Where to Stay
Dalby Forest camping
Dalby Forest is one of the best places in the North York Moors to wake up under the trees, 8,000 acres of woodland, mountain-bike trails and dark skies on your doorstep. There's no pitching inside the forest itself, but a cluster of friendly campsites and caravan parks sits right at its gates and in the pretty villages nearby, from working farms at the forest edge to sites within walking distance of Thornton-le-Dale's tea rooms. Here's how to camp near Dalby Forest, and the sites to look at.
Woodland camping country on the edge of Dalby Forest, North York Moors.
Camping inside Dalby Forest
First, the honest bit: you can't pitch a tent or park a caravan inside Dalby Forest itself. Forestry England runs the forest for day visits, walking, cycling, the play areas and the Forest Drive, and camping and campfires aren't allowed within it. The good news is that several excellent campsites sit right on its doorstep, some with gates straight into the trees, so you get the same wake-up-in-the-woods feeling without breaking the rules.
Campsites at the forest edge
A handful of working-farm sites sit right by the entrance to Dalby Forest, near Low Dalby, about as close as you can camp to the trails. The Dalby Forest Caravan & Camping Site at Pexton Moor Farm (postcode YO18 7LU) sits at the gateway to the forest with caravan and tent pitches, glamping pods and a fresh-milk machine, while Warren House Campsite, on a family farm on the forest's edge, has gates straight into the woods, dog-friendly pitches and stays open all year. Both put the visitor centre and bike trails within a few minutes. Check current pitches, prices and availability on each site's own website.
Camping in Thornton-le-Dale and Ellerburn
Two miles from the forest, the chocolate-box village of Thornton-le-Dale makes a lovely base. Prospect Farm Camping & Caravan Park is the only site actually in the village, a short walk from the tea rooms and, as it happens, right behind Mathewsons of "Bangers & Cash" fame, with pitches and camping pods (check its current tent policy). Just outside, tucked in a quiet valley at Ellerburn, Low Farm Campsite is a back-to-nature spot with a babbling beck, no hook-ups or wifi and gloriously dark night skies, bring your walking boots and a torch.
Caravan parks around Pickering
A few miles further, the market town of Pickering has a choice of family-friendly caravan and camping parks, among them Black Bull Caravan Park and Overbrook Caravan Park, handy if you want touring facilities, a base for the steam railway, and easy runs to both the forest and the coast. As ever, book directly with the park.
What to know before you camp
A few practical notes: the Dalby Forest Drive is a toll road, so factor that in if you're driving in and out each day; the forest has red squirrels, deer and. In summer, ticks, so check yourself and your dog after a day in the bracken; and the whole area is a designated Dark Sky spot, so a clear night is worth staying up for. Pack for Yorkshire weather in any season, and see plan your visit for the wider practicalities.
Make the most of the forest
Once you're pitched, the forest is yours, see our Dalby Forest guide for the walking and cycling trails, Go Ape and the play areas, and our stargazing guide for the dark skies. For other kinds of base, start with where to stay in the Moors or, if you're bringing a dog, dog-friendly places to stay.
Dalby Forest camping FAQs
Can you camp inside Dalby Forest?
No, there's no public camping within Dalby Forest itself. Several campsites sit right at its edges and in nearby villages instead.
What's the closest campsite to Dalby Forest?
Working-farm sites near Low Dalby, at the forest entrance (such as Pexton Moor Farm and Warren House), are about as close as you can pitch to the trails.
Is there camping in Thornton-le-Dale?
Yes, Prospect Farm is in the village itself, and Low Farm sits in a quiet valley at nearby Ellerburn.
Do you pay the Dalby Forest toll if you're camping nearby?
If you drive into the forest via the Forest Drive you pay the toll each time; the campsites themselves are outside the toll road.