W.V.W Campsites
Campsites on the Wye Valley Walk
Check out numerous campsites and stays close to the trail. Some you may have to BOOK, others you could potentially drop in on whereas a few might well be open to being propositioned. All are handy. Bear in mind, you can always wild camp - we do. So, this guide is for the wild camping thru-hiker also. We lend some tips and highlight Natural Resources Wales land, Verge/vacant land, and common land to tuck into. Anything is game if respectful including church porches.
Look out for the Natural Resources Wales symbol - a pink Hexagon. We've camped in these woods in the Wye Valley. One site on the bend of the river is a treat-just off the path. Watch the fence be respectful. Glangwy campsite is primarily a caravan site but does welcome hikers. For a B&B check out the Bluebell Inn or Clochfaen.
The Nannerth cottages are a short distance West of the Wye bridge near the River Marteg confluence. There's no mention of pitches but it's worth checking out. Entering the Gilfach Nature Reserve you could easily bivvy in the information center at the foot of Gamalt.
Lower Nantserth is off the trail .5Km but offers camping. It's worth checking out. Redwood Retreat is not far away east. It's off an old back lane and offers some domes to rest. We're not sure but they might be open to a pitch as would any of the farms along the way. Just ask.
Wyeside at Rhayader is located by the river in the town of Rhayader. Being a caravanning club site there may not be pitches but some do so it's worth a go. The park next to it is a possible pitch, too. Hiking it wild on a budget try bivvying in a church porch or sport pavilion - we do. Check this strip of land out next to the towns sports ground. There are of course B&B's.
The farm is just off the Wye Valley Trail (see here) about 500 meters or more nestled in a beautiful upland valley of the Cambrian Mountains. It's a traditional sheep farm with a warm welcome. It's well worth a pitch.
"Now I see the secret of making the best person, it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth."​
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Walt Whitman
A few miles south of New-Bridge-On-Wye Cwm Wye is set beside the trail OS Map. Access isn't ideal but if you get to the corner of Crwt-Y-Wernen Covert you can cross over the road and back in the morning. Easy - just be covert and respectful.
Builth to Erwood
A few miles south of Builth is Kite Hill Yurts. It's right on the trail. Primarily yurts you might be able to pitch. Further on, and again, not far from the trail is Riverside Cabin Erwood. You'll need to be able to afford it. But for hiker trash, here's a tip. On what appears to be a strip of common land beside the Wye there is a great pitch. We've camped there before.
Seren Bach is right on trail at Llowes. The campsite offers pitches for hikers. Nearby check out the 6th Century Celtic cross in St Meilig’s Church. If you were strapped and needed to dos down there's a bus stop and the hills are full of little spots to tuck into.
Beside the Welsh agricultural showground is a place used to camping - 1KM from the historic town. For hiker trash try the Groe park or the castle. We've tucked in everywhere in the past. For a B&B try Llanelwedd Arms Hotel.
Bang on trail this camp site is well established beside the Wye at Glasbury. There's another on the other side of the river-Glasbury Camp. Otherwise pitch up beside the river on the beach. It appears to be common space and there is a copse of sorts to conceal yourself in if stealth is what you want. For B&B see the Harp Inn.
Home to the geodome Racquety Farm is run by a well known family who are friendly and known to us. They have camping facilities on site right beside the Wye. Hay On Wye is but a short distance walk for outdoor gear, entertainment and or supplies.
"After a day’s walk, everything has twice its usual value."
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G.M. Trevelyan
This site just over the Wye bridge (Location) on the right is a popular spot with backpackers. It has sweeping views of the valley and Black Mountains and is highly rated. It's affordable and worth pitching up for a good rest.
Just on the edge of town outdoors@hay have all the experience having put up a ton of Hay Guardian Literature Festival goers over the years. It's fully decked out with toilets and showers and what with hay on your doorstep you can resupply to.
Just two minutes out of town Gypsy Castle is another quality camp site in Hay On Wye. With the Wye nearby and the Black Mountains looming large it has some atmosphere and all the facilities.
This campsite is in a legendary spot on the Wye. The largest Salmon ever caught was caught here on the Winferton Stretch. It's on a beautiful bend of the river right on trail so no commuting to this one.
If you want an alternative to the domes and pods then try this one on Merbach Hill in Herefordshire. More or less on trail it's simply a hut surrounded by woodland with views of the Wye Valley, it's not far off trail and Ideal. Besides the hut Merbach is remote enough and ripe for a wild camp.
You can't miss the Red Lion it's on trail and as a 17th Century Inn stands right out on the main road. It's in a peaceful enough position - there's never much traffic here. With good food and rooms you'll spend a good night in Kilvert Diary country. Check this affordable B&B out also.
"A walk in nature walks the soul back home."
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Mary Davis
This site is predominantly what they call glamping camping. They have numerous settings all chosen for their idyllic nature. It doesn't say so but it's highly possible they'd be open to a pitch if on trail. The property is part of the Garnons Estate. St Johns at Byford is worth checking out for its medieval wall painting.
