Northumberland
Family site a mile from Hadrian's Wall with glamping, a petting farm and dark skies
Herding Hill Farm sits between Haltwhistle and the Military Road, about a mile from Hadrian's Wall and within the Northumberland International Dark Sky Park. It is a working smallholding turned campsite, and it has gone further than most in the area towards facilities for families, without losing the feel of being out on the moor edge.
Accommodation ranges from grass tent pitches to hardstanding and fully serviced pitches for caravans and motorhomes, plus a substantial glamping operation of heated wooden pods, cabins and lodges, some with hot tubs. The amenity block is heated and includes family shower rooms. There is a licensed shop, a camping kitchen and undercover cooking area, a play area and a petting farm with alpacas, goats and pigs that keeps younger children occupied on wet afternoons. Wi-Fi is available, dogs are welcome, and the site is open year-round, which is unusual this far inland.
The position is the reason to choose it. Housesteads Roman Fort, Vindolanda and the Roman Army Museum are all within ten to fifteen minutes' drive, the Hadrian's Wall Path passes close by, and Steel Rigg — the start of the best stretch of wall walking — is a short hop up the Military Road. Kielder Water is about forty-five minutes north-west. Because the site sits at altitude on the Whin Sill and away from any town, the skies are genuinely dark on a clear night; bring a red head torch and something warm to sit out in, because it cools fast after sunset even in July. Touring pitches typically start from around £25 a night, with glamping units considerably more.