Top three spots to van camp in Northumberland
By Amelia Le Brun
1. Bamburgh Castle
The first is a classic, and rightly so. Bamburgh castle is a staple of Northumberland and unusually for such a popular spot, not only can you van park at the top of the dunes; but you can even sleep over in your van up there! The wake-up views are through the roof, watching the sunrise over the castle from the comfort of your home on wheels is an absolute winner in my opinion! It is one of the few places that I know with no restrictions on camping up at the beach. While campfires are not technically banned, if we want this spot to remain a viable option, we have to stick to the rule of ‘leave no trace’.
2. Simonside Car Park.
A beautiful woodland car park at the base of the Simonside hills, this is one of the first spots I ever found in Northumberland, and it’s a particular favourite in the fog! If you’re travelling with dogs as we do (and a cat) it’s a great starting point for a dog walk up the Simonside hills. It feels really rugged and adventurous, it’s also a great place to catch a sunset, or sunrise. The views stretch for miles!
3. Kielder Forest.
It is really hard to pin down a specific spot in Kielder. I have quite a few that I am really keen on, but of course I want to leave a little bit of work/ imagination for the reader of this. All I will say is there are tonnes of amazing woodland tracks, mini vistas, and wee places to have a campfire!
N.B. Campfires not advised/ recommended in the Summer months due to the dryness of the ground and risk of spreading. There have been a lot of incidents of people lighting fires in the summer and either not keeping an eye on them, or over fuelling them which leads to huge swathes of the stunning countryside being ruined.
Written by photographer, van owner and Northumberland local, Amelia Le Brun.
Check out @amslebrun for more incredible van life inspiration and stunning film photography from around the UK.