Camping in Thirsk

Thirsk sits in genuinely good camping and touring country: flat, easy-access farmland immediately around the town gives way within a few miles to the rising ground of the Hambleton Hills and the edge of the North York Moors, so a single base here can suit both a relaxed touring stay and a walking-focused trip. The town itself, its racecourse and its Monday market are all within a short drive or, in one case, a five-minute walk of a pitch, which makes Thirsk a practical hub for visitors touring this part of North Yorkshire by caravan or motorhome.

The three sites within easy reach of the town between them cover most kinds of camping trip. One sits on working racecourse land on the very edge of Thirsk, giving touring caravans, motorhomes and a small number of camping pitches a genuinely central location with electric hook-up and the full run of facilities. A second, a few miles north near Knayton, is a multiple award-winning touring park with glamping pods and a more rural, landscaped setting, popular with families and couples wanting a higher standard of facility. A third, a small adults-only touring site tucked below the Kilburn White Horse, suits couples seeking a peaceful pitch with dramatic hillside views rather than a full programme of on-site facilities.

Across all three, electric hook-up and hardstanding pitches are the norm, reflecting the popularity of touring caravans and motorhomes in this part of Yorkshire, though options for tents and glamping also exist for those without their own outfit. Dogs are welcome at every site listed here, in keeping with the strongly rural, walking-oriented character of the area. As with the town's hotels, race days at Thirsk Racecourse and the peak summer months are the times to book earliest, since pitch numbers at all three sites are modest rather than vast.