Looking to Camp in the Yorkshire Dales National Park?

Well look no further guys! We’re about to tell you all about our trip to Ravestonedale and our week long camp at Low Greenside! This family friendly campsite is set over in the Westmorland side of the Yorkshire Dales, so you really are in for a treat with both the fells of the Lake District and the rugged moors of Yorkshire Dales right on your doorstep, as well as being within easy reach of the North Pennines AONB too.

This underrated area of the Dales is absolutely OOZING with beauty and is a fabulous alternative to stopping in the busier tourist traps. I really cannot sing its praises enough, and I’d even go as far as saying that it’s probably one of my favourite parts of the Yorkshire Dales National Park (although I do say that a lot!)

But if you are looking to REALLY explore this area of the Dales and Lakes, then you have to put Low Greenside Campsite to the top of your list.

And here’s why!

Camping with the kids at Low Greenside campsite

Ready to hear about our experience of Low Greenside? Yeah you are!

As a little background to our trip, we camped during one of the wettest and windiest weeks that the school holidays had to offer (the JOY!) but Low Greenside offered a fab little retreat to come back to after the most dismal of days.

You can check out our top tips on camping in the rain with the kids by heading to the blog.

The site has some fabulously large pitches, each with a firepit, which meant that when the campsite got a little busier at the weekend (and despite the weather it did fill up, with the hardiest of campers) you never felt like you were too close to the tent next to you.

There was plenty of space to run and play without feeling like you were in any way annoying the neighbours and speaking of neighbours, I don’t think I’ve ever been to a campsite where everybody was so friendly! Must be a Low Greenside thing!

What facilities are there at Low Greenside Campsite?

Low Greenside proudly describes itself as offering ‘camping as it used to be’ and I think that pretty much sums it up.

But I’m not saying the campsite is basic, it is in fact far from it, with some brand spanking new eco-friendly, low impact facilities for 2023 (more about those below). The phrase ‘camping as it used to be’ perfectly describes the whole campsite vibe.

You won’t get a campsite shop selling artisan bread, freshly ground coffee and fancy ice cream, but you will get some top quality facilities, awesome views and a relaxed campsite experience that won’t leave you wanting.

The Toilets and Showers

The old toilets and showers sustained some significant damage in the winter storms, and so this year a BRAND NEW low impact shower block and waterless toilet facility has been built.

The toilets were IMMACULATE. Despite it being some of the worst Summer weather for years, they were kept scrupulously clean.

The showers are some of the best I have EVER encountered on a campsite. They were hot, powerful and again, super clean. Each cubicle had a mirror, chair and basin too which makes it perfect for those with younger families who need extra space for changing and drying.

The Washing Up Area

The washing up area is indoors and offers washing up facilities, an area with plug sockets, a fridge and chest freezer, additional hand wash basins and some indoor seating. It also has charging lockers, which I feel are always a great addition to a campsite that doesn’t offer electric hook up.

There is also a recycling area where you can separate your rubbish.

The Pitches

Each pitch is generously roomy and has a free firepit (some campsites charge extra, but not at Low Greenside.)

There is no camp shop here, although you are able to purchase logs (which includes free kindling to get you started) from the farmhouse and there are plenty of shops in nearby Kirkby Stephen, or Sedbergh.

In the early summer, you will see wildflowers on the field, and it really has some of the best views a campsite has to offer, it being nestled at the foot of the Howgill fells.

The Dark Skies

You guys know that I LOVE a bit of a stargaze and whilst we had some pretty terrible weather, the stars did peep out on one occasion!

Low Greenside Campsite has minimal light pollution and so is a great place to view the night skies. For more information about the Dark Skies in the Yorkshire Dales head to our Stargazing page.

What can you do from Low Greenside Campsite?

As I said at the start, this is the PERFECT base for exploring either the Yorkshire Dales or the Lake District without having to compete with thousands upon thousands of people!

That is precisely why it’s a super little base to explore from!

Head down to Ravenstonedale and explore the village (and its pubs!)

The centre of Ravenstonedale is less than a 10 minute walk from the bottom of the campsite. There, you’ll find a play park with tennis courts and plenty of space to play. If history is your thing, across the road from the play park is the ruins of the old monastery and Ravenstonedale is the home to 3 family friendly pubs!

