Shell Island Campsite
Shell Island is off the coast of North Wales and is only accessible during low-tide over a causeway. It's one of the largest campsites in the UK.
Note that caravans cannot stay at Shell Island, and there is no Electric Hook-up, though they can charge leisure batteries. Phone charging is available in the Shop (for a fee).
Our Review
Shell Island in Wales is one of those great places where you can give your family a taste of a real adventure. It is certainly a place we keep going back to.
Technically not an island, it can be reached by causeway except at high tide, so check the website for the best time to arrive and depart.
The area is quite large and you are free to find your own pitch. This can either be a grass field, by a cliff (perhaps not if you have little kids), or best of all, out by the dunes.
To reach the dunes keep on driving past the facilities, past all the fields, and past the last field. You will see huge sand dunes, like something out of the Sahara.
Follow the road around and you will find an area below the dunes, mostly grassed, with trees for shelter. If you are lucky you can find your own little tree enclave right by the dunes.
Facilities out by the dunes are basic (a few portaloos) but drinking water is provided. You can always drive to the main centre for showers, etc.
However, if the wilder side of camping doesn't suit you, Shell Island also has a full range of facilities, including on-site shop, on-site cafe, on-site bar, and entertainment in high season.
It can get really busy, so best to book and arrive early.
Update 2020
We first posted our review of Shell Island back in 2011. It was somewhere we visited regularly. The Sand Dunes were our favourite. We could set-up in a clearing in the trees. Facilities are basic in that area so we eventually even invested in a toilet tent and portable toilet. We had everything we needed, and the kids loved it.
However, despite having a quiet time and rules on groups, we found the enforcement of these mixed. There were times that the dunes meant all night drunken parties for teenagers, which ruined the tranquillity the island boasts. It also meant that you could turn up to some pitches and find them littered with beer bottles, cans, and lots of food rubbish. Even the odd discarded tent. And since the toilets were so far away (and sometimes disgusting), you can imagine what else was left.
Of course, it might have changed since we last visited, which is quite a few years ago now. But I just want to make it clear that it's not somewhere we consider going anymore as we're not sure what to expect when we get there.
We could of course camp in the regular camping fields, but it was the remote and almost wild camping feel of the dunes that was the main attraction.
Pitch Types
Accommodation
Campsite Facilities
Large Pitch Restrictions
Pitches aren't allocated. The only rule is not to camp within 15 metres of another tent.Campfire Details
Campfires are allowed at Shell Island but must be raised off the ground. The same goes for BBQs.Facilities
Facilities Details
If you bring your dog, it must remain on its lead. There are some campfields where dogs are not allowed.Check In/Out Details
Check-in Time: 08:00|20:00|0|
Check-out By: 15:00|15:00|0|
On The Map
Address
Shell Island CampsiteShell Island, Llanbedr
Gwynedd
Gwynedd
LL45 2PJ
Wales
Longitude: -4.139189
Latitude: 52.821059