Family Camping Wales: Best Family Friendly Campsites
Wales is one of the most underrated destinations for family camping in the UK.
Dramatic mountains, wild coastline, ancient castles, and a genuine sense of space, all within a few hours of most of England’s major cities, and with a campsite culture that caters brilliantly for families.
If you have not taken your children camping in Wales, it should be near the top of the list. Here is everything you need to know about family camping Wales.
Why Wales is Brilliant for Family Camping
Wales packs an extraordinary variety of landscapes into a relatively small area.
In a single trip, you can camp beside a sandy beach in the morning, drive into the mountains in the afternoon, and find yourself in a medieval castle town by evening.
The three national parks, Snowdonia, the Brecon Beacons, and the Pembrokeshire Coast, offer some of the finest outdoor experiences in Britain for families.
Wales is also generally less crowded than comparable destinations in England, particularly outside of school holidays.
Snowdonia
Snowdonia National Park in north Wales is dominated by Snowdon, at 1085 metres the highest mountain in Wales and England, but it is much more than one mountain.
The park has dozens of peaks, spectacular coastline to the west, ancient woodland, rivers, and lakes.
For families with older children ready for proper walking, Snowdonia is extraordinary.
The Snowdon Mountain Railway means even families with young children can experience the summit in comfort.
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire on the south-west tip of Wales is one of the finest coastal destinations in the UK for families.
The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park has over 186 miles of coastline, more than fifty beaches, and some of the most spectacular sea cliffs and wildlife in Britain.
For families, Pembrokeshire offers an almost unbeatable combination of safe sandy beaches, Tenby, Broad Haven, Barafundle Bay, Whitesands, and genuine natural drama.
The area around Tenby, St Davids, and Newport has the best concentration of family friendly campsites that Wales offers, ranging from small cliff-top sites with extraordinary views to larger, well-equipped sites with good facilities.
The Brecon Beacons
The Brecon Beacons offer a quieter, less crowded alternative to Snowdonia with magnificent mountain scenery, excellent walking, and a strong family camping tradition.
The waterfalls of the Waterfall Country, around Pontneddfechan in the Neath Valley, are spectacular and very popular with children.
Families who want a genuinely peaceful camping experience often find the Brecon Beacons more relaxed than the busier national parks.
The Gower Peninsula
The Gower Peninsula west of Swansea was the first area in the UK to be designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Rhossili Bay at the western tip is one of the finest beaches in Wales, a three-mile sweep of sand.
Families with younger children tend to prefer the more sheltered beaches on the south coast, around Oxwich and Port Eynon.
Camping on the Gower tends to be at small sites without extensive facilities, suiting families who want a simple, back-to-nature experience close to the sea.
Family Friendly Campsites in Wales
The best family friendly campsites Wales has to offer tend to book up in July and August, particularly in Pembrokeshire and on the Gower.
Book as early as possible for school holiday dates. May and June are excellent months, the days are long, the wildflowers are spectacular, and the beaches are much quieter. September is often brilliant too.
For more UK campsite recommendations, visit our full family friendly campsites section, and head to Camping With Kids for tips, kit guides, and recipe ideas.
