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Nantcellan Barns

86%
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· Aberystwyth, Wales · 15 acres
Hosted by Nantcellan C.
17 motorhome/tent pitches
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Best in Mid Wales: Finalist
Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2024.
Simple farm camping near Clarach Beach on the beautiful Ceredigion coast

The combination of green fields, great views, and a beach within walking distance make this dog-friendly campsite in Ceredigion sound like a real winner. And it is – if you, like us, enjoy a spot of back-to-basics camping. This is a laid-back site with simple facilities: portable toilets, open-air showers, and plenty of space in its pitch-where-you-please meadow. Tents, dogs, and campervans are welcome but caravans, motorhomes and anyone wanting a clubhouse will have to head elsewhere. Perhaps to one of the nearby holiday parks, which cluster along this coastline. Here at Nantcellan, a 20-minute walk away from the waves, it’s more about natural surroundings, stargazing and quiet chats beside the campfire.

Set among 25 acres of meadows, the campsite at Nantcellan Barns is part of a project to rewild a former dairy farm. While we campers are allowed to pitch up in a couple of fields, others are being planted with trees to provide more space for wildlife. On arrival, you let yourself into this peaceful spot, choose your pitch and make yourself at home. The family who run the place keep a fairly low profile, popping in to say hello and make sure everything is shipshape a few times a day. This lends the place a relaxed vibe that makes camping here a pleasure if you are a self-sufficient type. While loos and showers are basic and campers are asked to take rubbish home, the kitchen shelter is the kind of extra that proper campers can get excited about. This rustic undercover space has everything you need if the Welsh weather turns wet or windy: sinks, a stove, seats, and shelter.

The closest beach is Clarach Bay, a good 20-minute stomp away across fields and down a lane. Here you can take a dip and perhaps pop in to the café at the caravan park, which fronts onto the beach (it does a good line in woodfired pizzas). Those with young kids may prefer to drive – and if you’re getting in the car, you may actually head a little further to find the larger beach at Borth or even nearby Aberystwyth, which is less than two miles down the road or along the coastal path.

Our aim is to create a relaxing, quiet family friendly, nature-focused environment spread over 15 acres of meadow and bordered by a small stream and native woodlands. Our meadow camping pitches are very laid back, turn up and chose your spot in our meadow, if you have booked we don't require you to check in. We have simple rustic facilities hand built by ourselves, the open topped hot showers, a large open fronted communal kitchen and seating area are available for your use. We have a toilet block with flushing toilets and wash basins that are cleaned regularly. Prices are £15 per adult and £7.50 per child (under 18) and infants are free. Check in after 3pm and check out before 11am. Fires are allowed, please bring a fire bowl to raise your fire or BBQ off the ground. No disposable BBQs allowed. We don't charge for dogs, but they must be kept on leads. We ask you to please take your rubbish home, no bins are provided.
Vehicle details
Travel trailers, Pop-up campers, Class B RVs, and Cars allowed
Vehicles under 13 feet allowed
Pull-in site
Accommodates slideouts
Surface type: Grass or field
Motorhomes not allowed - Not suitable for larger heavy vehicles on wet ground
Surface levelness: Requires leveling
Motorhomes not allowed - Not suitable for larger heavy vehicles on wet ground
No Fifth wheels and Class A RVs
No electrical hookup
No water hookup
No sewage hookup
We do not have a waste disposal point - please do not empty your sewage into our loos.
No TV hookup
Generators not allowed
What to expect
Motorhome/tent pitch
Camping area selected or assigned upon arrival.
5 guests max per site
Campfires allowed
Please bring a firebowl or something to raise your fire or BBQ off the ground
Toilet available
Portable toilet
Pets allowed
On leash
Potable water available
Tap
Showers available
Hot water
Cooking equipment present
Communal, stovetop or hot plate, sink or other dishwashing station
Picnic table present
Pack it out
We provide bins for recycling and compost and dog poo but we do ask you to take your own rubbish home where possible.
No wifi
Laundry absent
Hot Tub absent
No playground

