Riverside camping in Forest of Bowland AONB
Find rivers, rugged moorland, and skies suitable for stargazing, birdwatching, and more in the Forest of Bowland.
97% (26 reviews)
- Forest of Bowland AONB
97% (26 reviews)
Popular camping styles for Forest of Bowland AONB
Star Hosts in Forest of Bowland AONB
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12 top river, stream, or creek campsites in Forest of Bowland AONB
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RHC & Glamping
6 units · Glamping15 acres · Lancashire, North West England
Hi Hipcampers, We are a 15 acre site of hillsides and woodlands, with woodland paths a few beautiful ponds and a small river! We have fabulous views to of the hills to be enjoyed. Theres lots of wildlife here from deer to Canadian geese. We have some stone fire pits for our guests to use foc! We have a games room and lots of children swings and activities.
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£89
/ night
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(15)
Deerstone Glamping
6 units · Glamping82 acres · Lancashire, North West England
Geodesic domes with a sauna and a dome cinema on site in the Lancashire countryside
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£130
/ night
Primrose Cottage Camping
13 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents8 acres · Chorley, England
A quiet adult-only site [tents and campervans only] nestled below Healey Nab in the Lancashire Countryside. Rustic and back to basics is what this site is all about. Set amid spectacular countryside, grassy fields, woodland and streams to boot! Well behaved four legged friends are more than welcome. Campfires and good times allowed. *Please note loud music is not allowed.*
Flat walks are a plenty along the Leeds and Liverpool canal or maybe a circular walk to white White Coppice might float your boat? For the hill walkers amongst us there is Great Hill and Rivington Pike to climb.
Within walking distance or a few minutes drive there is pub at the end of the lane and local shops within the vicinity for those last minute snacks. Chorley town centre is 10 minutes drive away and we are close to the M61 which can take you to the Lake district in less than an hour, Manchester or Blackpool are roughly 30 Minutes away.
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£25
/ night
Back O' Th' Hill Farm
4 units · Glamping3 acres · Skipton, England
Situated in an iconic location just up the hill from The Priory at Bolton Abbey, one of Yorkshires finest locations, at the bottom of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and part of the Devonshire Estate. The views are stunning from several parts of the old Farm, looking across the Valley of Desolation and up to Simons' Seat, this is. small hidden gem Farm, with a small orchard (one bell tent within it), our own bee hives making our own honey, and we even have an indoor beach tennis court.
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£80
/ night
Booked 2 times
Gisburne Park Estate Glamping
10 units · Glamping1000 acres · Lancashire, North West England
While every campsite in the country bursts at the seams, discover our exclusive glamping village of just 10 widely spaced, luxurious five metre bell tents. Nestled within a historic Grade 1 listed, 1000 acre private estate, each tent is fully furnished. Expect home from home comforts, with a double bed, king sized duvet and electric power, while outside a decked area contains table and chairs and your own fire pit. Our magical glamping site is perfect for couples, families, and group bookings.
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£130
/ night
93%
(41)
Tyn Y Ffridd Farm
10 units · Tents30 acres · Bangor, Wales
Dog-friendly camping with mountain views between Anglesey and Snowdonia
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£28
/ night
Booked 4 times
Nearly-wild camping @ Heggs Farm
1 unit · Tent136 acres · Reeth, England
Get back to basics and immerse yourself in the joy of simple living with a nearly-wild camping experience @ Heggs Farm, Arkengarthdale--part of a collaborative, 200-acre renaturing project, spanning the northern tip of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Stretching from the wooded banks of the Arkle Beck, up to the dizzying heights of Fremington Edge, our site is a wonderfully biodiverse and off-the-beaten path spot, offering adventure-loving families and small groups the chance to unplug completely, and get a taste of no-frills camping, the way mother nature intended.
What's more, every booking is for exclusive use of the camping area by you and your group, guaranteeing you a truly unique (and undisturbed) experience.
Why Heggs?
Get a taste of 'wild-camping' with a few bare bones facilities: Pitch up where you like, make the most of a private firepit cooking area, and enjoy our compost loo with a view. Our remote, no-frills site is the perfect intro to simple living; yet sits close enough to 'civilisation' to hike out for picnic supplies, and/or a pub dinner.
Reconnect with nature through wholesome, unplugged activities: Fill your days with poo sticks, pebble skimming, and foraging for kindling. Spend your evenings playing scrabble by torchlight, identifying owl calls, and marvelling at the constellations in our Dark Skies conservation area. No wifi = no distractions.
