Holiday parks in the North of England

Article updated every 6 months. Last update: 18th April 2008
Author: Bob Atkinson (Travel Expert) Ask me a question.

The North of England is a huge area running from the Scottish border, south to a line running from the Mersey estuary at Liverpool, over to Hull in the East. Famous as the birth place of the industrial revolution, Manchester is the largest city, with Leeds, Newcastle and Liverpool all competing in terms of culture, history and commerce.

Outside of the city areas is some of the most beautiful and diverse scenery to be found in the UK, from the northern reaches of the Peak District, up the Pennines to Scotland with the North East coast on one side and the Lake District and Cumbrian coast to the west. The Yorkshire Dales sit just to the east of the Pennines and offer stunning valleys and hills. University towns like Durham, sit along Carlisle and Lancaster - all of which have castles. In fact the Northumbrian coast has more castles than any other area of England with the famous Bamburgh Castle having one of the most amazing views in the UK.

There is such a range of outdoor pursuits in all areas from sailing to walking, cycling to rock climbing as well as horseriding along with all manor of historic houses, castles and museums. Art galleries can be found in every main town and city and shopping is second to none from all the major high street names, specialist boutiques and local shops offering an incredible range of locally produced produce. Eating out offers every type of food available and in every level of quality with fine dining opportunities sitting happily alongside the fish and chips of the famous beach resorts of Blackpool and Whitby! In fact, the coastal areas alone offer impressive holidays with their wide sandy beaches and rolling seas.

There are a number of caravan parks along both the Lancashire coast around Blackpool and Morecombe, as well as in the Lakes themselves along with Grange-over-Sands. On the Yorkshire and Northumbrian coasts there are also a range of parks, as well as in Lincolnshire, south of Hull. Try resorts such as Filey, Whitby, Cleethorpes, Scarborough and Bridlington as well as Whitley Bay, Hartlepool and Seaton.

The Lake District

The Yorkshire Dales

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Bob Atkinson
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The Lake District

A vast area of hills, mountains and lakes in the North West of England offers probably one of the most visited areas of the UK.

Tourists flock to the area year-round to enjoy the breathtaking views, the lake activities, walking and rock climbing in the countryside that inspired Wordsworth to write so much of his work. In fact, so many artists and writers have been inspired by this area that it is hard not to be inspired yourself by its natural beauty. In summer, the lakes and hillsides team with people exploring the area. In winter, the area is quieter with the hilltops often being snow covered and the main lake towns being the only places for a wide range of shops and eateries. Be sure to take one of the many lake steamer services to see the hills and lakes from the water and stop off for a refreshing drink or meal in one of the many local pubs and restaurants that are located all over the area.

The lakes themselves are fresh water and the most famous and busy towns are Windermere, Ambleside, Grasmere and Coniston in the south, and the lakes of Ullswater and the Keswick region making up the quieter area of the north. In fact, Windermere can get so busy around its lakeside that there are frequent traffic jams on summer weekends. To get away from the crowds, head north to Ullswater or the Keswick area where facilties are just as good and you can enjoy the scenery in relative quiet.

Kendal is the gateway town for the south with lots of facilities for the holidaymaker. Penrith is the gateway for the north. There are caravan and holiday parks within the lakes themselves or they are accessible as a day trip from the coastal resorts of Blackpool and Morecombe.

The Yorkshire Dales

The Dales sit slap bang in the middle of the north of England as the Pennines run from the conurbations along the M62 through to Cumbria and Northumbria.

Famous as the setting for many a TV drama and with names such as Wensleydale, Swaldale, Wharfdale and Ribblesdale, the area is littered with stone built villages, stone walls dividing up the countryside and some stunning scenery. Each dale has its own charm, look and feel with a slightly different character. The north is more rugged however, nearly all the dales have flat valley bottoms and steep hillsides with sheep grazing everywhere. As a National Park its exceptional wildlife and scenery is protected from development and is a magnet for walkers, hikers and climbers.

With much of the wealth of the area built on the industrial revolution, there are a wide range of local museums and festivals taking place year-round, alongside traditional farming and market town activities. Yorkshire folk are proud of their heritage and this shows in the conservation of the area and its traditions. Outstanding country houses and hotels abound along with a wide range of eating and drinking venues to enjoy hearty food.

The towns of Harrogate and Skipton offer plenty of services and you can enjoy rail trips such as the famous Settle to Carlisle railway. There are a number of caravan and holiday parks bordering the area, although you really need to go to the Lancashire and Yorkshire coast to get a full choice. The area is easily accessible from both coasts for day trips.