If you are looking for a gorgeous place to go camping in Wales, look no further than Hillend Campsite! Having stayed at this campsite several times now, I’m a little bit in love. There’s something very special about being able to venture out of the campsite, through sand dunes, and onto an utterly perfect sweeping soft sand beach that makes you want to drool! If this sounds too good to be true, keep reading this post and I’ll take you to this little slice of heaven in south Wales.
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Where is Hillend Campsite
Hillend Campsite is located in the Gower Peninsula in South Wales, not too far away from Swansea. The campsite is next to the pristine Llangennith Beach, a perfect surfing destination! It speaks volumes that the Gower Penisular was Britain’s first designated area of outstanding natural beauty.
How to get to Hillend Campsite
The best way to get to the campsite is by car due to its remote location. There are buses that can take you from Swansea to the town of Llangennith, which is then a short walk from the campsite. You can view information on local buses on the Adventure Travel Cymru website here.
If you’re driving, Hillend campsite it’s about a 40-minute drive from Swansea, approximately 17 miles. Just be aware, that the closer you get to the campsite, the narrower and winder the roads become.
How much does it cost to camp at Hillend Campsite?
Pitches at Hillend Campsite start from just £20 per night. This cost is for a standard tent, for up to two people between April to September. From May to June this pitch is £25, and in July and August, a two-man pitch is £30.
Large pitches cost between £25 to £45 per night and are suitable for large tents or campervans. You can get a large pitch with an electric hook-up for between £30 to £50 per night.
You can view the full prices and additional charges for pitches on the campsites webpage here.
Facilities at Hillend Campsite
The campsite has great facilities, offering everything you need for a comfortable stay. There are hot showers which really help you warm up after a long day spent catching waves at the beach. Amazingly, there are 6 outdoor showers so you can roll straight up from the beach and hop into the shower without any fuss.
You’ll find coin-operated washers and driers, phone charging facilities, a football pitch, a small onsite shop, baby changing and a cafe!
The onsite shop sells various goods, from food items to fun beach games and hoodies.
Where to eat at Hillend Campsite?
Eddy’s Cafe
On-site you’ll find Eddy’s Cafe, a little eatery with incredible panoramic sea views. Eddy’s Cafe has a great menu, and also provides some shelter if like me you wake up to a torrential downpour – oh the joys of British weather.
From the breakfast menu, I had a sausage and fried egg roll, which really hit the spot and set me up perfectly for a day in the water. Also, I highly recommend trying their cakes. We had the Chocolate brownie and rocky road and my oh my, what a treat. The brownie was perfectly gooey, we were sad to finish it and tempted to fill up on more – although was put off by the idea of sinking in the sea like an anchor filled with brownie.
The decor in the cafe is also awesome, with colourful surfboards adorning the walls across the cafe. It really makes you realise how much of a surfing hub Llangennith is.
Kings Head pub in Llangennith
Away from the campsite, my favourite place to eat is the Kings Head pub in the nearby town of Llangennith. The pub is a 20-minute walk from the main campsite. The menu is plentiful, with lots of carby, yummy goodness, perfect after you’ve been popping out on the surf for 6 hours of the day.
What I highly recommend you get is the Welsh Dragons Breath Curry, particularly if you like a spicy kick! I also particularly loved the venison pie, which was packed with flavour and gloriously tender.
In the busy seasons particularly, make sure you book your table in advance as the pub can fill up pretty quickly.
Surfing when at Hillend Campsite
One of the best reasons to visit Hillend Campsite is for the surfing, whether you want to catch some waves independently or learn the ropes at one of the great local surf schools. Below I’ll talk you through the different options, so all you have to worry about is choosing which one is best for you! Of course, if you are a seasoned surfer, just bring your own gear, and it’s a short walk from the campsite, through the dunes onto the beach. Just be careful where you leave any of your belongings on the beach, as I lost my favourite pair of Animal Flip-flops to the rising tide (rookie mistake) RIP flip-flops.
South Wales Surf School
This family-run surf school offers half-day surf lessons for just £35 per person. This includes all your equipment hire so really is a great value way to give surfing a go. It’s easy to check availability and book your spot on their website.
Surf School WSF
Another great surf school operating at Llangennith is Surf School WSF. With this school, you can opt to surf for a half-day session, either during their morning 10 am to 12 pm lesson, or their afternoon 2 pm to 4 pm session. If you are super keen, you can sign up for a full day where you’ll do both the morning and afternoon sessions. You can also tailor your session to your ability, so it’s a great option whether you’re just starting out, or a great surfer but ready to learn some new skills. To book, just visit their website here.
Hire your gear at PJ’s Surf School
On my first trip down to Llangennith, I visited with a group of university friends. One of the group had been down here many times, and new that PJ’s surf shop was pretty much an institution. So on the way down to the campsite, we stopped in town and hired all of our gear at PJ’s. They had surfboards and wetsuits for the lot of us, and new exactly what board type and wetsuit we should each get. I loved PJ’s! I got given a little PJ Surf Shop sticker when I visited back in 2014, and have proudly repped it for years. Also the kit hire for our whole weekend was at a really reasonable rate, which means you can spend as long as you want in the water during your stay! Result!
I’m sure you can tell from reading this post how much I love Hillened Campsite and the Gower Peninsular in South Wales. If you are looking for an outdoor getaway, with one of the most beautiful sandy beaches, and plenty of fun to be had surfing the waves at Llangennith Beach, then Hillend Campsite is the place for you! This is definitely one of those places I’ll continue to return to year upon year. Just gotta keep my fingers and toes crossed for good weather.
For more UK adventure ideas, check out my post of 65 epic UK adventures here!
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