Camping in High Bentham

High Bentham and the surrounding Wenning Valley sit right on the doorstep of the Yorkshire Dales and the Forest of Bowland, two of northern England's best landscapes for a camping trip, but as with anywhere in England, wild camping without the landowner's permission remains against the law, so it is worth sticking to established sites. Riverside Caravan Park, on the edge of town beside the River Wenning, is the obvious local option, welcoming touring caravans, motorhomes and tents in a peaceful riverside setting within easy walking distance of the high street and its Wednesday market. Further afield, the wider Dales and Bowland area has a good scattering of small, family-run campsites and certified sites, many set on working farms with simple facilities and big views over limestone scenery or open moorland.

The terrain around High Bentham ranges from gentle valley pasture along the Wenning to the steeper limestone country towards Ingleborough and the Three Peaks, and the rockier, heather-covered moors of the Forest of Bowland to the south, so it is worth choosing a pitch to suit the kind of walking you have planned. Weather can turn quickly at altitude even in summer, and paths can be exposed, so a well-pitched tent and decent waterproofs matter more here than in lowland England. The best camping season runs from late spring to early autumn, when longer daylight hours make the most of walks to the Ingleton waterfalls, White Scar Cave or the Great Stone of Fourstones, and when local becks are at their most photogenic rather than swollen with winter rain.

For anyone who prefers a roof without giving up the outdoor feel, glamping options in the wider area include shepherd's huts, pods and safari tents on working farms, offering proper beds and often a wood burner while keeping guests close to the fells. These tend to book up quickly for peak summer weekends and bank holidays, so early planning pays off, particularly for visitors hoping to combine a Bentham base with the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge or a longer Dales walking holiday.