Raygarth

Hotels near Raygarth are concentrated in Kirkby Lonsdale and the surrounding Lune Valley villages, with options ranging from traditional stone-built coaching inns in the town centre to smaller family-run guesthouses in quieter spots nearby. Kirkby Lonsdale's long history as a coaching stop on routes north means several of its inns have been welcoming travellers for centuries, and many now combine comfortable, updated rooms with the kind of local character that chain hotels cannot match. Expect period features such as exposed beams and open fires alongside more modern amenities.

For those who want a slightly wider choice, Kendal and Sedbergh both offer additional hotel and guesthouse options within a short drive, useful if you are planning to split your time between the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales. Given the modest number of rooms in the immediate area, particularly during the Thursday market and in peak summer months, it is worth booking ahead rather than arriving on spec. Prices are generally more affordable than the honeypot Lake District villages further north, reflecting the area's quieter, less touristy character, while still offering easy access to the fells, dales and river walks that draw people to this part of Cumbria.

Kirkby Lonsdale and the wider Lune Valley punch well above their weight for things to see and do.

• Devil's Bridge — a scheduled ancient monument dating from the 14th century, spanning the River Lune with three graceful stone arches; a popular spot for riverside walks and picnics.
• Ruskin's View — the sweeping view over the Lune Valley from the churchyard of St Mary's that so impressed the critic John Ruskin, and which J.M.W. Turner painted in 1822.
• Kirkby Lonsdale Charter Market — a weekly Thursday market in the town's Market Square selling local produce, plants and handmade goods, alongside a good run of independent shops, cafes and galleries.
• Ingleton Waterfalls Trail — a roughly five-mile circular walk through ancient oak woodland a few miles down the A65, taking in a series of waterfalls on the Rivers Twiss and Doe.
• Yorkshire Dales National Park — the southern fringes of the Dales, including the limestone scenery around Ingleton and Sedbergh, are within easy striking distance for walking, caving and cycling.
• Casterton Golf Club — a par 68 course just outside Kirkby Lonsdale, with a nine-hole par 3 course and driving range for less serious golfers.

Kirkby Lonsdale has built a strong reputation for its food scene relative to its size, with a good number of independent cafes, bakeries and restaurants around the Market Square. Pubs in the surrounding villages serve solid, unpretentious food built around local produce, and the Thursday Charter Market is a good source of local cheese, meat and baked goods if you are self-catering nearby.

Wild camping without the landowner's permission is illegal in England, including throughout Cumbria and the surrounding Lune Valley and Yorkshire Dales countryside, so plan on a proper campsite or a farm pitch where the owner has explicitly agreed to your stay. The good news is that this part of the country has no shortage of options, from simple rugby-club and farm campsites on the edge of Kirkby Lonsdale to more established touring parks with electric hook-ups, showers and laundry facilities.

The terrain around Raygarth is gentle valley pasture and riverside meadow rather than high fell, so pitches tend to be well-sheltered, with easy walking straight from the tent to the River Lune or into town. Head further north towards the Lake District proper or up onto the Yorkshire Dales tops and conditions become considerably more exposed, so pack accordingly if you are planning longer walks from your base. Ground can stay soft after rain thanks to the valley's clay-heavy soils, so a sturdy set of pegs and a groundsheet earn their keep, and it is always worth checking site-specific rules on campfires and awnings before you pitch.

May to September is the most reliable window for camping here, when most seasonal sites are open and the days are long enough for evening walks along the river. School holidays bring the busiest weeks, particularly around the Thursday Charter Market and any local events in Kirkby Lonsdale, so book ahead if you want a specific pitch in July or August. Outside these months, a handful of sites stay open year-round for the hardier camper, though facilities may be reduced.

If canvas and guy ropes are not for you, glamping has taken hold across Cumbria and the Dales in recent years, and pods, shepherd's huts and yurts within a short drive of Raygarth offer a warmer alternative with most of the outdoor feel intact, generally at a premium over a standard pitch but well below the cost of a hotel room.