Wales Destinations National
Offers
Reviews
 |
Dyffryn Seaside Estate (Barmouth)
by ruby_xo Last summer, sometime in July, I stayed on this camping site with a few friends. I took notes while I was there and have been planning to review it for a while, but just haven't got round to it. Well I found the notes recently, so here is the review . . . The site took a while to find, as it wasn't well sign posted, and it ... wasn't recognised on our sat nav either. We had heard about the site from one of our friends who has a tourer caravan there, and we had to ring her up before we got there to ask if she could walk down the lane and wave to us, so that we could find it. Once we were there, we booked in very easily. There were loads of fields empty for us, despite it being a weekend, and the summer holidays. The staff working there were quite snotty, I went with my dad to book us in and they didn't smile at us or try to welcome us or anything. They just took the money and then told us which field to put our tent up on. The site has 800 acres of land in total, and plenty of overflow fields, so there is no need to worry about not getting in. I must say about the quality of the fields, that they were not very good. The ground was muddy in some places, even though the weather was boiling hot (unusual for North Wales), and there were ants and bugs everywhere in the ground. It was rocky in some places, too, so quite hard to peg the tent up. On the site there was a laundrette, a chip shop, a cafe, a shop and a pub/restaurant. I remember that the man working in the shop was a bit more friendly than the staff in the reception when we booked in. But I still felt that with this being a holiday destination that he still could have put in a bit more effort to make us feel welcome. The shop seemed to sell really stupid, overpriced things as well. I remember that it didn't sell toothpaste from any well known brands, only one brand I'd never heard of and it cost about £3 for a tiny tube! And the disposable barbecues were also ridiculously expensive. The chipshop was horrible. The food was really greasy, and overpriced. They sold things like cups of tea and toast for breakfast as well, and when I asked for toast I asked for brown instead of white, but they brought me white bread. They seemed very lazy and unorganised. There were also loads of kids running around being disruptive, and it was early in the morning when we went there, for breakfast, and the whole place had a really nosiy, irritating atmosphere, perhaps though this wasn't helped by the fact we all had hangovers. This brings me to talk about the only real highlight of the whole stay. . . the pub down the road. The pub is in walking distance (or should I say crawling distance!) of the site. It is also an inn, so I would say if you did want to stay in the area, to enjoy the holiday a bit more I would recommend staying here instead of roughing it at the campsite. The drinks weren't cheap but they weren't ridiculously overpriced. The toilets also weren't the cleanest toilets I have ever been to, but they weren't that bad. The pub and the beach is where we spent most of the holiday as they were the two best places around. The beach by the site is gorgeous, though. It is lovely and sandy, the only problem is that it can get quite busy at times, and can be hard to find a spot on it. Also there are kids everywhere so it can be quite noisy and there is always the risk of some kids digging up sand next to your spot, or for families this is great. There is also a nudist beach linked on the end of the beach a bit further down, I will leave it for you to decide whether you think this is a good thing or not! It was full of old people until some of my friends got there, well I won't say anymore on this I've tried to wash that memory out! The toilets on the site were exceptionally clean, and so were the showers. And they were also really warm. You did have to pay for showercards though, so using the shower block facility is not included in the initial cost to stay on the site. But it was only about £1 for 16 minutes shower time, so its not bad. The site has an excellent swimming pool, with a steam room, sauna and jacuzzi. There is also an indoor cafe at the pool, with free magazines on all the tables there, and it is all really lovely and was the highlight of the site for me. The swimming pool is really gorgeous and I had a great time here. I can't wait to go back to it later in this year actually and have even bought some bikinis for it already. Once this girl I met there last year had forgotten to pack her bikini, so instead went there in just a thong and a bra! And there is no lifeguard so you can do what you want basically! So if I was a parent I'm not sure I'd bring my family here, but obviously for teenagers you have a fantastic time! Overall I going to be staying at this campsite again mainly because of how much I enjoyed the swimming pool and how good a time I had at the pub. I would recommend the campsite to teenagers especially. I don't think families would enjoy it much because there was me and all my friends staying here, so just a big crowd of young girls, but families would enjoy it here too there are about ten fields to stay on we weren't that loud anyway! There were a couple of families there when we went but it was just us young girls mainly. I am going back with the same crowd of girls again next year and we can't wait for the holiday and we're planning on going on the pull this year (they've told me to put this bit) so look out lads in Barmouth this July!! Read the complete review |
 |
Abersoch in general
