Tyn Cornel Camping & Caravan Park
Frongoch
Bala
Gwynedd
LL23 7NU

We spent three nights at Tyn Cornel in early August 2007. We chose this camp site after careful consideration of what we wanted and reading plenty of reviews. This was our first family camp and we wanted one with simple but good facilities, a scenic location, a sense of being “away from it all” and yet not too far from alternative distractions for the kids. All this was supplied in abundance.

Facilities included a toilet and shower block (including disabled-access) that was always spotlessly clean, attractive and very well appointed (toilet paper never ran out and hand wash by the sinks also provided) - in fact the toilet block is probably the best I've seen on a campsite. There were further toilet facilities (simpler but equally well-maintained) available on the tent field itself for those who didn’t want to walk the fifty or so yards to the block. Just by the toilet block was a washing-up facility of three sinks and even washing-up liquid for those who forgot to bring their own. A freezer for ice blocks, etc. and laundry facilities, for those staying longer than we were, were also available. A small shop seemed to have quite a few things that you might need, especially some of the little things that you might have forgotten, e.g. insect/midge repellent and those artificial logs to put on the BBQ after the cooking has finished.

By the way, due to its location midges are a-plenty, so come prepared!

The location is beautiful. The site is nestled in a valley with sheep grazing on the hills and a river flowing alongside the camp (though well fenced-off so young children cannot stray there). The only intrusion made by the outside world was the road which was about one hundred yards from the camp; the dense plantation of trees mostly muffled the sound of traffic except for the occasional impatient speed-merchant. However, although I was occasionally aware of this, others were not and it did not spoil the holiday at all.

We had four children with us (5, 10, 12 & 12) and they did not miss the absence of the usual, modern distractions. Being a fairly simple site there is no playground, but that meant that our kids rediscovered the joys of exploring, swing-ball, rounders, cricket, football and board-games. The tent field is quite small but there is a much larger field adjacent to it that is only used over weekends. As we were there midweek, this was available for our kids (and us!) to play. During our short stay we did not make much use of the local town, Bala, but we did go swimming once (nice pool but restricted opening times, so check ahead) and took the delightful steam train ride along the length of the lake – although the older ones didn’t like the idea when we first told them, they clearly enjoyed it also.

To conclude, I strongly recommend Tyn Cornel and we will definitely be going back at some time in the future.

www.tyncornel.co.uk