North Wales Family Camping – Waterfalls, Beaches & Plenty of Rain!
There’s nothing quite like a family camping holiday in North Wales. Beautiful scenery, spectacular beaches, mountain walks and the opportunity to spend quality time together.
And, if you’re The Hadwins, there’s usually torrential rain, something going wrong and Scott having a good old moan.
Welcome to Chapter Two of our North Wales family camping adventure, where we continue our week at Rhos Y Foel Campsite near Pwllheli, exploring some of the most beautiful places in Gwynedd, Snowdonia and Anglesey.
After the trailer disasters, missing camping equipment and four-hour tent setup in Chapter One, we were hoping things might finally settle down.
But this is a Hadwins holiday, so obviously that wasn’t going to happen!
If you missed the beginning of our adventure, you can watch Chapter One of our North Wales family camping vlog on YouTube.
Rhos Y Foel Campsite – Our Base for Exploring North Wales
For this holiday, we stayed at Rhos Y Foel Campsite near Pwllheli, which turned out to be a fantastic base for exploring the surrounding area.
The campsite itself is fairly simple, so don’t expect a huge entertainment complex, swimming pools or luxury facilities.
What it does offer, however, is something we really appreciate when camping with a large family tent: plenty of space.
The pitches were enormous, the views were beautiful and there was room to spread out without feeling like we were camping on top of our neighbours.
For families who enjoy traditional camping and want somewhere peaceful to return to after a day exploring, it’s certainly worth considering.
We share our full thoughts on the campsite towards the end of the video, including what we liked and what could have been better.
Cwmorthin Falls and the Abandoned Slate Mine
One of our favourite adventures of the week was exploring Cwmorthin, with its dramatic scenery, old slate workings, lake and waterfalls.
If you’re visiting North Wales and enjoy walking and discovering unusual places, we’d thoroughly recommend exploring the area.
The abandoned slate buildings and surrounding landscape are fascinating, and there’s something rather special about seeing how nature has gradually reclaimed parts of the old industrial site.
It’s a brilliant place for photographs and an opportunity for children to discover a little of the region’s slate-mining history.
Of course, abandoned mine structures and workings can be dangerous, so visitors should stick to safe, permitted routes and avoid entering old mine buildings or tunnels.
Criccieth Beach – A Bit of Shrimping and Seaside Fun
No family holiday in North Wales would be complete without a trip to the beach.
We visited Criccieth Beach, where we spent some time exploring the shoreline and trying our hand at shrimping.
It’s one of those simple activities that can keep children entertained for ages, especially when there’s something interesting to discover in the rock pools.
We also learned that taking Roxy to different beaches isn’t always as straightforward as we’d hoped.
Some beaches have seasonal dog restrictions, so it’s worth checking the local rules before visiting with your four-legged family member.
Ceunant Mawr Waterfall – Sunshine Going Up, Monsoon Coming Down!
One of the most memorable parts of our holiday was our walk to Ceunant Mawr Waterfall near Llanberis.
We started the walk in relatively dry conditions.
Lovely scenery, fresh air and everyone in reasonably good spirits.
Then the weather changed.
And when we say changed, we mean the heavens absolutely opened!
By the time we were making our way back, the rain was torrential.
Naturally, Scott entered full Victor Meldrew mode.
If you’ve ever been caught in a proper Welsh downpour while out walking with the family, you’ll probably understand exactly how he felt.
At least the waterfall looked impressive!
Caernarfon Castle and the Famous Ty Coch Inn
We also managed to squeeze in a visit to Caernarfon Castle, one of North Wales’ most recognisable historic landmarks.
It’s a fascinating place to explore and a great way to introduce children to a little Welsh history.
Another highlight was finding the famous Ty Coch Inn at Porthdinllaen.
This beautiful beachside pub has a wonderful setting, with views across the bay that make it easy to understand why so many visitors seek it out.
It’s one of those places that feels especially memorable when the weather is on your side.
And fortunately, we did get some sunshine during the holiday!
Slate Caverns, Waterfalls and River Adventures
North Wales has so much more to offer than just beaches.
During our travels, we explored more of the area’s slate-mining heritage, including the Llechwedd area, and enjoyed some beautiful waterfall and river scenery.
These were some of our favourite family moments.
There’s something brilliant about getting outdoors, discovering somewhere new and watching the children enjoy themselves without needing expensive attractions or complicated entertainment.
Although, knowing our luck, we usually managed to find some sort of calamity along the way!
Llanbedrog Beach and Newborough Beach, Anglesey
Towards the end of the holiday, we visited Llanbedrog Beach, a lovely place for an evening wander.
We also travelled over to Anglesey to explore Newborough Beach and Llanddwyn Island.
The scenery here is absolutely stunning, with beautiful stretches of sand, woodland and views across the coast.
For anyone planning a family camping holiday in North Wales, we’d definitely recommend considering Anglesey as part of your itinerary.
It’s a fantastic area for walking, beach days and simply enjoying the coastline.
The Honest Truth About Camping in North Wales
Throughout the week, we experienced just about everything the British weather could throw at us.
Glorious sunshine, wind, heavy rain and the occasional moment when we wondered why we hadn’t simply booked a hotel somewhere warm.
And then there was Scott’s now legendary camping diary, complete with his thoughts on the weather, campsite life and a few rather personal holiday problems!
But despite the moaning, something rather surprising happened.
Even Scott admitted that he enjoys camping when the weather is good.
And that’s really what we love about it.
From the moment you put the first tent peg into the ground until you pull the last one out, camping is an adventure.
Not always a relaxing adventure, admittedly, but an adventure nonetheless.
Watch Our North Wales Family Camping Vlog – Chapter Two
If you’re thinking about camping in Gwynedd or exploring North Wales with your
