Campers and motorhome enthusiasts visiting Northumberland for a 'staycation' are being urged to 'leave no trace' after the county recorded a record 11 million visitors last year. The tourism sector is now worth £1.58 billion to the local economy.
Northumberland County Council is asking visitors to remember their environmental impact. Whether setting up a tent or parking a motorhome, the council says everyone must share responsibility for preserving the area's natural beauty.
'Love it Like it's Yours' campaign
Cllr Gordon Stewart, Cabinet Member for Looking after our Communities and Chair of the Fire Authority, said: “We are so lucky in Northumberland to have such beautiful surroundings and to ensure it stays like that the council is running its annual ‘Love it Like it's Yours’ campaign. The message is simple but crucial - leave no trace. Book at legal campsites, take your litter home, and use designated waste disposal sites. Together, we can protect and preserve our countryside now and, in the future, ensuring it remains a haven for wildlife and a place of peace and beauty for all who visit and live here.”
Expanded overnight parking scheme
A successful pilot scheme allowing motorhomes to camp overnight in selected Forestry England carparks has been expanded for 2026. The car park at Kielder is now included. For £15, visitors can park up after 5pm and enjoy dark sky views. Car parks at Amble, Bamburgh and Beadnell also offer 24-hour overnight parking for motorhomes with a £15 ticket.
Alex MacLennan of Forestry England said: “We’re asking everyone visiting Northumberland in a motorhome, campervan, or tent to do their bit to help keep our county special. Most visitors already do a great job of respecting the countryside, but occasionally we still see issues with littering, illegal parking, waste disposal and campfires. These simple actions can have a big impact on local communities, wildlife and the landscapes we all come to enjoy. By parking in designated areas, taking rubbish home or using the bins provided, and following the Countryside Code, we can all help protect these places for everyone to enjoy and ensure the Northumberland landscape remains unspoilt by the positive actions of visitors.”
Druridge Bay campsite
At Druridge Bay Country Park, a campsite offers 20 pitches for motorhomes, caravans or campervans with hookups from £32 per night, and tent pitches from £16. Cllr Scott Dickinson, representing Druridge Bay ward, said action has been taken after a devastating wildfire at the bay's sand dunes last year. A public spaces protection order (PSPO) and 24/7 CCTV monitoring are now in place, reducing rule-breaking and overnight stays.
“I'm not the fun police, but I do want to protect my local area. I want people to enjoy the area safely and when they leave, local people are left with no trace. We just had to go to this level after the devastating fire last year. The damage is still being repaired, and the wildlife that was lost will never come back,” Dickinson said.
Issues in Bamburgh
Cllr Guy Renner-Thompson, representing Bamburgh ward, highlighted problems with campervans parking on streets overnight, angering locals. “We have a particular problem with campervans in Bamburgh. They park up on the streets and stay the night. It is an ongoing problem and it is getting more of a problem. At the same time, we have caravan site owners saying they're struggling. It would be much better if campervans and people who are camping used the regular sites. That would put more money into those businesses - they're not contributing to local businesses and they're upsetting everyone. They're not technically doing anything wrong, but they're upsetting people and taking up parking spaces.” Bamburgh Parish Council is looking at bylaws against sleeping in vehicles overnight. “The message has to be use regular campsites with facilities and take all your stuff away, leave it as you found it.”
