Camping in Preston

Preston itself is very much a city break rather than a camping destination, but it sits within easy reach of some excellent camping and glamping country in the Ribble Valley and on the western fringe of the Forest of Bowland. As in the rest of England, wild camping is not legal here without the landowner's permission, so pitching up in Beacon Fell Country Park or the surrounding fells means booking one of the area's established campsites, caravan parks or glamping sites rather than heading off-grid. The terrain around Preston is gentle valley and lowland farmland close to the Ribble, rising quickly into the steeper, more exposed fell country of Bowland to the north-east, so sites range from sheltered riverside meadows to breezier hilltop spots with wide views over the Ribble Valley. The best months to camp here run from late spring to early autumn, broadly April through September, when the weather is at its most settled and the valley's farmland and woodland are at their greenest; the Bowland fells can turn cold, wet and windy outside these months, so shoulder-season and winter camping is really only for well-equipped, experienced campers. For those who prefer a roof over their heads without giving up the outdoor setting, the Ribble Valley has a growing number of glamping options — shepherd's huts, safari tents and wooden pods — dotted around villages like Chipping, Longridge and Slaidburn, offering a comfortable way to enjoy the same countryside that draws walkers and cyclists onto the Guild Wheel and the wider Bowland footpath network. Many sites also make a good base for combining a countryside stay with a day trip into Preston itself, or onward into the Yorkshire Dales, which lie just beyond Bowland to the north.