Happy Jakes Touring Park

From £35 For 1 night, 2 adults 9.3 40 reviews
Large pitches
Large pitches (added by manager 23 aug 2022)
Relaxing (added by manager 03 apr 2014)
Spacious pitches (added by manager 06 aug 2014)

  • Countryside park a few miles from the Glamorgan Heritage Coast
  • Three miles from Cowbridge and 15 from Cardiff
  • Immaculate shower block with disabled access
Smile, you’re at Happy Jakes Touring Park. And there are a few reasons for why. This lush little countryside park is deep in the Vale of Glamorgan – but is only a few miles from the Blue Flag beaches, cliffs and coves of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, including seaside resort Barry, of Gavin and Stacey fame: fans of Uncle Bryn, Nessa et al can book a Gavin and Stacey tour in the town to see the main tellyvisual sights. Around 15 miles to the east lies Cardiff, capital for days and nights out, or you could contentedly base the family at Happy Jakes to coast around the local castles, bike routes, gardens and activities on land and water. Owners Mandy, Mark and (famed) Jake have been honing and adding to Happy Jakes Touring Park since opening in 2011, with disabled access high on the agenda: the wetrooms in the smart heated shower and toilet block are big enough to take a wheelchair user and carer, or up to four family members. There’s also a launderette, washing-up area with hot water, tourist information room, and a dedicated walking/play area for dogs (who stay for free; happy woof). Looking for nosh and tipples to put an additional smile on your face? Pick up all sorts of fresh Welsh produce at the local farmers’ markets, farm shops and fruit farms. If cooking on holiday is a thing to be avoided at all costs, Happy Jakes is three miles from ancient market town Cowbridge and its dozen or so pubs and restaurants.

Site type

Touring caravan pitches 9
Motorhome pitches 22
Tent pitches 8
Opens 1 April

Tourist board rating

Please note
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • Your dog must be tattooed or microchipped.
  • The site does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Dangerous Dogs Act (i.e. Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro) and/or any of the following: Staffordshire bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Rottweiler, any Mastiff or Tosa.
  • Group bookings of 2 or more units (e.g. tent, touring caravan, motorhome or accommodation hire) travelling together are not permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • No hen/stag parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • The site caters for families (immediate members) and couples only - bookings from all other forms of groups are not accepted.
  • A cable measuring at least 20 metres is needed for the electric hook-ups.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Mon, 1 Apr to

Pitch types & availability

Other pitch types

Reviews

88%

would recommend this site to a friend

85%

would stay here again

  • 72%
    10
  • 0%
    9
  • 17%
    8
  • 0%
    7
  • 10%
    6
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    5
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    4
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    3
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    2
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    1

Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

Peaceful and friendly

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 10
Wifi No rating
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric grass campervan pitch

Liked: The lady allowed me to park the van slightly on the path due to the sodden ground, meaning I didn't get stuck. Lovely hot, clean showers, peaceful

Disliked: Nothing!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Clean site

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 6
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi No rating
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric grass touring pitch

Liked: Lovely pitch, with nice clean facilities. Nice and licdd as k to town centre. Campsite was great for us, really spacious pitch.

Disliked: Missed not having an on site shop, just got essentials.

Recommend to friends Visit again

amazing facilities and really nice set up in the bathroom washing up…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 2
debbie c. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric grass campervan pitch

Liked: amazing facilities and really nice set up in the bathroom washing up and toilet area, good access and friendly

Disliked: nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thank you for your lovely review. We are glad you enjoyed your stay with us and liked the facilities.

Ok campsite showers and toilets clean maybe a problem if campsite full…

Overall 6/10
Location 8
Value for money 4
Accommodation 6
Facilities / Activities 6
Customer service 8
Child friendliness 8
Cleanliness 8
Wifi 2
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric grass campervan pitch

Liked: Ok campsite showers and toilets clean maybe a problem if campsite full as limited 2 toilets and showers

Disliked: Grass was far too long with dogs they would get soaked just walking them especially with the rain we had plus no Wi-Fi which would have helped

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thank you for your comments. We are sorry that you didn't enjoy your stay with us and that the dogs were soaked due to the wet weather and slightly longer grass. As the weather has been against us and we have a great deal of rain. The grass has not been cut as often. One of the reasons for this is that vehicles travelling over the grass are able to get more traction when the grass is a bit longer. This helps with towing as well. In addition when the grass is wet we avoid cutting as it can leave cut grass lying on the ground which can then be tracked into the tents, caravan etc. Our details do state that we do not have wifi on site. many of our guests have their own wifi/wifi units that they bring with them. We are glad you found the shower/toilet facilities clean but you must have missed the additional toilets. There are 2 single toilets within the shower block plus another 2 toilets within the large family shower rooms Plus 2 additional toilets on the outside of the shower block incorporating 1 ladies, 1 mens plus an additional separate mens urinal.

