Wern Isaf’s main reason for being is as a working farm and you’ll find it just half a mile from the centre of bustling little Llangollen. It’s placed at just the right elevation to give the gently sloping camping field an unobstructed view out over the lovely Dee Valley. What may not be apparent from up here is the fact that almost everything you could possibly want to do from a campsite can be done from here. Sceptical? Well, read on.
We’ll focus on the surfing first, as it seems the most unlikely, with Wern Isaf being about as far from the sea as it is possible to get in Britain. But surfing it is and it comes in many forms (yes, OK, we’re cheating a bit here), with one particular variation being performed in a canoe, or, at least, an inflatable raft, both of which can be hired, or at least a ride purchased, at the old mill on the River Dee, just down the hill a bit from Wern Isaf.
What next? How about a train ride? Yep, that one is covered by the full-sized Llangollen Railway that chunters up the gorgeous Dee valley to Carrog. Another oddball transport jaunt can be taken by horse-drawn canal boat from the wharf just down the hill from the site (to a car museum, would you believe?).
So, that’s the water sports, railways and canals dealt with, so how about culture? No cheating needed here, as Llangollen is home to the International Eisteddfod Pavilion, where a varied programme of concerts, films, literary evenings, specialist fairs and festivals are put on just for the benefit of campers at Wern Isaf.
However, despite this embarrassment of entertainment and culinary riches to be feasted upon on foot from Wern Isaf, the most worthwhile walking from here isn’t to catch a train, get yourself wet in a canoe, improve your cultural understanding or imbibe the necessary life-giving substances. No, for if you walk out of Wern Isaf all those things entail a left turn, whereas the most compelling call of all is the scenery, and that means a quick right at the gates. It just isn’t any contest.
The whole of the Dee Valley is astoundingly good looking, but just here, behind Wern Isaf, the bare limestone bones of the land poke through in very impressive fashion. The small hill at the back of the site is crowned by the ancient fortress of Castell Dinas Bran – a most picturesque and evocative sight.
So, that’s Wern Isaf – cool for everybody – for everything
