North Yorkshire
Small adults-only site with camping pods on the edge of Kettlewell
Wharfe Camp is a deliberately small, adults-only site on the edge of Kettlewell in upper Wharfedale, run on the principle that fewer pitches means a quieter night. There are around five well-spaced tent pitches on level grass, a hardstanding pitch suitable for a campervan, and two camping pods for anyone who would rather not sleep under canvas. The scale is the point: this is not a site for large groups or for anyone wanting a social atmosphere, and there is a no-noise policy after dark.
The amenities block is modern, with toilets, a shower and a washing-up area, and each pitch has the option of a 16-amp electric hook-up, which is unusual for a site this size and useful in shoulder season. There is no shop, no playground and no pool, and dogs are not accepted at all, so this is not the site for anyone travelling with one. Wi-Fi is not provided, though Kettlewell has signal and the village pubs have their own. Prices start at around £30 a night, with the pods higher.
Kettlewell itself is a two-minute walk: three pubs, a village shop, a cafe and a bus service down the dale to Grassington and Skipton. The Dales Way runs through the village along the Wharfe, and the climbs out of the valley to Great Whernside and Buckden Pike start from the door. Malham, Aysgarth and the show caves are all within half an hour by car, and the drive north over Kidstones Pass into Wensleydale is one of the best in the park. Being adults-only and small, the site is worth booking well in advance for summer weekends, and it does not open year-round, so check dates before travelling.