The South Wales Circuit
A fantastic route down through the scenic Shropshire hills and down through the Brecon Beacons to the stunning Gower peninsula and on to a stop in the Welsh Capital of Cardiff offering river trips, castle, modernised seafront and awesome stadium (we recommend getting tickets for a game or a gig there!) then back up to see more of the beautiful Shropshire countryside with even more castles and hill walks to offer.
This route can be as long or as short as you like though we recommend a week to to experience the best of all that this route has to offer. A bit like the NC500 route, everybody returns from this road trip wishing they'd had longer.
1st Stop - Brecon Beacons
Situated near the foothills of the glorious Welsh countryside, Brecon Beacons Club Site can lay claim to some of the best views of the central Beacons, with dramatic views of Pen-y-Fan, Cribyn and Corn Du. It features a plethora of facilities that include two toilet blocks, a well stocked shop and play areas for children. A circular dog walk leads to a quaint stream and woodland area, where you'll find an adventure course - fun for both kids and adults! Its centrality provides the ideal base for a campervan tour of the Welsh valley towns, including Brecon and Talgarth, and countryside of mid and south Wales as well as exploring the Brecon Beacons National Park.
Recommended camp site
Description
Brecon Beacons Club Site is the ideal location whether you are taking a relaxing holiday to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the Brecon Beacon countryside, or taking a trip to the many charming towns and villages in the area. Also highly recommended is exploring the nearby hills and mountains that are ideal for walking, climbing, mountain biking or caving. Whatever you choose to do, the caravan park makes a great base from which to see the sights and if you've built up a thirst after all that activity, there's a nice local pub about 10-minutes' walk away!
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Amenities
Electric hook up available
Dog Friendly & dog walk on site
Shower & Toilet Block open
Playground and play area
Things to do nearby
Nearby activities:
Coarse and game fishing within 5 miles
Golf within 5 miles
Cycling notes:
There are traffic free canal paths, lakes and reservoirs nearby, including the Llangors Lake and the Welsh Crannog Centre or Talybont Reservoir. For a longer ride, head for mountain bike and forest trails in Glasfynydd and Garwnant, Usk Reservoir or Clydach Gorge.
Walking notes:
The Brecon Beacons and the Beacons National Park provide some of the finest walking in the country, from gentle strolls to tough mountain hikes. A hike to the top of Pen-y-Fan will give you an enormous sense of achievement as well as spectacular views but arrive early or late if you want the summits to yourself.
Visit the Mountain Centre at Libanus for more information on walking in the National Park.
2nd Stop - Heatherbrae
This is a Caravan Club certified site, perfectly positioned for walking or hiking as the coastal path runs beside the site and there is access to The Gower Way close by.
The Gower Peninsula is famed for it's beaches and you could literally spend a whole week on a different beach each day and be forgiven for thinking that you'd just got a 24 hour flight to Australia. The sand and water are beautifully clean, perfect for sandcastles and sand art.
Jutting out into the Atlantic The Gower is also famed for it's surf so is ideal for all kinds of watersports. Surfing, boogie boarding, stand up paddling, kite surfing & wind surfing are some of the water sports you will find on the many beaches on the Gower and youll find instructors for all of these through the link above.
The natural cliffs below the campsite also offer great rock climbing & bouldering opportunities and more information can be obtained via the campsite.
From this campsite you are also close to Swansea and, if you are a beer lover, we highly recommend a walk along the modern version of The Mumbles Mile though you'll need to get a taxi there and back if you are going to sample the beers in each pub! Along the way you'll have vantage points of Swansea Bay, beautiful on a sunny day.
Recommended camp site
Site name and details
Heatherbrae
Nicholaston
Swansea
SA3 2HL
Description
The site is on a working farm and if scenery is what you are after then you'll think you've died and gone to heaven.
You won't need to move the van to get to the beach as there are beaches accessible from the site.
A peaceful and tranquil site that we highly recommend as a base to explore the rest of The Gower, an experience that we think you'll never forget.
Amenities
Electric hook up available
Toilet and shower block
Dog walk on site
Shop
3rd Stop - Cardiff Caravan and Camping
A personal favorite of ours this site is quiet and peaceful with great facilities there's even a Cafe and cycle hire on site. The cycle path from the site will take you all the way down to Cardiff Bay or in the other direction, into the hills of the Welsh valleys.
A short walk along the River Taff past the Swalec Stadium (Cricket ) will bring you, within 10-15 minutes into central Cardiff between the impressive Castle and awesome Principality Stadium.
A boat tour from the river will take you down to the modernised Bay of Cardiff now Europe's largest waterfront development. Here you'll find museums, the Welsh Assembly building and a host of places to eat as well as wildlife zones. Innovative architecture sits alongside historic buildings and Cardiff Bay offers entertainment for everyone.
Within Cardiff, Wales' Capital city, you'll find unique attractions, top class sport, culture and entertainment and quality shopping with a difference - all within walking distance from the camp site.
Recommended camp site
Site name and details
Cardiff Caravan and Camping Park
Pontcanna Fields, Fields Park Rd, Pontcanna, Cardiff CF11 9XR
CardiffCaravanPark@cardiff.gov.uk
029 2039 8362
Description
This site is located only a fifteen minute walk along the River Taff from the centre of Cardiff where you'll find shops, Cardiff Castle, the Principality Stadium as well as restaurants galore, theatres and the Welsh Assembly building.
Cardiff is famed as a party town so Friday and Saturday evenings are best avoided with children, however, if you are travelling without children then we very much recommend that you join the party, though some pubs will have a dress code that you'll need to adhere to!
Amenities
Electric hook up available
Toilet and shower blocks, free to use.
Dog friendly
Cycle hire & Cafe
4th Stop - Wayside Touring Park
Wayside campsite is situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the Shropshire Hills. Found on the outskirts of Aston-on-Clun, Wayside is ideally located for a stopover on your tour. If you are looking for a quiet break then the nearby towns of Ludlow and Church Stretton offer relaxed shopping within picturesque surroundings. Walkers can find a choice ranging from gentle strolls around the village green to easy access to The Shropshire Way.
Hopton and the Long Mynd are close by for cyclists, with tracks for every skill level
Craven Arms Rd, Aston on Clun, Craven Arms SY7 8EF
www.waysidecamping.co.uk
+44 1588 660218
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Recommended camp site
Site name and details
Wayside Touring Park
Craven Arms Rd
Aston on Clun
Craven Arms
SY7 8EF
waysidecamping@hotmail.com
+44 1588 660218
Description
Wayside is one of those unique campsites that has everything on it's doorstep: stunning hillside walks, river walks, a pub, tearooms and local shops.
Take every day as it comes and do as you feel, there is sure to be something to meet your mood in this picturesque town in one of Englands most beautiful towns.
Amenities
Electric hook up available
Toilet and shower blocks (free to use)
Dog friendly
BBQs and firepits on sites and free to use