Fancy a night or two alfresco dining by a firepit? A “luxury” glampsite in County Durham has been crowned the best in the North East of England.
It comes as Pitchup, a UK outdoor accommodation booking platform, has revealed its top-ranked sites for 2023, as rated by campers following their stay.
Woodcroft Farm in Bishop Auckland claimed the top spot and offers “modern Scandinavian-style cabins” with “cosy bedrooms” and ensuite bathrooms.
There’s also plenty of scenic walks to explore including the Weardale Way and local pubs to stop by with family and friends.
The Pitchup rankings are based on more than 171,000 customer reviews of the 2,658 live UK sites listed on the website across England, Wales and Scotland in the past year.
Each site was evaluated on aspects including location, value for money, quality of accommodation, activities and cleanliness, with guests awarding 70% of all UK sites listed on the platform in 2023 an overall score of 8/10 and above.
To be considered in the “review awards”, sites must have a minimum of 20 reviews in that year and are scored out of 10.
You can see all the UK’s top-ranked campsites here.
Why is Woodcroft Farm the North East’s best campsite?
Pitchup commented: “It’s no surprise to learn this luxury glamping site earned full marks of 10/10 from last year’s visitors.
“Located just five minutes from Frosterley and Stanhope, Woodcroft is a family-run livestock farm in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It offers modern Scandinavian-style cabins complete with comfy beds, ensuite bathrooms with walk-in showers, and heated towel rails.
“Combining simplicity with luxury, guests can either enjoy the convenience of the kitchenette or opt for alfresco dining by the firepit.”
It continued: “Off site, you’ll find local pubs and scenic walks like the Weardale Way. The farm even provides private fishing (for licence holders) on the River Wear and is close to trails and waterfalls at Slitt Wood and Derwent Reservoir Fisheries, ideal for anglers and nature enthusiasts.”
Prices start at £99 per night, based on a maximum of 4 people sharing a camping pod.
Top 20 campsites in the North East of England
Below are the top 20 campsites in the North East of England, according to Pitchup:
- Woodcroft Farm, County Durham
- West Hale Gate Caravan Site, East Yorkshire
- Old Pasture Park, North Yorkshire
- Butter Hill Caravan Park, North Yorkshire
- Heathfield Caravan Park, North Yorkshire
- Wold Meadow, East Yorkshire
- Bonners Lodge, County Durham
- Cotril Farm Campsite, North Yorkshire
- Southfield Touring Park, East Yorkshire
- Bridge House Campsite, North Yorkshire
- Wombleton Caravan Park, North Yorkshire
- The Darling Woods Of May, East Yorkshire
- The Bungalow Caravan Site, North Yorkshire
- Wild Camping Northumberland
- Gateway To The Moors Caravan Park, North Yorkshire
- Westgate Carr Farm, North Yorkshire
- Alnham Farm Campsite, Northumberland
- Foxhill Park, North Yorkshire
- Yapham Holds Farmhouse Campsite, East Yorkshire
- Flaxton Meadows, North Yorkshire
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Pitchup’s founder Dan Yates said: “We keep the criteria simple and rely solely on verified customer feedback to ensure the list is unbiased and reflects real user experiences - almost one million reviews across the platform at last count.
“By showcasing genuine feedback from previous guests alongside average customer ratings across all listings, we aim to make it really easy for newcomers and seasoned campers alike to get a flavour of what to expect from their stay.”
He added: “North East England is such a striking part of the country, with amazing countryside and coastline, as well as a wealth of heritage to discover.
“Over half of 2023’s top-rated sites in the region are in the UK’s largest county North Yorkshire, which has a broad appeal to those looking for outdoor adventure, especially walking and cycling, as well as thriving market towns, charming villages and some great festivals.”
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