Wild swimming Wales: Keiran & Lydia discover waterfalls

We caught up with Keiran and Lydia, who recently jumped in a Camplify van and headed for Wales. Residents of Cornwall, Keiran and Lydia are no strangers to water, but they wanted to mix things up and swap surf and swell for wild waterfalls and fresh water swimming. We asked them a few questions about how they got on, and what their itinerary was.

Which van did you hire from Camplify?

We wanted a larger van that would be able to fit our wetsuits and gear for the trip, so we chose ‘Myvanwy’. She’s been purpose built by her owners Alex and Bee, who designed the perfect balance of space vs storage. Myvanwy had bunk beds in the rear, a rock and roll bed, a double hob gas cooker, a sink and even a microwave.

How did you find the Camplify experience?

We picked up Myvanwy from her home near Swansea which was a great central location to start our trip. Alex and Bee gave us a brief how-to as neither of us have spent time in a campervan before. Once the buttons and switches seemed a little less alien, we chucked our kit into the back, they handed over the keys and away we went.

How did you guys prepare for your trip?

We spent a lot of time researching wild swimming spots and Welsh waterfalls for our first campervan adventure; it’s safe to say that our schedule was jam-packed! South Wales has so much to offer, but these are our ultimate road trip highlights.

Three Cliffs Bay

Our first stop was utterly spectacular, we pulled up at a campsite with an amazing lookout spot over the cliffs that give this area its name. The evening light was calling us down to the beach and after only a 15-minute walk down a well-trodden footpath, there we stood on this jaw droppingly huge beach. Although we didn’t dip in the sea it was a stunning place to kick off our trip. Best time to visit is on a low tide either just after sunset or just before sunrise – we couldn’t resist and did both!

Penllegare Valley

Tucked away in a secret, somewhat unlikely spot (just off the M4 near Swansea) we found this charity run woodland area which was once a Victorian estate. It has been restored by volunteers, opened to the public and boasts acres of trails. We followed a path that led us

down along the meandering banks of the river Llan, and eventually opened out to a magical waterfall. Swimming here is prohibited so Lydia and I hopped across the rocks that framed the waterfall being careful not to slip on the wet ones. Best time to visit is whenever you’re passing! It’s a beautiful dog friendly wooded area with a café and toilet, so perfect for a pit stop if you want to avoid a busy service station.

Pwll Y Wrach aka “Witches’ Cauldron”

Not far from Cardigan, along the Wales Coast Path we found this enchanting green pool where a collapsed sea cave makes it appear to be cut off from the sea. After navigating our way down onto the rocks below, we jumped into the water to explore and found hidden caves and, to our surprise, an underground waterfall! The sea water felt cold, even in wetsuits, but we could have stayed here all day exploring the caves surrounding what legend tells us was once a sea-witch’s lair. Best time to visit is on a sunny day at low tide with small swell – so you can swim safely through the cave into the cauldron and see the glimmering effect the sun has on the water.

The Blue Lagoon

Often used for cliff jumping, this wild swimming spot boasts clear, turquoise water surrounded by high slate cliffs. The old quarry was blasted apart by fishermen over a century ago to create a safe harbour for their boats during storms. We parked the van on the pebbly beach car park at Abereiddy, pulled on our wetsuits and leapt into the refreshing, deep water. We built up the courage to have a go jumping off at different heights from various walls of the disused building. We loved it so much here that we visited again the next morning; we enjoyed a coffee on the beach and walked up to get a higher viewpoint from the cliffs above. Although beautiful, the sheer drop plunges into the lagoon below so perhaps avoid this walk if you have a fear of heights! Best time to visit is on a high tide, meaning extra deep water for jumping.

Four Waterfalls Walk

When driving up through the Brecon Beacons, epic scenery appeared at every twist and turn in the road, certainly very different to the Cornish countryside that we are used to. One of our favourite days was spent in an area known as “Waterfall Country”, walking along one of the most popular trails. As soon as we set off along the footpath, we could hear the thundering noise of falling water and we soon arrived at the first waterfall. There was lots of signage, so it was easy to find our way around. We wandered through peaceful woodland, occasionally clambering down some steeper paths to get a better view of each of the falls. We enjoyed a picnic sat at the foot of the ‘Sgwd y Pannwr’ and then continued along to the most impressive and last stop on our route called ‘Sgwd yr Eira’ - Fall of the Snow. It was simply incredible; you can even walk behind it! Even though it started to pour with rain, Lydia couldn’t resist a dip in the cold plunge pool. Best time to visit is when you have a whole day to spare, make sure to wear sturdy footwear and take care on the trails.

Blue Pool Bay

Unseen from the cliffs above, hides a not-so-secret tidal pool that has become a popular spot for wild swimmers. We walked along the coastal path in search of this turquoise pool, until we spotted it. Looking down from above, the pool beckoned us in, so we found ourselves scrambling down a sandy path to the beach below. We splashed about in the clear water and jumped off the surrounding rocks, what a perfect way to end our Wales adventure! Best time to visit is on a low to mid tide as there is much easier to access from Broughton Bay via the beach; it’s the perfect place to cool off on a sunny day.

So, sum it all up for us… ?

What an incredible experience! We are so grateful to have had such an epic adventure exploring the best waterfalls and wild swimming spots that South Wales has to offer, in such a comfortable campervan. Having always dreamed of the van life, it was amazing to have a glimpse at what could be!