The best campsites in Forest of Bowland AONB with horseback riding

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Situated predominantly in Lancashire, on the fringes of the Yorkshire Dales, the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is defined by deep valleys, fells, and moorland, making it an ideal spot for hillwalking, biking, rock climbing, and even canoeing and angling. Scale Pendle Hill and enjoy views over the lush fields, drystone walls, and the rugged Trough of Bowland, before stopping into historic market towns like Bentham, Clitheroe, and Hornby, home to its very own "castle." Meanwhile, stargazers and birdwatchers will appreciate the clear skies over the Forest of Bowland, as will gliders and paragliders.

98% (221) 79 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds in Forest of Bowland AONB

Hazel Mount Fellside

1. Hazel Mount Fellside

98%
(49)
Eskdale, England · 5 units
Nearly wild camping on the western edge of the Lake District overlooking the Duddon Estuary
Pets
Campfires
Potable water
from 
£25
 / night
White House Farm Campsite, Wardlow

2. White House Farm Campsite, Wardlow

91%
(93)
Wardlow, England · 61 units · Tents, Motorhomes
What a little Derbyshire gem: back to basics Whitehouse Farm Campsite is a simple site in a most scenic setting five minutes’ drive from the pretty village of Tideswell. The site’s central location in the Peak District National Park means it’s a top spot for those who want to ramble or ride bikes – several circular trails leave from Tideswell and the traffic-free Monsal Trail is a five-minute drive away. And there’s plenty more activity if you require it too, as activity centres nearby can sort you out days of horse riding, abseiling, climbing and caving. All this activity isn’t mandatory, of course – this is an equally fine location for days pottering off to local pubs, pigging out on pudding in Bakewell or taking a leisurely stroll around the Chatsworth Estate, 20 minutes away. And if even that’s too much, you’d be welcome to spend some time loafing about on site: there’s heaps of space here, and as facilities have been kept quite minimal (just showers and toilets) there should be a good serving of peace and quiet to go with it all. Guests are welcome to light up a barbecue or campfire for cookouts and keeping warm; Tideswell’s the place for supermarket supplies, and it’s also handily got a fish and chip shop and a couple of pubs for days when your firelighting skills aren't up to much.
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£24
 / night
Breaks Fold Farm Glamping & Camping

3. Breaks Fold Farm Glamping & Camping

98%
(61)
Darley, England · 10 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Camping in Nidderdale with excellent facilities, dogs and campfires welcome, and views over Thruscross Reservoir.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from 
£12
 / night
Woodman's Huts

4. Woodman's Huts

99%
(58)
Haverthwaite, England · 3 units
Beautiful handmade shepherd's huts in the heart of the picturesque South Lakes
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£135
 / night
Sweet Knoll camping

5. Sweet Knoll camping

100%
(8)
Chapel En Le Frith, England · 50 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Sweet Knoll Farm, with six acres of flat land, is ideal for camping with breathtaking views in the Peak District . It is great for walking, cycling, horse riding and caving. Next to a working farm, it is surrounded by sheep grazing and is next to the Pennine Bridle Way. Castleton a short drive away is famous for its caverns blue john and speedwell. The campsite has toilets and showers,washing up facilities indoor and outdoor.Fresh drinking water and picnic tables.
Pets
Campfires
Potable water
from 
£25
 / night
The Damson Shepherd's Hut

6. The Damson Shepherd's Hut

98%
(60)
Near Kendal, England · 1 unit
A shepherd's hut for two in the lesser-known Lyth Valley, four miles from Lake Windermere
Showers
Campfires
Potable water
from 
£110
 / night
Peak Glamping Hideaway

7. Peak Glamping Hideaway

100%
(12)
Derbyshire, England · 3 units
Glamping literally reaches new heights in the Peak District National Park
Showers
Campfires
Wifi
from 
£100
 / night
The Black Swan

8. The Black Swan

100%
(26)
Kirkby Stephen, England · 3 units
Our three, brand new wood and canvas yurts are nestled in our private, woodland hotel garden beside the beautiful conservation (SSSI) river of Scandal Beck. Just a short drive from The Lake District, The Yorkshire and Durham Dales as well as The Scottish Border, we are perfectly located for you to explore. The yurts themselves are individually decorated with full size furniture, electricity and double beds. The yurts are all located in the garden of The Black Swan Hotel, Ravenstonedale, a multi award-winning hotel, restaurant and bar; recipient of 2 AA Rosettes as well as AA pub of the year for England 2018/19. As part of your stay in our yurts you will receive a full cooked breakfast and buffet option included in the price for 2 people in our hotel restaurant. We like to think of ourselves as a cosy home from home with a relaxed dining atmosphere throughout. We are very dog friendly in the hotel, restaurant, bar and yurts so please bring your furry family members. Our beautiful woodland is also home to red squirrels (which are seen daily), protected, freshwater crayfish in the river, an otter (seen very infrequently but the nemesis of our ducks), 6 Indian runner ducks, free range chickens and our two cockerels! (Dogs are very welcome but are to be kept on a lead whilst in the woodland itself). We are very dog friendly and charge an additional fee of £15 for 1 dog/ £20 for 2 dogs for an additional cleaning fee and for some dog friendly goodies such as poop bags and treats. The price of this yurt is based on an occupancy of 2 people. Any other people who will be staying on the sofa bed will add a charge of £40 per person per night for breakfast and their stay. All yurts come with electrical battery pack, chargeable lanterns, tea/coffee, homemade biscuits, log burning stoves, towels, full breakfast included from the hotel, an outdoor seating area and access to our outdoor toasty warm woodland shower as well as our very cute, wooden toilet cabin. Hairdryers are available in the hotel for your use.
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£136
 / night
Chilled Out Adult Only Glamping

