Gwern Gôf Uchaf

The rush of mountain streams mingles with the scrape of boots on slate as climbers gear up at first light, while the brooding north face of Tryfan looms directly overhead – this is proper mountaineering country, and you're camping right at its heart.

Gwern Gôf Uchaf has served generations of scramblers, walkers and peak-baggers tackling Snowdonia's most dramatic terrain. Pitched deep in the legendary Ogwen Valley, it's a no-frills base camp for those serious about the hills, whether you're planning the classic Tryfan scramble, tackling the Glyderau ridge, or venturing further into the national park. Dogs are welcome for a small charge, making it ideal for four-legged hiking companions.

With tent pitches and space for campervans, plus showers and toilets, the facilities are straightforward but perfectly adequate when you're returning mud-splattered and exhilarated from a day on the ridges. Check about campfires on arrival. The atmosphere is refreshingly unpretentious – climbers comparing routes over brew-ups, the camaraderie of shared adventure, and those magnificent peaks watching over everything.