Excellent site

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation No rating
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 10
Wifi No rating
Sharon P. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric grass touring pitch

Liked: Excellent facilities, lovely warm welcome

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Than k you for your lovely comments. We are pleased that you had a good stay with us and were happy with the facilities. :-)

Big pitches. Clean facilities…

Overall 8/10
Location 8
Value for money 8
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 8
Child friendliness 6
Cleanliness 8
Wifi No rating
Hannah F. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric grass touring pitch

Liked: Big pitches. Clean facilities

Disliked: Under a flight path.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thank you very much for your kind comments. We are glad you enjoyed your visit. We are little under the flight path for Cardiff airport so we do get some noise from the arriving and departing planes.

Lovely site, beautiful location!…

Overall 10/10
Location 8
Value for money 10
Accommodation 8
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 2
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric grass campervan pitch

Liked: Lovely site, beautiful location!

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thank you for your kind comments. We are glad that you enjoyed your visit with and the location.

Large pitch…

Overall 6/10
Location 6
Value for money 2
Accommodation 2
Facilities / Activities 4
Customer service 2
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 4
Wifi 2
Peter F. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric grass touring pitch

Liked: Large pitch

Disliked: Overpriced

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: What a shame you feel this way! It recent times as we all know overheads have increased. We look to offer a price that includes your electric and shower facilities so no extra payment to be made. Your ratings are in opposition to the very many positive ones we have received including the Cleanliness of our facilities. We will not be including wifi as we have found that it is a way to encourage our younger visitors to lay down their electronics and get out and play and interact with others improving their social skills and their communication with others. Many of these youngsters have been upset to leave us. Sorry we were not the place for you. Let's hope you find future sites that are more in line with your needs. Happy Camping

Great small site , good clean toilet/ shower facilities ,

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 8
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 10
Wifi No rating
Rachelle S. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric grass touring pitch

Liked: Very pleasant site, huge pitches Good signage and instructions to follow especially when towing

Disliked: Wi-Fi would of been really good

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thank you so much for your kind review. So pleased that you enjoyed the space around you on your pitch and enjoyed your visit with us. We have found that not having wifi is a way to encourage our younger visitors to get out and play. Many of our visitors have their own mobile wifi. In addition the feedback from parents has been that although sceptical at first at not having wifi for the children/family it has actually been positive with the children laying down their tablets etc and just playing.

Freundlich, hilfsbereit,…

Overall 6/10
Location 6
Value for money 8
Accommodation 6
Facilities / Activities 4
Customer service 8
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 6
Wifi No rating
Gerd-Josef D. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric grass touring pitch

Liked: Freundlich, hilfsbereit,

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Vielen Dank für Ihre freundlichen Kommentare


Features

Leisure on site

Bar or club house

Cycle hire

Evening entertainment

Fishing

Fitness centre

Games room

Indoor swimming pool

Kids' club

On-site restaurant/cafe

Outdoor swimming pool

Play area

TV room

Take away

Tennis

Watersports

Amenities on site

Bath available

Car parking by pitch/unit

Composting toilet

Disabled facilities

Dog park

Drying room

Food shop

Free wifi

Ice pack freezing

Internet access

Launderette

Parent & baby washroom

Pick-up from public transport

Portable toilet

Pub toilets

Public telephone

Shower available

Toilet block

Washing-up area

Wifi

Groups welcome

Family friendly

Motorcycle friendly

Single-sex groups welcome

Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided

Barbecues allowed

Campfires allowed

Commercial vehicles allowed

Dogs allowed

Dogs allowed all year

Themes

Peaceful

Walkers' paradise

Utilities

Charging facilities

Chemical disposal

Electric car charging point(s)

Gas cylinders available

Recycling available

Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby

Dog walk nearby

Nearby farmers' market

Public transport nearby

Shop nearby

Type

Medium (26-50 pitches)

Nearby leisure

Fishing nearby

Golf nearby

Horse riding nearby

Indoor pool nearby

Mountain biking nearby

Restaurant nearby

Surf school nearby

Touring and motorhomes

Seasonal pitches

Location

Happy Jakes Touring Park

1 New Barn Holdings

Flemingston

Barry

Glamorgan

Wales

CF62 4QL

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London GMT (GMT+00:00)

