Riverside glamping in South Wales

For any visitors planning a trip to Wales, the southern end of the country might not immediately spring to mind as a hotbed of prime camping and glamping locations. But, although once the country’s proud industrial heartland – home to the mines and steelworks of the South Wales Valleys and the bustling docks of Cardiff and Swansea –, the southern stretch of Wales can also boast some of the country’s most stunning settings for a night under canvas.

South Wales, as a region, is pretty loosely defined and, like the rest of Wales, there is a lot of cross-categorisation between the various points of the compass. So while traditionally South Walians are regarded as people residing in the historic counties of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire, in a touristic sense the region spans as far west as the Pembrokeshire coast – taking in parts of Carmarthenshire, Powys and the foothills of the Brecon Beacons – all the way to the English-Welsh border in the east.

With an expansive coastline, easy access from the major motorways (particularly the M4), and its close proximity to some of the country’s most popular tourist attractions, it should come as no surprise that South Wales is brimming with caravan-filled holiday parks. While there is a smattering of tent pitches at these places, the majority of pitches are hard-standings equipped for caravans and motorhomes and usually a sizeable number of chalets and static homes – in short, not proper camping to us! So our guide eschews these more commercial holiday parks in favour of traditional campsites that make for great tent camping, with the odd campervan-friendly campsite featured as well. Campfires are a must and we also like family-friendly spots that are good for kids, as well as dog-friendly campsites for your four-legged friend.    

The sheer choice of campsites in South Wales can be a little overwhelming, which is why our guide allows you to filter out the pick of the places to find your dream destination for camping in South Wales. If a beach within reach is what you seek, we feature some stonking spots near Carmarthen Bay. Or if scenic walks are top of your list then try one of the camping options on the Glamorgan Heritage Coast. If outdoor adventure appeals, there are plenty of places in the Brecon Beacons that should fit the bill. Or for that most Instagrammable of settings, the campsites on the Gower Peninsula take some topping. Wherever you choose, rest assured the curated collection included in our guide are among the best campsites in South Wales.

Wales and glamping go together like cockles and laver bread and South Wales is no exception. There are a rich and varied host of luxury abodes scattered across the southern stretch of Cymru, each offering a varying scale of opulence and convenience, with a price tag to match, it should be noted. It goes without saying that the high-end glamping accommodation (such as treehouses) will command a higher nightly rate than more humble abodes, while an ample array of basic bell tents with furnishings are easier on the purse strings. ‘Cheap’ glamping might not always be but ‘cheerful’ it most certainly is – our guide will help you find and book a site that suits your budget and bucket list.    

Besides additional features such as hot tubs, saunas and luxury hampers filled with local produce, many choose glamping in South Wales over camping for its weatherproof reliability. While camping will always be popular in this part of the world, the changeable nature of the Welsh weather can test the resolve of even the most seasoned of hardy campers. Cliff-top campsites overlooking St Bride’s Bay might promise panoramas few places can compete with, but the trade-off for these breathtaking views is exposure to the elements. So if the thought of chasing after your flailing tent in gale-force winds fills you with dread (as much as it might make other campers snigger), the sturdy reliability of a yurt, shepherds hut, or safari tent ensures peace of mind and a soak-free shelter for the night. And for those brave souls making their way by public transport, opting for a glamping upgrade will save you lugging your gear from train station to bus stop, up hills, over fields and across farm yards.  

Throughout South Wales, there are no shortage of glamping options. Glamping in Pembrokeshire promises yurts near some of the world’s most beautiful beaches while the affluent Wye Valley features several luxury camping sites, with glampers drawn to its tranquil landscape and the vibrant gastronomic scene of Monmouthshire. We’re confident we’ve compiled some of the best glampsites in South Wales.

For our money, nothing brings a family together like a weekend away camping. A night under canvas in the Great Outdoors will soon have everyone re-connecting with nature. What’s more, there are few more effective ways to get the kids off the iPads and Playstations and see them building dens, playing games and breathing in bundles of fresh air. Working together to light the campfire or pitch the tent really galvanises the clan and kids love mucking in with the grown-ups jobs. Sunset at the campsite brings its own evening entertainment with stargazing, ghost stories around the campfire, and toasting marshmallows a gooey brown. And whether you decide to pitch your own family-sized tent or treat yourself to a spacious glamping alternative, there are heaps of family-friendly campsites in South Wales to keep the whole brood happy.

The bigger players of the UK holiday park scene may pull out all the stops to keep the nippers amused, with kids entertainers, costumed mascots, discos, and indoor play areas. But you won’t find any of these more commercial enterprises in our guide to camping in South Wales. Call us old-fashioned but we believe that a good few acres of grassy fields and a whole lot of imagination is all you need for fun and games on the campsite.

That being said, plenty of the best family-friendly campsites provide added provisions for kids, with a children’s play area and usually a few pieces of apparatus such as football goals, volleyball nets, cricket, badminton, boules, rounders and other fun games for all the family. Games rooms are also common at the independent campsites we like to champion – albeit a more humble version than the sprawling day-glow video arcades found at the holiday parks – so you might even find a pool table, air-hockey, table tennis and ping pong at more than a few of our favourite South Wales campsites. Some campsites also feature a rainy-day room – a lifesaver when the weather hasn’t read the script – usually stacked full of board games and books so there’s no chance of rain stopping play on your South Wales camping holiday.

Bushcraft courses are more popular than ever and many campsites in South Wales host their own. Anyone who read Swallows and Amazons will know what a fantastic way a bushcraft course is for your weeny woodsmen to learn traditional outdoor skills like fire lighting, foraging and shelter building.

Ensuring safety and comfort for all is a top priority for many of the best child-friendly campsites featured. As such, there are plenty of car-free campsites where vehicles are prohibited from The Camping Field, making the site a safe haven for kids to run ragged with their newly made friends or ride their bikes. Most campsites provide wheelbarrows so you can trundle your gear to camp. The best family-friendly campsites in South Wales are also well equipped for the smallest of children, with baby-changing facilities and travel cots for hire.

Understandably, campsites with swimming pools in South Wales are not as common as they are at campsites in France, for example. But then who needs a swimming pool when some of the world's best beaches are close by? South Wales is chock full of amazing beaches, many with pristine seas to swim in, with Wales boasting a total of 47 Blue Flags and 83 Seaside Awards – more than any other stretch of UK coastline. Many of the South Wales beaches are manned by lifeguards throughout the summer and there are plenty of calmer stretches of coast like Tenby’s secluded cove or the sand dunes of Cefn Sidan in Carmarthenshire. When not building sandcastles or frolicking in the surf, children will love catching crabs and investigating the rockpools, before retiring with a bag of fish and chips or Welsh dairy ice-cream on the sand. Several seaside campsites in South Wales will even be happy to advise on boat excursions, like whale and dolphin watching trips or visits to Caldey Island. And if you’re camping further inland, ask your hosts about the best spots for wild-swimming or check-out some of the best waterside campsites.

From Whitesands to the Wye Valley, our guide features the best campsites that are good for kids. For camping couples who prefer the peace and quiet of a kid-free campsite, there are plenty of adults-only camping and glamping options in South Wales.