9. Chilled Out Adult Only Glamping

100%
(32)
Mouldsworth, England · 8 units
Lakeside glamping on the edge of Delemere Forest and a 10-minute train ride from Chester
Showers
Campfires
Potable water
from 
£96
 / night
Gollin Farm Shepherds Hut

10. Gollin Farm Shepherds Hut

100%
(16)
Buxton, England · 3 units
Cosy and romantic shepherd's hut glamping in the heart, and at the highest heights, of the Peak District National Park
Showers
Campfires
Wifi
from 
£125
 / night
Whitelee Farm Shepherd Huts

11. Whitelee Farm Shepherd Huts

100%
(6)
Cheshire, England · 2 units
Romantic en-suite shepherds huts on a riverside farm in the Peak District National Park.
Showers
Campfires
Wifi
from 
£115
 / night

Situated predominantly in Lancashire, on the fringes of the Yorkshire Dales, the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is defined by deep valleys, fells, and moorland, making it an ideal spot for hillwalking, biking, rock climbing, and even canoeing and angling. Scale Pendle Hill and enjoy views over the lush fields, drystone walls, and the rugged Trough of Bowland, before stopping into historic market towns like Bentham, Clitheroe, and Hornby, home to its very own "castle." Meanwhile, stargazers and birdwatchers will appreciate the clear skies over the Forest of Bowland, as will gliders and paragliders.

98% (221) 79 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds in Forest of Bowland AONB

Hazel Mount Fellside

1. Hazel Mount Fellside

98%
(49)
Eskdale, England · 5 units
Nearly wild camping on the western edge of the Lake District overlooking the Duddon Estuary
Pets
Campfires
Potable water
from 
£25
 / night
White House Farm Campsite, Wardlow

2. White House Farm Campsite, Wardlow

91%
(93)
Wardlow, England · 61 units · Tents, Motorhomes
What a little Derbyshire gem: back to basics Whitehouse Farm Campsite is a simple site in a most scenic setting five minutes’ drive from the pretty village of Tideswell. The site’s central location in the Peak District National Park means it’s a top spot for those who want to ramble or ride bikes – several circular trails leave from Tideswell and the traffic-free Monsal Trail is a five-minute drive away. And there’s plenty more activity if you require it too, as activity centres nearby can sort you out days of horse riding, abseiling, climbing and caving. All this activity isn’t mandatory, of course – this is an equally fine location for days pottering off to local pubs, pigging out on pudding in Bakewell or taking a leisurely stroll around the Chatsworth Estate, 20 minutes away. And if even that’s too much, you’d be welcome to spend some time loafing about on site: there’s heaps of space here, and as facilities have been kept quite minimal (just showers and toilets) there should be a good serving of peace and quiet to go with it all. Guests are welcome to light up a barbecue or campfire for cookouts and keeping warm; Tideswell’s the place for supermarket supplies, and it’s also handily got a fish and chip shop and a couple of pubs for days when your firelighting skills aren't up to much.
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£24
 / night
Breaks Fold Farm Glamping & Camping

3. Breaks Fold Farm Glamping & Camping

98%
(61)
Darley, England · 10 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Camping in Nidderdale with excellent facilities, dogs and campfires welcome, and views over Thruscross Reservoir.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from 
£12
 / night
Woodman's Huts

4. Woodman's Huts

99%
(58)
Haverthwaite, England · 3 units
Beautiful handmade shepherd's huts in the heart of the picturesque South Lakes
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£135
 / night
Sweet Knoll camping

5. Sweet Knoll camping

100%
(8)
Chapel En Le Frith, England · 50 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Sweet Knoll Farm, with six acres of flat land, is ideal for camping with breathtaking views in the Peak District . It is great for walking, cycling, horse riding and caving. Next to a working farm, it is surrounded by sheep grazing and is next to the Pennine Bridle Way. Castleton a short drive away is famous for its caverns blue john and speedwell. The campsite has toilets and showers,washing up facilities indoor and outdoor.Fresh drinking water and picnic tables.
Pets
Campfires
Potable water
from 
£25
 / night
The Damson Shepherd's Hut