by Wickedinrock It's great to be able to write a review on something you know inside out because it means you don't have to any websites or double check anything! I'm hoping this will be really fun to write so I hope it's useful for people and encourages people to visit! Abersoch seems to have become a destination for the North of England's ... wealthiest families these days. It's a small surf village on the Llyn Peninsular in North Wales where personalised registration plates are seen on every other car, guys wear shorts all year round and hundreds of teenage girls wear hoodies with denim skirts. Abersoch has recently been seen in the E4 show 'On the Edge' about rich teenagers in Cheshire who visit the Welsh village on the weekend. Rio Ferdinand, Bill Roache and John Virgo are just some of the rich and famous that I saw last time I went to Abersoch! A large number of people who stay in Abersoch own a boat. We had one a few years ago but decided to get rid of it because it's a large expense to use for two weeks a year! Cars in Abersoch share the road with tractors towing the boats to and from the beach and there is sand literally everywhere just to give the extra holiday feel! However, if you can avoid the new breed of hooded sloanie, Abersoch is a lovely quaint village with beautiful beaches and walks, within easy reach of Snowdonia but far away from any chain restaurants to feel that you're near any major cities! The shops, restaurants and bars Abersoch village is very small - basically just one road. There are about 10 surf-wear shops selling Abersoch hoodies and shorts, a bank which is never ever open, a beauticians, a Post Office, a couple of grocery shops, a butcher and a newsagents. All ideal for a holiday village, although I've no idea how the people who live there cope! Some lovely cafes serving small bites and coffees thrive whatever the weather and restaurants are always packed during the peak seasons. A few of the restaurants allow bookings but if you head into the village around 5.30pm you will find long queues outside restaurants of people wanting to put their names down. Manana is one such restaurant and the one with the longest queue! It's a Mexican restaurant but has steak and burgers for those who don't like fajitas and burritos! The staff and owners are really friendly and they always remember your name. It's quite expensive but the colourfully decorated restaurant, great staff and wonderful food ensure diners come back time and time again. It's my favourite place to eat and I think a lot of others would say the same! Angelina's Italian restaurant is just further down the road, complete with outdoor seating which is great in the summer. It's a nice classy restaurant with modern decor and over-enthusiastic staff! Their pizzas and pastas are very decent although there is not much choice. It always seem to be busy but I've heard lots of negative things and know that they get a lot of complaints! Across the road is The Sandpiper. Another Italian but very different to Angelina's - it's a bit more family-friendly with a modern and fun interior. Their staff are comprised of that year's GCSE students, their pizzas are tiny and more often than not, your orders come out wrong! However, I still go back and the restaurant is always packed full of people. East Meets West is Abersoch's Indian restaurant. I do love a good curry but this is somewhere I only go if everywhere else is full up. It gets really bad reviews from most people I know who have been but it's quite reasonably priced for Abersoch and their Lamb Rogan is good. It can take forever to be served and food has been known to come separately...and cold...but I'm not one to complain...honest! The bars and pubs in Abersoch are fun but it's certainly not a clubber's paradise. Most people drink at 'The Tuds' (Tudwall Inn) or 'The Vaynol' (The Vaynol Arms). Prices are normal pub prices and both pubs have a good fun atmosphere. The Vaynol is also good for food and have a family area, where the Tuds has pool tables and attracts a younger crowd. The Harbour has themes nights which again, attract the teenagers. They include dance music nights, boogie nights with 60s music and are generally busy, fun and chilled out. Most people end up at The Harbour as there just isn't anywhere else! The beaches and watersports Abersoch main beach is full of people - it's busy, fun and there is always lots to do. Beach cafes, wind-surfing, sailing and banana boats mean that you are never bored. However, if you want something a bit quieter, round the corner is 'Fach Farm Beach' which leads down past The Warren. Beautiful sand, lovely views of Snowdonia and the Tudwall Islands and a quiet, relaxing beach where you can play in the sea or sunbathe. 10 minutes drive away is Hell's Mouth which is a favourite for surfing with massive waves. Wakestock festival Wakestock is Europe's largest wakeboard and music festival which takes place in Abersoch and surrounding area each summer. It started back in 2000 and artists have included N-Dubz, Futureheads, Plan B, The Ting Tings, Feeder, Moby, NERD, Dizzy, Tinchy Stryder, Noisettes, Tinie Tempah, Pete Tong, Duffy (who is from nearby Nefyn) and Mark Ronson. The main music event takes place near Abersoch while the wakeboarding competition is held down the road at Pwllheli marina. It's a great couple of days and has become a real event on the festival calendar, complete with fairground rides, massive stages, rave tents and lots of alcohol! Where to stay The Warren - a massive site of chalets. To earn a place on the coveted Warren, complete with luxury indoor and outdoor swimming pools, pool bar, gymnasium, tennis courts, archery club, spa, club house, mini golf, on-site shops etc the basic chalets will set you back £150,000 and that doesn't even include site fees! You can rent on the Warren but the summer gets booked up early. The Warren also has a touring caravan park and campsite across the road which you can stay at for a lot cheaper! Tal-y-Fan. The site is owned by Haulfryn (the owners of the Warren) and if you have a caravan on Tal-y-Fan you can use the Warren's facilities. However, it's quite far outside of Abersoch and it takes a good 40 minutes to walk into the centre which would be a pain as there's not much to do in the area outside of the village. Again, if you want to rent, book early and get on the waiting list to buy asap as it's 10 years long! Fach Farm - the closest site to Abersoch village. A cheaper version of the previously mentioned sites! This is where our static caravan is! There are no facilities and even the shop and launderette have closed