Camping in Clifford

Clifford and the Wye Valley around it offer some lovely, low-key camping country, mostly in the form of small, family-run sites rather than large holiday parks, set among farmland, orchards and the wooded banks of the river. As in the rest of England, wild camping without the landowner's permission is not legal here, so it is worth sticking to established campsites or arranging permission directly with a farmer if pitching up off the beaten track. The terrain around Clifford is gently undulating riverside pasture giving way quickly to the steeper ground of the Black Mountains and Hay Bluff to the south, so there is a good mix of easy valley-floor pitches and more adventurous hill country within a short drive for anyone keen to combine camping with proper walking. Late spring to early autumn is the best window for tents, when the ground is drier and evenings are long enough to enjoy a fire and a view of the Wye below; the Hay Festival period in late May is especially popular and campsites nearby fill up quickly, so early booking pays off if that coincides with a visit. For those who would rather skip the guy ropes altogether, glamping options in the area range from shepherd's huts and safari tents to converted horseboxes and yurts, many with wood-burning stoves for cooler nights, offering the same river-and-hill setting with a good deal more comfort. Whatever the choice of pitch, campers are close enough to Hay-on-Wye to combine a night under canvas with a day browsing bookshops or exploring Hay Castle, and close enough to the Black Mountains for a proper day's walking on Offa's Dyke Path or up onto Hay Bluff itself.