Camping in Anglesey

Anglesey is one of the easier places in Wales to camp, largely because it is flat. Unlike the mainland across the strait, you are not pitching on a slope or in a valley that loses the sun at four in the afternoon. Most island sites sit on gently graded farmland within a mile or two of a beach, with level grass pitches and good drainage. That said, the ground is often thin over rock near the coast, so bring decent pegs, and rock pegs if you are anywhere exposed.

Wind is the real consideration rather than rain. There is nothing between Anglesey and Ireland, and westerly gusts can arrive suddenly even in a settled spell. Choose a pitch with a hedge or wall on the western side where you can, guy everything properly, and be sceptical of a lightweight tent on the north or west coasts outside high summer. Sites on the sheltered north-east coast around Dulas, Moelfre and Benllech generally give an easier ride than those facing the open Irish Sea.

Wild camping is not legal in Wales without the landowner's permission, and that includes the dunes, forest and coast path. Enforcement on Anglesey is reasonably active in summer, particularly around Newborough and Rhosneigr. Stick to proper sites; there are enough of them and many are excellent, with several holding five-star gradings and AA awards.

The season runs from around Easter to the end of October, with a good many parks closing entirely from 1 November. May, June and September are the sweet spot: long days, dry ground and far less competition for pitches. July and August require booking months ahead, especially for the sea-view pitches that the better parks charge a premium for.

Pack for four seasons in a day. Waterproofs, warm layers for evenings, and a windbreak are all worth the space. If you want the coast without the fight, glamping pods and safari tents have spread quickly across the island and are a sensible choice in shoulder season, when a heated pod costs less than a hotel room and does not blow down.