Lying north of York, this AONB is of national importance for its Jurassic limestone landscape. Highlights here are the deep Kirkham Gorge, a unique glacial channel, the River Derwent, which is a refuge for outstanding wild plants and animals, archaeological features like Iron Age earthworks, and grand houses such as Castle Howard, Newburgh Priory, Hovingham Hall, Gilling Castle and Nunnington Hall. These are all as much part of this landscape as they are man-made features.
The Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty covers 79 square miles of North Yorkshire countryside, wedged in between the North York Moors National Park, the Yorkshire Wolds and the Vale of York. It stretches from Helmsley and Coxwold down to Kirkham Priory on the Derwent. This ancient landscape is beautiful, featuring undulating hills and wooded ridges, lush fields and meadows dotted with picturesque villages that have stood the test of time. As a visually appealing tableau, it has few to match it and was created as an AONB in 1987.
Top Howardian Hills AONB Camping Options
Golden Square Caravan & Camping Park is a popular, high quality, family-owned park. An exceptionally attractive caravan park has been created from an old quarry with a number of separate, level bays that have superb views over the North Yorkshire Moors. The pitches are individually marked with car parking alongside. In very dry weather the ground can be hard so rock pegs would be needed (even in wet weather the park is well drained). All pitches have 10A electricity, 24 have drainage and six are deluxe pitches (with waste water, sewerage, electricity, water and TV aerial connections). There are some seasonal pitches and holiday caravan homes for sale.
Slingsby is a small village on the B1257 in North Yorkshire, some six miles west of the popular market town of Malton. There is easy access to sandy beaches, wild moorland, historic houses and cities. Robin Hood’s 30 gravel and grass touring pitches are all fully serviced and include 16A electricity connections. A grass tent field has some pitches with electricity. There is a significant number of statics here as well as some fully equipped rental caravans. This site is ideally placed for discovering the delights of North Yorkshire, including the North Yorkshire Moors Steam Railway, the quaint village of Robin Hood’s Bay and the historic city of York.
Set in a grassy meadow, this newly created park is surrounded by farmland, half a mile from Sherriff Hutton with its two pubs and village shops. A total of 70 pitches are available, 35 of which are for touring, 30 with hardstanding and electricity (16A) and five super pitches with hardstanding and all services. A further area has room for 38 tents, some with electricity. These are separated from the touring section by trees and a children’s play area. The park is a haven for wildlife with trees and meadows all around. It is very peaceful here yet within easy reach to visit the historic city of York, just eight miles away.
Foxholme Springs Touring Park is an adult-only park managed by an on-site warden. It would suit those who want a quiet holiday disturbed only by birdsong and passing deer. There are 76 grass/hardstanding touring pitches set either in an open, slightly sloping field or between trees on grass.
A stay at Castle Howard Lakeside Holiday Park will give you the opportunity to explore one of Britain's most magnificent historic houses and gardens. Castle Howard is set in the Howardian Hills, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty just outside York. Built over 300 years ago by Sir John Vanbrugh, today the house remains home to the Howard family. Guests of the site receive a discounted admission to the House and Grounds when open to the public. As well as its lovely rural location, just a stone’s throw from the picturesque estate village of Coneysthorpe, the park is convenient for the Castle Howard courtyard shops and cafés. There is a dedicated area for tents and hardstanding for caravans and motorhomes. The site has grass & hardstanding pitches, most with electric hook-up point and a number of privately owned mobile homes.
