Car Free Camping | Car Camping Site

Car-free camping - backpacking

If you are leaving the car at home to try no-car camping, this would make you a backpacker. Many campsites have designated areas for backpackers and amenities such as indoor kitchen and cooking areas. We suggest you pack light and view our page of items available for hire which could be ready and waiting for your arrival. Whilst many campsites will always find a pitch for those arriving on foot or by bike, it is always wise to call ahead first in case they are not taking walk-in campers.

Arriving by public transport

Herding Hill Farm is one of the most picturesque campsites in the UK accessible by public transport and is perfect for a car-free holiday in Northumberland, with a number of public transport links. Perfect for camping near me if you are looking for a great Northumberland campsite.

Our Northumberland campsite is located just a mile from the Centre of Britain town, Haltwhistle, which is on the main Carlisle to Newcastle railway line and is regularly serviced by buses from Newcastle, Hexham and Carlisle. Please note that our Haltwhistle campsite is situated at the top of a steep hill and therefore may not be suitable for those arriving on foot with lots of equipment. If you are glamping near me in one of our glamping pods Northumberland, we offer deluxe packs of bedding and crockery boxes to save you bringing them with you. This will allow you to travel light. Simply add onto your booking when booking online or ask one of our Reception team.

The AD122 Hadrian’s Wall Country bus stops a short walk from our Hadrian's Wall campsite entrance, the bus runs seasonally between April and October (weekends only November and December) and is ideal for visiting the main attractions of Hadrian’s Wall such as Housesteads Roman Fort, Vindolanda and Chesters Roman Fort as well as the market towns of Hexham and Haltwhistle and The Sill, National Landscape Discovery Centre. The AD122 bus is operated on behalf of Northumberland County Council and operates a stop-off service.

Herding Hill Farm is just 1 mile from Cawfields Quarry and makes an ideal luxury stopover for those walking the long-distance Hadrian’s Wall Path. We even have glamping pods with their own outdoor hot tub. It is also an accessible campsite for cyclists on the Hadrian’s Cycleway.

Car-free activities on-site at Herding Hill Farm

There is plenty to occupy guests on site without needing to venture too far. Our children’s playground and animal petting farm (rabbits, guinea pigs, hens, goats, Shetland pony, Kune Kune piglets, donkey and alpaca) are always a hit with our younger guests. Our small shop sells local Northumberland produce and a range of essentials, including ice creams and there are vending machines selling hot and cold drinks and confectionary. Various local takeaways will deliver to the campsite barrier for a small delivery charge. On Friday nights in season why not enjoy a home-made pizza delivered direct to your pitch by our campsite wardens. There are a variety of shops and a small Sainsburys in Haltwhistle.

If you glamping without a car and are lucky enough to be hiring our luxury Northumberland lodge with hot tub or one of our glamping pods with outdoor hot tub, what could be better than chilling with a book in the soothing warm waters of the hot tub. There is also a sauna on site available for private hire for a small fee. Our 5-star amenity block has a laundry, indoor campers’ kitchen and information room, as well as showers and baths.

Our Wigwam glamping pods are equipped with kettle, toaster, fridge and microwave, as well as raised bench mattresses meaning all you need is your food and clothes. We can even hire crockery boxes and bedding, as well as BBQ hire and fire pits. This means that you can travel light to Herding Hill Farm as camping without a car forces you to only take what you need. Check out our Camping Checklist for an idea of what you can bring and what you can leave behind!

We have fire pits and BBQs for hire and offer breakfast and meat packs on site. Seasonally we deliver home-made pizzas direct to your pitch on a Friday evening. The Milecastle Inn serves food and Northumberland real ale and is around 10-15 minutes’ walk from the campsite and there is a selection of pubs in Haltwhistle, a short walk away.

Local walks & cycle routes

There are lots of lovely walks directly from our 5 star campsite, including along the Haltwhistle Burn making Herding Hill Farm ideal for camping Haltwhistle. Access to Cawfields Quarry and Hadrian’s Wall is just 1 mile away. There are beautiful circular walks West to Walltown Quarry and East to Steel Rigg. The campsite near me is a short distance for walkers from the Hadrian’s Wall Path and for cyclists from the Hadrian’s Cycleway.

Haltwhistle

Haltwhistle is a lovely small town calling itself the Centre of Britain and is a short walk downhill from Herding Hill Farm along Haltwhistle Burn. In the town are a variety of independent shops and takeaways, as well as a Co-Op and a Sainsburys. There is also an open-air swimming pool at Haltwhistle Leisure Centre with water slides, perfect for a family car-free camping Haltwhistle holiday.