A Guide To Camping in the Brecon Beacons
Blog by Mille Fuller
A guide to camping is important as when you are with your family, friends, or a group of colleagues, there are always things to remember. However, camping in the Brecon Beacons can be an enjoyable experience if you take care of certain aspects beforehand. This guide will cover everything from car checks and packing lists to what to do once you arrive at your campsite and tidying up afterward.
Why Go Camping and Glamping?
- Camping is a great way to get closer to nature, save money, create memories and get some exercise. Of course, it’s a fantastic way to escape from everything else.
- Camping is an increasingly popular holiday pastime for many reasons:
Camping puts you in touch with nature – there’s nothing like waking up in the morning surrounded by trees and grasses or the sound of birdsong! As well as being good for your health, spending time outdoors has been proven to reduce stress levels and improve mental well-being.- Camping saves money – camping costs are normally much lower than staying in hotels or hostels because you’re sleeping outside under canvas rather than indoors on beds that cost money per night. This is crucial if you’re preparing for a longer trip because lodging expenses may increase rapidly!
- Camping creates memories – there’s something magical about sitting around a campfire after dark listening to stories while munching on marshmallows (or whatever else your group prefers). So many people fondly remember their childhood camping trips; these experiences can help strengthen bonds between family members and give kids something new they’ll remember forever!
Why Visit the Brecon Beacons?
South Wales is home to the Brecon Beacons National Park, a mountain range, and a national park. It spans 520 square miles of rugged terrain, making it the second-largest mountain range in Wales. The park’s name comes from its highest peaks, Pen y Fan, Corn Du, Cribyn, and Fan y Big, which form the Brecon Beacons mountain range together.
It is simple to understand why hikers enjoy this location so much—the park offers over 1,980 kilometres of public footpaths that wind through beautiful terrain and allow you to see some breathtaking views along the way! The Beacons are also great for camping because they’re close to many other attractions. Some local attractions to consider include:
- Crickhowell
- Abergavenny
- Canal
- Tretower Castle
- Llangors Lake
- Pen Y Fan
You can do some hiking or drive through the park to see all of its natural beauty. There are plenty of places to enjoy your time in Brecon Beacons National Park—with so much going on; it’s easy to spend an entire day exploring!
Car Checks Before You Head Out
Another guide to camping is to ensure that your car is in good working order. There are some items you should check:
- Make sure you have enough air in the tyres. If they are too low, it could be dangerous for you and others on the road around you. Not only that, but according to experts at caruno, low tyre pressure costs you more because it will take more fuel to get the car moving.
- Check that there is a spare tyre in the boot of your car. If something happens to one of your tyres, this can prevent further damage from being caused by not having a way to drive back home with ease.
- A first aid kit should always be kept in any vehicle so that if someone gets hurt or sick while driving or camping, they will have something close by them that can help them recover quickly and easily.
- Your breakdown kit should be in good working order. This includes jumper cables, a flashlight, a tire gauge, and any other tools you may need if something goes wrong during your trip.
What To Pack
As you can see, there’s a lot you’ll need to take with you. So another guide to camping is you should check the weather forecast before setting off and taking any equipment that could be affected by rain or high winds.
Don’t forget to pack a torch, binoculars, map, compass for dark navigation, and flashlights for nighttime use. In an emergency, you might want to think about carrying a whistle, especially if you have children in your group. It’s also worth bringing some food with you – camping trips are notoriously tiring activities, so it’s important not to get hungry! Also, ensure that everyone has enough water on them at all times; dehydration is one of the biggest causes of illness among campers, so ensure everyone stays hydrated throughout the trip!
The right tent is essential when camping out; ensure yours has enough room for everyone sleeping inside it too! You’ll also want waterproof so rain won’t cause problems during those long nights under canvas.
Where To Eat
- Local pubs and restaurants. There are plenty of pubs in the Brecon Beacons, most of which serve delicious food—or you can bring your own.
- Takeaway. If you don’t want to cook, ordering in is nothing wrong!

- Camping food. You’ll find that some campsites have their on-site shop where you can buy groceries or other necessities. But if your campsite doesn’t have one, don’t worry: there are plenty of supermarkets nearby that sell everything you require. However, don’t forget the marshmallows!
