2 October 2025
What could be better than a few days camping in Snowdonia in early March after a long dark winter. What could be better than a few days camping in Snowdonia? Yes it’s going to be cold but blue skies, starry nights, diesel heaters, woolly blankets, wild camping, great food and great company and the real bonus – no crowds.
So can year round camping/adventure camping/all season camping be a part of your camping year? Read on!
Our adventure starts with a road trip from Norfolk to Shropshire to meet up with fellow Land Rover friends and enthusiasts who share our spirit of adventure. They have the local knowledge and have organised our winter camping break to Snowdonia, surely one of the most scenic and atmospheric places on the planet.
After a night of great food and wine, sitting round a roaring wood burner the new day begins dry, bright and cold. We left Shrewsbury early and headed for the Welsh border. After a comfort stop at Llangynog we turned off the B4391 to Llandrillo for a spot of off road driving. We travel in Land Rover campers so a bit of off road driving adds to the adventure. We joined the B431 to Ybala and took the old road out for a lunch stop with stunning views over the valley. Our drive then took us on part of the famous Top Gear road and although not in the right vehicles it was still scenic and fun.
An early start on a bright cold morning. We have endless hot tea, coffee and bacon rolls to get the day started. First stop is Bedgelert, a beautiful Snowdonian village and of course a walk to Gelert’s grave.
The story of Gelert’s grave is that Gelert was Prince Llywelyn’s famous hound. When Llywelyn returned from a hunt he found his babies cradle overturned and Gelert with a blood stained muzzle. He killed the dog in a rage. However he then discovered his son unharmed beneath the cradle with a dead wolf nearby. Realising that Gelert had actually protected the child from the predator, overcome with remorse he buried the loyal dog and the village of Bedgelert (Geleret’s Grave) got its name.
After coffee we drove through Porthmadog and on to Black Rock Sands. Black Rock Sands is a huge open beach and one of the few places in the UK where you can drive on the beach. It is dominated by a large multi-coloured headland rock and has been declared a place of special scientific interest. We reversed into the dunes. What a place for a lunch stop. After lunch we had a good walk along the waters edge with gentle lapping waves. Is this really early March in the UK? Back on the road we hugged the coast past Portmeiron, the
We next turned onto an old packhorse route into the Rhinog Mountains, part of the Eryri National Park. Tonight we are staying on a Welsh hill farm with camping. It is stunningly beautiful surrounded by mountains with a view over a lake. There is an honesty box for payment. In the summer it would be very busy but tonight we are on our own.. It is going to be cold tonight, very cold! We collect wood and soon have a roaring fire. Food, wine, the setting sun, moonlight reflecting off the lake, fairy lights on the Land Rovers. What a setting. What a memory! A slow breakfast with more time to take in the views. We rejoined the coast road for a drive that is so scenic. Around Barmouth and the estuary and then down to Tywyn for a seafront coffee stop.
It’s time for a bit more off road stuff. Bomber Lane is a challenging and scenic driving trail popular with 4×4 enthusiasts. It also has stunning views over Cardigan Bay. It is called Bomber Lane as a B17 Flying Fortress crashed here on June 8th 1945. 20 men died in the crash and there is a memorial which we visited. The end of our route comes out at Dolgellau and it is time for lunch and a wander round. It is time to head back. We drove on a spectacular pass on the A470 and then it was a straight drive back to Shropshire. Time to warm up and discuss what has been a great few days.
So to answer the question “can you use your camper for winter breaks?” It’s a definite yes from us!!
At Waveney Campers through Road Drifter Rentals our prices start at £80 per day off season. We offer free itineraries that can take you to Wales, Scotland, Dorset, Norfolk, Suffolk and around the Christmas Markets. All our rental camper vans are fully equipped for winter camping with diesel heaters.
Remember- Always take the long road home!
