For over 60 years Catgill Farm has been our family home. In 2014 we opened up our little slice of Yorkshire heaven as a campsite nestled in the shadow of Bolton Abbey. In 2019 we expanded to offer Glamping through our timber pods and bell tents; the ultimate in glamourous camping.

With spectacular views across the Wharfe valley and a small stream meandering through the site, Catgill is a beautiful and peaceful setting in which to relax, the perfect place for a memorable stay in the Yorkshire Dales.

Continue reading Our Story below...

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Why visit Catgill Farm

A Walkers Paradise The farm is within a mile of Bolton Abbey and from there you will find walks for all ages and abilities. The Dalesway footpath winds its way along the river Wharfe passing through picturesque towns and villages such as Ilkley, Burnsall and Grassington.

Fire Baskets Everyone loves a campfire and we hire out fire baskets from reception. This comes complete with logs and kindling. If you stay in our timber pods or bell tents you have your own fire basket which includes a pizza oven!

Cycling The farm is close to many popular cycling routes including the famous Tour de France and Tour de Yorkshire routes and offers an excellent base to explore the Yorkshire Dales. If mountain biking is more your thing, we are within 1 mile of the nearest bridleway which leads to miles of off-road biking and the challenging hills of the Dales.

Nearby Pub Brasserie-style pub located at the popular Devonshire Arms country hotel with inside dining and outside seating. Only 15 minutes walk, it has stunning views towards the river Wharfe and is the perfect setting for a summer evening with friends and family.

Cat's Kitchen AM Coffee Shop – Our barista-trained staff look forward to serving you a variety of coffees, hot chocolate and freshly baked pastries.
PM Pizza Shop – At the end of a long day let us do the cooking for you. Timings vary, see reception for more details.

Shop No matter how hard we try we always forget something! But don't worry, our small onsite shop situated in our new reception area is perfect for any basic essentials that you may have forgotten.

Forget the Car We are close to so many local attractions there is no need to use your car during your stay. Hesketh Farm Park is a 2 minute walk from our doorstep and the famous Bolton Abbey priory, River Wharfe and stepping stones is a 10 minute walk away. Both amazing days out with plenty to keep both kids, dogs and grown-ups occupied.

Back To Nature The farm is situated on a small country lane away from the hustle and bustle and only the sound of birdsong and the occasional hoot of a nearby owl can be heard. Rediscover your sense of wellbeing amongst the peaceful and relaxing surroundings.

Stargazing The Yorkshire Dales National Park is one of the designated dark skies areas of the UK. Catgill Farm is situated on the edge of the national park away from areas of light pollution making it an incredible place for stargazing. Check out the Yorkshire Dales website to see what may be visible during your trip.

Our Story

Catgill Farm has been in our family for 60 years, traditionally run by my grandad Ken as a dairy farm with up to 120 dairy cows producing thousands of litres of milk each year. Pop your head over the dry stone walls and you can see today's young cows grazing in the sunshine.

I was born at Catgill in 1986 before moving to a farm nearby in the village of Addingham expanding the dairy business my dad and grandad Ken ran together. Like most farmers sons I was quickly thrust into farming life and have memories of learning to drive the quad bike with my dad sat behind me helping with the heavy steering and later the tractor, barely reaching the pedals! l couldn't wait to get home from school to drive the tractor, it was my job to feed the cows every night and help Dad to milk them.

At 25 years old I moved back into the cottage where I was born. My grandad lived alone in the farmhouse and although we had always had a really good relationship, we became even closer, spending evenings talking about things that had happened over the years. On a summer holiday travelling and camping in Italy I noticed how many campsites there were and realised that there were no campsites in Bolton Abbey. Considering how much people love the village I excitedly returned to tell my grandad all about my idea. A campsite! This was not an easy sell to a through and through farmer. He trusted me though and 1 year later we opened the campsite!

This was not a simple process and I couldn't have done it without my partner Cat and her mum Janet who have both been integral to the opening and running of the new campsite business. I want to say a big thanks to them. Our dogs Molly and Zara were also on hand to take the stress away, one big tail wag and all the days troubles were forgotten!

We love Catgill and hoped others would to. Turns out they do! And we have been so lucky to share our farm with hundreds of people over the years, many of them returning year on year. My grandad loved chatting to the regulars, many of whom, he called friends telling tales of yesteryear. He was involved in the business until he was 86 and became quite the legend with our guests and was often mentioned on social media and TripAdvisor. Both of which he had absolutely no idea about!

My dream for the campsite was to make it somewhere unforgettable. We started with a simple field and a high quality toilet block and have now added features such as an onsite shop, coffee shop and in 2019 we added electric hook up. 2019 was an eventful year and Cat and I got engaged! As well as this we opened our brand new timber pods and luxury bell tents all with private hot tubs. As a family we have dedicated many hours to the project and being perfectionists, we have thought about all the little details that will create a memorable and unique stay. It's been an exciting and exhausting journey with many highs and some lows, but it's so rewarding to see how much people love it here and to see the excellent reviews we are receiving.

2020 has been a challenging year and one that will be remembered for generations. The Coronavirus has affected all walks of life and the hospitality industry was amongst the hardest hit. However, following the mandatory closure in lockdown, camping and glamping has become increasingly popular with more and more people choosing staycations over foreign travel. Reopening on the 4th July it was amazing to see both old and new customers returning and we were determined to create a safe environment for everyone. It was so rewarding to see the huge amount of positive TripAdvisor reviews and to know that people were continuing to enjoy their holiday with us.

Two huge positives to take from 2020 are the new additions to our life. Firstly, we welcomed our new Hungarian Vizsla "Luna" to the family, who has brought us much joy and happiness despite her obsession with chewing everything but the hundreds of toys that Cat has bought for her! Secondly, we have taken over a new campsite – Howgill Lodge which is located only 10 minutes away. We are really excited about this new venture and we have already begun to put our own stamp on the place bringing it up to the same high standards as Catgill.

As we continue to grow our philosophy is simple, be friendly, down to earth and always retain the family atmosphere. Oh, and of course embody the traditional welcoming charm Yorkshire is famous for.

Oliver, Cat, Zara, Molly and Luna

Trip Advisor Reviews
Highly Rated by Campsites.co.uk
TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2021
CoolCamping Certificate of Excellence
Farm Stay UK
Camping and Caravanning Club
Welcome to Yorkshire