Camp Plas

On the banks of the River Vyrnwy

Camp Plas is a farm at Dolanog, north-west of Welshpool, that has been here since 1664. The camping and glamping sit on the banks of the River Vyrnwy under Allt Dolanog, and the whole place is built around being outdoors — wild swimming, walking, and rare-breed sheep in the next field.

What you can stay in

The Boatshed is a cabin for two, or three with the extra single bed, looking straight out over the river. It has its own cooking facilities, a log burner, its own toilet and sink, and a private outdoor bath and shower just outside the door. Cuddfan Bach — the little hideaway — is a six-metre bell tent for two to four in its own woodland glade, with an outdoor kitchen and a composting toilet. Three more bell tents stand along the wildflower meadow, each sleeping up to four. The meadow itself holds fifteen tent pitches and five campervan pitches, and there is a hand-built communal kitchen shared by everyone camping.

The sauna and the river

There is a sauna on the farm, and the Vyrnwy is used for wild swimming. The Barn can be hired for workshops, yoga retreats and celebrations, and the farm runs its own events — outdoor yoga through the summer, and forest and bushcraft sessions on Sundays.

At a glance

Riverside camping and glamping at Dolanog, farmed since 1664 · the Boatshed cabin with a log burner and its own outdoor bath · Cuddfan Bach in private woodland · three field bell tents · fifteen tent and five campervan pitches · sauna, wild swimming and a barn for events · dogs welcome · deliberately off-grid, with no electric hook-up anywhere.

Ann Griffiths of Dolanog

This small village produced one of the great writers in the Welsh language, and almost nobody outside Wales has heard of her. Ann Griffiths was born at Dolwar Fach nearby in 1776 and died at twenty-nine. She wrote a little over seventy verses of hymns, and they are counted among the finest religious poetry Europe produced. She never wrote them down. After her death her servant Ruth recited them from memory to John Hughes of Pontrobert, who set them on paper — which is the only reason any of it survives. The Ann Griffiths Walk is seven miles from Pont Llogel to Pontrobert, following the Vyrnwy most of the way with the Berwyn hills behind, and it passes her memorial chapel here in Dolanog.

Getting here

Welshpool is fourteen miles south-east and has a supermarket, a market and a railway station on the Cambrian Line. Llanfair Caereinion is seven miles. The lanes in are narrow, so allow a little longer than the map suggests.

Good to know

What does it cost? A field bell tent is £65 a night, Cuddfan Bach £120 a night and the Boatshed £160 a night. All three are booked as two nights minimum.

Is there electric hook-up? No. In their words, they are as off-grid as they can be, and there is no hook-up anywhere on site.

Is it open in winter? The Boatshed is bookable through the winter. The bell tents and the meadow pitches close for the colder months.

Can I light a fire? Ground fires and disposable barbecues are not permitted.

Are dogs allowed? Yes, well-behaved dogs kept under control and cleaned up after.

Is there a sauna? Yes, on the farm.

Can you swim in the river? Yes, the Vyrnwy is used for wild swimming.

What time is check-in? Between 3pm and 7pm — let them know if you will be later.