Shepherd's huts near Dolgellau

An unexpected nirvana for campers, the Mawddach is prime pitching territory from the sandy-rimmed estuary at Barmouth all the way up past Dolgellau north to ruined mediaeval Cymer Abbey. Campsites can be found near the river mouth and along the water upriver. The Mawddach Trail and the wild Cambrian Way headline the hiking possibilities.

The big beach town in Southern Snowdonia, Barmouth is a likeable place (a resort with a small “r”) and its pristine sandy shores stretch northwest in a near-unbroken line for about 15 kilometres. While hiking is never far away and hardcore long-distance hike the Cambrian Way trundles through, there is more emphasis here on beach activities like swimming, yachting and kayaking. Most campsites fan out northwest along the coast towards Tal-y-bont.

In the extreme, emerald-hued south of Snowdonia, the switch from jagged, dramatic mountainside down into lower, greener Mid Wales hills is astonishingly beautiful – and amenity-rich village Dinas Mawddwy looks out on the lovely scene. Hiking is excellent, with a little-tramped back route onto Cadair Idris from here, and there is lush camping between Dinas Mawddwy and Mallwyd.