Pen y Bwlch

9.7 106 reviews
Visitor image of one of the fields
Visitor image of one of the fields
Visitor image of their pitch
View from the camping field
Camping field
Aerial view of the site
Bell tent
View from the pitch
River and mountain view
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  • Off-grid grass pitches with fabulous views of Snowdonia National Park
  • A 15-minute drive to Caernarfon and Snowdon Mountain Railway
  • Barn with showers, drying area and storage for bikes or kayaks
Set in truly spectacular Caernarfon countryside, Pen y Bwlch overlooks mountains and rivers whichever way you turn. Just on the edge of Snowdonia National Park, this is a secluded retreat with lots of space that lends itself equally well to romantic getaways and relaxed family breaks. Off grid this place most certainly is, but it’s also only a 15-minute drive from Llanberis, at the foot of Snowdon – and the gateway to walking, cycling and climbing adventures in the national park – a bonus for all you active types out there. A round up of simple facilities includes an eco-composting toilet near the camping field and a hot shower in the barn a short walk away, where you can also dry your clothes (this is Wales, remember, so rain does sometimes appear) – and there’s also room to store your bikes and kayaks. It’s worth noting that open fires aren’t permitted in this untamed part of Snowdonia, so firepit-style barbecues aren’t allowed. And as this site is all about relaxing in nature, you'll be asked not to play loud music after 8pm.

Site type

Tent pitches 3
Rent a tent 3
Opens

Languages spoken

English

Welsh

Nearby sites that are bookable on Pitchup.com

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable sites.

Want to know more about camping in Gwynedd?

Features

No dogs allowed

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 Composting toilet 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 No dogs allowed

Themes

Lake and/or mountain Peaceful Remote location Spectacular scenery Walkers' paradise Wildlife haven

Utilities

Charging facilities Chemical disposal Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby Shop nearby

Type

Farm Tiny (1-10 pitches)

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Climbing nearby Cycling nearby Horse riding nearby Mountain biking nearby Restaurant nearby Watersports nearby

Location

Pen y Bwlch

Cwm y Glo

Caernarfon

Gwynedd

Wales

LL55 4ED

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London +0100 (GMT+01:00)

GPS

53.13332°N
4.1672°W

Route directions

Please do not follow the postcode on Google Maps as it will send you in the wrong direction. Use the postcode LL55 4RF. Continue up past Brynteg, which will be on your right. Stay on that road for about a mile. You will climb a hill where you will go over a cattle grid. Turn immediately right and you have arrived at the site.

Nearest transport

Coach
7.2 km Bus Station
10.9 km Bus Station
11.9 km Povey's Garage
Rail
10.1 km Bangor (Gwynedd) Rail Station
10.1 km Llanfairpwll Rail Station
18.5 km Llanfairfechan Rail Station
Ferry
36.6 km Holyhead Ferry Terminal
46.7 km Barmouth Ferry Landing
47.2 km Porth Penrhyn Ferry Landing
Airport
28 km Anglesey 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

Active types, get set to get busy. From this site, you can canoe on Llyn Padarn lake (10 minutes’ drive) or walk to waterfalls from Betws y Coed (40 minutes). And don’t forget that all the walking, climbing and cycling prospects of Snowdonia National Park (40 minutes) are to hand, as well as rounds of golf (10 minutes). If you’re after something to get the adrenaline flowing, zoom down zipwires at Zip World Penrhyn Quarry (25 minutes), or try subterranean climbing and abseiling routes at Zip World Slate Caverns (an hour). If you need a rest after all that activity, climb on board the Snowdon Mountain Railway (15 minutes) for a relaxing and scenic tootle up to the summit of the highest mountain in Wales. Brush up on local history with a nose around National Trust-owned Penrhyn Castle and Gardens (25 minutes) or take a tour of medieval Caernarfon Castle (15 minutes). The Welsh mining heritage is showcased at the National Slate Museum (15 minutes), and a trip over the Menai Straits to Anglesey (35 minutes) turns up spectacular waterside gardens at Plas Newydd House (half an hour).

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Morfa Dinlle 12.7 km Sea ExcellentExcellentExcellentExcellent
Llanddwyn 14.8 km Sea ExcellentExcellentExcellentExcellent
Llanfairfechan 19 km Sea ExcellentExcellentExcellentExcellent
Llanddona 19.5 km Sea ExcellentExcellentExcellentExcellent
St Davids - Benllech 20.4 km Sea ExcellentExcellentExcellentExcellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Snowdon Mountain Railway 3.7 km

National Slate Museum 3.7 km

Caernarfon Castle 7.4 km

Penrhyn Castle 8.4 km

Beaumaris Castle 15.2 km

National Trust

Plas Newydd Country House and Gardens 8.6 km

Ty^ Mawr Wybrnant 23.5 km

Bodnant Garden 26.9 km

Aberconwy House 27.9 km

Plas yn Rhiw 45.9 km

Cycle routes

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

Other

Ceunant Bach - Moel Eilio - Foel Goch 3.5 km

Gwastadnant - Elidir Fach - Elidir Fawr - Gwastadnant 7 km

Bethesda - Ogwen 8.6 km

Gyrn Wigau and Foel Grach 9.5 km

Ogwen Cottage - Llyn Bochlwyd - Glyder Fach - Glyder Fawr - Devil's Kitchen 9.8 km

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.

