# Bruna Hill Staycation Guide — Where to Stay & What to Do > Discover Bruna Hill, a quiet Lancashire hilltop near Garstang on the edge of the Forest of Bowland AONB. Source: https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill (Staycation.co.uk). Cite the source page, not this text version. A quiet Lancashire hilltop on the edge of Bowland [Guide](https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill) [🏨 Hotels](https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill/hotels) [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill/cottages) [⛺ Camping](https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill/camping) [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill/attractions) [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill/restaurants) Bruna Hill is a small rural landmark in the parish of Barnacre-with-Bonds, just outside the market town of Garstang in the Wyre district of Lancashire. It's more a distinctive high point in the landscape than a village in its own right, a scatter of farms and barn conversions along Bruna Lane, looking out over the Wyre valley towards Greenhalgh Castle and the rolling countryside beyond. The hill has long attracted curiosity for its commanding views, and in 2012 local archaeologists from Wyre Archaeology carried out test pits and metal detector surveys here, investigating whether it had been used as an artillery position during the Civil War siege of nearby Greenhalgh Castle, or was even connected to the much-disputed site of the Battle of Brunanburh. The dig turned up nothing at all, an unusually clean result that suggested the ground had already been picked over long before, but it's a reminder that this unassuming Lancashire hillside has a habit of catching people's imagination. Today it remains a peaceful, largely private stretch of farmland, with the real draw being its position on the southern edge of the Forest of Bowland, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. ## Getting to Bruna Hill Bruna Hill sits just off the A6, a couple of miles south of Garstang, in the Wyre district of Lancashire. The M6 passes close by, with Junction 33 the nearest access point, making it a straightforward stop for anyone travelling between Preston and Lancaster. The nearest railway stations are at Preston and Lancaster, both roughly a 20-minute drive away, with regular services on the West Coast Main Line. There's no public transport directly serving Bruna Hill itself, so a car is the practical way to reach it. ## Best time to visit Bruna Hill Late spring through early autumn brings the best of the surrounding countryside, with long evenings for walking the Bowland fells and the Wyre valley at its greenest. Autumn colours across the wooded valleys are also worth timing a visit for, while winter has its own appeal for those after a quiet, off-season retreat with open fires and empty lanes. ## Where to stay in Bruna Hill [All hotels in Bruna Hill →](https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill/hotels) About staying in Bruna Hill Hotel options right at Bruna Hill itself are scarce, since this is a scattered rural spot rather than a town, but its location just outside Garstang and on the southern fringe of the Forest of Bowland puts a good range of nearby accommodation within easy reach. Garstang has a small choice of coaching inns and guesthouses in and around its historic centre, many of them traditional Lancashire pubs offering simple, comfortable rooms alongside a proper bar and restaurant downstairs. For something larger, Preston and Lancaster, both around 20 minutes' drive away, have a wider selection of chain and independent hotels, useful if you want easy access to the M6 and West Coast Main Line as well as the countryside. Travellers heading into the Forest of Bowland itself will find a scattering of country house hotels and farmhouse B&Bs tucked into the surrounding valleys, many geared towards walkers and those visiting for the scenery, peace and dark skies rather than nightlife. Whichever base you choose, Bruna Hill's appeal is really as a viewpoint and a starting point for exploring the wider area, so it's worth picking accommodation with easy access to the A6 or M6 rather than expecting to find anything on the hill itself. Booking ahead is sensible during the summer walking season, when Bowland's modest stock of rural accommodation fills up quickly, and again around the Garstang Christmas lights switch-on and other local events that draw visitors into the town. [Picket Post House Accommodation Picket Post House, Catterall](https://staycation.co.uk/catterall/hotels/picket-post-house-accommodation) [★★★3 star Garstang Country Hotel & Golf Sure Hotel Collection Garstang Road, Preston from £99/night](https://staycation.co.uk/preston/hotels/garstang-country-hotel-golf-sure-hotel-collection) [Royal Oak Hotel Garstang Market Place, Preston](https://staycation.co.uk/preston/hotels/royal-oak-hotel-garstang) [Premier Inn Preston North Garstang Road, Bilsborrow](https://staycation.co.uk/bilsborrow/hotels/premier-inn-preston-north) [Guys Thatched Hamlet Guys Canalside Lodge, Preston](https://staycation.co.uk/preston/hotels/guys-thatched-hamlet) [The Priory The Square, Preston](https://staycation.co.uk/preston/hotels/the-priory) [★★★★4 star Barton Manor Hotel and Spa BW Signature Collection 746-768 Garstang Road, Preston from £159/night](https://staycation.co.uk/preston/hotels/barton-manor-hotel-and-spa-bw-signature-collection) [Travelodge Lancaster M6 Moto Service Area M6 