Oh, to be a bird. Gazing entranced at the ubiquitous red kites circling high-overhead and longing for the bird's-eye view, visitors to this part of North Wales are want to rue pesky gravity. Sure the vistas from the old terra firma are pretty spectacular, but to see it from above.... Well, rue no more camping fans for Lleweni Parc in Denbighshire let's campers take to the skies courtesy of their very own flight school! Soaring 3,000 feet above the heather-hued hills of the Clwydian Range and the Dee Valley, you really can't argue with its Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty tag. Surveying the scene below gives you a proper gawk at all lush 180 acres of the Lleweni Parc estate – onetime walled pleasure garden of medieval landlords the Salusbury family.
With their truly unique selling point, you could be inclined to think that the campsite here is just an afterthought – more of a an airfield with an accompanying campsite, rather than a campsite in its own right. But you'd be wrong. The Meadow is a car-free acre of blissfully tranquil riverside loveliness. This secluded patch of peace and quiet is tucked a good 10 minute's away from Lleweni's touring park, so your serenity won't be punctuated by gas-guzzling caravans. And if you're thinking this tranquil scene will be interrupted by loop-de-looping bi-planes, the gliders are pretty noiseless once airborne.
Best of all, because The Meadow lies in this isolated corner accessible only via a woodland walk over a charming little bridge, it's the ideal setting for your camping party. Weddings, bouncy castles, hog roasts – The Meadow has hosted them all. They also allow campfires and bonfires. Lleweni Parc staff are a wealth of local knowledge and will be happy to help you arrange your shindig.
Sure facilities are pretty non-existent (no power, showers, and just a couple of woodland compost loos), but it's all part of its off-the-grid charm. This refreshing lack of development spells adventure for kids – it's prime den-building estate.
So whether there's a special occasion looming or just a good old fashion knees-up, give Lleweni Parc and it's airfield a go. Possibly the highest you can get camping (except maybe Glastonbury circa '73). And how many opportunities will you get to pull out the "Look, I can see my tent from here" gag?
Take to the skies from the Lleweni Parc airfield. Denbigh Flight Training (01745 812121) offers gliding sessions from just £79. For something a little less high-octane, there's plenty of great spots for fishing with a catch-and-put back trout lake and carp pond in the park (day tickets are £13.50). You can even cast off straight into the River Clwyd, though be sure to get permission from the campsite staff. North Wales is a land of castles so be sure to visit either Denbigh (01745 813385) or Conway (01492 592358). There's plenty of hiking opportunities, with the Clwydian Range and the more sedate Clwydian Way easily accessible from the site. The incredible Pontcysyllte Aqueduct at nearby Froncysyllte is essential visiting – UNESCO certainly think so, awarding it World Heritage Status in 2009.
There's plenty of cracking pubs in the area. The Kinmel Arms (01824 790291) and The White Horse Inn (01824 790582), both in Llandyrnog, serve up hearty pub grub favourites and a great selection of CAMRA-approved cask ales. The Pwll Gwyn (01352 720227) at Afonwen boasts a swanky restaurant that's popular with the locals, while Simply Fish and Chips (01745 812999) in Denbigh takes some beating. Then again, you might just want to fire up the BBQ back at camp. The much-garlanded J Williams & Co Butchers (01745 812585) is your one stop shop for prime Welsh meat.