Camping in Kirkby Malzeard

Nidderdale's combination of open moorland, wooded valleys and quiet farmland has long made it a popular area for campers, but it is worth remembering that, as everywhere in England, wild camping without the landowner's explicit permission is against the law — the moors and fields around Kirkby Malzeard are almost entirely private farmland or grazing land, even where public footpaths cross them. The good news is that the area has a healthy scattering of proper campsites and glampsites, many run by farms diversifying into tourism, offering everything from simple grass pitches for tents to fully equipped safari tents, shepherd's huts and static caravans with dale views.

The terrain around the village is a mix of gently rolling farmland to the east, in the Vale of Mowbray, and steeper, more exposed moorland to the west towards Pateley Bridge and the higher parts of Nidderdale, so it is worth checking a site's exact location and any access notes before booking, particularly if you are towing a caravan or arriving in a larger campervan. Sites closer to the River Ure around Masham and Ripon tend to be more sheltered and family-friendly, while those further up the dale offer starker, quieter surroundings and better stargazing, thanks to Nidderdale's notably dark night skies away from larger towns.

The best camping season here runs from late spring to early autumn, roughly May to September, when the ground is drier underfoot and long evenings suit both moorland walks and simply sitting out at the pitch. Many sites open only within this window and close over winter, when the moors can become genuinely bleak and access tracks boggy. If you would rather skip the tent altogether, glamping options in the area — including yurts, pods and converted farm buildings — offer a comfortable way to enjoy the same views and dark skies with rather less effort, and are worth booking well ahead for peak summer weekends.