Pitch your tent at Dolwen Riverside Camping for a peaceful stay in Denbighshire. This riverside meadow sits in the North Welsh countryside between the Clwydian Hills and Snowdonia. The peaks of the surrounding hills may not be as high as the neighbours but the scenery is still lovely: mature trees, green fields and a river that babbles by. The site is home to just eight off-grid, grassy pitches for tents and small campervans. Book one of them and you’ll soon be immersed in nature. You can listen to woodpeckers tapping away in the trees, watch red kites soaring in the sky above and perhaps even take a dip in the river before warming up by the campfire.
This is old-school camping of the back-to-basics variety – but all the basics are very well covered and done so in a pleasingly eco-friendly way. There are compost loos, showers with water that’s been warmed by solar power and recycling bins in the under-cover pot wash area. The site is endorsed by the Greener Camping Club which means you’ll need to be a member to stay, but signing up is an easy business (add as you book) and the association means you can trust in the eco credentials.
You might want to stick to keeping things green for days out and about. That might mean a walk around Llyn Brenig, a reservoir whose shores are just a few miles away where you have the chance of seeing ospreys. There’s kayak and paddleboard hire too. Or maybe you’d like to explore nearby Denbigh? This historic market town, with its castle ruins, town walls and independent shops, is a pleasant place to while away a few hours. Beyond the local sights, North Wales’ biggest natural attractions – the Preseli Hills, Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park and the beaches of the north coast – are also all near enough for a day trip.