Camping in Beddgelert

Camping around Beddgelert means pitching within sight of some of Snowdonia's highest peaks, with several sites dotted along the Nantgwynant valley and around Beddgelert Forest taking full advantage of the river and mountain scenery. As in the rest of Wales, wild camping is not a legal right and requires the landowner's permission; the popular informal camping once seen around Llyn Gwynant and Llyn Dinas has increasingly been formalised into managed campsites after years of littering and overcrowding, so it is best to book a recognised site rather than assume a pitch is free to use. Forestry Commission and privately run sites in the area offer both basic tent pitches and more developed facilities, and several now include glamping pods, safari tents or shepherd's huts for those who want the views without carrying full kit up the valley.

The terrain here is genuine mountain country, so campers should come prepared for fast-changing weather even in summer, with rain and wind able to sweep in off the Irish Sea with little warning. Riverside sites along the Glaslyn and Colwyn can be beautifully sheltered by woodland but are also prone to midges on still evenings, so repellent is worth packing. Late spring through early autumn is the most reliable camping season, when days are long enough for a full walk up Snowdon or through the Aberglaslyn Pass before returning to camp, though many sites stay open into autumn for those chasing quieter trails and turning leaves. Campfires and disposable barbecues are restricted or banned on many sites and in the surrounding forest during dry spells, so it is worth checking each site's rules before arrival.