Family glamping near Rhayader

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Rhayader has long been a fine place to pause on a trip across the Welsh moors—once for monks travelling between the area's abbeys, later for outlaws, and today for adventure-loving campers. The snaking Elan Valley Lakes west of town are main attractions, but Rhayader also sits alongside Britain's greatest wilderness south of Highland Scotland. In this area, you'll find Teifi Pools and the high point of the Cambrian Mountains, Pen Pumlumon Fawr. Both have spots to pitch up amid rugged scenery. Or stay lower down, enjoying the sinuous beauty of the River Wye and its hiking trail, the Wye Valley Path.

100% (355)

Top-rated campgrounds

Glangwdi Glamping

14. Glangwdi Glamping

100%
(9)
44km from Rhayader · 6 units · Glamping · Brecon, Powys, Mid Wales
Glangwdi Glamping offers furnished bell tents in sight of Pen y Fan, the Brecon Beacon’s highest peak. For some, that alone will be reason enough to book but for others there are further temptations. The site is 2.5 acres. Take, for example, Glangwdi’s pygmy goats. There’s a daily opportunity to meet these little farmyard friends and there are ducks and chickens too. And, as if that’s not enough, this flat field in the foothills is just five miles from bustling Brecon and a short walk from woods, waterfalls and wild swimming. The bell tents themselves are yet another attraction. There are six; each pitched around the edge of a neat field on a family farm. Woven hazel fencing ensures a little privacy for each camping couple or family – this place is equally suited to both. Children will love the cute pygmy goats and adults… well let’s face it, they will love the pygmy goats too. But they’ll also love the fact that you can hike straight from site to the top of 886-metre Pen y Fan and its twin peak Corn Du. And who wouldn’t enjoy a campfire under the stars, in the shadow of the Beacons? The five and six metre bell tents are each kitted out with beds, bedding and log-burning stoves. Outside, each has the off-ground fire pit and outdoor seating regular glampers will have come to expect but there’s an added extra too: a private camp kitchen, that’s also canvas covered. It provides a sheltered place to cook and dine when the weather’s wet and welcome shade when this open field is bathed in summer sun. On such days, this is just the kind of scenic spot that could tempt you to stay on site all day but if you’re feeling adventurous the mountains will soon lure you away. Hiking, biking and wild swimming (try Llyn Cwm Llwch on way up top) are all on offer here. Closer by, Held Wood is a local favourite for walks with a series of small waterfalls within it. The Taff Trail offers well-signposted routes – towards the peaks in one direction or along country lanes to the market town of Brecon in the other.
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
from 
£135
 / night

Rhayader has long been a fine place to pause on a trip across the Welsh moors—once for monks travelling between the area's abbeys, later for outlaws, and today for adventure-loving campers. The snaking Elan Valley Lakes west of town are main attractions, but Rhayader also sits alongside Britain's greatest wilderness south of Highland Scotland. In this area, you'll find Teifi Pools and the high point of the Cambrian Mountains, Pen Pumlumon Fawr. Both have spots to pitch up amid rugged scenery. Or stay lower down, enjoying the sinuous beauty of the River Wye and its hiking trail, the Wye Valley Path.

100% (355)

Top-rated campgrounds

Glangwdi Glamping

14. Glangwdi Glamping

100%
(9)
44km from Rhayader · 6 units · Glamping · Brecon, Powys, Mid Wales
Glangwdi Glamping offers furnished bell tents in sight of Pen y Fan, the Brecon Beacon’s highest peak. For some, that alone will be reason enough to book but for others there are further temptations. The site is 2.5 acres. Take, for example, Glangwdi’s pygmy goats. There’s a daily opportunity to meet these little farmyard friends and there are ducks and chickens too. And, as if that’s not enough, this flat field in the foothills is just five miles from bustling Brecon and a short walk from woods, waterfalls and wild swimming. The bell tents themselves are yet another attraction. There are six; each pitched around the edge of a neat field on a family farm. Woven hazel fencing ensures a little privacy for each camping couple or family – this place is equally suited to both. Children will love the cute pygmy goats and adults… well let’s face it, they will love the pygmy goats too. But they’ll also love the fact that you can hike straight from site to the top of 886-metre Pen y Fan and its twin peak Corn Du. And who wouldn’t enjoy a campfire under the stars, in the shadow of the Beacons? The five and six metre bell tents are each kitted out with beds, bedding and log-burning stoves. Outside, each has the off-ground fire pit and outdoor seating regular glampers will have come to expect but there’s an added extra too: a private camp kitchen, that’s also canvas covered. It provides a sheltered place to cook and dine when the weather’s wet and welcome shade when this open field is bathed in summer sun. On such days, this is just the kind of scenic spot that could tempt you to stay on site all day but if you’re feeling adventurous the mountains will soon lure you away. Hiking, biking and wild swimming (try Llyn Cwm Llwch on way up top) are all on offer here. Closer by, Held Wood is a local favourite for walks with a series of small waterfalls within it. The Taff Trail offers well-signposted routes – towards the peaks in one direction or along country lanes to the market town of Brecon in the other.
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
from 
£135
 / night

Camper favorites near Rhayader

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Family glamping near Rhayader guide

Where to go

Elan Village area

Elan Village is at the beginning of the Elan Valley as you ascend from Rhayader and reach Caban Coch, the first of six dams creating the five vast reservoirs stretching away from here. One of the area's best campsites is just before the visitor centre, where deep valleys and lakes divide the bald hills. Fantastic hiking and biking trails thread it all together.

Teifi Pools and Teifi Forest

This rarely trodden upland west of Elan Valley is a series of small, spectacular natural lakes—together they form the source of the Teifi, the longest river in Wales. Below in the valley is one of Wales' loveliest ruined abbeys, Strata Florida, alongside the extensive Teifi Forest. In this remote country, you can camp in a bothy, a rudimentary shelter accessible only on foot, or on its grounds.

Pen Pumlumon Fawr

The highest point of the Cambrian Mountains (the spine of all Mid Wales) is at Pen Pumlumon Fawr. Many of the region's wildest hills and moors can be found here, where the nearest campsites are around Ponterwyd. Even still, tenters often wild camp high on the lonely slopes.

Along the River Wye

Rhayader is the first town on the winsome River Wye and near the start of the 136-mile Wye Valley Path, which traces the river from source to near the mouth. Campsites tend to occupy some of the flattest, greenest, and most sheltered ground around.

When to go

Easter through September is the busiest time for Rhayader camping. Outside of this season, many campsites and tourist facilities are closed due to the brunt of the year's bad weather. For the best weather and the fewest visitors, try pitching a tent in early spring or late summer. Even the warmest days rarely pass 20°C (68°F), while rain, strong winds, and below-freezing temperatures can arrive any time.

Know before you go

  • On public transport, Rhayader is only accessible by bus, mainly from Llandrindod Wells and Aberystwyth.
  • Rhayader is the only town with camping supply stores for a long way.
  • Wales' official take on wild camping is that you must ask for landowner permission first. In practice, finding the landowner to ask can be tough. If you do camp, stay on moorland and out of cultivated land. Many areas, including Elan Valley Lakes, strictly prohibit wild camping.
  • Shelter in the moorland around Rhayader is scant—come prepared with full, wet-weather gear.