Riverside glamping in Gisburn Forest

Lancashire’s largest belt of forest hugs the Forest of Bowland’s eastern periphery and offers outdoorsy types some of the region’s greatest variety of activities. The lively Forest Hub is a nexus for hiking and mountain biking trails—plus it sports a cafe and a pop-up camping and glamping site during summer. The forest also abuts Stocks Reservoir, with more walking trails, fishing, and access onto the AONB’s wild moors. The long-distance Ribble Valley Jubilee Trail connects the forest to the Ribble Valley, which mainly lies to the south. Campers will have the best luck booking a campsite along the forest’s southern boundary.

97% (23)

Top-rated campgrounds

Lancashire’s largest belt of forest hugs the Forest of Bowland’s eastern periphery and offers outdoorsy types some of the region’s greatest variety of activities. The lively Forest Hub is a nexus for hiking and mountain biking trails—plus it sports a cafe and a pop-up camping and glamping site during summer. The forest also abuts Stocks Reservoir, with more walking trails, fishing, and access onto the AONB’s wild moors. The long-distance Ribble Valley Jubilee Trail connects the forest to the Ribble Valley, which mainly lies to the south. Campers will have the best luck booking a campsite along the forest’s southern boundary.

97% (23)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. RHC & Glamping

100%

(7)

6 units · Glamping · 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.

2. The Black Swan

100%

(26)

3 units · Glamping · 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.

3. Aldwark Bridge Glamping

3 units · Glamping · England

A unique and cosy pop-up glamping site Located on the banks of the River Ure next to a quaint and historical wooden toll bridge, Aldwark Bridge Glamping offers a unique and personal camping experience. Nestled between York and Harrogate, the site boasts a fantastic pit stop on the Coast to Coast cycling route, free landing access to the River Ure to enjoy kayaking and stand up paddle boarding and a beautiful river side walk to the local pub. Matt and Joanna invite you to glamp in style here at our cosy garden site with luxury shower room, extensive outdoor kitchen and welcoming communal fire pit seating area.

4. Hut in the Sheep Wash

1 unit · Glamping · Grizedale, England

A shepherd’s hut in it’s own riverside field in Cumbria

5. Smardale Mill Shepods The Ash

88%

(4)

3 units · Glamping · Hawes, North Yorkshire, North East England

Smardale Mill Shepods are the perfect place to escape, unwind and relax. These modern style shepherds huts are tucked away in an idyllic setting in Cumbria. Situated on a working family farm there is always plenty to see and do. Each shepod sleeps two comfortably with the option of a further two guests on the sofa bed.

6. Inside Out Yurts

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(9)

3 units · Glamping · Keswick, Cumbria, North West England

Rustic yurt glamping with a riverside setting, fell views and an enviable Lake District location

7. Lake District Herdwick Huts

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(1)

5 units · Glamping · Rydal, England

You will not find a more stunning place to stay and explore within the UK. Set in the very heart of the Lake District National Park, there is good reason why this magnificent location inspired the poet William Wordsworth to commit some of his most world-renowned poetry to paper. These beautiful huts are nestled underneath the Fairfield horseshoe mountain range and Nab scar, so there is no need to drive anywhere for the finest mountain hikes. With Rydal Lake, a wild swimmers hot spot, and waterfalls and plunge pools on site, it really is hard to beat! You will not find a more stunning place to stay and explore within the UK. Set in the very heart of the Lake District National Park, there is good reason why this magnificent location inspired the poet William Wordsworth to commit some of his most world-renowned poetry to paper. Grasmere is on the doorstep, voted one of the top places to visit in the Lake District, with the famous '‘Coffin route’ walk offering a spectacular lake and mountain view stroll straight from your hut door. With low level to high level walks exploring the Lakes from Rydal caters for everyone. Ambleside and Grasmere are both walking distance for cafes, restaurants and cinemas and Rydal offers scenic off-road strolls to arrive by. Each with fresh linen, wood burning stove and cast iron gas hob, you are sure to be comfortable even in the thick of winter.

