Winter camping in a small VW campervan like ours can be an incredible adventure, but it comes with unique challenges—especially when it comes to campsites. On our recent trip to the Yorkshire Dales, we were reminded how much our winter camping needs differ from the warmer months. Decent electric hook-up (EHU), hot showers, and practical site layouts become non-negotiable when you’re braving freezing temperatures in a tiny van.
Here’s our honest review of the campsites we stayed at, what worked, what didn’t, and how we’re rethinking our winter camping strategy going forward.
💰 £20 per night (plus £1 for showers)
✅ Pros: Great location, good EHU, and decent value for money.
❌ Cons: A bit basic and tatty; showers were hot but very simple.
Despite its rough edges, this was actually the most practical site for us. For £20 a night, we could forgive the £1 shower charge, and the site’s good location and fair pricing made it a solid choice for our needs.
Dalesbridge Campsite, Austwick
💰 £37 per night (includes EHU and showers) plus £1pn for the pooch.
✅ Pros: No additional charges for EHU or showers.
❌ Cons: Freezing cold showers, drainage issues, and a generally run-down feel.
This one was a disappointment. Torrential rain exposed poor drainage, turning most pitches and walkways into flooded swamps. The showers were awful (cold and unclean), and it felt like the site was prioritizing profits over the experience, selling pitches that were clearly unsuitable. Our pitch was hard standing, but those on grass pitches were in trouble and most had to be towed off. Surely these pitches shouldn’t be sold over winter months. A shame, as the potential of the site could be great, but for us, it just didn’t deliver. Not really any easy options for Public transport here either.
💰 £29.50 per night (plus 50p showers and £2 per dog pn)
✅ Pros: Beautiful views, close to Dent village.
❌ Cons: Cramped, rough pitches and restrictive EHU rules.
The “premium hard-standing pitches” were more like a car park, and we were frustrated by the strict EHU guidelines—warnings about fan heaters and kettles tripping the power felt excessive (though we used a heater with no issues). The 50p shower charge on top of the already steep price felt stingy, and the £2 dog fee added to the feeling that we were being nickel-and-dimed. That said, Dent is a stunning village, and as the only year-round site in the area, they have little competition.
💰 £48 per night (includes £3 EHU allowance, £2 per dog)
✅ Pros: Excellent location, pristine facilities, and the best showers we’ve ever had!
❌ Cons: High price and limited EHU allowance.
This was the most expensive site of our trip, but it delivered in terms of quality. The site was immaculate, with manicured pitches and truly luxurious showers. However, the £3 daily EHU allowance felt stingy—especially during sub-zero temperatures when running a fan heater was essential. Paying £48 per night and still worrying about topping up EHU was a letdown, and the £2 dog fee added to the frustration.
Winter Camping Reflections
Winter camping has reminded us that comfort becomes a bigger priority in colder weather. Going forward, we’re leaning towards higher-end sites—like Caravan and Motorhome Club locations—where £50 per night includes unlimited EHU, heated facilities, and guaranteed clean, hot showers.
We’re learning that not all campsites are created equal, especially in winter, and sometimes paying more for a hassle-free stay is worth it. Also, not all campsites resemble their images and write ups from their website making planning more of a challenge as we start to doubt the literature we’re presented with on websites before we book.
What About You?
How do you handle winter camping in a campervan? Have you found any campsites that hit the sweet spot for comfort, value, and facilities? Drop your recommendations—we’d love to hear about your winter camping gems!
Stay tuned for more adventures with Gandalf the VW as we explore the UK and beyond! 🚐✨
#VanLife #WinterCamping #CampervanAdventures #YorkshireDales
Agree with this! We used to have a VW but now have a small motorhome. Comfort is always the key for us in Winter as the weather can suddenly turn so we tend to use the CAMC sites – you know what you are going to get. We do use CL sites but have found they vary enormously. We used quite a few in the summer and they all had excellent reviews but we were disappointed in lots of them. But sometimes its the location that comes first if there is something specific you want to do/see.
We have a DryRobe that I love for walking to the showers – its toasty even in the snow and we take a couple of extra cosy throws and my favourite is fluffy socks that are like slippers as I always have cold feet. But most importantly being connected to EHU at no extra cost . So yes “proper sites “ for us in the winter months !