Northern Wales is without doubt one of the best places to camp in the UK. The stunning views, the sheer variety of hikes and all the quirky little towns to explore make it an all-round fantastic location…
…And within Northern Wales, one of our personal favourite spots to camp is in the idyllic village of Llanberis in Snowdonia National Park, at the ‘Camping in Llanberis’ campsite.
Camping In Llanberis Campsite
Tucked away in the hills up a narrow country road – just above the centre of Llanberis – lies the rustic ‘Camping in Llanberis’ campsite
Very much a back-to-basics camping spot, you simply check in at the reception and then you’re free to pitch wherever you’d like on their spacious open plot of land.
With little-to-no phone signal and the site only providing basics such as toilets, drinking water and showers; camping here is a great opportunity to chill out and unplug from the hectic-ness of modern life.
Without question, the main selling point of this campsite for us was the spectacular views. Unzipping the tent entrance every morning to cook up breakfast while overlooking the sparkling waters of Llanberis lake was quite something.
For those who are wanting to take the Llanberis Path up Snowdon, the campsite is also conveniently situated at the bottom of the route.
Or even if you decide to head up the mountain via one of the other routes, they’re all within driving distance. We opted to go up the Watkin Path which was still only a short 20-minute drive away.
Llanberis centre being literally a 5-minute walk from the campsite was also handy. This made it easy to nip down and stock up on supplies, or even grab a well-earned pint in the local pub at the end of our activity-filled days.
There’s also some cracking spots to explore in the town. Llanberis lake is great to walk around and you can watch all the paddle boarders (or even get paddle boarding on the lake yourself).
It’s also refreshing to dip in the waters if you can handle the cold – I enjoyed a nice morning dip here on the day we were leaving and I wish I’d have done it every morning!
Another hidden spot which is worth checking out here is the Ceunant Mawr Waterfall, which is situated just off Llanberis Path, only a short 15-minute stroll from the campsite.
In the village you can also find attractions such as the Llanberis Railway, Electric Mountain and the Llanberis Slatemines. For more info on what to do in Llanberis, be sure to click here.
Secret Infinity Pool – Where Is It?
Now we’d never dream of spoiling the fun and giving the location away, but we will say that the infamous secret infinity pool isn’t far from Llanberis.
We decided to make an afternoon of it and head there on foot. Despite quite a lot of the road not having pavement for pedestrians, for the most part the walk was fine. Just be alert of the passing vehicles and keep safe.
For more info on how to find Snowdonia Infinity Pool, be sure to check out our blog post here.
The views were just breath-taking and it was so revitalising to jump in the pool after our search for the location in the blazing summer sun.
FAQ
How long does it take to climb the Llanberis path?
For most, the Llanberis path takes around 3-5 hours to complete.
How long does it take to climb the Watkins path?
Regarded as the toughest of the six routes, the Watkins path has most climbers up the peak and back down again in around 5-7 hours. Known for having some very steep scramble segments with loose scree – this route is not for the lighthearted. For those wanting a challenge however, the thrill and sense of achievement after completing this climb is quite the buzz!
Can You Wear Trainers To Walk Up Snowdon
No! Ankle stability is super important when climbing and traversing rocky paths – not wearing boots significantly increases your chances of injury. It only takes one misstep to land funny or roll on your ankle, which is the last thing you want when you’re half way up the peak…
Wild swimming spots in Snowdonia
The Snowdonia Secret Infinity Pool is definitely worth a visit, although I wouldn’t class it as a great wild swimming spot per se. It’s rather shallow and so not really somewhere you can properly swim – more so a place for a quick dip.
Llanberis lake just down the road is a better spot for pure wild swimming. We also found some great waterfalls and gorges on our climb up Mount Snowdon along the Watkins Path.
