Pale wooden picnic benches sit in the
evening sun, nestled across from a dotting of trees that cast long, narrow
shadows across the grass. Nearby children play in a babbling stream as its
glistening waters trickle past the final benches and away towards the River
Roe. If this bucolic storybook scene sounds all too idyllic then you’re
certainly in luck (we haven’t even mentioned the campsite yet).
The charming summer’s beer garden of The Ty Gwyn pub does much to encapsulate the blissfully rural village of Rowen, in
North Wales, and 400 yards down the road its quaint Snowdonia charm is echoed
in a new campsite at Cefn Cae Farm. Enclosed by traditional dry-stone walls and
surrounded by Wales' most famous hills, this small campsite is an unpretentious
bolt hole in a fabulous setting.
Composed of one spacious camping meadow,
just 15 pitches boast level, grassy surfaces and nearby modern ablutions that
are clean and well kept. A barn in one of the farms out buildings has been
converted into a simple kitchen area with a fridge, freezer and microwave for
communal use. It is here you will also find leaflets and information about the
local area as well as a notice encouraging you back to the pub on Friday
nights, for traditional Welsh singing.
Those looking for less hassle and a few
more comforts can opt for one of Cefn Cae Campsite’s two pre-pitched bell
tents, which come with inflatable mattresses, tables and chairs. The tents can
sleep up to six people, making them an easy option for families, and the farming
feel of the site makes it a popular choice with kids. In spring the chickens
and sheep are accompanied by bouncing young lambs and while their presence is
always fascinating, walls and fences keep little ones protected from the
working areas of the farm.
Older members of the camping fraternity who
still need to placate their boundless energy can take to one of the numerous
footpaths that skirt the campsite and head into the mountains. Hike up Drum,
via the summit of Pen y Castell or take in the views from the summit of Foel Lwyd.
Those back on ground level will still find sights close at hand.
Bodnant Garden boasts 80 acres of National Trust managed beauty, a mix of
formal and informal gardens, while attractions like Conwy Castle and seaside
Llandudno offer further activities. Half a mile away, Conwy Valley Water Gardens is perhaps the closest attraction at hand. And then, of course, did we mention that there’s also
a nice pub around the corner?