down over the past few years! Still, it's a great location and still quite affordable. Camping and tourers - most visitors to Abersoch will be campers. There are tonnes of camping sites around but most are only open 1 March - 31 October (which is ideal as most of Abersoch is closed during the winter months!) This site has most of the camp sites listed in the area. http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/townlisting.asp?town=Abersoch Renting a house - a lot of people who own homes in Abersoch rent them out for a few weeks a year. This is a great idea if you want to spend a bit more on your holiday and great for larger groups. http://www.abersochholidayhomes.co.uk/ This site is quite a good one and I know people who have used it to advertise their property. Overall, Abersoch is a great destination for regulars or visitors. It's close to Snowdonia which is beautiful and a great place for walking. Abersoch has fantastic beaches, great restaurants and lovely cafes and everyone who visits, loves it! I'll leave it there - this is just too long! Read the complete review |
 |
llyn Gwynant Camp Site (Wales)
by RachJayne Even though it was August Bank Holiday weekend we didn't want to book our pitch in advance in case the weather was atrocious as it can often be in Snowdonia. The campsite it situated on the A498 between Betws-Y-Coed and Beddgelert in a beautiful valley, surrounded by mountains and at the end of a lake. Llyn Gwynant Campsite does not take ... bookings unless you are a party of 20 or over so with us arriving on the Thursday we knew we would get a spot. The campsite is designed with nature lovers in mind so is not over developed. On arrival you come to reception where you are met by friendly staff. Our pitch cost us £9 per adult and £3 per child (15 and under) per night, if you want to take a dog it costs £1 a night and they must be kept on a lead or in the car at all times. The staff stress the no radio and no noise after 11pm rule and that if you have a problem with noise after this time just go and see them and they ask you to recycle all your tins and glass. One of the best things is you can enjoy 2 days at the site but only pay for one night as you can arrive anytime after 8am do not need to leave until 5pm the next day. The fields are large and flat and do have a tendency to be muddy but it was easy enough to find a nice dry area. We choose one of the fields where your car had to be parked in a specific area away from the tents but you can choose a field that allows you to park your car right next to your tent. There are no electric hook ups but reception does refreeze ice packs, charge up cameras and phones and pump up airbeds at no extra cost. They also provide a payphone as there is no mobile phone signal on the site. A torch is essential after dark as there is no site lighting and you could be a way from the toilet block as we were. The way will be lit up partially by the campfires that the site allows in the fire pits that they provide for free. They do ask that you only use the wood that they provide which costs £4 a bag (easily enough for a large fire for one night) as they don't want the surrounding trees to be damaged. There is no shop on site so you need to make sure that you have everything you need before hand. The toilet block has male and female facilities. The ladies has 7 sinks, 1 mirror, 6 toilets, 1 shower and a large notice board which also has up to date and extensive weather reports . I didn't visit the men's so can't comment ! Another 5 showers are positioned at the back of the block and are unisex. The showers are free and hot but do lack a bench to place your clothes whilst showering you have to rely on the hooks on the doors. Despite it being very, very busy during our visit the facilities were always clean and toilet roll was always available. The 3 dishwashing sinks with hot and cold water are also located in this area. Portaloos are provided next to Bridge field at the back of the site during the busiest of times. A river runs alongside the site which is ideal for children to play in with a safer beach area near to the bridge for paddling and many rope swings erected along the banks for older children. Where the campsite reaches the lake there is a large "beach" perfect for playing on and is always kept clear from tents. The site offers single kayaks, double kayaks and Canadian Canoes for hire at £5, £10 & £12 an hour respectively which includes the use of a life jacket. Whilst kayaking on the lake you can disembark at Elephant Rock and try your hand at a little cliff jumping which my boys loved even though the water was freezing. If water is not your thing then there are plenty of walks around the site to suit all levels you can even walk up Snowdon directly from the site. We will definitely be visiting this site again in the future and I wouldn't rule out another Bank Holiday visit if the weather is good as the site was nice and quiet and we managed a reasonable amount of sleep. Next time I would take wellies with us and of course the Marshmallows are a must especially when freshly toasted on the fire and sandwiched between 2 chocolate digestives!! Read the complete review |
Wales Destination National |
||
|---|---|---|
|
23 reviews Destination National / |
|
|
21 reviews Destination National / |
|
|
Destination National / |
|
|
|
2 reviews Destination National / |
|
|
|
1 review Destination National / |
|
|
|
Destination National / |
|
|
|
3 reviews Destination National / |
|
|
|
2 reviews Destination National / |
|
|
3 reviews Destination National / The village, in keeping with its location in the Snowdonia National Park, is picturesque and unspoilt. Small and friendly, it boasts a full range of amenities, which include quality hotels, great guest houses, B&B's and self-catering accommodation, camp sites, hostels, bunk houses, shops a... |
|
|
Destination National / A small seaside community in Wales with great panoramic landscape. |
|
| Wales Destination National Recommendations 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 back next | ||
| dooyoo Results 31 - 40 of 79 | ||