GPS

51.42309°N
-3.44384°W

Route directions

Please note satnavs or maps may take you down a narrow route exiting at Junction 34. Please follow the instructions below. From the east (Cardiff) Leave the M4 at Junction 33 and follow the signs towards Cardiff International Airport. Then join the B4265 towards Llantwit Major. Pass the petrol station on your left. Continue up a slight hill until you come to the junction for St Athan Village. Turn right at the monument and continue through St Athan passing the military base on your left (approximately 2.5 miles). You will see a brown tourism sign for Happy Jakes. Follow this sign and a further two before arriving at the site. From the west Leave the M4 at Junction 37 and follow the A48 towards Bridgend. At the traffic lights in Bridgend turn right signposted for Llantwit Major. Follow the road for almost seven miles, going through the villages of Ewenny, St Brides and Wick. Continue to the roundabout at Llantwit Major and go straight on. Go straight on at the next mini roundabout. Go through the first set of traffic lights. Turn left at the next set of traffic lights and under the railway bridge. Continue for approximately two miles. At the junction, turn left onto St Athan Road where you will see a brown tourist information sign for Happy Jakes. Follow the next two brown signs turning left. (Do not take a left into the narrow lane at New Barn as it's not suitable for caravans).

Nearest transport

Coach
9.4 mi Sarn Odeon
12 mi Castle Street
12 mi Bus Station
Rail
1.9 mi Llantwit Major Rail Station
4.8 mi Rhoose Rail Station
7.1 mi Barry Rail Station
Ferry
7.5 mi Barry Waterfront Ferry Terminal
11.7 mi Channel View Waterbus Stop
11.8 mi Taffs Mead Waterbus Stop
Airport
4.8 mi Cardiff International Airport
29.7 mi Swansea Airport

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Local attractions

Surf, canter, paintball, go-kart or have a coastal path amble along the nearby Glamorgan Heritage Coast, running for 14 miles from Porthcawl to Aberthaw (paintballing and go-karting along clifftop paths not recommended). There’s so much to see on this part of coast: after the ruins of 12th-century Ogmore Castle, follow the pathway to the village of Merthyr Mawr, backed by a maze of spectacular sand dunes, over 300 species of flower and the Big Dipper, the biggest sand dune in Europe – bring a sledge (really). Fancy fossil hunting? The nearby town of Llantwit Major is so ancient you can pick up Jurassic fossils on its Collugh beach (which has an Iron Age hill fort too). If you’re a surfer, the Collugh waves are a popular place; also get on board with things by veering west outside the Vale of Glamorgan to Porthcawl in Bridgend. Have another couple of days in Cardiff to see sights such as Cardiff Castle and Llandaff Cathedral, the very fab open-air National History Museum at St Fagans and the National Museum and Gallery of Wales.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020 2019 2018 2017
Cold Knap Barry 6.7 mi Sea Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Southerndown 7.2 mi Sea Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Whitmore Bay Barry Island 7.7 mi Sea Good Excellent Good Excellent
Jackson'S Bay Barry Island 8.1 mi Sea N/A Good N/A Good
Trecco Bay Porthcawl 11 mi Sea Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

St Fagans: National History Museum 8.5 mi

Castell Coch 11.5 mi

Millennium Stadium 12 mi

Cardiff Castle 12 mi

The Cardiff Story (opens April 1st 2011) 12.1 mi

National Trust

Holnicote Estate 15.9 mi

Dunster Castle 16.7 mi

Dunster Working Watermill 16.7 mi

Watersmeet 20.7 mi

Coleridge Cottage 22.5 mi

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

Nash Point - St Donat's - Marcross 5.1 mi

Nash Point - Glamorgan Heritage Coast - Cwm Nash 5.2 mi

Porthkerry Country Park 5.9 mi

Ogmore Down - Dunraven Bay - St Bride's Major 8.2 mi

Ogmore - Candleston - Merthyr Mawr 8.2 mi

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Want to know more about camping in Glamorgan?

  • Does Happy Jakes Touring Park have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Happy Jakes Touring Park dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Happy Jakes Touring Park? Surf, canter, paintball, go-kart or have a coastal path amble along the nearby Glamorgan Heritage Coast, running for 14 miles from Porthcawl to Aberthaw (paintballing and go-karting along clifftop paths not recommended). … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Happy Jakes Touring Park?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  2 p.m. –  6 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Happy Jakes Touring Park? From £35 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.