Explore endless routes right from the doorstep: Arkengarthdale is one of the Dales' most beautiful yet undiscovered valleys. Multiple bridleways and footpaths connect Heggs to Reeth and Langthwaite, running along both sides of the Arkle Beck, and up the slopes of Fremington Edge.
Part of the adventure is getting here: Our walk/cycle-in-only camping area is all part of the magic of our tucked-away site. Free bag transfer is available to our farmhouse from the nearest roadside parking spot (20 mins walk); or from the public parking areas in Reeth or Langthwaite (40 mins walk). From the farmhouse, the camping area lies a further 200m along a rough grass track.
NB Limited parking for 4WD vehicles is available on site, 7-8mins walk from the camping area along the public footpath. Please note we cannot accept campervans or trailer tents.
Every stay plants trees, literally: All profits from nearly-wild camping support our ongoing habitat restoration as part of the Heggs-Castle renaturing cluster. Enjoy the 'feel-good' factor as you roam free across the site and explore our latest woodland creation areas. Find out more at heggscastlecluster.org.
What's included/provided with my booking?
-Exclusive use of the camping area for you and your group (up to a max of 8 people), including compost loo and firepit with grill.
-Access to weatherproof cow byre HQ for storage of camping equipment, including bikes.
-1 x wheelbarrow load of firewood, with kindling and natural firelighters (more can be bought on site).
-Unlimited potable water in canisters with taps.
-Large Ghillie Kettle, firepit cooking utensils and heatproof gloves, biodegradable washing up liquid, washing up bowl, tea towels, first aid kit, fire extinguisher.
-Bag transfer from/to the nearest roadside or public parking place on arrival and departure.
Please pack everything else you need to sleep, cook (portable gas stoves welcome), eat, and keep yourself and your equipment safe; remembering that you’ll have to carry your own gear for the last 200m to the cow byre, and then beyond to wherever you pitch up.
Note too that the site is completely unlit after dark, there are no charging facilities, and phone signal can be spotty. Headtorches, camping lanterns, and portable battery chargers are all strongly recommended.
Where can I stock up?
Our local businesses would love your support! Award winning bread, cafe-quality ready meals, and Thursday night pizzas can be pre-ordered for collection at Two Dales Bakery; the Bike Centre is known for its incredible cake selection (and excellent rental service); Reeth Post Office sells the usual camping cupboard staples, as well as local milk, cheese and sausages; and Reeth's Friday morning market has all your meat, cheese, and fruit and veg supplies covered.
For dining out, there are five pubs within easy-ish walking/cycling distance: The CB Inn, The Bridge Inn, The Black Bull, The King's Arms and The Buck. Ramsay’s Fish and Chip Van also visits Reeth between 4-6pm every Friday evening; you’ll find it parked up in Langhorne Drive.
Finished reading and not sure it's for you? Search for our off-grid annexe on AirBnB for simple, off-grid living with a few creature comforts e.g. hot running water, a bed and a bath. This can also be booked in tandem with our nearly-wild camping area, subject to availability.
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£45
/ night
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Fieldhead Campsite
29 units · Glamping, Tents1 acre · Derbyshire, East Midlands
Popular hikers' campsite at the start of the Pennine Way and the foot of Kinder Scout, right next to a small visitor centre
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£16
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95%
(30)
The White Lodge
5 units · Motorhomes, Tents10 acres · Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, West Midlands
A traditional campsite close to Staffordshire’s canals, river, and stately homes.
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£17
/ night
100%
(16)
The Black Swan
3 units · Glamping1 acre · Kirkby Stephen, England
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.
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£170
/ night
98%
(22)
Great Haywood Canalside Campsite
8 units · Tents4 acres · Staffordshire, West Midlands
The simplest of canalside campsites with narrowboats chugging past and an award-winning farm shop over the road
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£16
/ night
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(8)
Eden's Nook
5 units · Motorhomes, Tents2 acres · Welshpool, Wales
The most welcoming camping park in the heart of the Welsh Countryside.
Forest View is situated 9 miles from the Town of Llanfyllin and 3 miles from Lake Vyrnwy.
We are nestled next to the Dyfnant Forest and offer superb views and access to the Welsh countryside
Eden's Kitchen Serves Breakfast 8am to 11am
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£15
/ night
Dog-friendly getaways
Under £50
Riverside camping in Forest of Bowland AONB guide
Overview
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.
Tips for snagging a campsite
- 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.
- Larger groups may need to book by phone, although couples and single travellers can generally arrange their stays online.
- 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.
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