Campsites with campfires near Towyn

Tywyn bears the unusual distinction of being encircled by Snowdonia National Park without being part of it. But this will not deter campers, who can enjoy a couple of campsites within the town and many more options throughout the gorgeous nearby beaches, valleys and mountains. Tywyn also sports the Cadfan Stone, containing the earliest-known example of writing in Welsh, and the terminus of the Talyllyn Railway, the world’s first preserved heritage railway. Surrounding Southern Snowdonia, meanwhile, has some of the national park’s loveliest, least-visited scenery.

South of Tywyn a photogenic sweep of sandy beach hems the shoreline around to the southernmost point of Snowdonia National Park, Aberdyfi. This balmy beach village has Snowdonia’s foothills looming above it and excellent walking, cycling and wild swimming along the coast and the River Dyfi’s wide mouth. Hidden-away Nyth Robin three miles east of Aberdyfi offers glamping in bell tents, a yurt, a horsebox and the like—plus regular caravan pitches.

All months can be wet months up in North Wales and Tywyn can often get the worst of both coastal and mountain weather: you’re certainly going to see severe weather changes alternating between coast and mountains hereabouts. Maximum average temperatures for the year hover around the 20°C mark in July. April’s Machynlleth Comedy Festival and September’s Barmouth Walking Festival are some of the area’s annual events worth planning a stay around.