Camping in Saltersgate

Saltersgate sits right on the edge of some of the wildest, most open camping country in North Yorkshire, with the North York Moors National Park stretching away on all sides and the Hole of Horcum providing one of the region's great natural spectacles just down the road. It is worth being clear from the outset that wild camping is not legal in England without the landowner's permission, unlike in Scotland, so pitching a tent on the open moor around Saltersgate without asking first is not permitted, however tempting the scenery. The good news is that the wider area around Pickering, Levisham and the Dalby Forest fringes has a decent spread of proper campsites and glamping sites where you can camp legitimately and still feel close to the moor. Expect small, family-run sites rather than big holiday parks, often on working farms, with basic but well-kept facilities and pitches that make the most of the heather-clad hills and long moorland views. Given the exposed nature of this stretch of the moors, weather matters more here than in more sheltered parts of Yorkshire; conditions can change quickly at altitude, with wind and low cloud rolling in even in summer, so a sturdy tent and warm layers are worth packing whatever the season. Late spring through to early autumn is the most comfortable window for camping, and mid-August into September is particularly rewarding thanks to the heather moorland bursting into purple bloom around the Hole of Horcum and Levisham Moor. For those who would rather leave the tent poles at home, glamping options in the area, from shepherd's huts to safari tents, offer a softer way to experience the same big skies and moorland silence, with a proper bed and often a wood burner to keep out the chill once the sun goes down over the hills.