Camping in Kirkby Thore

Camping around Kirkby Thore means making the most of the Eden Valley's gentler, more sheltered terrain compared with the exposed fells further west, though the same rule applies across England: wild camping without the landowner's permission is not legal, so a recognised site or a landowner's explicit consent is needed before pitching up. The valley floor around the village is relatively flat and low-lying, following the River Eden and its tributary becks, which makes for straightforward touring caravan and tent pitches, while the ground rises quickly to the east into the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, where a scattering of small, more rugged sites sit closer to walking country. Nearby Appleby-in-Westmorland and the villages along the valley add a handful of further options, from simple certificated sites to family-run campsites with better facilities.

Late spring to early autumn is the most reliable season, when the ground is firmer, the days longer, and the fells at their most walkable; the North Pennines in particular can turn cold, wet and boggy well into what feels like the height of summer elsewhere, so it pays to come prepared regardless of the forecast. Midges can be a nuisance near the becks and wooded riverside stretches in high summer, easing off by September. For those wanting the outdoor setting without the tent-pitching and cooking, glamping options in the wider Eden Valley run from shepherd's huts and wooden pods to safari tents, offering proper beds and often a wood-burner, which suits the area's reputation for clear, dark skies and chilly nights once the sun goes down. Whatever the choice, the North Pennines' status as one of England's darkest areas makes an evening spent outside a highlight, weather permitting, and a good torch and warm layers are always worth packing even in July.