Llansawel Agored

When it comes to outdoor adventures, it’s always good to have someone on hand who knows what they’re doing. Step forward Rhys Green — a mountain leader, paddlesport coach, bushcraft expert and leader of expeditions around the world. He’s now also a campsite owner and has put together a site where you can dip your toe into the world of wild-ish camping in Carmarthenshire. It will be just a toe, mind: Llansawel Agored is a certified, bonafide campsite with a thumbs up from the Greener Camping Club.

That accreditation means Rhys is looking after his land as well as his campers. He’s planting trees, providing eco-friendly composting toilets and generally keeping the impact of his site light. From a camping point of view, you can expect a natural environment and a wild-ish experience with campfires allowed, plenty of space and cars parked away from tents.

There are 20 acres of gently undulating meadows, young orchards and scrub. Campers are free to explore the lot. You can walk, carefully, among Rhys’ newly planted trees (1,000 and counting so far), sit by the stream and, of course, camp out under the stars. There are just eight camping pitches: six are “standard” but spacious, just a patch of grass with shared facilities a short walk away, while two are super-sized “Camping +” pitches. These are a little more tucked away, come with a dug-out fire pit, their own composting loo and a three-sided shelter to provide an area for escaping inclement weather. The top spots are the three pre-pitched bell tents with beds, their own compost loo and cooking kit in their outdoor kitchens.

Rhys is never far away, sometimes popping by to check his campers are enjoying their stay, occasionally texting to see if they need anything. His outdoor credentials mean you can tap him up for tips on campfires and where to find outdoor adventure. The mountain bike trails of the Brechfa Forest are an eight-minute ride away, the western edge of the Brecon Beacons a 30-minute drive.