Campsites In Yorkshire

The North York Moors National Park offers a remote, rugged landscape perfect for camping and outdoor activities. Heather moorlands, hidden valleys, and quaint villages provide no shortage of scenic spots to pitch your tent.

Popular Campsites

Scar House Campsite provides the perfect base for exploring the North York Moors' sweeping moorland. Located on the park's western edge, it offers panoramic views from modern hardstanding tent pitches complete with electric hookups and more remote grass camping areas. As one of the highest campsites in England at 1,330 feet above sea level, expect bracing hikes across hills clad in heather ablaze with colour in late summer. Its proximity to England’s largest area of inland heather moorland makes it a magnet for walkers tackling trails across the rugged landscape. The site's location next to a dedicated off-road cycle route network also appeals to mountain bikers, with some of the best technical downhill trails in the county accessible straight from your tent. As a warden-managed site, it offers excellent amenities like hot showers, a well-stocked shop, and knowledgeable staff.

Whitby and the Coast

The charming coastal town of Whitby with its historical abbey ruins and fishing harbor is a top destination in the North York Moors for camping holidays. Perched atop the cliffs on the outskirts of town, Whitby Camping and Caravanning Club Site offers sublime views across the harbour and remains of the 13th-century Gothic abbey. Its location above town means you can easily walk or cycle along the well-known 199 steps to explore the quayside shops, Captain Cook memorials and connections to Bram Stokers Dracula. For an even more unique overnight coastal stay, Larpool Hall Estate places you right on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway steam train line in their railway carriage rooms and shepherds huts. The estate's holiday cottages also provide a comfortable base to enjoy Whitby's gothic seaside atmosphere while remaining immersed in the peaceful North York Moors countryside.

Walking and Cycling Routes

The North York Moors reputation as a walker’s paradise is well deserved, with long-distance footpaths and cycling routes galore. Follow disused railway lines now transformed into multi-user routes across the unspoiled landscape, or wander through hidden villages following the well-trodden steps of packhorse traders and ironstone miners. For stunning moorland scenery tread on remnants of 18th century ironstone mine rail tracks crossing the moors peaks and dales atop historic inclines once busy transporting ore. Family-friendly routes like the popular Cinder Track shared cycling and walking trail provide nearly traffic-free journeys across the national park catering to all abilities. Wherever you explore on foot or bike, the routes allow adventurers to soak up the sweeping heather moors and tranquil valleys before returning to relaxing base camp comfort to swap stories.

With its green pastures, dry stone walls and wild moorland, the Yorkshire Dales provides quintessential English countryside scenery. Glamping pods are a popular way to camp here in comfort while surrounded by rural charm.

Glamping Pods at Eshton Grange

Nestled on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and within the Yorkshire Three Peaks area, Eshton Grange borders the rolling limestone hills with views stretching to Pen-y-Ghent. Its insulated wooden glamping pods around the traditional Wensleydale sheep farm offer a perfect blend of rural charm and modern convenience. Just a short stroll from the market town of Gargrave, amenities like WiFI, kitchenettes, and private bathrooms provide home comforts while surrounded by green pastures, dry stone walls and moorland fells. After stocking up on a hike or bike ride supplies in town, spend summer evenings relaxing on your private pod deck with home-cooked food from the BBQ grill. When rainfall inevitably comes, make the most of the cosy insider ambience and pine cladding interiors for a relaxing retreat. With hosts, Tom and Shelly Hartley’s in-depth knowledge of the local area, glampers of all ages never run out of ways to enjoy the great outdoors in comfort.

Camping in Heart of the Dales at Hawes

In the heart of Wensleydale, Hawes Caravan Park has been family-owned for over 50 years and offers camping adjacent to the Yorkshire Three Peaks. Its location near the quaint market town of Hawes filled with cheese shops, pubs and cafes means exploring local food and drink specialities is just a short walk away. Hardened hikers use tent and motorhome pitches as basecamp to tackle route challenges like the Three Peaks marathon or Dales Way, or just enjoy leisurely days ticking off single ascent achievements. The campsite's excellent amenities like bike hire, a playground, a camp shop and a cafe offering Yorkshire-sourced home cooking make it a super family-friendly stay for all. After exciting days on the trails or rivers, kids love letting off steam at the play area while adults enjoy the site's pub atmosphere exchanging stories over local ales.

