Caravanning in County Durham

Where the sites are, and what that means for your trip

There are 66 caravanning stays published on BritStays across County Durham, and they're not spread evenly. The largest single cluster — 19 — is listed simply under County Durham itself, which tends to mean rural spots that don't sit neatly inside a town boundary. After that it's Bishop Auckland with 14, then Durham and Barnard Castle with seven each, Consett with four, and a handful in South Shields, Stockton-on-Tees and Leyburn with two apiece.

That shape tells you something useful before you've looked at a single pitch. This is a predominantly inland, countryside region for caravanners. If you want the sea, your options are genuinely limited — South Shields has two listings — so book coastal pitches early or plan to drive out for your beach days instead.

Countryside first: dales, farms and quiet fields

The Bishop Auckland and Barnard Castle areas between them account for 21 of the 66, and they're the heart of the region's touring scene. Teesdale Barnard Castle Caravan & Motorhome Club Campsite is the recognisable club-style option, with a playground, disabled access and baby changing listed — the sort of site that suits people who want tidy facilities and a predictable standard. Pecknell Farm Caravan Site, also near Barnard Castle, sits at the other end of the scale: a smaller farm site with no extras listed, which usually means peace and quiet rather than entertainment.

Around Bishop Auckland you'll find that same range. Westgate Caravan Park and Camping Site lists WiFi, Stanhope Caravan Park is close to a bus stop and a train station with EV charging nearby, while High Doctor Pasture Caravan Park and Craggwood Holiday Home Park Riverside Touring Park are listed without facilities — worth a direct phone call to ask what's actually on site rather than assuming there's nothing.

Families, couples and dog owners

For families, the sites with built-in things to do are the ones to shortlist. Heather View Country and Leisure Park near Bishop Auckland lists a swimming pool, hot tub and gym — useful when the weather turns, which it does. Greenacres Sun Club in Durham lists a swimming pool, clubhouse and bar. Hownsgill Caravan Park at Consett has a cafe, takeaway food and toilets, which saves a lot of cooking on arrival day.

Couples after something simpler might prefer Bolbec Manor Campsite or Baxter Wood Farm Caravan Site, the latter listing EV charging nearby and a train station within reach. Finchale Abbey Touring Park near Durham strikes a middle note with a cafe, toilets and disabled access.

On dogs: 17 of the 66 stays list pet friendly, including White Water Park Caravan Club Site at Stockton-on-Tees, which also lists WiFi and EV charging nearby. That's roughly a quarter of the set, so don't assume — filter for it, then confirm by email, and ask specifically about dogs left unattended in vans, which many sites don't allow.

Reading the facilities honestly

The most commonly listed facilities across these 66 stays are:

• Near a Bus Stop — 22, and EV Charging Nearby — 22
• Toilets — 17, and Pet Friendly — 17
• Near a Train Station — 15
• Parking — 14
• Bar — 11, and Disabled Access — 11

Only 17 list toilets, which doesn't mean the other 49 have none — small farm sites often simply don't fill in their listing in detail. Treat gaps as questions to ask, not facts. The same applies to accessibility: 11 confirmed is a small number, so ring ahead about hardstanding, level ground and the distance from pitch to facilities.

What to do once you're pitched

Durham Castle is the obvious heavyweight, and easily reached from the Durham-area sites. In the dales, Killhope Lead Mining Museum makes a proper half-day. Families do well at Hall Hill Farm and Newham Grange Leisure Farm, while Ocean Beach Pleasure Park suits a coastal day out. For quieter afternoons there's Washington Old Hall, Hamsterley Hall, Bolton Castle and the Tees Cottage Pumping Station sites — both the Beam Engine House and the Visitor Centre and Gas Engine House. Derwent View, listed in County Durham, has a gift shop and a bus stop nearby.

When to book

Club sites like Teesdale Barnard Castle Caravan & Motorhome Club Campsite and White Water Park Caravan Club Site fill first for school holidays and bank holiday weekends — aim to book those several months out. The two South Shields listings are the scarcest thing in the set, so treat coastal weekends as the booking you make first and build the rest of the trip around.

Midweek in spring and autumn, small farm sites around Barnard Castle and Bishop Auckland often have space at short notice. If you're relying on public transport, narrow your search to the 22 near a bus stop or 15 near a train station before you look at anything else — it's a much harder thing to fix later than a missing cafe.