When’s the Best Time to Visit the Yorkshire Dales for Glamping?

If you’re planning a visit to the Yorkshire Dales, you might be wondering when the best time to come is, especially if you’re planning a glamping trip.

This is a very tricky question to answer as there’s no single “best time” to visit the Yorkshire Dales National Park! Each season shows a different side of this beautiful corner of North Yorkshire. From the bright greens of spring to the golden glow of late September, every visit brings its own magic – and it can often feel like the seasons have changed two or three times over the course of a single day sometimes!

Here at Catgill Farm, nestled in the heart of the Dales just a short walk from Bolton Abbey, we’re lucky to see those changes up close. We’re in the perfect location to watch the leaves changing on the rolling hills, the sun sparkling on the river Wharfe in the summer months, the lambs bouncing in spring, and also to get snowed in occasionally in the winter months! Whether you’re planning your first glamping break or returning for a second (or third!) visit, this guide will help you find the perfect time of year for your Yorkshire adventure.

And maybe we’ll just convince you that you have to come every season to see the changes!

Spring – Lambs, Waterfalls and Fresh Air

Spring in the Dales gives you the chance to see the countryside waking up. The average temperature begins to climb so we experience a few milder days, the fields fill with new lambs, and the air smells clean after winter rain. It’s one of the best times of year for walkers before it gets too warm or too busy, as well as photographers trying to capture the perfect shot.

At Catgill Farm, you have a choice of accommodation in spring. Our glamping pods are available to book all year round, and our bell tents and camping pitches reopen in April, ready for the first sunny weekends of the year. Guests love our luxury glamping pods in March and April as you can enjoy the mild days outside but cosy up on an evening.

The fresh Yorkshire air makes it perfect for long walks nearby or a gentle stroll to Bolton Abbey for coffee and cake. We’re lucky to be so close to this historic site that you can simply take the 10 minute walk straight from your glamping pod!

If you’re exploring just a little further afield, spring is the perfect time to see the waterfalls that make this landscape so famous. Janet’s Foss Waterfall near Malham Cove is surrounded by wild garlic and mossy rocks, while Aysgarth Falls and Hardraw Force are at their fullest after the winter rains.

We recommend taking the hike to Gordale Scar – a dramatic limestone gorge that’s one of the Dales’ best-kept secrets that we really think you need to see in person.

Of course, April showers do bring a few rainy days, but fortunately, the Yorkshire Dales is also home to a good few attractions to explore indoors including Skipton Castle, Stump Cross Caverns and the Bronte Parsonage Museum, all of which are within 15 miles of our glamping site. And if all else fails, there are plenty of country pubs nearby too!

Spring highlights:

• Fresh green fields, lambing season and daffodils
• Quieter trails and fewer crowds than summer
• Easy day trips to Malham Cove, Janet’s Foss, and Aysgarth Falls
• Warm days for walking, cool nights for fire pits and hot tubs

Summer – Long Days and Lazy Evenings

By June, the Dales are in full bloom. This is the perfect time for families, couples and groups who want long days outdoors and plenty of daylight for exploring.

Here at Catgill, summer means evenings spent cooking on the fire pit, pizza from Cat’s Kitchen (or you can make your own with our DIY pizza kits!), and soaks in the hot tub as the sun dips behind the valley. The luxury pods make a great base for exploring – comfortable, modern and all are complete with wood-fired hot tubs that are ideal after a day on the trails.

You’ll find plenty to do within a short drive. Take a long walk around the village of Malham and its limestone cliffs, or follow a river trail beside the Wharfe. If you prefer something gentle, try a picnic on a village green or a beer garden lunch in Appletreewick or Grassington.

Summer is also festival, fete and village fair season in the Yorkshire Dales. The Grassington Festival brings live music, art and street food to one of the Dales’ prettiest villages (although it hasn’t been able to run in recent years, fingers crossed for the future!), while local shows celebrate everything from sheep shearing to local crafts and the iconic Wensleydale cheese made locally.

Summer highlights:

• Long sunny days and warm evenings
• Local summer fairs, shows and markets
• Ice creams in pretty villages and riverside picnics
• Outdoor living at its best – fire pits, BBQs and hot tubs under the stars

Autumn – Golden Hills and Cosy Fires

As late September rolls into early October, the Dales become a patchwork of amber, gold and deep red. It’s one of the most beautiful times to visit Catgill Farm, and perhaps the most underrated!

With the summer crowds gone, it’s easier to enjoy quiet walks around local landmarks like Bolton Castle, Jervaulx Abbey, or the Wensleydale Creamery, where you can sample the world-famous cheese that’s been made here for generations. The autumn colours are spectacular around Malham, Ingleton and the upper reaches of the river Wharfe.

Autumn truly is the season for glamping, it’s the best of both worlds! You can spend your days enjoying the autumn sunshine and spectacular countryside, but as the nights draw in, you can light the log fire, pour a glass of something local, and watch the sun set behind the hills. The cooler evenings make the hot tubs even more tempting, and the skies are often at their clearest for stargazing at this time of year.

