Pencelli Castle

Don't feel misled but upon arriving at Pencelli Castle you shouldn't spend too long looking for any battlements, the castle was dismantled in the 1500s with the manor house on the site grounds partially built from the old castle's chapel. Instead you will be greeted by blooms sprouting from every verge and an impressive wall of plaques showcasing the awards Pencelli Castle has won over the years. The site is caravan friendly with "The Orchard" and "The Oaks" fields not really setup for campers. Instead head to "The Meadow" which is reserved for campers and has a more relaxed feel with a mix of open spaces and secluded clearings.

As you wander around this beautifully kept site you'll notice a slightly continental feel with great facilities and gardens recalling the well ordered campsites of Northern France. The guests kept this up with some very cool looking dutch canvas tents making us a little jealous in our neoprene dome. Keeping up the euro vibes are some communal fridges and a well stocked store. In fact the star of the show is probably the stunningly clean toilets that are given a surreal edge with piped in classical music offering an invigorating way to carry out your morning ablutions; that award-winning, heated facility block is still the thing people talk about most when they come back. Alongside a traditional kids play area (featuring that elusive castle) is a small but fascinating tractor museum we spent a surprisingly long time admiring.

A canal runs alongside Pencelli Castle allowing you to launch a canoe directly from the site with boats also available for hire, if you fancy a stroll follow the river into Brecon with the beacons themselves a short drive away. The village pub is only a couple of minutes' walk for proper pub grub and a good pint, and there's a regular bus into Brecon from a stop right by the gate. It's all very easy really, Pencelli Castle is that complete package of a site ideal for new campers or for those trips when you want everything to be just so. One thing to note if you're travelling with a four legged friend: it's a no dogs site.