Wild camping in
Northumberland

A well-run campsite in the small North Tyne valley town of Bellingham, gateway to Kielder Forest and the Northumberland National Park. Facilities include showers, electric hookups, and a laundry. Bellingham has shops, pubs, and the Heritage Centre. Hadrian's Wall is to the south, Kielder Forest to the north, and the Cheviot Hills to the northeast. The town sits on the Pennine Way. The surrounding countryside is pastoral and beautiful. The Northumberland Dark Sky Park designation means excellent stargazing. A practical and friendly base for exploring the quietest parts of northern England. Open March to October.

A campsite near Rothbury giving access to Cragside, the first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectric power. The estate, built for Victorian inventor Lord Armstrong, has dramatic engineering and beautiful gardens. The site has good facilities. Rothbury is an attractive market town in the Coquet Valley. The Simonside Hills provide excellent walking. The Northumberland coast is within easy reach. The estate has miles of walking trails through the rocky, wooded landscape. The Northumberland International Dark Sky Park provides outstanding stargazing. The campsite suits families combining history, nature, and outdoor activities.

The dramatic ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle sit on a basalt headland on the Northumberland coast, accessible only on foot from Craster or Embleton. Discreet wild camping on the grassy dunes between Embleton Bay and the castle is occasionally tolerated out of season. The bay itself is beautiful, with views to the castle ruins against the sky. Craster is famous for its kippers, smoked at Robson's for over a century. The coastal walking in both directions is superb, with rocky coves and wildlife-rich coastline. The area is part of the Northumberland Coast AONB. In summer, the beaches are too busy for camping.

The remote central section of Hadrian's Wall between Housesteads and Steel Rigg offers wild camping on the dramatic whin sill crags. The wall follows the natural escarpment with views across to Scotland and south into the North Pennines. Wild camping near the wall is tolerated but camp sensitively and away from the scheduled monument itself. The terrain is exposed moorland and rocky crags. Sycamore Gap, one of the most photographed trees in England (before its felling), is in this section. Once Brewed village has a visitor centre and pub. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wind exposure on the crags can be severe.

England's largest forest surrounds Kielder Water, Northern Europe's largest man-made lake. The area is a designated Dark Sky Park and the stargazing is world-class. Wild camping in the forest is tolerated away from the main trails and facilities. The forest is predominantly Sitka spruce but has beautiful sections of native woodland. Red squirrels are abundant and osprey have returned to breed. Mountain biking trails are excellent. The Kielder Observatory runs public stargazing events. The area feels genuinely remote despite being accessible by road. Kielder village has a small shop and pub. The forest tracks provide miles of walking and cycling.

The main campsite at Kielder Water offers a lakeside location with excellent facilities including modern showers, electric hookups, and access to water sports. The site is a good base for exploring Kielder Forest and the dark skies. Bike hire and water sports equipment are available. The visitor centre has a cafe and exhibition. The osprey viewing point at Bakethin is nearby. The lakeside walk and cycle route is 26 miles around the water. Star-gazing events at Kielder Observatory are bookable. The site can feel slightly institutional but the surrounding landscape is magnificent. Open March to November.

The Northumberland coast between Bamburgh and Holy Island is one of England's finest stretches of coastline, with sweeping sandy beaches, dramatic castles, and the Farne Islands offshore. Discreet wild camping on the dunes between the beaches is tolerated out of season but not in summer when the area is busy. Bamburgh Castle dominates the skyline and the view across to Holy Island is iconic. The coast is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Seahouses provides boat trips to the Farne Islands for puffins and seals. The dark skies make for excellent stargazing. Access is via the A1 from the south or from Berwick-upon-Tweed.

The Simonside Hills above Rothbury in Northumberland are a compact range of sandstone hills with excellent wild camping on their broad summits. The views across Coquetdale and to the Cheviot Hills are expansive. The terrain is heather moorland and exposed sandstone with some dramatic crags. According to local legend, the hills are home to mischievous duergar (dwarves). Rothbury is an attractive town with shops, pubs, and Cragside, the first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectric power. The forests around the hills have red squirrels. The Northumberland International Dark Sky Park designation means exceptional stargazing.

The highest point in Northumberland at 815m, The Cheviot is a vast, rounded hill of peat and grass on the English-Scottish border. Wild camping on the summit is technically possible but the ground is extremely boggy. Better pitches are found on the lower flanks and in the valleys. The Cheviot hills are genuinely wild and empty, some of the least-visited upland in England. Hen Hole, a dramatic ravine on the northern slopes, is spectacular. The Pennine Way traverses the range. Access is from Wooler, a small market town, or from the College Valley. The area is military training land in parts so check for firing times.

A well-positioned campsite near Bamburgh on the Northumberland coast, offering views of the castle and easy access to stunning beaches. The site has good facilities with showers, electric hookups, and a small shop. Bamburgh Castle is one of England's most impressive, sitting on a basalt outcrop above the beach. Holy Island (Lindisfarne) is accessible at low tide across the causeway. The Farne Islands boat trips from Seahouses are a highlight for wildlife lovers. Budle Bay, an important wading bird site, is adjacent to the campsite. The Northumberland coastal path provides excellent walking. Open March to October.