BIG Spring Camp 2018
493 people attending
7 places left
If you want to cancel your place on the event, or on the waiting list, you can do so by emailing support@outdoorlads.com or calling us on 0161 420 0001.
Glastonbury might be taking a fallow year but it's okay, because Big Spring Camp is back for 2018: bigger, springier and campier than ever! Running over the late May bank holiday, this is the perfect way to get the most out of that sacred long weekend.
A host of activities have been arranged in and around our beautiful campsite in Llanrwst, North Wales, for you to do as much (or as little) as you desire; whether you fancy hurtling head first down the side of a mountain, bouncing through underground caverns or sitting back on your camp chair with a cold drink, how you spend the weekend is up to you.
Alongside our setlist of daytime activities we also offer evening entertainment plus food and drink throughout the day.
FOOD AND DRINK - Restaurant
As usual, we'll have the OutdoorLads bar, and we'd encourage you to use it, as any profits get ploughed straight back into the organisation and help to keep OutdoorLads running!
We have our team of expert chefs on site, who will be providing a brilliant range of breakfast options, snacks available throughout the day, and an evening menu of main meals.
FOOD AND DRINK - Additional Caterers (booking now closed)
In addition, on each evening we will have external caters that have been carefully handpicked to bring a brilliant range of tasty delights to BIG Spring Camp, these are quality professional caterers not "greasy spoons," and we know you're going to love what they have to offer! The options are below, but because they will be preparing the freshest ingredients possible, you need to book in advance via the OutdoorLads website. Booking closes on Sunday 20th May at midnight. So get choosing! We have available:
SATURDAY 26th:
Pizza night! Smoking BBQ, T-Rex, Inferno, Margarita, Hawaiian, and Deep in the Woods toppings.
SUNDAY 27th:
Halloumi and Mushroom Burger (v)
Sticky Asian / Hickory Ribs with Jacket Potato and Coleslaw
PACKED LUNCHES
Save yourself the hassle and get a ready-made packed lunch from us to take on your days activities. Vegetarian options will be available.
EVENTS
You'll find all the events by searching the BIG EVENTS link on the outdoorlads.com homepage.
In addition a full list of the events is already included at the bottom of this page.
Due to the volume of people booking events, some have been oversubscribed, and we have had to move people down to waiting lists. Please check your MY ACCOUNT and MY EVENTS page to be sure what status you have on an event. Thanks for your understanding on this, if we could have avoided it happening we would have done so.
THE CLUB HOUSE AND MARQUEE
The OutdoorLads Charity Bar
The bar is a permanent fixture in the club house offering an indoor space to relax and eat during the day/early evening then later it become a lively space with entertainment into the early hours.
We have a large number of draught/bottled beers, lagers and spirts as well as soft and hot drinks. For those real ale lovers that have been before you will remember the range of real ales that come from the brewery just a mile away.
The Bar is operated by our own OutdoorLads volunteers. The prices are kept low and all the profit made goes right back into supporting the charity.
The Marquee
Our marquee, located next to the club house is normally a quieter space with games and light background music. It's open 24 hours as a meeting space away from the camping fields as groups gathering by tents can disturb others.
Outdoor Chill-out Area
Available to use anytime up to 11pm, the outdoor chill-out area with cosy fire pit is a quiet space where campers can relax.
CAMP SITE INFORMATION
The camp is in a fantastic spot near Betws-y-Coed in the Snowdonia National Park, North Wales. The site is easily accessible with good public transport links and next to some of the most amazing locations for all the outdoor pursuits the UK has to offer. This site is only used for camping by OutdoorLads we have exclusive use of the site and all its facilities.
Camp Facilities
- Licenced Bar
- Food served every day
- Hot, high pressure showers
- Toilets & wash rooms
- Changing areas
- Washing up area
- Drinking water taps
- Recycling area
- Camper van area
- Floodlit camping area on Friday evening
Camp Rules
- No glass policy. This is a rugby club with pitches - this rule will be strictly enforced
- You must respect other campers and their property
- Quiet camping between 23:00 and 07:00 - there are designated areas to socialise and talk away from peoples' tents
- Please pitch tents at least 6 feet / 2 metres apart. Any closer and it represents a fire risk
- Campervans or motorhomes only permitted if you have a booked and confirmed place (max 14). No awnings allowed. Note - these rules are imposed by the venue.