The Kings Head offers good quality pub grub with a friendly welcome. They cemented themselves into my kids’ good books when they offered them Haribo!

A little further along and you’ll find The Black Swan. Whilst this pub is also family friendly, it offers a more upmarket menu and is great for a fancy meal out! Both are a 10-15 minute walk from the campsite.

The Fat Lamb is a little further out and requires more of a walk (around an hour or so). This pub has an American diner themed menu and also has a little nature reserve and bird hide on site.

Explore around Kirkby Stephen

Another hugely overlooked town, make sure you pay it a visit!

We love to park at the Stenkrith Park car park on the road heading out towards Nateby. It’s near Millennium Bridge and you can go see the waterfall called The Devil’s Mustard Pot (or the Devil’s Grinding Mill) and then wander along the poetry path where there are stick dens, geocaches and a trail of poetry to follow.

Explore the Lake District

It’s super easy to get to Keswick and Ullswater from Ravenstonedale, all within a half hour or so drive.

But why not take the opportunity to explore some of the lesser known (and much more peaceful) parts of the Lake District too? We took a trip to Haweswater, had a walk around Swindale (which has a super nature trail and fabulous waterfalls) and ate at the Haweswater Hotel.

All of which we would highly recommend!

Explore Sedbergh and the Yorkshire Dales

Fom Ravenstonedale, you can easily access Sedbergh where you can explore the town or start a Sedbergh based walk from there. The famous waterfall, Cautley Spout is also nearby, and is a great little wander to a lovely picnic spot (we’d recommend with little ones sticking to the lower waterfalls as the path up to the top is super, super steep!)

Or, if you want to escape to somewhere a little less known than Cautley Spout, you can head to Uldale, where there are more super paddling, waterfall and picnic spots too!

If you REALLY want to escape to the middle of nowhere, why not head to Mallerstang, take a look around Pendragon Castle and go and check out the super cool Hell Gill?

Or drive a little further and go to the Dent Heritage Centre and head up Flinter Gill.

We have a guide to visiting Sedbergh and Dent with the kids, so why not check that one out?

There is really so much to explore from Low Greenfield, I would defy you to get bored!

Questions about Low Greenside Campsite?

Here are a few questions I had before heading over the Low Greenside (as well as others that are regularly asked on our campsite posts over on our Instagram).

Can you take dogs?

Yes. This is a dog friendly site.

Are there any extra costs for awnings/ gazebos/ dogs etc?

No. The pitch is the pitch. This campsite doesn’t charge for any extras, which is something that I really like about it. No fuss, no stress.

Where can you get food nearby?

Ravenstonedale has pubs, but Kirkby Stephen is your nearest port of call for everything else. It has a massively well equipped Coop and lots of independent shops, bakeries and pubs. There’s also a place to pick up gas too. Remember the campsite doesn’t have a shop, so it’s a 10-15 minute drive to grab anything you might have forgotten.

Does it allow vans?

Yes. There is hardstanding for vans, but it’s limited at 3 pitches, all with EHU. There is however nowhere to dispose of chemical waste.

Is there electric hook up available for campers?

No. There is no EHU for tents, but the washing up and shower hub has plenty of power points and charging lockers should you need to use them.

Is it a noisy campsite? Or does it have quiet time?

This is one of the most peaceful campsites we have stayed at. It was quiet at night, and was full of utterly respectful campers.

Where do I leave my car? Can I park up next to the tent?

No. there is a generous sized car park which is a short distance from the pitches. Wheelbarrows are provided to help you move your equipment to your pitch. That has the added bonus of making the campsite car free and therefore super safe for little ones to play out.

Any more questions? Leave them in the comments!

Information based on our experience in August 2023. Contact the campsite directly for up to date information and queries.

So fancy a trip to Low Greenside Campsite?

I mean the answer surely is YES!

From the friendly sheep (pictured above - they were amazing), to the warm welcome from the owner; from the super comfortable facilities, to the epic views; from a stunning location with loads of local exploring, to a base for some big adventures, Low Greenside is the place you need to be!

I always think the best way to judge a place is by asking yourself whether you would go back.

The answer to that is a resounding yes! We can’t wait to head back for some more Westmorland adventures!

If you’d like to book, check out the Low Greenside Website. The campsite is open until the end of October, before closing and reopening at Easter.

There is also the Low Greenside Family Festival taking place on the weekend of the 15th & 16th September.