Camping in Ripon

Ripon's setting on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, with the Rivers Ure and Skell running close by and Fountains Abbey's parkland just down the road, makes it a good base for campers who want easy access to walking country without straying too far from a market town's pubs and shops. As with everywhere else in England, wild camping is illegal without the express permission of the landowner, so stick to licensed campsites and caravan parks, of which there are several within a short drive of the city, ranging from simple touring pitches to larger family-friendly sites with facilities.

The terrain around Ripon is gentler than the high fells further west in the Dales, rolling farmland and river valleys rather than exposed moorland, which makes it a comfortable spot for campers who want scenery without a strenuous approach. That said, North Yorkshire weather is changeable even in summer, so it is worth packing for rain and wind whatever the forecast says. Most sites in the area open from around Easter through to October, with the driest and warmest camping weather typically falling between May and September; this is also when Fountains Abbey's grounds, the deer park at Studley Royal and the wider Dales are at their most walkable, and when Ripon Racecourse's summer race meetings add another reason to base yourself locally.

For those who would rather skip tents altogether, glamping has taken hold across this part of Yorkshire, with shepherd's huts, safari tents and wooden pods available on farms and small sites around Ripon and towards the Dales. These tend to offer proper beds, heating and sometimes their own fire pits or hot tubs, while keeping you close to the same walking and cycling routes along the Ure and Skell valleys that campers use. Many are dog-friendly and geared towards couples or small families wanting a comfortable countryside base rather than a full back-to-basics camping trip, and they book up well in advance for the summer months, so it pays to plan ahead.