Camping in Kirkby Lonsdale

The countryside around Kirkby Lonsdale, straddling the boundary between Cumbria and the Yorkshire Dales National Park, offers some of the most scenic camping and glamping country in the North of England, from riverside sites along the Lune to fell-edge spots looking out over limestone country. As with the rest of England, wild camping is not permitted without the landowner's permission, so pitching up should always be on an established campsite or with a farmer's explicit consent, particularly given how much of the land here is working farmland.

The Lune Valley itself is gently rolling and green, with several campsites set beside or near the river offering easy access to the riverside walk down to Devil's Bridge. Further out, towards Dentdale, Barbondale and the fringes of the Yorkshire Dales, the terrain becomes hillier and more dramatic, with limestone scars, drystone walls and open fell offering a wilder backdrop for a tent or campervan pitch, and excellent walking and cycling straight from the campsite gate.

Late spring through to early autumn is the best window for camping here, when the ground has dried out after winter and the long evenings suit a walk along the river or up onto the fells after pitching. Midsummer weekends can get busy, particularly around the school holidays, so booking ahead is worthwhile for the more popular riverside sites. For those who prefer a bit more comfort, the area has a growing number of glamping options, including safari tents, shepherd's huts and pods, many on working farms, giving a taste of the Lune Valley and Dales scenery without needing your own kit. Campervan and motorhome pitches are also well provided for, with several sites offering hookup close to the A65 for easy access into town.