As you approach the westerly outskirts of Hereford there are a couple of B&B's. The Heartease overlooks a cottage garden and has a King-sized bed - sprawling is the idea. The tack room is a studio apartment right on the old Roman town of Magnis. From both it's about 1 hour into town.
A tip if your wild camping. Beneath St Micheals church at Lower Breinton is Breinton Springs. Check the link out for location. Generations have camped here. It's owned by the National trust so there is no private landlord patrolling. There is room for a couple of tents and a great spring/water source as the name suggests,
In the heart of the historic city of Hereford the rowing club has been hosting campers for decades. They're well versed in the ways of wayfarers and trail heads. There are good facilities with showers and of course the City center in within spitting distance. Good for supplies and a decent rest.
Hereford Wild Camp Tip
We are Hereford and know the place and its habits inside out. There are a couple of other areas where you can wild camp. On the eastern edge is Bartonsham - the meadows now managed by Hereford Wild Life Trust. But the path connecting the meadows and Canary Bridge offers up some good pitches. See Link.
Hereford Wild Camp Tip
Again we know the area well and have camped being local. To the far east of Hereford about 1 mile out of town (check the link) before you reach the Bunch of Carrots is a great spot for camping beside the river. The land was once family owned but the farming is now contracted in. You rarely see anyone. There are beaches also.
“Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.”
Gary Snyder
This site is ideally situated if you want a few drinks or even a skin full. Food is served also. The campsite is to the rear in their garden and they are open to tents and single pitches. It's an old pub with a lot of charm. Expect some cheery locals. If you want to Wild Camp areas of Westwood are a good bet.
The park is on the banks of the Wye. They offer the chance to pitch in the Long Meadow. It's a bit off trail. You'd have to either walk back to Mordiford via Westwood or order a taxi for the morning. You could miss 1Km of the trail out and cut straight across from your pitch. The choice is yours.
There are a few places in Fownhope to get your head down after a long day on trail. There's Pippins a real gem of a place tucked right into the hillside. In the village you have the Green Man, a pub as well as a hotel. Then there is the Tan House a clean well laid out room. If we were bias it would be Pippins or the woods.
Similar to Hereford Ross On Wye Rowing club camping is a few minutes from town and right beside the Wye. The sites are pleasant, fenced in and gated for added security. There's no shower block but their are washing sinks and a mobile toilet. All good on trail.
Caplor is right on trail but it's billed as a glamping site. However, we know the people behind it and they're broad in their thinking. It's easily possible to get a small little pitch somewhere before hitting Ross on Wye or vice versa. Alternatively, try tucking in somewhere amid the ancient Hill Fort above. It's private land but we tread lightly and respectfully.
This is a little distance on the edge of town on the other side of the river. If a pub is your thing then this spot beside the Wye will be up your trail so to speak. There are shower and toilet facilities so you can freshen up as well maybe eat some pub grub.
“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.”
John Muir
The YHA needs no introduction. Having stayed at this site we can testify to its peace and beauty. Right beside the Wye it has multiple rooms. At present, though it might be closed. However, pitches are possible on the property. You take the risk. The woodland beyond Symonds Yat are ideal for slinging up a hammock, too.
Some of us love to be that hiker trash, that wanderer, that free spirit. We've dossed down in an number of places in Monmouth - the weirdest isa toilet. Two of the best for a bivvi down are the shelters beneath the rowing club beside the Wye and the shelter next to the club house on the sports fields.
Almost in the town center the caravan park overlooks the river Monnow a sub tributary of the Wye. There are toilets and a shower block and all the amenities of the town. According to some camping in tents is allowed and from what we can tell there's space enough to accommodate the trekker.
All along the Wye Valley there are spots to pitch up. Bargain Woods is just one. Situated just beyond Cleddon Falls above LLandogo it's nice and flat in many areas. Natural Resources Wales we've pitched here before and had a great night. At the right time of day there are few if any people - just look out for the Pink Hexagon symbol of NRW. See link above.​
Heatherdean adds about another 2KM there and back to the river see, here. It has been established as a family run campsite for 25 years. Facilities include hot shower and toilet onsite. There are 6 camping pitches available alongside carvans.
This place is all about Yurts and retreats - expect some Yoga on the edges of your reality. It's a in a nice spot and you can hire a yurt. You'd have to walk off trail a bit before reaching it and then step back on trail the following morning. But if you like peace, then go for it. There might even be a chance for a pitch.
“There is no wrong pace for a walk.”
Mark Jickells
Woodland Wild Camps
Beyond Tintern it is almost all Natural Resources Wales forestry management. These are usually good for tucking into without having a landowner move you on. The symbol you're looking for (usually on a 1:50,000 map) is a light pink Hexagon. They took over from the Forestry Commission.
The Greenman Backpackers B&B in Chepstow is geared towards backpackers and walkers. It has a bunkhouse room, double ensuite with a bunk and so on. It's right in the heart of town and not far from the finish or start at Chepstow Castle. There's also a bar.