Ribblesdale Campsites

Ribblesdale has become synonymous with outdoor adventure holidays thanks to sights like the iconic Ribblehead Viaduct and wild deer dotting the hills. For luxurious comfort and a transparent stargazing dome, Grounds Farm near High Birkwith offers boutique bothies and bubble tent options to immerse you in nature. Or choose the peaceful Camping and Caravanning Club site near Helwith Bridge to pitch beside the babbling River Ribble and String of Horses waterfall trail. Owners Denyse and Reg Cooper will happily share their knowledge of surrounding footpaths and landmarks like Pen-y-ghent so you can explore unspoiled scenery each day. Lazy summer afternoons beside the river are idyllic after conquering the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge walk earlier in your stay too.

Designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the lush, rolling Howardian Hills provide a peaceful setting for caravan holidays with opportunities to explore York and the heritage coastline nearby.

Riverside Retreat at Castle Howard

Castle Howard’s Camping and Caravanning Club site enjoys an idyllic, peaceful setting perfect for relaxing holidays immersed in nature. Resting along the lush banks of the River Rye, mature oak trees dot the grassy meadows offering both shady and sunny pitches surrounded by greenery. Its location within the historic Castle Howard estate means exploring ornamental lakes, temples and sweeping parkland landscaped by Capability Brown is possible by simply strolling from your pitch. Follow the waymarked trails through formal gardens and woodland for pleasant days out before returning to your caravan hideaway. Being on an estate-managed site, expect helpful staff full of recommendations on local attractions like the house itself with its grand stately rooms and intricate ceiling décor. Don’t miss the opportunities to get lost in the picturesque rolling Howardian Hills designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty either. With sights like the atmospheric ruins of Kirkham Priory and pretty villages like Terrington hiding down winding lanes, you’ll never run out of relaxing escapades into the quintessential English countryside.

Coast and Countryside Activities

The Howardian Hills prime spot allows easy access to apex Yorkshire attractions, perfect for action-packed camping holidays. Adrenaline junkies should head into the heather moorlands of the North York Moors for challenging mountain biking routes like the Castleton 3 Peak circular. Families will love balancing biking thrills with beach trips enjoying North Sea waves and Bridlington’s old town amusements before returning to their caravan base. Culture vultures should visit Castle Howard itself to marvel at the palatial grand hall and grounds. Be sure to browse the on-site farm shop and refuel at the cafe too after burnishing up your knowledge of architecture and garden design history by browsing the ornamental lakes and temples. Don’t miss seeing the coastlines soaring white cliffs and seabird colonies at Flamborough Head either for unforgettable memories to end your day escape.

Market Towns and Villages

The Howardian Hills' beautiful landscape hides a treasure trove of photogenic rural market towns and villages oozing old-world charm. Quaint squares lined with tea rooms and upmarket boutiques typify places like Malton and Easingwold, both holding farmers' markets and annual food festivals celebrating local produce. Further afield, picturesque Hovingham transports visitors back centuries with honey stone cottages and village greens encircled by family-run farms. Meandering through cascading ivy flowers and stone walls smothering sensitively converted barns breathes life into days spent browsing antiques emporiums and independent shops. Don’t miss sampling real ales strains from indie brewers like Brass Castle or quaffing quality wine from vineyards trailing hillside slopes either. After buying handcrafted textiles from makers studios concealed behind village storefronts, your haven retreat awaits offering tranquillity perfect for escaping modern crowds.

