Set on the coastline of Snowdonia National Park, Shell Island is the biggest campsite in the UK. The site which spans over 450 acres, is less than 30 minutes north from the popular seaside town of Barmouth, making it the perfect destination for a summer holiday.
Shell island accepts, both tents and campervan's with prices starting from just £9.00 per person per night off season. While it's not the cheapest campsite for families, it has much to offer that other sites cannot compete with.
So what makes Shell Island unique? Not only is it one of the largest campsites in Europe, the island is based in a fantastic location just a stones-throw from the beach. Lucky campers may even find themselves in a pitch overlooking the sea, though these spots are often the first to be snapped up.
It's also a tidal island meaning at certain times Shell Island is inaccessible when the tide is in. This is never for more than a few hours, though it does make for some slightly nail-biting drives when you've got minutes to cross before the waves start lapping at the road!
Facilities
Shell Island has one main shower block near the reception area, with a secondary smaller shower block beside it. The showers are free to use and always hot, though they can get incredible busy at peak times. While the showers are near reception, there are multiple toilet blocks dotted around the site, meaning you are never more than a few minutes walk from the loos. While these sites are very handy for those 3am wee's, they do not have hot water which is unfortunate.
There is also an on site shop, camp shop, tavern, restaurant and snack bar, meaning you won't go hungry if your bbq doesn't quite live up to expectations. Drinking water is also readily available across the campsite.
You really couldn't get any closer to the beach if you tried
Pros:
- The campsite is located beside the sea meaning it has easy access to the beach and beautiful views in every direction.
- It's around 20 minutes from Barmouth and around an hour from Snowdon.
- There are multiple toilet blocks across the site, all with disabled access.
- The showers are free to use.
- The size of the site means you have lots of space to yourself.
Cons:
- The shower blocks can get busy at peak times.
- Cleanliness could be better at busy times.
- Not all of the toilet blocks have hot water.
Bigger doesn't always mean better, and while I think this is true when it comes to some of the facilities available on Shell Island, the location of this giant campsite really cannot be beaten. Shell Island is one of those places where it's easy to fall in love with the area and many find themselves returning year after year to battle the tides and pitch up on this beautiful stretch of land.
Have you ever camped at Shell Island in Wales?
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The new Maybelline Sky High Mascara, everyone and their Mom seems to be raving about it online at the moment. I can't even scroll through tiktok without seeing several reviews for the damn thing, all of which were hailing it as the best thing since sliced bread - so obviously I had to try it out for myself!
Now when it comes to mascaras I have pretty high standards. I've tried out tens of different products over the years so I'd like to think I know exactly what makes a good mascara, and what really doesn't. So what did I think of new Maybelline offering? Not that much if I'm honest.
Maybelline Sky High Mascara, why I hate it...
Pros
We'll get on to the bad in a second but lets start on a positive note shall we? The mascara isn't all bad, in fact there are a few things I actually like about the Sky High Mascara.
- It's affordable. At roughly £10 a pop the product is reasonably priced.
- Nice packaging. The Sky High Mascara looks good, and wouldn't be out of place on a dressing table.
- It's intensely black. The product is a deep black which is something I really like in a mascara.
Cons
From the title alone I'm sure you can tell there are going to be quite a few of these.
- Consistency isn't thick enough - This makes it quite hard to build the product up.
- Brush is too flexible - The brush bends when applying the mascara meaning it can be tricky to use.
- Product doesn't give lashes enough thickness - Leaves lashes looking long and spider like instead of full.
- Takes a while to dry - And sometimes transfers on to the skin around the eyes even once fully dried.
- Doesn't hold and lashes drop after a few hours.
So would I try it again? Honestly not a chance. Although the majority of people who try the Maybelline Sky High Mascara seem to fall in love with it, I just could not get on with it at all. The consistency is weak, the brush is wildly bendy, and while it leaves my lashes looking long, the thickness just isn't there.
Which Mascaras would I recommend? I'm glad you asked because there are 3 mascaras that immediately come to mind.
- Too Faced Better Than Sex £22.00
- Maybelline Lash Sensational £9.99 (a personal favourite)
So save your pennies and spend them on one of the mascaras above if you want long, thick lashes that last all day because I'm sorry to say that's not what you'll get with Sky High!
What did you think of the Maybelline Sky High Mascara? Was it worth the hype?
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