Stay on the (relative) flat and take in the incredible lakes that lie in the shadow of the hills.
• Wildlife watcher: Drive south to Ceunant Llennyrch, a gorge home to ancient woodland, rare Atlantic oaks, and rainforest species that would have been plentiful across these once-wooded isles. Walking can be steep but you’ll be rewarded with incredible woodland critters including otters, and waterfalls just begging you to stop and swim.
• Activity lover: In this modern age of technology there’s no need to have stout walking legs to get to the top of the mountain. No, we’re not talking VR, we’re talking trains. Stop in Llanberis and climb aboard the Snowdon Mountain Railway for what might be the most breath-taking train ride in the UK. If you’d prefer to be on the water than in the hills head to Bala watersports centre where water-based activities for all sensibilities can be found. The lake itself, Llyn Tegid, is spectacular – pack a picnic from the shops in Bala and find a tranquil spot to take in the views.
• Refuel: Snowdonia isn’t rife with eateries, instead it’s the perfect place to cook up a campsite feast.

Where to stay

Snowdonia has no shortage of campsites. Llyn Gwynant is a popular choice for its pizzeria; other options include neighbouring farms Gwern Gof Isaf and Gwern Gof Uchaf, spacious Bryn Gloch, and Beddgelert campsite set in a forest.

Day 6 – Portmeirion

End your road trip on a relaxing note with a day spent in beautiful Portmeirion before heading back to real life tomorrow.

What to do

• Portmeirion is less interested in doing and more interested in being. It’s the perfect place for a relaxing stroll through the village, which costs £17 per adult unless you buy lunch at Castell Deudraeth, after which you can enter the village for free. Walk through the central piazza and battery square enjoying the pastel buildings and turreted roofs, and down along the quayside for great views looking up at the village.
• Beach bum: Harlech beach is 10 miles from Portmeirion, a long sweep of golden sand with views to the mountains of Snowdonia and overlooked by imposing Harlech Castle.
• Happy hiker: there are 19 miles of trails to explore in The Gwyllt at Portmeirion where you’ll find Japanese gardens, the Dog’s Cemetery, the Tangle Wood, Ghost Garden and Shelter Valley.
• Refuel: Ice cream from Caffi’r Angel, Hotel Portmeirion for afternoon tea, Town Hall for a quick bite. Or take a picnic and walk along the Dwyryd Estuary which can only be accessed via the village, so you’re guaranteed to find a quiet spot.

Where to stay

Black Rock Sands campsite and Tyddyn Llwyn campsite are both less than 20 minutes from Portmeirion and the perfect spots for a final night under the stars in your roadsurfer campervan.

Day 7 -Drive back to London

It’s a 4.5 hours drive back to the roadsurfer location from Portmeirion, but if you’ve got time and want to add a final stop on your journey, there are two options.

• Betws-y-Coed – drive 40 minutes north from Portmeirion to the sweet little town of Betws-y-Coed. In high season it can get a little busy, but it’s worth it for the mountain backdrop and the tree-lined River Conwy that flows by. There are copious gift shops and places to eat before you get back on the road.
• Cadair Idris – Head 90 minutes south from Portmeirion to Cadair Idris. Early risers might have time for the 5-6 hour return walk before returning to London, but if not, the surroundings are hard to beat and the views from even partway up its slopes are amazing.