J32/33, Lancaster](https://staycation.co.uk/lancaster/hotels/travelodge-lancaster-m6) ## Things to Do in Bruna Hill [All attractions in Bruna Hill →](https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill/attractions) Top things to do near Bruna Hill There isn't a village centre to explore at Bruna Hill itself, so most visitors use it as a quiet base for exploring the surrounding Wyre valley and the Forest of Bowland. - **Greenhalgh Castle** — the scant but atmospheric ruins of a 16th-century castle just down the hill in Garstang, slighted after a Civil War siege. - **Forest of Bowland AONB** — one of England's most under-visited protected landscapes, with heather moorland, drystone-walled valleys and excellent walking routes within easy reach. - **Garstang town centre** — a historic market town with independent shops, a Thursday market and the Lancaster Canal running through it. - **Wyresdale and the River Wyre** — gentle valley walks following the river through classic Lancashire farmland. - **Beacon Fell Country Park** — a popular family-friendly hill with waymarked trails and views stretching to the Fylde coast, a short drive away. [🎟️Trails & Treasure Hunts Garstang Mystery Treasure Trail](https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill/attractions/garstang-mystery-treasure-trail) [Crafty Diane Pottery Painting and Craft Workshops ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill/attractions/crafty-diane-pottery-painting-and-craft-workshops) [Barton Grange Garden Centre ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill/attractions/barton-grange-garden-centre) [Lancaster Canal Cruises and Waterbus ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill/attractions/lancaster-canal-cruises-and-waterbus) [Wacky Warehouse - Phantom Winger ⭐ 3.6](https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill/attractions/wacky-warehouse-phantom-winger) [🎟️Indoor Soft Play Little Longridge Role Play Town Ltd](https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill/attractions/little-longridge-role-play-town-ltd) [Action Tag Warfare Blackpool ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill/attractions/action-tag-warfare-blackpool) [Belong Preston ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill/attractions/belong-preston) ## Where to Eat in Bruna Hill [All restaurants in Bruna Hill →](https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill/restaurants) Food and drink near Bruna Hill Garstang, a short drive from Bruna Hill, has a good spread of independent cafes, tearooms and traditional pubs around its market square, reflecting its status as one of Lancashire's designated Fairtrade towns. Beyond the town, the surrounding villages of the Wyre valley and Bowland fringe are dotted with country pubs serving hearty, locally sourced food, well suited to walkers coming off the fells. [Garstang Country Hotel ⭐ 4.2](https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill/restaurants/garstang-country-hotel) [Nonna Carla ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill/restaurants/nonna-carla) [Subway Catterall ⭐ 3.3](https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill/restaurants/subway-catterall) [Taste Of Garstang ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill/restaurants/taste-of-garstang) [Garstang Deli-cafe ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill/restaurants/garstang-deli-cafe) [St Thomas ⭐ 4.3](https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill/restaurants/st-thomas) [Royal Voluntary Service Lunch Club ⭐ 4.2](https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill/restaurants/royal-voluntary-service-lunch-club) [Thai Courtyard ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill/restaurants/thai-courtyard) ## Attractions Near Bruna Hill [All attractions in Bruna Hill →](https://staycation.co.uk/attractions) Worth the trip — within 50 miles of Bruna Hill. [🎟️Trails & Treasure Hunts 2 mi Garstang Mystery Treasure Trail Garstang](https://staycation.co.uk/garstang/attractions/garstang-mystery-treasure-trail) [2 mi Crafty Diane Pottery Painting and Craft Workshops Garstang · ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/garstang/attractions/crafty-diane-pottery-painting-and-craft-workshops) [2 mi Barton Grange Garden Centre Preston · ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/preston/attractions/barton-grange-garden-centre) [3 mi Lancaster Canal Cruises and Waterbus Lancaster · ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/lancaster/attractions/lancaster-canal-cruises-and-waterbus) [6 mi Wacky Warehouse - Phantom Winger Preston · ⭐ 3.6](https://staycation.co.uk/preston/attractions/wacky-warehouse-phantom-winger) [🎟️Indoor Soft Play 7 mi Little Longridge Role Play Town Ltd Preston](https://staycation.co.uk/preston/attractions/little-longridge-role-play-town-ltd) [8 mi Action Tag Warfare Blackpool Preston · ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/preston/attractions/action-tag-warfare-blackpool) [8 mi Belong Preston Preston · ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/preston/attractions/belong-preston) ## Camping in Bruna Hill [All campsites in Bruna Hill →](https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill/camping) About camping in Bruna Hill There is no organised campsite at Bruna Hill itself, and wild camping without the landowner's permission is not legal in England, so anyone hoping to pitch a tent on this stretch of Lancashire farmland will need to look to a licensed site nearby rather than the hill itself. The Forest of Bowland AONB, on whose southern edge