Things to know

Getting there
Check in: After 3:00 PM
Check out: Before 11:00 AM
On arrival: Head straight to site
Cancellation policy: Strict
Minimum nights: 1 night
Accepts bookings: 6 months out
Park at listing
No wheelchair access
Max 1 vehicle
2WD accessible
During your trip
Follow the
Leave it better
Inclusion policyWe have a zero-tolerance policy against discrimination at Hipcamp. We are committed to helping our Host and Hipcamper communities be inclusive.
86%
18 Ratings · 7 reviews
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Toby T.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2024
Thank you
Tent · With kids
Lovely setting and facility’s were great. Very surprised by the shower. The hosts were very flexible in letting us arrive and set up early so we could see a local event. Thank you. Will be using again
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James P.
2 years on Hipcamp
Mixed feelings
· August 2022
Tent
Overall a fantastic stay thank you. For the price per person per night we would have liked to see more showers. There were 2 for about 100 campers (granted it was a bank hol weekend so probably the busiest the camp site gets) and they always seemed to be in use. We really enjoyed our stay though, thank you.
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Patrick K.
2 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2022
Tent · With kids
The 360 degree views were beautiful. There was a very relaxed feeling throughout our three day stay (in the middle of August). There was a lot of space between each tent. The cooking area had free calore gas available. The porta loo were adequate and cleaned regularly. The open-top shower was basic but clean. The beach can be accessed by walking, though a little far if carrying beach gear - the beach itself is not very impressive - our preference was the beach at Borth (15 mins drive) which was a little gem. Aberystwyth is 5/10 min drive away and is a beautiful coastal town with plenty of activities, places to eat and drink and a very good selection of supermarkets & fast food outlets. I would certainly recommend the Nantcellen site to friends and family.
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Carrie M.
2 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2022
Tent · With kids
Fantastic location, beautiful scenery and close to local shops and beaches. Outdoor showers were brilliant, very hot and a good amount of space. Kitchen area was very clean and could hire a fire pit. Only part of our stay that way disappointing was the porta loos.
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Kate H.
4 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2022
22 ft Class B · With pets
Great site, outside showers were great for this weather! Will visit again!!
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Kate M.
2 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2022
Lovely location, well spaced out
Tent · With kids
A charming location - peaceful and not too packed in together. Showers were excellent. Loos were blue festival loos which got a bit grotty at points but were cleaned up pretty promptly. The beach is a 17 minute walk at a fast adult pace - MUCH, MUCH longer with kids, as you would expect. Do not think you will be 'popping' to the beach... take supplies! :-D We had a really lovely time though, and could hear the waves from the campsite which was super.
Location
Aberystwyth, Wales, United KingdomTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
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Hosted by Nantcellan C.

Joined in July 2022
From the host
Nantcellan Barns Nature Friendly Camping is set in 15 acres of meadows managed to prioritise wildlife, it is on the brow of a hill overlooking the valley down to Clarach Bay, the lovely beach is walking distance where you can pick up the coastal footpath. The friendly seaside town, Aberystwyth is close by for boutique shops, cafes, bars and restaurants.
Nearby attractions

The campsite at Nantcellan Barns sits on the brow of a hill, about a mile away from the beach at Clarach Bay, a mixture of sand and shingle. You can walk there in 15-20 minutes. You can also join the coastal path there and walk south about another mile-and-a-half to reach Aberystwyth or take on a longer hike in the other direction, five miles to Borth beach where there’s three miles of sand. Both are just a 10-minute drive from site if you don’t fancy the walk. Aberystwyth is a big town and a lively Victorian seaside resort with all the usual seaside attractions including a nice promenade, amusements and a cliff railway – plus a good food scene, plenty of independent shops and the Ceredigion Museum, which is great for rainy days. You can also hop aboard one of the steam trains of the Vale of Rheidol Railway to travel 12 miles inland to Devil’s Bridge. A 10-mile drive inland gets you to Bwlch Nant yr Arian where there’s mountain biking and a red kite feeding station too. And for more wildlife, how about a visit to Ynyslas Nature Reserve or RSPB Ynys-hir? Both are within 10 miles of site.

Food and drink

If you’re on the beach at Clarach Bay, you can pick up supplies at the caravan park’s small shop or dine out at their woodfired pizza place. For a drink or meal overlooking the sands at Borth, ten minutes’ drive away, head for the Victoria Inn which has beachside seats which are particularly scenic at sunset. In Aberystwyth, there’s plenty of choice for eating out and shopping but The Glengower and Gwesty Cymru are recommended by your campsite hosts. 

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