Camping in Llanidloes

Llanidloes sits right on the edge of some of the wildest, least populated hill country in Wales, which makes it a natural draw for campers heading for the Cambrian Mountains, Clywedog Reservoir and Hafren Forest. As in the rest of Wales, wild camping without the landowner's permission is against the law, so campers need to use one of the area's established campsites or caravan parks, or seek explicit permission from a landowner before pitching on open hillside. Fortunately the area around Llanidloes has a good spread of small, independently run sites, many geared specifically towards walkers on Glyndwr's Way and the Severn Way, and towards those visiting the reservoir and forest.

The terrain here is proper upland Wales — steep-sided valleys, conifer plantations, open sheep-grazed hills and fast-flowing rivers — so most sites sit in the more sheltered valley bottoms around the town or along the Clywedog and Severn valleys rather than on the exposed tops. Facilities tend to be simple and family-run rather than resort-style, which suits the low-key character of the area, and several sites offer easy access to fishing on the reservoir, forest walks straight from the gate, or riverside pitches on the Severn itself.

Late spring to early autumn is the best window for camping around Llanidloes, when the ground is driest and the long evenings suit sitting out after a day on the hills; the area can be notably wet and exposed for camping outside these months, given its position in one of the higher-rainfall parts of Mid Wales. For those who prefer a roof over their heads without giving up the outdoor feel, glamping options — shepherd's huts, pods and yurts — have become more widespread in the hills around Llanidloes in recent years, offering a comfortable base for exploring the reservoir, the forest and the source of the Severn without needing your own tent and full kit.