Best campsites for the North Pennines AONB
Here is our pick of the Alan Rogers Assessors, expert-recommended campsites for the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Lying between the Yorkshire Dales and Northumberland, here’s an AONB brimming with variety. It’s a tranquil landscape of real natural interest, from cascading waterfalls to epic vistas over the moors, from sturdy little grey stone villages to undulating dales. 40% of the UK’s upland hay meadows and 27% of its blanket bog can be found here. It sprawls across almost 2,000 square kilometres and is the second largest of all the AONBs.
This area has taken millions of years to be forged from the landscape: the huge valley of High Cup Gill near Dufton and High Force on the River Tees have slowly been carved out. No surprise that this AONB has been recognised by UNESCO as a Global Geopark for its geological significance.
In more recent times, the population has more than halved to 12,000 inhabitants, mainly due to the decline of the lead mining industry. But there’s plenty of room for wildlife, with red squirrels, otters and 80% of England’s black grouse.
Top North Pennines AONB Camping Options
Leekworth Caravan & Camping Park is situated on the outskirts of the historic market village of Middleton in Teesdale, very close to Barnard Castle. The stunning natural beauty of the North Pennines surrounds the site which sits on the banks of the River Tees. The famous Teesdale Way cuts alongside the site joining onto the Pennine Way and Middleton village, with its country shops and cafes only a 10-minute walk away.
Teesdale Barnard Castle Caravan and Motorhome Club site is located just half a mile from the market town of Barnard Castle, it is set in open countryside that is designated an Area of High Landscape Value. Barnard Castle is a delightful town, home to the renowned Bowes Museum, a 12th century castle, an excellent visitor centre and a choice of pubs and restaurants. Barnard Castle also marks the entrance to Teesdale which offers spectacular scenery following the river up to High Force and a series of other waterfalls to its source beyond the Pennine Way and Cow Green Reservoir. The site has 76 hardstanding pitches all with 16 amp electricity.
Welcoming non-members and tents, the Camping and Caravanning Club site at Barnard Castle was opened in 1996. There are 90 flat pitches, most on grass but including 35 hardstanding pitches (gravel base with room for both car and caravan and space for an awning on grass). There are 81 electricity hook-ups (16A). One side of the site is bordered by mature trees and there is an attractive woodland dog walking area leading to a riverside footpath which takes you into Barnard Castle. There are many footpaths and walks in the area and numerous local attractions. The market town itself has many attractions - Bowes Museum, Egglestone Abbey and Raby Castle, all within a ten mile radius of the site. The site also has 5 safari tents available to hire.
Set in the Eden Valley within easy reach of the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales, Wild Rose is a well known park. The entrance is inviting with its well mown grass, trim borders and colourful flower displays. It is immediately apparent that this is a much loved park, and this is reflected throughout the site in the care and attention to detail. There are 135 touring pitches all with electricity, however 105 also provide water and waste water, plus the site boasts on-site wardens to ensure that everything is always neat and tidy. Wild Rose deserves its excellent reputation, which the owners strive to maintain and improve. There are five distinct areas on the park providing a variety of pitches and services.
Englethwaite Hall Caravan and Motorhome Club site is a tranquil oasis scattered with rhododendrons from the garden of the former Old Hall. Located in the Eden Valley of Carlisle, the site is set against a backdrop of the lovely High Stand Forest. Recent reports show that the number of red squirrels in the area has increased, so you may be lucky to see some during your visit. The site has 68 hard standing pitches, including 6 serviced pitches, all with electricity, 16amp. Some seasonal pitches.
Haltwhistle Camping & Caravanning Club site’s setting in Bellister Wood makes it the perfect get away from it all destination. Pitch in an attractive clearing in the forests of Northumberland, in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and European Geopark. The woodland, once part of the Bellister Castle Estate, is now managed by the National Trust and is a haven for wildlife so you could find yourself sharing your pitch with rabbits, birds and woodpeckers. After a day cycling or walking exploring the local area, the site is a peaceful oasis to relax and unwind. There are 45 grass and hardstanding pitches, most with electric hook-up points.
Causey Hill Caravan Park is situated at the top of a steep hill overlooking Hexham. It is mainly occupied by mobile homes, in excess of 100, but also offers a small touring area which is well separated above them. There are 20 hardstanding pitches for touring, all with 16A electricity and water. Plenty of grassy areas surround the pitches and trees have been recently planted. Barbecue and picnic areas are provided and walks amongst wildflowers and wildlife are possible in the woodland.
Byreside Caravan Site is quiet and secluded, located on a family run farm in the historic Derwent Valley. Birds and nature of all kinds may be seen so keep an eye out for Red Kites, foxes and deer. Walkers and cyclists have easy access from the site to the Derwent Walk Country Park which links up to the Waskerley Way or Lanchester Valley Walk. Plenty of history in the area within easy reach with Ebchester and its Roman Museum, plus the Derwentcote Blast Furnace, a relic from the Industrial Revolution. Nearby is Causey Arch, reputed to be the world's oldest railway bridge, and on most summer weekends see the Tanfield Railway steam locomotives in operation. Further down the valley is Gibside Chapel, the mausoleum of the Bowes family. The site has 31 hard standing pitches. Electric points on all pitches.