Quiet campsites in Snowdonia

Hi Steve,

I used this site, just a couple of miles east of Dolgellau, the week after Easter. There were only a few other tents and a small number of the static caravans being used. As this was the first time I'd used the site I can't say how quiet it stays during the warmer months. The site is very basic, with two WCs, one shower and a couple of small hand basins in the gents' toilet.

Here's a view of Cadair Idris taken from my tent.

I've camped at this site, a mile NNE of Betws-y-Coed, several times and like it very much for access to northern routes in Snowdonia. But, unfortunately, it does get busy in peak season

Sorry, gremlins while trying to post the image.

pete_rbg wrote (see)

Hi Steve,

I used this site, just a couple of miles east of Dolgellau, the week after Easter. There were only a few other tents and a small number of the static caravans being used. As this was the first time I'd used the site I can't say how quiet it stays during the warmer months. The site is very basic, with two WCs, one shower and a couple of small hand basins in the gents' toilet.

Here's a view of Cadair Idris taken from my tent.

I've camped at this site, a mile NNE of Betws-y-Coed, several times and like it very much for access to northern routes in Snowdonia. But, unfortunately, it does get busy in peak season

Sorry, gremlins while trying to post the image.

It works with my browser, so here it is...

Nice picture BTW

We stayed HERE last year. There are two fields and great views of Cadair Idris from the top field

Also thanks. I always like to hear of friendly campsites for  hikers and climbers. I've added them to http://www.communitwalk.com/14583

Darra8 - you say not ready for wild camping, but couldn't you pick somewhere relatively low and close to the car and just go for it, for one night?  What's to lose?  There's a huge amount to gain!  Just be sensitive to the environment, protect water supplies, leave no trace - and enjoy it!  Don't carry more than you need to, but think about how cold it might be higher up, where it might well be windier, too.  Pick a settled spell of weather and you'll be fine.  Then learn from that and extend your range and duration, e.g. two nights once you feel happy enough for that.

A good tip to remember on leaving your site is how would you like to see it for the first time?  Pristine, no doubt, as though you were the first one to discover the spot.  Take a little trowel (glass resin ones from B & Q are incredibly cheap, strong and light) and dig your poo-hole at least 50m from a watercourse and preferably much further, and downstream from where others using the same camp spot might get their water from.

Get out there and start having fun!

Re Rob's comments above, I felt like you, Darra8, until relatively recently about wild camping but found it useful to think about what it was that worried me and then work out how to address each of these worries. I'm not really a "jump in and see what it feels like" person so this approach worked for me. You'll find lots of advice on here about all the different aspects of wild camping (if it appeals to you!).

Well, just had a very strange weekend in Snowdonia.

Given the fact that most of us knew almost a week ago that this weekend was going to be good camping/walking weather, I booked my pitch at a very small, undisclosed campsite early in the week. I though get in early as it will be packed. Well, got there around 2pm Saturday and we were the first on the site, and remained the only campers on site the rest of the day and night. We also walked up Moel Hebog, and didn't see another person the whole time. Even the village of Beddgelert was quiet! This must have been the hottest weekend of the year, and the small corner of Snowdonia that I was in was empty. I still can't figure it out!

Fab weekend though, and quiet, just the way I like it