Camping in Garton-on-the-Wolds

Camping in and around Garton-on-the-Wolds means genuine Yorkshire Wolds countryside: rolling chalk hills, big skies, and a landscape that's quiet even in peak season. There's a small campsite in the heart of the village itself, offering a tranquil base with views over the surrounding farmland and Driffield just a couple of miles away, and further options are scattered through nearby Wolds villages, including sites with separate adult-only and family fields for those who want a bit more peace. As with wild camping anywhere in England, pitching up without the landowner's permission on the open Wolds is not legal, however tempting the empty hillsides look - stick to a licensed campsite or arrange permission directly with a farmer in advance.

The terrain here is gentler than the Yorkshire Dales or North York Moors, but it isn't flat: expect chalk dry valleys, exposed ridge tops and a fair bit of up and down if you're walking or cycling in from a pitch, particularly if you're linking into the Yorkshire Wolds Way. Ground can be firm and free-draining even after rain thanks to the chalk geology, which makes this a reasonably reliable part of the country for camping outside the height of summer, though the open, hedge-sparse fields do mean more exposure to wind than in a sheltered valley campsite. Late spring through early autumn is the best window, when long days suit the walking and cycling this area is made for and the surrounding fields are at their most colourful, from rapeseed yellow in May to golden stubble after harvest.

For those who'd rather skip the tent, glamping has taken off across the Wolds in recent years, with pods, shepherd's huts and even hot-tub cabins available within a short drive of Garton, some handily placed for exploring both the Wolds villages and the East Yorkshire coast around Bridlington. It's a good way to get the same sense of space and quiet that makes this landscape special, without needing your own kit or a forecast you can rely on.