Riverside Camping Near Darlington

United Kingdom
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England
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North East England
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Durham
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Darlington

97% (17 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Darlington

Available this weekend

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(23)

12 top river, stream, or creek campsites near Darlington

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(23)

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

98%

(95)

Walkmill Campsite

10 units · Motorhomes, Tents10 acres · Northumberland, North East England

Refreshingly understated private camping in the unspoiled Northumberland countryside

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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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.

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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(2)

Fieldhead Campsite

29 units · Glamping, Tents1 acre · Derbyshire, East Midlands

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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

Sunrise Eco Glamping

8 units · Glamping4 acres · Retford, Nottinghamshire, East Midlands

Small-scale, eco-conscious glamping with plenty of luxuries, set in the Trent Valley

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(9)

Inside Out Yurts

3 units · Glamping1 acre · Keswick, Cumbria, North West England

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

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.

Lake District Herdwick Huts

5 units · Glamping2 acres · 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.

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Derecroft Glamping Luxury Pods

1 unit · Glamping40 acres · Derecroft, England

Super-spacious glamping pods with hot tubs in County Durham

Riverside camping near Darlington guide

Overview

Surrounded by protected landscapes and boasting a pretty town centre plus plenty of natural reserves of its own, Darlington is a standout destination for outdoor enthusiasts in northern England. Whether you’re after quiet countryside camping or active adventure in one of England’s most iconic landscapes, you have options, with the Pennine Chain, North York Moors, and Northumberland National Park all within easy reach of the city. The region’s holiday parks are great for kicking back with the kids, while frill-free field camps and luxury glampsites let you soak up the great outdoors in your own way. Stargazers should keep an eye out for the many Dark Sky Sites scattered throughout the region.

Where to go

Around Darlington

On the eastern leg of the Teesdale Way, Darlington is a convenient stop off for hikers and bikers, with country parks, nature reserves, and a community woodland providing plenty for outdoor enthusiasts within the city’s reaches. Campgrounds and caravan parks can be found in the Darlington countryside, along with working farms providing back-to-basics experiences.

North York Moors National Park

Just under an hour’s drive from Darlington, the North York Moors boast dramatic coastline and vast moorland, plus family-friendly holiday parks and farm sites aplenty. The Cleveland Way National Trail cuts a scenic route through the park’s diverse landscapes, making it a destination for ramblers and riders.

Yorkshire Dales National Park

Only 15 miles (25 kilometres) from Darlington, the market town of Richmond offers a gateway into one of England’s most famous landscapes. No-frill farm sites, hilltop campgrounds, and glamping pods provide accommodation options for all types of adventurer, while the region’s caves, cascades, and gorges—including Cautley Spout, England's highest above-ground waterfall—are a playground for watersports enthusiasts.

North Pennines AONB

Also on the Pennine Way, this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty just north of the Yorkshire Dales draws adventurers with its day-time and night-time offerings, including the impressive High Force waterfall and several Dark Sky Sites. Wild-style camping is popular here, while Eden Valley to the west hosts several working farm campgrounds.

Northumberland National Park

At the northern border of England, around 40 miles (65 kilometres) from Darlington, this vast landscape is best known for its secluded campgrounds, low crowds, and abundance of flora and fauna. Adventurers can follow Hadrian’s Wall, hike the remote Otterburn Ranges, or ride across the rolling Cheviot Hills, looking out for native wild goats, red squirrels, and all manner of birdlife along the way.

When to go

Not all campgrounds remain open during the winter season and the relative seclusion of the region means off-season scheduling isn’t necessary to beat the crowds. Plus, off-road trails are generally more accessible from spring to early autumn, before the icy northern frost settles.

Know before you go

Darlington is two hours from Edinburgh and two-and-a-half hours from London via train.
Several towns around the national parks or AONBs are connected to Darlington via bus or train, though it can be more convenient and quicker to bring your own vehicle.
Some sites hire out camping gear. Otherwise, branches of camping specialists Trespass and Millets can be found in Darlington’s city centre.
Not all sites allow walk-ins, so check or book ahead of time.