North West•Cumbria•54.799° N, 2.365° W

Haggs Bank Bunkhouse and Campsite

A former lead mine in England's Last Wilderness, with terraced pitches above the river and a wildflower meadow for those who want proper quiet.

Haggs Bank sits in the North Pennines AONB, England's first UNESCO Geopark, occupying what was once a lead mine shop and forge near the small market town of Alston. The industrial history is worn into the stone; the setting does the rest. Terraced pitches look out across the valley, and on a clear evening the sunset from the upper site earns its reputation. Down at the lower level, pitches sit right beside the river.

There are two distinct ways to camp here. The touring area takes caravans, motorhomes, and tents, with electric hook-ups available. Alongside it, a wildflower meadow offers wilder, quieter camping for those happy without a mains connection. The two areas give the site a range that most places this remote don't manage. Showers and toilets are in the bunkhouse building across the road and kept spotlessly clean.

The C2C cycling route passes nearby, and cyclists form a loyal part of the clientele. The hosts have a reputation for going well beyond what's expected, tracking down dinner options when local restaurants are fully booked, welcoming guests with breakfast, going out of their way in ways that stick in the memory. This part of the North Pennines feels genuinely remote; Alston is the nearest town, and this is very much the edge of England.

Before you book

Showers and toilets are in the bunkhouse building across the road from the pitches, a short walk, not on-pitch.

“An honest campsite in a genuinely remote corner of England, where the landscape and the hosts both do more than you expect.”

Why it made the cut

North Pennines AONB setting with valley views and a real river at the lower pitches
Former lead mine buildings give the site rare historic character
Two camping styles, EHU touring and wildflower-meadow wild, in one compact site
Hosts go consistently out of their way for guests

The Feeling

Soulful handmade · Off grid real · Solitary tempo

Lead mine stoneWildflower meadow quietRiver beside youValley sunsetsC2c staging post

Good For

Solo
Date

Best For

Wild camping in a wildflower meadow with environmental sustainability focus
Historic setting in a former lead mine shop and forge within North Pennines AONB
Touring pitches with electric hook-ups plus access to UNESCO Geopark heritage sites

In Campr's collections

Moorland solitudeNorth Pennines AONB, England's Last Wilderness, with terraced valley pitches and a wildflower meadow for those who want the wide, empty horizon.
Farm fields properHistoric lead mine buildings, a wildflower meadow, and a host who'll call around local restaurants on your behalf, this is campsite character, not campsite branding.
Solo sanctuarySmall, owner-present, and genuinely remote: Haggs Bank is the kind of place where showing up alone feels right, not awkward.

Facilities

Electric hookup

Toilets

Showers

Quick answers

What kind of stays does Haggs Bank Bunkhouse and Campsite offer?: Tent, Motorhome, in a valley.
Where is Haggs Bank Bunkhouse and Campsite?: Nentsberry, Alston CA9 3LH, UK.