6. The Damson Shepherd's Hut

98%
(60)
Near Kendal, England · 1 unit
A shepherd's hut for two in the lesser-known Lyth Valley, four miles from Lake Windermere
Showers
Campfires
Potable water
from 
£110
 / night
Peak Glamping Hideaway

7. Peak Glamping Hideaway

100%
(12)
Derbyshire, England · 3 units
Glamping literally reaches new heights in the Peak District National Park
Showers
Campfires
Wifi
from 
£100
 / night
The Black Swan

8. The Black Swan

100%
(26)
Kirkby Stephen, England · 3 units
Our three, brand new wood and canvas yurts are nestled in our private, woodland hotel garden beside the beautiful conservation (SSSI) river of Scandal Beck. Just a short drive from The Lake District, The Yorkshire and Durham Dales as well as The Scottish Border, we are perfectly located for you to explore. The yurts themselves are individually decorated with full size furniture, electricity and double beds. The yurts are all located in the garden of The Black Swan Hotel, Ravenstonedale, a multi award-winning hotel, restaurant and bar; recipient of 2 AA Rosettes as well as AA pub of the year for England 2018/19. As part of your stay in our yurts you will receive a full cooked breakfast and buffet option included in the price for 2 people in our hotel restaurant. We like to think of ourselves as a cosy home from home with a relaxed dining atmosphere throughout. We are very dog friendly in the hotel, restaurant, bar and yurts so please bring your furry family members. Our beautiful woodland is also home to red squirrels (which are seen daily), protected, freshwater crayfish in the river, an otter (seen very infrequently but the nemesis of our ducks), 6 Indian runner ducks, free range chickens and our two cockerels! (Dogs are very welcome but are to be kept on a lead whilst in the woodland itself). We are very dog friendly and charge an additional fee of £15 for 1 dog/ £20 for 2 dogs for an additional cleaning fee and for some dog friendly goodies such as poop bags and treats. The price of this yurt is based on an occupancy of 2 people. Any other people who will be staying on the sofa bed will add a charge of £40 per person per night for breakfast and their stay. All yurts come with electrical battery pack, chargeable lanterns, tea/coffee, homemade biscuits, log burning stoves, towels, full breakfast included from the hotel, an outdoor seating area and access to our outdoor toasty warm woodland shower as well as our very cute, wooden toilet cabin. Hairdryers are available in the hotel for your use.
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£136
 / night
Chilled Out Adult Only Glamping

9. Chilled Out Adult Only Glamping

100%
(32)
Mouldsworth, England · 8 units
Lakeside glamping on the edge of Delemere Forest and a 10-minute train ride from Chester
Showers
Campfires
Potable water
from 
£96
 / night
Gollin Farm Shepherds Hut

10. Gollin Farm Shepherds Hut

100%
(16)
Buxton, England · 3 units
Cosy and romantic shepherd's hut glamping in the heart, and at the highest heights, of the Peak District National Park
Showers
Campfires
Wifi
from 
£125
 / night
Whitelee Farm Shepherd Huts

11. Whitelee Farm Shepherd Huts

100%
(6)
Cheshire, England · 2 units
Romantic en-suite shepherds huts on a riverside farm in the Peak District National Park.
Showers
Campfires
Wifi
from 
£115
 / night

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Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

The best campsites in Forest of Bowland AONB with horseback riding guide

Tips for snagging a campsite

  1. Glamping pods typically require advance booking, but camping pitches can generally be reserved on the day. Check the policy of your chosen campsite in advance to be sure.
  2. Larger groups may need to book by phone, although couples and single travellers can generally arrange their stays online.
  3. Campsites closer to towns like Clitheroe and Skipton tend to fill up faster, so book early to snag your spot or head a little further out of town.

When to go

The Forest of Bowland is at its lush best during spring, when wildflowers bloom in the woods and the weather is still pleasant and dry. Summer is great for camping and fair-weather walks, although it's also peak season in the forest and campsites fill up fast. Visit in early autumn, when there are fewer people, to see the trees turn red. Meanwhile, winter can be wet and windy but cool, crisp days are great for woodland walks. 

Know before you go

  • The Forest of Bowland is well-connected by both road and rail, with Clitheroe Interchange serving as the most convenient train station. Manchester Airport is also only an hour away.
  • The Bowland Visitor Centre is a great place to start your exploration of the area, where you can find maps and tips about the forest and surrounds.
  • You can download children-friendly activity sheets and quizzes from the official Forest of Bowland website.
  • To enjoy angling in the rivers and reservoirs of the Forest of Bowland you must first purchase a day fishing ticket.