As Britain’s maritime gateway to northern Europe, the Yorkshire coast has beckoned adventurous spirits for millennia. Fortified ports like Hull, Scarborough and Whitby built fortunes conveying wool, whale oil and Arctic commodities, shaping identity and culture substantially different from inland settlements.

Clifftop Views at Flamborough Head

On Yorkshire's dramatic east coast overlooking the North Sea, Flamborough Headland Campsite enjoys panoramic views from steep white cliffs. Whether staying in your tent or one of the site's weatherproof canvas bell tents, wake to the calls of kittiwakes and gannets swirling around one of England’s largest seabird colonies. Marvel at the 70ft high chalk cliffs sculpted into coves and sea caves or try spotting passing dolphins and whales from vantage viewpoints. The family-run site offers excellent amenities along with tailored knowledge on the best walking routes to suit your needs too. Follow waymarked trails along the nature reserve climbing steps to the oldest standing lighthouse on the coast at Flamborough or meander through wildflower meadows spotting the site's famous dark-bellied Brent geese. With Bridlington's beaches and family-friendly attractions just seven miles south, seaside fun is never far away to balance peaceful clifftop escapes.

Beachfront Camping at Skipsea Sands

Nestled on Yorkshire’s golden coastline looking out over the North Sea, Skipsea Sands Holiday Park places you just meters from over three miles of sandy beaches. Cross the main road from your grassy tent pitch on this family-run site to arrive at sun-warmed dunes perfect for lazy summer days beside the sea. Let children exhaust themselves creating masterpiece sandcastles and paddling in rock pools while you watch endless waves gently lap the shoreline. Don't restrict enjoyment to high season only though, as winter storms bring atmospheric conditions perfect for photography enthusiasts too. When secluded beaches call, head north past the village's sea defences to explore remote sands wrapped around Skipsea's ancient hilltop Norman church. With local seafood restaurants and country pubs serving fine ales just over a mile inland in Ulrome village, this campsite lets you find peaceful escapism or company right on your doorstep.

As innovations like boutique tents, shepherd huts and camping pods change the face of budget accommodation options across Britain, Yorkshire once again leads the charge.

Safari Tents and Adventure at High Adventure Farm

Nestled in spectacular Yorkshire Dales scenery, High Adventure Farm offers action-packed holidays the whole family will love. Safari-style canvas tents boast solid floors, private showers and a barbecue area, so comfort is assured after exhilarating days bouncing between activities. Shoot down 1km zip lines whizzing above water, then get airborne on epic bungee trampolines for panoramas of the district's rolling hills and valleys. Prefer to keep your feet on the ground? Try quad biking, archery, laser combat games or alpaca trekking before grabbing delicious wood-fired pizzas from the on-site cafe. With luxurious yurt glamping options too, the site caters to kids big and small seeking purpose-built adventures catering to all skill levels amidst rural splendour.

Boutique Bell Tents in the Yorkshire Wolds

Escape to Bishop Wilton in the scenic heart of the unspoilt Yorkshire Wolds for a luxury camping experience with a difference. Secluded just off the main road through this idyllic rural village, eight boutique bell tents blend designer interiors with outdoor tranquillity. Forget roughing it and instead relax on plush double mattresses tucked under plump duvets surrounded by furniture quality wood finishes and sheepskin rugs. Yet a feeling of wholesome connection to nature prevails too, with tents raised on timber floors encouraging you to soak up bird songs or star gaze through the canvas from your four-poster bed. Each spacious tent contains eco-friendly wood pellet-fired showers and private verandas with cooking grills for ultimate comfort and flexibility when holidaying as a family, couple or group. With chalk hills crisscrossed by trails ripe for mountain biking and family days out nearby, adventure still abounds without sacrificing sublime creature comforts.

