The 5 Best Campsites in Wales Near Beaches

Last updated: 4 May 2026

 

Camping in Wales is a classic family holiday that we all recognise and love.

You’ve got beautiful beaches to swim or surf at, fantastic coastal walks to get your steps in, and lots of places to enjoy tucking into some salty fish and chips with a sea view! 

We’ve previously shared some of our favourite family-friendly campsites in Anglesey, but this time, we’re casting the net a little wider to cover more of what the country has to offer. So here are some of the best beach campsites in Wales for families who love the outdoors.

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Please note that all the information gathered here is, to the best of our knowledge, correct at the time of writing. But please check the official website for each campsite for the most up-to-date visitor information.

Top 5 Places to Camp in Wales Near the Beach 2026

 

1. Morfa Farm Caravan Park, Llanrhystud

Morfa Farm, Llanrhystud, Ceredigion, SY23 5BU

Tucked between Aberystwyth and Aberaeron, and established in 1928, this is typical beachfront camping in Wales. Great views and a relaxed, family-friendly feel throughout the campsite.

The beach backs straight onto the site, so you can stroll down easily from your pitch.If you’ve brought paddleboards or kayaks with you, there’s an easy slipway for launching, and, at low tide, there’s a stretch of sand for digging and beach games. 

 

Pitches & facilities:

• Hard-standing and fully serviced pitches
  
• Electric hook-ups and water supply
  
• Spacious plots for awnings and large tourers
  
• Platinum Plus award-winning toilets and showers (2025)
  
• Laundry and washing-up rooms
  
• Onsite shop, snooker/games room, and tennis court
  
• Dog-friendly
  
• Accessible pitches available (call ahead to book)
• Children’s play park, a big field for ball games, safe spaces for riding bikes, and farm animals to visit

 

Nearby activities and amenities:

• Fantasy Farm Park
• Borth Animalarium
• National Trust - Llanerchaeron
• The Moody Calf Play Barn
• Local shops, pubs, and petrol station in the village
• Aberystwyth and Aberaeron are both a short drive away
• Bwlch Nant Yr Arian trail centre is within easy reach for any cyclists out there!

You’re also right on the Ceredigion Coast Path, so cliff-top walks are a given. The views are incredible in either direction, and there’s plenty of variety, from gentle coastal rambles to steeper trails towards the Cambrian Mountains. 

A couple of routes for your family to check out are:

1. Llanrhystud to New Quay
2. St Ffraid's Church, Ceredigion (circular walk)

 

 

2. Three Cliffs Bay Holiday Park, Gower Peninsula

North Hills Farm, Penmaen, Gower, Swansea SA3 2HB

Pitch your tent and enjoy the view! This relaxed, family-run site looks straight out across Three Cliffs Bay, which is one of Wales’ most iconic beaches.

It’s a great pick for families who want a bit of everything right on the doorstep. You can take a 10-minute stroll down to the proper bucket-and-spade beach, with soft sand, rolling dunes, and a tidal stream that’s perfect for paddling. There’s lifeguard cover on summer weekends and school holidays, and dogs are welcome all year round.

Pitches & facilities:

• All pitches come with electric hook-up, drinking water tap, picnic table, and fire pit
  
• Sea view and second-row sea view pitches available
  
• Large countryside pitches for campervans and family groups
  
• If it’s not a fish and chip night, the on-site shop has you sorted with pizzas, BBQ meat, and fresh bread
• Refurbished shower block with underfloor heating and dishwashing area
  
• No open fires (charcoal BBQs and raised fire pits allowed)
• Dedicated enclosed dog-walking area
• On-site dog showers with warm water
• Shop stocks dog ice cream, toys, blankets, and food

Nearby activities and amenities:

• Perriswood Archery & Falconry Centre
• Gower Heritage Centre
• 25 minute drive from Swansea
• Local pubs and restaurants within walking distance
• If you’re after bigger surf, Rhossili and Llangennith are just 15 minutes away

You’re right on the Wales Coast Path here, with walks heading straight from the site into woodlands, open countryside, or along the clifftops. All the routes are dog-friendly, and you’ll get a handy walking guide when you check in.

One of the most popular routes is the walk from Three Cliffs Bay to Oxwich Bay.

At low tide, you can follow the shoreline before climbing up onto the cliffs; it’s about an hour each way with incredible views along the coast. If the tide’s in, the road route does take a little longer (around 1 hour 20 mins). 

Beach done. Changing robes on. Back to camp for a cuppa.

 

3. Tyn-y-Mur Camping & Touring Park, Abersoch

Lon Garmon, Abersoch, Pwllheli LL53 7UL

You can walk down to Abersoch’s main beaches from this friendly, family-run site, which has sweeping views across the bay, Hell’s Mouth, and over to the mountains of Snowdonia.

It’s a brilliant base for all those fun beach activities like swimming, paddleboarding, and kayaking, plus any keen walkers can head out along the coast.

 

Pitches & facilities:

• Electric hook-up available
  
• Heated showers and baby changing
  
• Free hot water for showers and washing-up
  
• Toilets and chemical disposal point
  
• Laundrette on-site
  
• WiFi (can be patchy)
  
• Boat storage available
  
• Ice packs and essentials for sale
• Play area, football field, and loads of space for kids to run about

 

Nearby activities and amenities:

• Pony trekking from local stables
• Abersoch’s cafés, shops, and surf schools
• Golf courses nearby: three within 10 miles, including one just a mile away

Hell’s Mouth is a 10-minute drive and one of North Wales’s best-known surf spots, with lessons available through West Coast Surf. There are plenty of quiet coves and rock pools nearby too, ideal for mini-adventures.