Some places to grab a delicious meal include:
- The Farmers Arms
- Cosmo’s Mexicana
- Captain Brown’s Pizza
Things To Do
Explore the Brecon Beacons
When camping in the Brecon Beacons, why not take advantage of your location and explore the area? The Brecon Beacons National Park is recognised as one of the most visited destinations in all of Wales and welcomes tourists worldwide.
Many outdoor activities include hiking trails, mountain biking, fishing, and horse riding. On the other hand, if you desire a more laid-back way to spend the day, you can consider traveling to the adjacent town of Abergavenny. This charming town has plenty of shops, pubs, restaurants, and cafes where you can enjoy local cuisine or buy souvenirs before returning to the campground with your family or friends.
Explore the Brecon Beacons National Park Visitor Centre and Mynydd Illtyd
Why not pay a visit to the Brecon Beacons National Park Visitor Centre and Mynydd Illtyd if you are keen to understand more about this nature reserve? The National Park Visitor Center is often ranked as one of the most popular attractions among tourists in the Brecon Beacons National Park, sometimes known as the “Mountain Center,” situated 7 km southwest of Brecon. The Center, located 1100 feet (330 metres) above sea level, has breathtaking views of South Wales’ tallest mountains, Pen y Fan and Corn Du.
Tidying Up: A Good Guide To Camping
- Make sure you leave the campsite clean and tidy. Take all your rubbish and dispose of it responsibly, putting any litter in a bin.
- Leave no trace! This involves ensuring that you have taken everything with you, including the tent pegs and string, so you leave as little of an impact as possible on the surrounding area.
- Make sure the campsite is in better condition than when you arrived – clean up after yourselves and others, pick up any litter left behind by others and dispose of your waste responsibly.
Make Sure Your Holiday Goes Smoothly
A camping or glamping trip can be a wonderful way to enjoy the great outdoors, but it’s important to ensure you follow a guide to camping. The following are some things that should be kept in mind:
- Make sure you know where you’re going. You’ll want to plan and consider the weather and other factors when choosing your destination, ensuring it will be safe and enjoyable for everyone involved.
- Make sure that everyone is comfortable with their accommodations if they’re staying in a tent or cabin (if they aren’t staying in one of the luxury tents or holiday cottages).
- Be safe while camping! Before hitting the ground and running out into nature’s beauty, take some time for basic safety precautions such as knowing how many fires should be lit per day, where all nearby bodies of water are located, etc.
Conclusion
There is a wide variety of motivations for camping, and many individuals want to spend time in nature. Camping in the Brecon Beacons is a wonderful opportunity to experience all of these activities, and because there are so many alternatives, it is simple for anyone to participate. Therefore, we hope that this guide includes everything you need, whether you are interested in checking out some new campsites or want some advice on how to get started in the best possible way.
Camping with Dogs
Although we technically concluded this post above, there’s always room for more. For those looking at exciting getaways including your beloved pooch, see what CamperDays suggest in their blog post “Campervan holiday with your dog“.
The guide gives ‘Tips on finding the perfect campervan for your next holiday with your dog’ and covers various topics such as:
- Renting a campervan with your dog
- Dog-friendly campsites
- Keeping your dog safe when out and about
And that’s just to name a few. Dive in to read what they have to say.
Book your 2023 holiday now! Place your booking with us here!
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Visit the Home Page for further information about Cwmdu Campsite
If you would like to check availability for later this season, please fill in a booking form here.
For information on 2023 prices, visit our tariffs page, Click here.
For more information regarding our Glamping Pods please visit our site here.
HOLIDAY COTTAGES INFORMATION
We now have 4-holiday cottages you can book throughout the year!
Hay Loft is a newly renovated cost apartment next door to Cwmdu Campsite. It offers stunning views from the garden, an easy walk to our local pub, and is dog friendly. Perfect for solo travelers or couples.
Efail Bach is a one-bedroom cottage, also with stunning views from the garden, right next to the campsite if you have family camping, and a large comfortable bathroom with a separate bath and large shower.
Efail Isaf is a three-bedroom cottage that sleeps 6 in a quaint old-black smiths house (Old Smithy). This house has a wonderful garden for a family BBQ or sunbathing (we do some lovely weather through the summer!). It also has a log burner for cosy nights in front of the fire.
Click Here to book a Cwmdu Holiday Cottage stay with us! You’ll find four cottages view and check availability across most of the year. Dates are subject to availability.
Best Campsite in Wales Winner!