Best campsites in the Yorkshire Dales National Park
Here are our expert-recommended campsites and attractions in and around the Yorkshire Dales National Park
There are plenty of places to visit in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, including Kilnsey Crag and Grassington, both of which offer scenic walks with fantastic views. Historic Skipton, Settle and Ingleton in the South and Masham and Ripon in the North are all excellent places to stay while you're in the area.
The Yorkshire Dales National Park is a stunningly beautiful area of England. It's a great place to visit if you're looking for an outdoor adventure with plenty of scenic views. It covers an area of around 840 square miles and is home to a wide range of different geological features, including limestone cliffs, dramatic river valleys and rugged moorlands.
Malham Cove is a popular spot in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The dramatic limestone cliffs rise to a height of 80 metres and provide stunning views of the surrounding countryside. Nearby Goredale Scar is a dramatic cleft in the rocks which terminates in a difficult and often wet scramble to the limestone plateau above.
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The Yorkshire Three Peaks walking route covers a distance of 24 miles and the peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough. If you're looking for a challenging walking holiday, the Yorkshire Dales National Park is definitely worth considering.
Top Yorkshire Dales Attractions
Limestone pavement above Malham Cove
The historic Settle to Carlisle railway journey is a must-do for travellers in the area. The trip takes passengers through stunning scenery, including rolling hills and deep valleys. The journey also passes through villages and small towns, giving visitors a glimpse of life in the area and a chance to experience its unique culture. Saved from closure both in the 1960s (due to the deteriorating condition of the famous Ribblehead Viaduct) and again in the 1980s (following falling passenger numbers due to the closure of many of the smaller stations and diversion of mainline trains)
Much of the area's underlying geology is limestone, and caves (along with pavements, clints and grykes) are common. Among the most famous are the show caves at Stump Cross, Ingleborough and White Scar, one of the longest show caves in the country. More natural caves include Gaping Gill, with its 98-meter drop and Long Churn Cave, with its famous 'Cheesepress' squeeze.
Top 10 Yorkshire Dales Campsites
Best campsites in the Yorkshire Dales National Park
Formerly known as Bainbridge Camping & Caravan Site, Bainbridge Ings Country Park is situated in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, just outside the market town of Hawes. The basic amenity block is kept to a high standard and the hot showers (small fee charged) are good. A separate washing up facility is available, as is a laundry with coin operated washing machines & dryers. There is no shop on site, but it's only a short walk into the town. The site is currently adding a number of glamping style pods with en-suite facilities. Lodge style accommodation is also available.
This secluded family park on a former working farm, is only six miles from Ripon and about four from the World Heritage site of Fountains Abbey. It is a very rural park with a spacious feel and various pitching areas are tucked away in woodland areas or around the edges of hedged fields with the centre left clear for children. There are hard roads and all of the pitches (60 for touring, 30 seasonal) have 10A electricity. There are 56 acres in total, 17.5 devoted to the site and 20 acres of woodland for walking. The 2.5 acre fishing lake is a big attraction and provides a pleasant area for picnics or walks.
Howgill Lodge is a traditional family park set in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales with 20 seasonal pitches but no touring pitches. Arranged on a sloping hillside, the terraced pitches have fantastic views. It is a small park catering for the needs of walkers, tourers and people who like just to relax. The whole area is a haven for both experienced walkers or the casual rambler, without having to move your car. The 20 seasonal pitches all at the upper part of the park are on hardstanding and have 10A electricity connections. Picnic tables and chairs are provided. There are two four-bed mobile homes available to rent. The reception also houses a small shop which sells most of the basics, including fresh foods. Pretty villages abound in the area, all with attractive inns and nearby Embsay has the Dales Railway with steam trains.
Bolton Abbey Estate Caravan and Motorhome Club site is, as always, of a high standard and situated in a quiet rural location north of Bolton Abbey. Located inside the Yorkshire Dales National Park and near too many places to explore and experience to list. With 55 hardstanding pitches, 41 suitable for awnings, and all with 16 amp electricity and a TV point, the site is great for walkers and nature lovers with 72 miles of footpaths directly accessible from the site. Buses are available from a stop 100 yards from the site. No mobile signal is available from the site so social media fans need to sign for the site Wi-Fi. A public telephone is available so have some silver coins. For those wishing to visit the Abbey a pleasant riverside walk is available from the site.
Wood Nook is a family run park in the heart of Wharfedale, part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The site includes six acres of woodland with quite rare flora and fauna. Reception is in the farmhouse, as is the small shop. The gently sloping fields have gravel roads and provide 39 touring pitches (30 with gravel hardstanding). All have 10 amp electricity and nearby water and chemical disposal points.
The CAMC sites set the bar high for facilities and location and the Wharfedale site is no exception. Located about 2 miles from Grassington in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Screened by stately trees the site offers a charming and peaceful location close to many tourist offerings. With great walks and cycling routes direct from the site, the Dales are there to explore. Wildlife abounds and a dog walk is available. Bus stop is just 750 metres from the site. TV reception is poor as is mobile phone signal. For mountain biking, local walks, rock climbing, plus the national cycling network you could not find a better location. With Skipton, Linton Falls, and the National Trust’s Malham Tarn Estate close by you are spoilt for choice.The site has 115 mainly hardstanding pitches all with 16 amp electricity.
In a very attractive setting, this park is located in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, the whole area a paradise for hill-walking, fishing and pot-holing, and it has outstanding scenery. The camping area is on slightly sloping grass, sheltered by mature woodland. There are 100 touring pitches (20 are seasonal), 60 with 16A electricity and water and 25 with hardstanding. A separate area contains 66 privately owned caravan holiday homes.
Street Head is a no frills, simple site next door to the local hostelry and with marvellous views. There are 50 privately owned holiday homes arranged over two areas, while a separate, fairly level, hedged field with a circular gravel road provides 25 pitches for touring units. Each has hardstanding and 10A electricity. A further separate sloping field is for tents. Thoralby village (400 yards) has a post office/general store and West Burton (1.5 miles) is very pretty with a pub and shops. Bar snacks are served next door at the Street Head Inn. Aysgarth Falls are only 1.5 miles and there are local markets at Hawes and Leyburn.
Lowther Hill is a small, friendly site which is set in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales with stunning 360 degrees of uninterrupted, panoramic views. There is easy access from the site to the Dales in the east, the coast in the west and the Lakes in the northwest. Not to mention the beautiful villages of Bentham 2 miles away for all your provisions and the historic village of Settle with all its famous landmarks and interesting walks and hikes. The site is so dog friendly, it even has a purpose-built contained paddock for exercising dogs. There are 9 serviced pitches for tourers, campervans, 3 of which are hard standings. All have electric hook-ups. Nearby attractions include Fishing, Golf, Horse riding, Swimming (Outdoor) Lancaster's Castle. Williamson Park.
Lower Wensleydale Caravan and Motorhome Club site is set within the sheltered hollow of a disused quarry that is now overrun with a vast array of wild flowers, mosses and mature trees. The site is managed on behalf of the owners and offers varied pitching areas, each one guaranteed to bring you that one step closer to the beauty of our country's natural splendours. Ducks and rabbits roam the site freely and a special area is set aside on site for tents. The site is also in the perfect spot to watch the local steam trains pass by. The site has 91 mainly hardstanding pitches, some seasonal, all with electricity 16amp.