- No dogs on site - this is a rugby club with pitches
- Open fires are not allowed - BBQs are ok, but must be raised off the ground
- You are responsible for keeping your camping area clean and tidy - please ensure it is left in the state you found it when you leave
GETTING HERE
The camp is situated on the B5106 between Llanrwst and Trefriw on the west side of the River Conwy at Llanrwst Rugby Club, Trefriw Road / Ffordd Trefriw (B5106), Llanrwst, Conwy, LL26 0PW.
From Conwy, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, & Scotland: Leave the A55 at junction 19 and take the A470 signposted Betws-y-Coed. This road eventually brings you into Llanrwst. At the junction with the B5106 turn right signposted Trefriw. Go over the narrow single lane bridge and follow the road round to the right. The campsite is then on the right hand side. Look out for the OutdoorLads signs.
From London, Birmingham, Bristol, the Midlands & the South: Leave the M54 at junction 7 and continue onto the A5 signposted Shrewsbury, then Oswestry and Llangollen. Once in Llangollen keep on the A5 signed to Corwen and Betws-y-Coed. Just before reaching Betws turn right onto the A470 signposted Llandudno & Conwy. Keep on this road entering Llanrwst. At the junction with the B5106 turn left signposted Trefriw. Go over the narrow single lane bridge and follow the road round to the right. The campsite is then on the right hand side. Look out for the OutdoorLads signs.
From Cardiff & South Wales: Leave the M4 at junction 32 and take the A470 main Mid Wales road north. Follow the road until eventually passing through Llanrwst. At the junction with the B5106 turn left signposted Trefriw. Go over the narrow single lane bridge and follow the road round to the right. The campsite is then on the right hand side. Look out for the OutdoorLads signs.
By public transport: Why not travel by train right up to our doorstep? There are regular DIRECT trains from London Euston (3 hours) and Manchester Piccadilly (2 hours) to Llandudno Junction in North Wales. You can then switch to the local train to Llanrwst (20 mins) and make the short one mile walk or why not share a cab from Llandudno Junction right to the campsite? A taxi with Castle Cabs will cost £25 - give them a call on 01492 593398.
Alternatively, you can catch the 19 bus from Llandudno or Llanrwst which goes right past the campsite. The stop is a few hundred metres along the road but if you ask the driver nicely he may stop at the rugby club for you.
EVENTS ON BIG SPRING CAMP 2018
Friday
Caravan parking spaces for BSC £10
Gin Tasting Session #1 - £20 (21:00 - 22:00)
Gin Tasting Session #2 - £20 (22:15 - 23:15)
Saturday - Paid Events
Canoe Journey £49 (09:00 - full day)
Coasteering Adventure £49 (09:00 - full day)
Mine Exploration £49 (09:00 - full day)
Sea Level Traverse £49 (09:00 - full day)
Adventure Expedition £49 (09:00 - full day)
Sea Kayaking £55 (09:00 - full day)
Zip World Titan 1 £49 (09:00 - 13:00)
Zip World Titan 2 £49 (09:15 - 13.30)
White Water Rafting £59 (08:45 - 14:00)
Zip World Velocity £69 (10:00 - 13:30)
Surf Snowdonia - Surf Lesson £59 (09:45 - 12:30)
Surf Snowdonia - Crash and Splash Lagoon £25 (15:00 - 17:30)
Zip World Bounce Below 1 £25 (14:15 - 17:30)
Zip World Bounce Below 2 £25 (14:30 - 17:45)
Zip World Bounce Below 3 £25 (14:45 - 18:00)
Gin Tasting Session - £20 (18:00 - 19:00)
Saturday - Free Events
Snowdon Walk - Challenging (08:30 - full day)
Carneddau Walk - Challenging (08:15 - full day)
Blaenau Festiniog/Moelwyn Mawr Walk - Moderate (09:00 - full day)
Roman Bridge Linear Walk - Challenging (09:45 - full day)
Walk to Betws-y-Coed and Back - Moderate (10:00 - full day)
Tryfan/Glyders Scrambling - Challenging (08:45 - full day)
Parkrun in Conwy (08:00 - 11:00)
Mountain Biking Conwy - Challenging (09:00 - full day)
Outdoor Sport Climbing (09:30 - full day)
Beginners Mountain Biking - Easy (09:45 - 13:00)
Beginners Mountain Biking - Moderate (14:00 - 17:15)
Road Cycling (09:00 - full day)
Visit to Great Orme Mine and Conwy Castle (10:00 - full day)
Day trip to the Beach (10:00 - full day)
Fell Run - Moel Eilio (11:00 - 16:00)
