Camping Near Criccieth – 3 Day Guide
Criccieth is the gateway to some amazing places in North Wales and makes a great base for a camping and hiking weekend. It’s got a proper working seaside town feel, a ruined castle perched right on the headland, a sandy beach that’s never rammed even in summer, and a bakery that’ll sort you out with lunch before a big walk.
The real draw is its location – you’re right on the doorstep of the Llyn Peninsula, close enough to Snowdonia for a decent mountain day and Portmeirion is just up the road if you fancy something completely different. It’s quiet and it puts some of North Wales’ best walking within easy reach without needing to base yourself somewhere busier or pricier.
I’ve not been to Criccieth since I went on a geography field trip many years ago, and my memory is hazy at best. I know we stayed in some kind of hotel then, but this time we chose to camp. Here’s a guide to camping near Criccieth, and some walks to try if you fancy a similar weekend.
Camping Near Criccieth
We chose to stay at Cae Ddel Country Camping, a small nature-friendly campsite which is part of the Greener Camping Club (I highly recommend joining if you prefer quieter sites and don’t mind fewer facilities). Cae Ddel is situated just outside Criccieth (about a 5 minute drive) so you’ve not got far to go for supplies.
Quick Look
- Location: near Criccieth, Gwynedd, North Wales
- Type: off-grid, nature-friendly campsite, part of the Greener Camping Club
- Good for: walkers, campers happy to go without hookups, anyone after peace and quiet over facilities
- Nearest town: Criccieth, for shops, a bakery and the beach
Cae Ddel Campsite Review
Cae Ddel Country Camping is small and that’s very much the point. There’s no queue for a pitch – you pick your pitch when booking so you can find one to suit you. There’s no dance music blaring away next door – just a quiet, green spot to pitch up and switch off properly.
Being part of the Greener Camping Club means the whole ethos of the place leans towards low impact camping. Being off-grid, there’s no electric hookup, so this site suits campers who are happy with the basics rather than those after a plug socket for every gadget.
There are a range of accommodation options, with tent pitches, a campervan pitch, private bell tents or hideaway woodland cabins. There is also a wild camping area in the woodland. We chose pitch 4, tucked away in the corner of the main camping field (which has 4 pitches). Fires are generally allowed but they must be in the chimineas provided. Due to the current risk of wildfire we didn’t have a campfire.
There are 3 showers and 3 toilets for the site, but these were really clean every time we went and they were only a short distance from the tent.
The best thing about the site was just how peaceful it was. It’s the kind of site where you can listen to birdsong instead of your neighbour’s radio or screaming kids and this matters a lot to me.
Any downsides? The only downside (and it wasn’t really a downside) was that the lack of EHU makes it hard to keep things charged up or food cold, but it meant we had to get creative with our meals (tinned chili and nachos was a winner) and we took plenty of power packs. There is no phone signal at the campsite (I’m with Sky). Some campers might prefer a campsite with more facilities – there isn’t a shop so if you need anything you have to drive into Criccieth which is about 5 minutes away by car.
Hiking Weekend in Criccieth Itinerary
Day 1: Moel Hebog via Beddgelert
We started the trip with a drive over to Beddgelert, a pretty Welsh village and the best place to hike Moel Hebog from. It’s a steep old climb, with some small scrambling sections, but the views back over the Nantlle Ridge and across to Yr Wyddfa make every bit of the effort worth it. Though it’s a short walk, it’s not one to underestimate, so decent boots and a bit of stamina are needed, but it’s a brilliant way to kick off a walking weekend. We finished off with ice cream at Glaslyn in Beddgelert.
Day 2: Portmeirion and the Lighthouse Loop
Day two was a gentler affair. Portmeirion is a pastel-coloured Italianate village perched on the Dwyryd estuary that feels completely out of place in North Wales – but in the best way. After a wander round the village itself, we picked up the coastal loop out to the lighthouse, with lovely views back across the estuary. Get there early, before the coach tours arrive because it gets really busy. We were there at 9.30am and were able to have a game of big chess before it got busy.
Day 3: Caer Gribin, Tre’r Ceiri and Yr Eifl
Out on the Llyn Peninsula, this route takes in three summits, Caer Gribin, Tre’r Ceiri and Yr Eifl, with Tre’r Ceiri easily stealing the show. It’s home to one of the best-preserved Iron Age hillforts in Britain, with the remains of stone ramparts and hut circles still visible right up on the summit. Standing up there with the whole peninsula and the sea spread out below is one of best views. It’s a tougher day out with plenty of ascent, so pace it well and take your time on the summit at Tre’r Ceiri, it deserves a look around.
Where to Eat in Criccieth
We cooked at the campsite most nights (well, warmed up some tins of beans!) which meant we could be flexible. We did eat at:
- Y Maes – a really cool food hall style spot, good for a change of scene and a decent meal without much fuss. I had a Box Van Burger and it was delicious.
- Idris Bakery in Criccieth – perfect for picking up sandwiches to take out on the hill for lunch, a bacon sandwich for breakfast or a Cornish pasty.
If you’ve got longer
If a long weekend stretches into more time, a couple of easy additions nearby:
- Criccieth beach – a great spot for a slow afternoon after a big walking day.
- Dwyfor Rabbit Farm – a fun one if you fancy a change of pace from the hills. Hols loved being able to feed the animals, and hold the guinea pigs and rabbits.
- Ty Coch Inn – a pretty little pub right on the Porthdinllaen beach, with stunning views over the Irish Sea (and Tre’r Ceiri). Access to the pub is on foot only.
Practical tips
- Being off-grid, pack accordingly. Make sure you pack plenty of battery packs if you need to use your phone/devices. We also packed freezer blocks in a cool bag, but there is nowhere onsite to re-freeze them so we bought some ice in Criccieth. Bring a torch as the site is unlit.
- Check the Greener Camping Club site or booking page directly, as availability can be limited given how small the site is.
- We visited in summer (mid-July) and it was great.
- There is no phone signal (I’m with Sky Mobile) on the campsite, so we just turned our phones off to save power. I did get signal on the road into Criccieth though.
You might also like 6 Top Tips for Camping without Electricity.
Final thoughts
Cae Ddel is a brilliant base if you want a weekend that’s more about the walking and the scenery than the facilities. Between Moel Hebog, Portmeirion and the hillfort at Tre’r Ceiri, this is a proper varied weekend for anyone who loves the Welsh hills.
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