If you’re an active family, there are also loads of watersports to try:

• Kayaking and sailing from Abersoch Main Beach
• Cable wakeboarding at Glasfryn Wakeparc
• Classic wakeboarding at Offaxis in Abersoch

The Wales Coast Path runs nearby, with a mix of easy, family-friendly sections and longer hillside routes. 

Some popular routes to take are:

1. Abersoch to Llanbedrog 
2. Abersoch to Machroes 
3. Abersoch to Porth Ceiriad

 

4. Meadow Farm Campsite, Tenby

Northcliffe, Tenby, Pembrokeshire, SA70 8AU

Proper seaside holiday territory! Meadow Farm is the only campsite in Tenby, with incredible panoramic views over the harbour.

You’re just a 10-minute walk from Tenby’s main beaches: golden sand, calm water for swimming, and plenty of space for paddling, sandcastle-building, or just a sit-down with a cuppa and a view. You can also hop on a boat trip to Caldey Island, known for its peaceful setting and working monastery.

Pitches & facilities:

• Grass pitches for tents, campervans, and motorhomes
  
• Stunning sea and harbour views from many pitches
  
• Electric hook-up options available
  
• Dog-friendly
  
  

Nearby activities and amenities:

• Tenby Castle and local history trails
• The Dinosaur Park Tenby
• Manor Wildlife Park
• Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path runs right past the site, with routes that are a mix of easy footpaths, sea views, and picnic spots. 

Two nearby routes worth trying:

1. Tenby to Saundersfoot 
2. Tenby to Manorbier 

 

5. Whitesands Camping, St Davids

Whitesands, St Davids, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA62 6PS

Featured in The Times’ Top 50 UK Beaches 2023, Whitesands Beach is right on the edge of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, and the perfect spot for a family holiday.  

You can roll out of your tent and be on the beach in a matter of minutes, ready for a morning swim, surf, or paddle. Wake up to sea air, spend all day barefoot and sandy, and finish with a sunset and an ice cream. 

This sandy beach is one of Wales’s best-known surf spots, so pack your wetsuit and enjoy the waves. If you’re searching for proper family beachfront camping in Wales, it’s hard to look past Whitesands.

 

Pitches & facilities:

• 30+ pitches for tents, trailer tents, campervans, and small motorhomes (<7m)
  
• The site doesn’t take bookings. They advise you turn up, pick your pitch, and then check in with the owner during open office hours (usually 0900-1000 and 1600-1700)
  
• Electric hook-ups (first come, first served)
  
• Shower block with toilets and family/disabled access 
  
• Dishwashing sink
  
• Wi-Fi available (although can be slightly patchy in places)
  
• Dogs welcome on site (just not on the beach from May to September)

Nearby activities and amenities:

• Porthsele and Porth Melgan beaches (dog-friendly)
• St Davids Cathedral and local shops (Coaster bus every half hour during the months of May to September or short drive)

• Dr Beynon's Bug Farm

For those who love combining beach days with coastal walks, the popular Pembrokeshire Coast Path is easy to get onto, with brilliant clifftop views in both directions.

You could try the following couple of routes:

1. Whitesands to St Justinian
2. Porth y Dwfr to Whitesands

 

 

Camping in Wales: FAQ

Got a question before you head off? Here are a few things families often want to know about camping in Wales.

 

What do you need for a camping trip?

Pack well and you'll thank yourself later! Here are the camping trip essentials:

• Tent, tent pegs, and a mallet
• Sleeping bags and travel pillows
• Camping chairs and a folding table
• Cooking equipment: a kettle, saucepans, cutlery, and mugs
• A coolbox for milk and any perishable food
• Watersports gear if you plan to get out on the water (wetsuit, rash vest)

 

 

When can you go camping in Wales?

It depends on the campsite. Some are open year-round, while others are seasonal and only open during the summer months, so it's worth checking with your chosen site before you book.

 

What is there to do when camping in Wales?

Camping by the beach opens up a brilliant range of activities.

Watersports like surfing, paddleboarding, swimming, and kayaking are all popular, and many coastal campsites have easy access to the water. Kids will love on-site play areas (Tyn-y-Mur Camping & Touring Park has a great one), and there's always plenty of fun to be had with outdoor cooking and games around the campsite.

For something a bit more active, the coastal walking routes near most of these sites are fantastic. If you fancy a day trip, nearby towns and attractions are usually within easy reach.

Take a look at our guide to the best things to do in Anglesey with families for some more ideas in that area.

 

What should you wear when camping in Wales?

Layers are your best friend when camping by the coast.

Mornings and evenings can be cooler than you expect, so pack a fleece, warm socks, and clothes that are easy to mix and match. Tent mules or flip flops are handy for popping in and out of the tent too.

A packable waterproof jacket is well worth throwing in, and a changing robe is a great shout for beach days, giving you somewhere warm and easy to get changed after a swim.

 

Ready to go camping in Wales?

That’s our pick of five brilliant beachside campsites! Whether you’re a watersports lover or just after a good old-fashioned seaside holiday, they’re all perfect for camping in Wales with the family.

And, as always, if you need to pick up any new camping gear or equipment, we've got plenty to pick from in our full collection below. Happy camping!

 

 

About the Author

Tom, proud resident of Chapel-en-le-Frith (aka the ‘Capital of the High Peak,’ as he loves to remind everyone), is a dad of two who spends his weekends ferrying the kids between football and dance class, occasionally sneaking in a peaceful walk around Fernilee Reservoir. When the family escapes to their coastal hideaway in Anglesey, he trades in the football boots for paddleboards and fishing rods, though his true passion lies in building the ultimate sandcastle. On the Avenue 85 blog, Tom shares his outdoor tips (and the occasional dad joke) with a down-to-earth approach that’ll make you feel like part of the family.