Bruna Hill sits, has a modest but growing number of small campsites and glamping operations scattered through its valleys, typically simple, family-run fields with basic facilities rather than large holiday parks, in keeping with the area's quiet, undeveloped character. Garstang and the wider Wyre valley also have caravan and camping sites geared towards touring visitors, making use of the town's position just off the M6 as a convenient overnight stop or short-break base. The terrain around Bruna Hill itself is gently rolling farmland rather than open moor, so it's comfortable walking country, while the fells further north into Bowland proper get considerably wilder and are best tackled with proper preparation. Spring through early autumn is the most reliable camping season here, when the ground is drier underfoot and the long evenings suit sitting out after a day on the trails; the Bowland hills can turn wet and exposed for tent camping once autumn sets in. For those who'd rather skip the tent, glamping pods, shepherd's huts and camping barns have become increasingly common across the Bowland fringe in recent years, offering a warmer alternative that still keeps you close to the moorland views and dark skies that draw people to this part of Lancashire. [Orchard Glamping ⭐ 4.8 · from £210/night](https://staycation.co.uk/preston/camping/orchard-glamping) [Little Stubbins Certificated Location ⭐ 4.8 · from £25/night](https://staycation.co.uk/garstang/camping/little-stubbins-certificated-location) [Bridge House Marina & C Park ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/lancashire/camping/bridge-house-marina-c-park) [Gibsons Barn Caravan Park ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/lancashire/camping/gibsons-barn-caravan-park) [Sunnyside Caravan Park ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/lancashire/camping/sunnyside-caravan-park) [Humblescough Farm ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/lancashire/camping/humblescough-farm) [Poplar Grove Farm Caravan Park ⭐ 4.6 · from £38/night](https://staycation.co.uk/preston/camping/poplar-grove-farm-caravan-park) [Meadow View Caravan Park ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/lancashire/camping/meadow-view-caravan-park) ## Self-Catering Cottages in Bruna Hill [All cottages in Bruna Hill →](https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill/cottages) [🏡Cottage Myrtle Cottage 2 bed · sleeps 3 · from £365](https://staycation.co.uk/wyre/cottages/myrtle-cottage-syk1103300) [River View 2 bed · sleeps 3 · from £319](https://staycation.co.uk/wyre/cottages/river-view-syk1085533) [Apartment 20, River View 1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £354](https://staycation.co.uk/wyre/cottages/apartment-20-river-view-syk1193037) [Levenside 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £367](https://staycation.co.uk/wyre/cottages/levenside-syk1190821) [🏡Cottage 2 Pine Grove 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £384](https://staycation.co.uk/wyre/cottages/2-pine-grove-syk1082520) [The Old Post Office 1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £350](https://staycation.co.uk/wyre/cottages/the-old-post-office-syk936378) [Nicky Nook Lodge 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £437](https://staycation.co.uk/wyre/cottages/nicky-nook-lodge-syk1014348) [🏡Cottage Henry Haven 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £581](https://staycation.co.uk/wyre/cottages/henry-haven-syk1084443) ### 🏨 Find Hotels in Bruna Hill Search hotels, B&Bs and self-catering on Booking.com. [Search Accommodation →](https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-101762279-15734754?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fsearchresults.en-gb.html%3Fss%3DBruna%2BHill%252C%2BUnited%2BKingdom) Affiliate link ### Explore Bruna Hill - [🏨 Hotels & B&Bs](https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill/hotels) - [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill/cottages) - [⛺ Campsites & glamping](https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill/camping) - [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill/attractions) - [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/bruna-hill/restaurants) ## Staycation ideas for Bruna Hill [All staycation ideas →](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas) [The Best Last-Minute UK Staycations Six well-connected UK towns and cities worth booking at short notice, chosen for easy travel and a decent spread of accommodation once the school-holiday crowds have thinned.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-last-minute-staycations) [Rainy Day Staycations: Best UK Breaks for Bad Weather When the forecast turns grim, these UK cities and spa towns keep their appeal indoors, with museums, galleries and grand architecture to fill a wet weekend.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/rainy-day-staycations-uk) [The Best Dog-Friendly Staycations in Britain From Cornish coast paths to Lake District fells, these six British destinations offer the open beaches, moors and forests that make a staycation genuinely enjoyable for dogs and their owners alike.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/dog-friendly-staycations) [The Best UK Staycations for Families with Young Kids From New Forest ponies to Cornish rock pools, these six UK destinations combine easy logistics, safe beaches and family-friendly attractions for a stress-free break with young children.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-staycations-for-families)