Riverside camping in Gisburn Forest
Lancashire’s biggest forest has some of the Bowland Fells’ most varied outdoor action—and camping.
98% (32 reviews)
- Gisburn Forest
98% (32 reviews)
Popular camping styles for Gisburn Forest
Under £50
Star Hosts in Gisburn Forest
12 top river, stream, or creek campsites in Gisburn Forest
94%
(56)
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
100%
(24)
Camping at Cardewlees
37 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents1 acre · Carlisle, England
A welcoming, family-run farm campsite between the Lake District and Hadrian's Wall
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£20
/ night
92%
(39)
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
98%
(30)
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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£18
/ night
100%
(19)
Treflach Farm
8 units · Glamping, Tents100 acres · Oswestry, Shropshire, West Midlands
Bell tents and a yurt on a regenerative farm in Shropshire
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£20
/ night
100%
(2)
Primrose Cottage Camping
13 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents8 acres · Chorley, England
A quiet adult-only site (this site does not cater for children), with 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
99%
(46)
Wild conTENTment
10 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents1 acre · Shropshire, West Midlands
Wild-ish but family-friendly camping and glamping on a canalside farm on the English-Welsh border
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£25
/ night
100%
(8)
Dolwen Riverside Camping
8 units · Motorhomes, Tents2 acres · Denbigh, Wales
Peaceful, riverside camping in North Wales
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£28
/ night
100%
(3)
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
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
100%
(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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£175
/ night
100%
(2)
Nearly-wild camping @ Heggs Farm
1 unit · Tent136 acres · Reeth, England
Get back to basics and immerse yourself in the joy of simple outdoor 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 undulating, south-facing 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.
NB Due to the undulating nature of the terrain, our site is most suited to tents with a smaller footprint.
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 meal.
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 (2 miles) and Langthwaite (1.5 miles), 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 (your own portable gas stove and/or charcoal is welcome), eat, and keep yourself and your equipment safe; remembering that you’ll have to carry your own gear for at least the last 200m down 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/solar 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 four pubs within a two-mile hike/cycle: The CB Inn, The Bridge Inn, The Black Bull and The Buck (the only to offer all-day dining 12-8pm). 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 The Annexe @ Heggs Farm 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
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Riverside camping in Gisburn Forest guide
Overview
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.
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.
Top parks in and near Gisburn Forest
Top regions near Gisburn Forest
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