Camping in Wales

Wales is a real dream destination for keen campers and one of 39 historic counties in the south-west of England. The rugged coastline of Wales stretches from Holyhead in the north to Milford in the south and lies between the Bristol Channel and the Irish Sea. The mountainous national parks and medieval castles bear witness to the country's historical legends.

Special features of camping in Wales

The campsites in wild and romantic Wales are spread evenly across the Welsh region: along the coast, in the green uplands with their flocks of sheep and also in the mountainous regions of Snowdonia National Park with its lakes and hiking trails. When travelling in Wales, it is advisable to be prepared for all weather conditions.

The capital Cardiff is a beautiful coastal city with a vibrant nightlife and a medieval castle. Romantic villages and the green hilly landscape attract campers from all over the world.

There are Welsh castles, heather-covered hills and glacier formations to discover in the National Park. Wales is a camping paradise for nature and culture lovers and offers varied landscapes and leisure activities for the whole family.

Travelling to Wales

There are two routes for travelling to Wales in a camper van: One is through the Eurotunnel, which offers around 27 journeys a day. The other route is by ferry across the English Channel from Calais or Dunkirk to Dover.

The faster route is the Eurotunnel from Calais to Folkestone. The operators of the Eurotunnel also have a shuttle service and one or two comfortable trains depart every hour. Of the 50 kilometres of tunnel, 38 kilometres run under the sea and the journey takes around 35 minutes. The ferry crossing, on the other hand, takes around 90 to 120 minutes and departs from Calais or Dunkirk. There are also snacks, refreshments and lounge areas for guests on board.

From the north, the journey by car is via Antwerp, from the centre of Germany via Maastricht and from the south via Luxembourg. From Hamburg it is around 700 kilometres, from Berlin 900 kilometres and from Munich 870 kilometres to Calais. From Dover it is then another 295 km to the destination in Wales.

Destinations in Wales

There is a lot to explore in Wales: Interesting, historic places and rugged coastal cliffs are waiting to be discovered. The landscape is varied and invites you to go hiking and sightseeing.

Black Mountains

The Black Mountains on the border between Wales and England are a nature reserve of great scenic beauty. It is also home to the small town of Hay-on-Wye, the world's first book village with over 30 second-hand bookshops. Visitors can even browse through a well-stocked second-hand bookshop in Hay-on-Wye Castle. The four castles of Beaumaris, Conwy, Caernarfon and Harlech Castle are among the most important sights in Wales.

The Welsh south

The romantic towns in the south of Wales will delight you with their cultural buildings and colourful markets on the coast and inland. The nature reserves, valleys and mountain landscapes are perfect for hikers, mountain bikers and horse riders. The cultural centre of Wales, the university town of Aberystwyth, is also located in the south. Surrounded by unspoilt nature in Cardigan Bay, the small town has a lot to offer, including a two-kilometre-long beach promenade. The town of Abergavenny is close to the Brecon Beacons National Park. Many festivals and markets, music and theatre events take place here throughout the year.

Top 5 places of interest

• Snowdonia National Park: The park is located in the north of Wales and offers breathtaking landscapes and crystal-clear lakes.
• Conwy Castle: The medieval castle was built around 1287 and is located on the banks of the River Conwy.
• National Museum Cardiff: The museum offers a wide range of exhibits from the fields of art, archaeology and natural history.
• Pontcysyllte Aqueduct: The aqueduct spans the River Dee on the English-Welsh border and has been declared a World Heritage Site.
• Brecon Beacons National Park: The park is located in the south of Wales and includes the mountains to the south of the town of Brecon with the peaks of Pen y Fan, Corn Du, Cribyn and Fan y Bîg.

Activities and excursions

Wales offers many leisure activities and excursions for all tastes and ages. Here, visitors can marvel at the most beautiful castles and explore the stories of lords and ladies.

Castles and royal legends in Wales

The ruins of Caernarfon Castle in Gwynedd are located in the north of Wales. It is an impressive building and is considered an outstanding example of European military architecture from the late 13th century. The ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, served as the seat of power for the English King Edward I, who used a clever ploy to tell the Welsh that he would give them a prince who was born in Wales, did not speak a word of English and had never done any harm to the Welsh people. All this was true of the newborn son of King Edward II, who became the first Prince of Wales.

Experience rugby

The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff is the national stadium of Wales and is the favourite venue for rugby and football matches. The stadium seats 74,500 spectators and is also known as the Principality Stadium due to its sponsor. Attending a rugby match or visiting the stadium are exciting experiences.

Events

Wales organises a wide range of events in the fields of art and culture throughout the year.

June

• Hay Festival: ten days, more than 900 events in the Hay-on-Wye region and the world's largest gathering of international poets and thinkers
• Man versus Horse Marathon: a unique marathon in Llanwrtyd Wells over 22 miles of spectacular scenery, pitting runners and horses against each other

July

• Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod: an extraordinary cultural festival with music, dance and singing competitions and 4,000 participants from all over the world
• Big Cheese Festival: an event in Caerphilly with a colourful programme of street performers, living history displays, music and dance

August

• National Eisteddfod of Wales: the highlight of the cultural calendar in Denbigh is an eight-day festival of poetry, literature, music, dance and comedy
• Brecon Jazz Festival: The world-famous jazz festival in the beautiful Brecon Beacons with internationally renowned artists such as Dionne Warwick, Roy Ayers and Ginger Baker

Gastronomy

The specialities of Welsh cuisine are a treat for the palate: the lamb dishes are rightly world famous as the animals are reared in the lush mountains and valleys. Welsh Black Cattle is a beef of exceptional quality and the coast provides the best fresh fish - from Pembrokeshire to the shellfish farms of Bangor and Anglesey oysters. A typical Welsh breakfast consists of bacon, eggs, laverbread and cockles, and Welsh tea is a traditional late afternoon ritual consisting of bara brith, a sweet fruit loaf, and Welsh cakes. Welsh rarebit is a delicious traditional supper. Most areas of Wales have a local brewery and the country's beers are a favourite with connoisseurs.

Weather

Thanks to its location on the south-west coast of England, the weather in Wales is usually mild. Summers have pleasant temperatures of around 20 to 25 degrees Celsius and water temperatures are between 13 and 15 degrees in the summer months. There is a constant wind from the sea, so it can sometimes feel cooler. In general, you are well advised to bring an umbrella and rain jacket as well as sun cream and sunglasses. In the mountains, the weather in Wales is often changeable: thick fog and long-lasting rain showers are not uncommon here.

By the end of May, the weather has stabilised to a pleasant level and water sports enthusiasts and campers start the season.