Hundreds of happy Champers have stayed in their churches and have delighted in having exclusive use of an ancient space for the night.

Where can I champ?

Me and my friend spent the night at St Dona’s Church, Llanddona on the beautiful Isle of Anglesey – the first Champing ™ church in Wales!

St Dona’s is a simple church in a stunning location overlooking the unspoilt coastline of Anglesey in north Wales. It’s also handily situated just off the Wales Coastal Path.

A church was first built here in 610, dedicated to St Dona who lived on the seashore nearby. The present building dates from 1873 and is about a mile away from the village of Llanddona – famous in Welsh folklore for its witches! The church nestles in the hillside, just a short walk away from the simply stunning Llanddona Beach.

As always, I took time to explore the churchyard. There are some interesting graves here, including two Commonwealth war graves. One belongs to Robert Everett. In WWII he became a fighter pilot and was killed when his Hurricane crashed on a nearby beach in January 1942. Before the war, Everett had won the 1929 Grand National on Gregalach at odds of 100-1.

Inside the church, in addition to the cozy camping setup, there was a brand new small kitchen and loo with all the basic essentials. And in terms of catering options, there are no shops in the village but there’s a welcoming local pub, the Owain Glyndwr, which serves home cooked food and real ales. We may have partaken of a drink or two there!

I must admit as we turned the lights out for the night I did start to find the whole experience rather surreal. It was slightly spooky, and I think if I had been in a more historic church with tombs and the suchlike I would have found it harder to drop off to sleep.

How much does champing™ cost?

The CCT don’t believe in high season, low season or anywhere in between. Their prices are the same for the entire six months the churches are open.

Prices start at £69 for a solo adult stay on a weeknight, rising to £79 for a weekend stay. It is much better value if there are several of you champing, with weekday prices set at £49 per adult per night, rising to £59 at the weekend.

There are also discounts for children and group bookings and you can secure your booking with just a 25% deposit if it’s more than 28 days before you stay!

You get exclusive hire of your church for the night, for the most celestial sleep possible. You get your camp-beds, camp-chairs, tea & coffee making provisions (please bring your own milk), lanterns and fairy lights. Bedding and breakfast are additional extras, available in select churches only.

What facilities are there?

• Loos – Some of the churches have flushing loos. Fancy. In other churches (including at LLanddona) they provide either an eco-loo that runs on solar power or a new type of composting loo or “dry separating toilet” to give it the full technical language. Some of these may be located outside the main church building.
• Water – There are chilled water machines where there is electricity, and huge containers of water with a hand pump where there is none. Unsurprisingly, not a single one of the churches have shower facilities.
• Electricity – Some don’t have an electrical supply at all (in my mind this just adds to the atmosphere!). There are some lanterns and battery-operated candles, but feel free to bring torches, camping lanterns and whatever you feel necessary to light your Champing™ experience.
• Heating – Champing ™ churches are generally not heated, which is why the Champing ™ season only runs from during late Spring and Summer.
• Bedding – Camp beds are included in the price, but that’s it. There is ChampBed hire where you can hire a bedding set for £25. Each bedding set comprises a cosy mummy sleeping bag, a bag liner and a plump pillow complete with protector and pillowcase.

Can I take my dog champing™?

Yes – up to two good dogs are welcome! And for no extra charge!

Do I have to share the church with other people?

Absolutely not. It will be all yours, for you and yours alone.

However, although you have sole Champing ™ rights to the church after 4pm and before 10am, there may be visitors in the daytime.

Champing™- The Verdict

I honestly really enjoyed champing ™ and have been recommending it at every opportunity!

It truly is a unique experience – whether you are a church crawler, history lover or simply a traveller looking for a truly unique experience. And even better, it is a great, affordable way to support these beautiful historic buildings which are the centre of their communities, as opposed to spending hundreds of pounds on a trendy hotel stay.

It’s also great if, like me, you are not that keen on proper camping. I like the idea of camping in a tent in the wild, but then I remember the fact I like my basic facilities and a proper roof over my head in case the weather turns! Champing ™ is the perfect compromise.

I also think champing ™ would make a great option for a group trip. Churches are naturally great communal spaces, and you can easily fit six people or so inside.

So, if you’re currently thinking about booking your holiday for 2023, why not give champing ™ a go for a truly memorable and unique stay?!

Like exploring historic churches? Then check out my posts about the best churches to visit in Wales.