Fancy being an ODL Walk Leader (14:00 - 17:00)
Llyn Geirionydd Easy Day walk (10:00 - full day)
Great Big Spring Camp OutdoorLads Bake Off (19:30 - 21:00)
Sunday - Paid Events
Canoe Journey Day £49 (09:00 - full day)
Coasteering Adventure Day £49 (09:00 - full day)
Mine Exploration Day £49 (09:00 - full day)
Sea Level Traverse £49 (09:00 - full day)
Adventure Expedition £49 (09:00 - full day)
Sea Kayaking £55 (09:00 - full day)
Exhilarating RibRide 1 £24 (09:45 - 13:00)
Exhilarating RibRide 2 £24 (10:45 - 14:00)
White Water Rafting £59 (08:45 - 13:15)
Snowdon Mountain Railway £29 (09:30 - full day)
Surf Snowdonia - Surf Lesson £59 (09:45 - 12:30)
Surf Snowdonia - Crash & Splash Lagoon £25 (15:00 - 17:30)
Electric Mountain Tour £8.50 (14:00 - 16:00)
Zip World Bounce Below 1 £25 (14:15 - 17:30)
Zip World Bounce Below 2 £25 (14:30 - 17:45)
Zip World Bounce Below 3 £25 (14:45 - 18:00)
Sunday - Free Events
Snowdon Day Walk - Challenging (08:30 - full day)
Carneddau Walk - Challenging (08:45 - full day)
Moel Siabod Walk - Moderate (08:30 - full day)
Two Lakes Walk : Llyn Crafant/Llyn Geirionyd - Moderate (09:30 - full day)
Llyn Dionas and Cwm Bychan Walk from Beddglert - Moderate (09:00 - full day)
Grey Mare's Tail Walk & Sunday Lunch Llanrwst - Easy (10:30 - full day)
Mountain Biking - Extensive Enduro (08:45 - full day)
Mountain Biking - Marin Trail - Hard (09:00 - full day)
Outdoor Climbing - trad/multi-pitch (09:30 - full day)
Day trip to the Naturist Beach (10:00 - full day)
Up the Hill and Down to the Pub Day Walk - Easy/Moderate (11.00 - 15.00 short day)
What to bring
If you haven’t been camping since you were in the Scouts here is what you need. If it’s your first trip you are likely to want to get away with the bare minimum.
- Tents start off relatively cheap but as they say you get what you pay for. These tend to start from £10 upwards (‘festival tents’) that are light and do the job – but only just. You may find that they leak, break or blow away.
- A thin foam ‘carry mat’ is good to sleep on (under £10) and you can use your clothes to make a pillow. Or if you have the room places like Tesco often sell air beds that cost as little as a fiver.
- Don’t forget you will need something to sleep in. You can buy a sleeping bag from as little as a tenner. This will tend to be thin but will do the job at most summer camps. At camps later in the year you will want something warmer though.
- Some places such as Argos/ASDA sell camping sets where you can buy a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat and a lamp for approx. £50-£60.
- If you have friends that camp you may find it beneficial to talk to them first and they may even lend you some kit.
- You can easily beg a cup of tea from more seasoned campers – but it helps if you have a cup, and don’t forget a plastic glass if you like your wine! If you are coming by car, a folding chair (£10) is great. As you may be sitting outside late into the evening. Some proper warm clothing always comes in handy – even in the summer. Don’t forget a torch, or you may never make it back to your tent. Finally, ear plugs are always a great idea.
Once you have been once or twice you will know what kit you need to be able to cook a full English breakfast and host a party for 8 in your tent. Until then the above basics will see you right.
The above information will help you with the camp its self, depending on the activities you choose to do you may need to bring further kit. However its worth noting that any of the activities where special kit is need it will be provided, in most cases all you will need is walking boots, clothes, and a small back-pack (bring a few changes of clothes and footwear).
WE WANT YOUR VIDEO!
After the event we'll be putting together a video showing off the best of BIG Spring Camp and what OutdoorLads get up to and we need your help. Throughout the weekend, please use your GoPro, iPhone or video camera to capture the fun and then email your clips to support@outdoorlads.com - if your files are too large, you can upload them to a file sharing website and email us the link.