Until October, you can also enjoy Catgill’s bell tents or camping options, just remember to bring along a couple of extra blankets and layers!

You might think summer is the season for fun events in the Yorkshire Dales, but we think autumn is just as good, if not better! Here are a few of our favourite things to do in the Yorkshire Dales in autumn:

• Grassington 1940s weekend (late September)
• Masham Sheep Fair (late September)
• Yorkshire Dales Cheese Festival (mid-October)
• Dark Skies Fringe Festival (late October to early November)

There are also several farms offering autumn and Halloween themed events, such as pumpkin picking farms in the Yorkshire Dales like Hesketh Farm Park and Birchfield Farm.

If you love exploring with fewer crowds, this is the best time of year to visit. It’s a great place to slow down, wander through the small villages, browse second-hand bookshops, or stop in quaint tea rooms for a scone by the fire.

Autumn highlights:

• Warm days, crisp nights and clear skies
• Perfect for photography and wildlife spotting
• Peaceful trails and relaxed pace after school holidays
• Fires, comfort food and beautiful views all around

Winter – Hot Tubs, Starry Skies and Quiet Escapes

Winter glamping might sound brave, but it’s one of the most peaceful ways to experience the natural beauty of North Yorkshire. And don’t worry, Catgill’s timber pods are open all year, so even in January or February you can enjoy a hot drink on your private patio, surrounded by frosty hills and birdsong from the comfort of your cosy glamping pod!

This is the perfect time of year to book our Swiss Ski Station glamping pod which is an alpine themed glamping pod, complete with an apres-ski area and authentic gondola seat! 

It’s a season made for couples. Soak in your private hot tub as the first snow dusts the tops of the Dales, watch the stars in our stargazing dome, or settle inside with the heating on and a film after a day exploring Bolton Abbey Steam Railway or the cosy cafés of Skipton and Ilkley.

You’ll find plenty of local produce to warm you through – creamy soups, Yorkshire puddings, and cheese from Wensleydale or Swaledale. And if you love a festive atmosphere, December is magical: Grassington’s Dickensian Festival fills the streets with carols and mulled wine, while Skipton high street sparkles with lights and market stalls.

And finally, our favourite festive events of the season happen at this time of year! For families, there are Santa experiences at a range of local attrations such as Billy Bob’s. And of course there’s the always popular Polar Express train ride on the Wensleydale Railway, such a magical way to celebrate!

Winter highlights:

• Romantic escapes with hot tubs and log fires
• Short walks and big views under clear skies
• Festive markets and local produce
• Quiet trails and peaceful nights

The Best Ways to Explore the Dales

No matter when you visit, exploring the Dales is all about slowing down and seeing what’s around the next corner. Some of the best things to do are completely free and just a short walk or short drive from Catgill.

Our favourite local spots whatever the season include:

• ​Malham Cove and its otherworldly limestone pavements – a filming location for the Deathly Hallows scenes in Harry Potter.
• Ribblehead Viaduct, one of the most iconic railway structures in Britain, with trains from the Wensleydale Railway and Keighley & Worth Valley Railway passing through.
• The Forbidden Corner, a family-friendly maze of tunnels and sculptures that’s unlike anything else in the Dales.
• Middleham Castle, once home to Mary Queen of Scots, and Bolton Castle, still standing proud over Wensleydale.
• The Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes, full of stories of local life and the area’s lead mining heritage.
• The Bolton Abbey Steam Railway runs vintage services in season, connecting you with some of the prettiest parts of Wharfedale.

Local Flavours and Hidden Gems

One of the joys of glamping is having the freedom of self-catering accommodations with the best of Yorkshire’s local produce close at hand. Stop by a farm shop or coffee shop in Skipton or Grassington for picnic supplies, or you can also visit a country pub for a hearty Sunday roast.

The Dales are full of hidden gems: a second-hand bookshop tucked down a high street, a village green where you can eat your ice cream in the sunshine, or a country pub with a roaring fire after a rainy walk.

A few of our favourites within 30 minutes of Catgill include:

• The Craven Arms, Appletreewick – home-cooked food and a beer garden with panoramic views.
• Love Brownies, Barden – for brownies, milkshakes and breakfast treats (and yes, it’s every bit as good as it sounds!). This is right on site at our sister site, Howgill Lodge too!
• The Devonshire Arms, Bolton Abbey – fine dining and afternoon tea in grand surroundings.

Plan Your Visit

Our luxury pods are open all year round, while our bell tents and camping pitches welcome guests from April to the end of October. That means you can pick your perfect season – or come back again to see the Dales in a different light. Whichever time you choose, you’ll find breathtaking scenery, friendly faces, and a warm Yorkshire welcome waiting for you.

So, pack your walking boots, check the weather forecast (or just pack waterproofs!), and set off for one of the most beautiful corners of England. Because when it comes to the Yorkshire Dales, the best time to visit is whenever you can get here.