Having a Wale(s) of a Time in the Dyfi

Camping is one of our favourite ever holidays and as you know the more challenging the conditions are, the better. Only kidding! We've simply got used to making the best of the UK weather in recent years and are pretty well kitted out for any conditions.

Although Alice keeps growing so fast, keeping her in proper waterproofs clothes and decent boots can get pricey. One of the reasons I discovered Little Trekkers was when I was trying to find affordable outdoor clothes for kids, and it's fabulous.

Anyway, last year our camping adventure took us to somewhere we'd never been before....deepest, darkest mid- west Wales. We booked Gwerniago, a tiny campsite on a working farm, very close to Machynleth in Powys for a week as it was also just 15 minutes drive to the beautiful Aberdyfi town and beach. Gwerniago campsite allows camp fires which for us is a huge bonus for five reasons:

• It keeps us warm
• It keeps the mozzies away
• We can cook on it (our stove is ancient)
• Provides light to sit around an chat long after Alice has conked out for the night
• I love real fires in the fresh air

In the end we were relatively lucky with the weather as a few sunny warm days let us build sandcastles on Aberdyfi beach, catch crabs and generally sit outside the tent and chill. The damper days were spent exploring beautiful local waterfalls and the amazing Centre for Alternative Technology. CAT is a highly recommended day out with it's water-powered funicular lift, wind-powered swing seats and really amazing whole food in the cafe, it's a definite don't miss place to go.

I almost forgot, the Dyfi donkeys were a hot favourite with Alice for rides on the beach plus Gwerniago's resident farmer even had time to offer pony rides once or twice a week. It's also just across the estuary from the Dyfi Osprey Project featured on Spring Watch this year so if you have powerful binoculars you can actually see the nest. One thing to note though, if you're into basic/wild camping experiences this is a fabulous place to stay. If you're expecting more facilities, such as campsite shops or bars.....try further north! But Gwerniago is an absolute treasure for those brave enough!