Camper favorites in and near Gisburn Forest

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

Hut in the Sheep Wash

1 unit · Glamping · Grizedale, England

A shepherd’s hut in it’s own riverside field in Cumbria

Smardale Mill Shepods The Ash

88%

(4)

3 units · Glamping · Hawes, North Yorkshire, North East England

Smardale Mill Shepods are the perfect place to escape, unwind and relax. These modern style shepherds huts are tucked away in an idyllic setting in Cumbria. Situated on a working family farm there is always plenty to see and do. Each shepod sleeps two comfortably with the option of a further two guests on the sofa bed.

Inside Out Yurts

100%

(9)

3 units · Glamping · Keswick, Cumbria, North West England

Rustic yurt glamping with a riverside setting, fell views and an enviable Lake District location

Lake District Herdwick Huts

100%

(1)

5 units · Glamping · Rydal, England

You will not find a more stunning place to stay and explore within the UK. Set in the very heart of the Lake District National Park, there is good reason why this magnificent location inspired the poet William Wordsworth to commit some of his most world-renowned poetry to paper. These beautiful huts are nestled underneath the Fairfield horseshoe mountain range and Nab scar, so there is no need to drive anywhere for the finest mountain hikes. With Rydal Lake, a wild swimmers hot spot, and waterfalls and plunge pools on site, it really is hard to beat! You will not find a more stunning place to stay and explore within the UK. Set in the very heart of the Lake District National Park, there is good reason why this magnificent location inspired the poet William Wordsworth to commit some of his most world-renowned poetry to paper. Grasmere is on the doorstep, voted one of the top places to visit in the Lake District, with the famous '‘Coffin route’ walk offering a spectacular lake and mountain view stroll straight from your hut door. With low level to high level walks exploring the Lakes from Rydal caters for everyone. Ambleside and Grasmere are both walking distance for cafes, restaurants and cinemas and Rydal offers scenic off-road strolls to arrive by. Each with fresh linen, wood burning stove and cast iron gas hob, you are sure to be comfortable even in the thick of winter.

Stories from the community

E

Elma

August 2025

With kids

Weekend Trip to The Black Swan

Initially I wasn’t sure taking the lantern to do your (compost) toilet trip of 1.5 minutes but it worked as long as your mind doesn’t run wild in the dark when you’re on your own! But it all adds up to the whole experience of glamping without running water and electricity in the yurt. I loved the hot shower outside (I also used it to wash my hands after using the toilet), the sound of the stream, the hares who were very elusive, the log burner and the pub breakfast (included in the booking) and the pub food. I had to leave very early, it was still pitch black and I looked at the sky, it was magical with the stars and I even thought I could see 1-2 galaxies; I’m probably exaggerating but it was that clear without the light pollution. I loved the whole experience! Thank you!

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Riverside glamping in Gisburn Forest guide

Where to go

Gisburn Forest Hub

This impressive complex of buildings is the centre of the action in Gisburn thanks to its visitor information, car park, toilets, café, crafts producer, and trailheads for mountain biking and walking. Handily for campers, a pop-up camping and glamping site opens in the meadow here during June, July, and August. And the fun doesn’t end at sundown—the Forest Hub is also a Dark Sky Discovery Site.

Stocks Reservoir

Gisburn Forest’s western edge spreads along the Stocks Reservoir’s shores. Walking-wise, the eastern shore is easiest for strolls, although you can walk all around the reservoir if you are prepared to deviate away from the water’s edge on the north and west sides. There is parking and a picnic area on the lane along the east shore, and you can fly-fish here too. Camp at the Forest Hub (summer only), or at campsites on the forest’s southern limits.

Tosside

The name of the little village of Tosside translates from the Anglo-Saxon as ‘fox pasture’—belying, like many place names in the Forest of Bowland, the former importance of hunting here. Straddling the border between Lancashire and North Yorkshire, it is the closest village to the forest (the Forest Hub is three miles away). Outdoor enthusiasts visiting the region appreciate the village tearoom, the campsite just south, and Tosside’s access to the Ribble Valley Jubilee Trail, which passes through town.

Forest of Bowland AONB

In medieval times, a ‘forest’ could be any wild ground suitable for hunting big game—not necessarily just a tree-covered area. The Forest of Bowland is more the former: primarily lonely moors and fells laced with fine hikes soaring away west of Gisburn Forest. Gisburn Forest is well situated for pitching and venturing out to explore the central part of the AONB.