Reviews

9.7

Overall rating from 106 Pitchup.com customers

  • 88%
    10
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    9
  • 7%
    8
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    7
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    1
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 9
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 9
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 7
PeacefulSpectacular scenery

98% would recommend this site to a friend

97% would stay here again

What customers say

A lovely spot with amazing views and brilliant hosts. Peaceful with good, basic facilities. Pitches are private but expect a short walk from parking and a bit of weather! Great for a quiet escape with scenery.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews

Reviews page 1 of 11
Arrival date (latest first)

The best camping I have ever…

Overall

10 out of 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
Timea P.

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked The best camping I have ever been. Still, it didnt feel like being at a campsite. My only regret is not spending more than 1 night there. Small, family run, well maintained place with a breathtaking view. The family is very nice, kind and helpful. Beautiful scenery where you can be as close to nature as possible. With only 5 other tent on the site spaced well on the mountaintop (on a late August bank holiday weekend) it felt like owning the whole place to myself.

Disliked It was difficult to find the place as the given address took us (me and another family) somewhere else where we were lucky to find somebody to give direction. Regarding that local lady we were not the first looking for this campsite there.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great place to stay.

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 1
Anonymous

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked Lovely place, stunning view and nice and friendly hosting.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent - we couldn't have wished for a better place to stay

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 2
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 2
Anonymous

Bell tent

Liked We received a lovely and friendly welcome on our arrival. We stayed in a bell tent which had plenty of room for our things and was great that we were able to stand up inside. The views from our tent were amazing! We could see the mountains, the sea and Llayan Padarn lake. We hike Snowdon on our 1st day and kayaked and went wild swimming on the lake the next day. The shower was lovely and hot and clean.

Disliked The road up to the campsite is narrow and we had to reverse quite a way back up the road to allow several cars past as the road is only wide enough for 1 car.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Fantastic friendly campsite with incredible views

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 8
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 No rating
Wifi
 No rating
Kieran A.

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked The location is perfect. We climbed Snowdon in the day and cooked our dinner looking up at it in the evening. Truly stunning setting. The campsite is small but really peaceful.

Disliked Not a dislike but would’ve loved a few plugs in the main barn and maybe a little fridge to store cold food.

Recommend to friends Visit again

We were thrilled to find and…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 7
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 No rating
Marcelo B.

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked We were thrilled to find and book this place for two nights during our visit to Snowdonia/Wales. From the moment we arrived, we received a warm and friendly welcome. Pen y Bwlch is truly a gem perched on a hill, offering stunning views. With only a few pitches, it feels peaceful and special. We especially enjoyed greeting the ponies, and the little fire chiminea in our pitch added a lovely touch to the evenings. It’s definitely a place I would wholeheartedly recommend to any friends visiting the region.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Far from the madding crowd

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
Lisa S.

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked Loved the small scale size of the campsite.
Loved the spectacular views.
Loved the friendly hosts.
Loved the simplicity and basic camping approach.
Loved the warm shower.
Excellent campsite - far from the madding crowds but easy to reach main tourist attractions.

Disliked Be aware there is a walk from the car park to the camp spot (beautiful walk).
Didn't see a way to charge a phone (great to let go of such things).

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent campsite with stunning scenery and lovely helpful owners.

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
Louise C.

Bell tent

Liked Everything was amazing ,we had a great time.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Nice and quiet, lovely view…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 9
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 No rating
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 No rating
Wifi
 No rating
Marjan S.

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked Nice and quiet, lovely view

Recommend to friends Visit again

Fantastic location and view, great friendly…

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 9
Facilities / Activities
 5
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 1
Tom W.

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked Fantastic location and view, great friendly owner

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great campsite, excellent customer service. Beautiful…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
Hayden S.

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked Great campsite, excellent customer service. Beautiful scenery.

Disliked Nothing. Everything was to our expectation and above

Recommend to friends Visit again

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Pen y Bwlch have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Pen y Bwlch dog friendly? No View all features
  • What attractions are near Pen y Bwlch? Active types, get set to get busy. From this site, you can canoe on Llyn Padarn lake (10 minutes’ drive) or walk to waterfalls from Betws y Coed (40 minutes). And don’t … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Pen y Bwlch?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  4 p.m. –  8 p.m.
    Depart by:  Anytime
    On-site accommodation
    Arrive:  4 p.m. –  7 p.m.
    Depart by:  Anytime
    Read more