Coastal Pods with Sea Views near Whitby

Perfectly positioned on North York Moors fringes overlooking Whitby's red pantiled roofs to the sea, Mulgrave Woods glamping pods let you enjoy this heritage coastline in comfort. Fourteen wooden pods set on stilts boast near-panoramic views from floor-to-ceiling windows, with some suites featuring attractive balcony spaces too. Unwind on private outdoor hot tubs while grilling hearty Yorkshire produce as pink-hued sunsets fade to twinkling harbour lights twinkling atmospherically below. Getting into town is easy via a short wooded walk or vehicle-free cycle trail if you fancy browsing Whitby’s gothic boutiques and cafes. Pack the honesty shop picnic supplies on arrival then simply relax enjoying elevated North Sea vistas and nature’s sounds each day in chic, pet-friendly surroundings. With friendly farmer owners Martin and Helen on hand should you need local advice, first-class amenities like WiFi and kitchenettes complete your self-catering coastal escape.

While compiling this pillar page celebrating Yorkshire's diversity, recurring themes shine through. This county's outdoor pedigree thrives upon unique geology crafting characterful landscapes above and below ground. Chalk sculpting a North Sea coastline of Flamborough Head's white cliffs or creating subterranean mega-caves at Gaping Gill. Millstone grit underpins the alien rock formations of Brimham Rocks or extensive West Yorkshire grike networks. Limestone shaping the Yorkshire Dales into England’s adventure sports playground.

Stunning Natural Landscapes

Yorkshire’s diversity stems from unique geology crafting landscapes that stir visitors' souls like nowhere else. Carboniferous gritstone shaping Brimham Rocks weird Wonderland formations and the alien plateaus of the Yorkshire Dales craved by climbers and mountain bikers seeking airborne thrills. Chalk and limestone underpins the wildlife-rich heather moors, tranquil valleys and extensive cave systems draw outdoor purists to the North York Moors and Yorkshire Wolds year-round. Millstone grit leads west to the rugged Dark Peak moors where flat-capped hills inspire hikers and artists alike with vistas untouched for centuries since wool trade pack horses picked their way carefully onwards.

Proud Industrial Heritage

Yorkshire’s industrial heritage thrives alongside rural landscapes, shaping cultural identity visitors still witness. Georgian waterway pioneers built ferrying wool, coal and cotton before railways carved routes plied by steam engines now excursion favourites. The Victorian engineering audacity of icons like Ribblehead Viaduct and Saltaire model village earned global admiration accompanying keystone mills statue in Leeds train station daily reminders of fortunes financing grand city halls and mansions. But nowhere binds past and present tighter than Sheffield where Roe’s Temper Mill crafts pioneering snowsports gear on Don Valley Strines trails inspiring daredevil scooter riders and Parkour urban gymnasts.

Coastal Culture and Traditions

Generations of mariners and fishermen bred distinctly unique communities along England’s east coast harbours, visible still in villages like Robin Hoods Bay, Runswick Bay and Staithes. Their smuggler folklores and seafaring customs colour regional art galleries work and seafood cuisine bursting with ocean flavours tied to Bridlington’s shellfish industry reputation. Quaysides where morning catches land daily feature as working backdrops along marina developments and smart gastropubs reinventing harbours like Scarborough and Whitby without losing atmosphere. Throughout Yorkshire’s coastline, the rhythms of wind, tide and seasons dictate routines in ways urban dwellers cannot conceive, but visitors yearn to experience them temporarily.

Quaint Market Towns to Lively Cities

From thriving cosmopolitan cities to remote hill farmer hamlets, transitions across Yorkshire demonstrate the rich variety keeping visitors spellbound. The county’s southern frontier reveals particularly insightful contrasts within hour’s journeys showcasing heritage. Here handsome stone buildings peak from the Calder Valley's wooded slopes containing Hebden Bridge’s independent boutiques and real ale pubs where creatives and adventurers mingle. Nearby, Bradford and Leeds's vibrant street life and architecture build on textile fortunes financing St Georges Hall concert venues and Sir Titus Salts grandiose mill complex anchoring model workers village Saltaire. But further north, setts track sheep farming routes where wily shepherds battle elements daily, their flocks scattering picturesquely across hillsides layered seasonally in purple heather and gold bracken rich hues.