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  2. England
  3. North East England
  4. West Yorkshire
  5. Ilkley

Woodsworth Exploring

98%
·
35 reviews
 · Ilkley, England
10 acres hosted by Duncan D.
10 tent pitches
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Best in North West England: 1st place
Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2024.
Best newcomers: Finalist
Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2024.
Duncan is a Star Host
Star Hosts are highly rated, responsive, and committed to providing incredible experiences.
Off-lead friendly
Pets can be off-lead at some pitches.
Nearly wild woodland camping in West Yorkshire’s Bronte country

It’s canvas only at Woodsworth Exploring in West Yorkshire. That means you can pitch your tent or sling your hammock between the trees at this year-round woodland campsite – but your car will need to be left at the car park. The priority here is protecting and enhancing a precious 10-acre woodland site. That means campers are asked to tread lightly and should expect only basic facilities. The reward for your respect is great: a pitch that’s at least 15 metres from your neighbours with trees and shrubs in between. There’s limited light pollution, plenty of wildlife, and the chance to have a campfire.

While things in the woodland are pretty wild, out in the wider world life is rather more genteel. You can walk from the campsite, in no time, to the village of Oakworth from where steam trains run to nearby Haworth, once home to the Brontё sisters. Now its cobbled high street and the Brontё Parsonage Museum are some of the must-see sights in the area – but so is the surrounding countryside in which their stories were set (the rolling moors and hills are great for walking and cycling).

Use two feet or two wheels to get to the campsite and your efforts and low environmental impact will be recognised, with a voucher for money off your next stay. Likewise if you arrive by public transport. That’s a real possibility of that here, thanks to the heritage railway that links Oakworth, where the campsite is located, with the mainline station in the market town of Keighley, less than three miles away.

The experience on site is pretty much as close to wild camping as you can get – with the bonus of a flushing loo and a water supply included. In fact, hammocks are available to hire too, if you don’t have your own and fancy sleeping suspended from the trees (book directly, in advance). The set up, the ethos and the adventure are all outlined by host Duncan or one of his team when you arrive, after which you are free to go wild in the woods.

Natural features
Forest

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Tent pitches

2 units
  • Picture of the site
  • Picture of the site
Instant book

Woodland floor Pitch - Small Tents

99% (40)
Tent pitch · Sleeps 6
Traditional camping in our 10 acre broadleaved woodland. Located in Oakworth in the heart of the Bronte countryside. Family friendly, feel safe knowing cars are only permitted in the car park so your children can run free within the woodland. Park up in the carpark near the site entrance, then grab your gear and the staff will guide you to a suitable pitch for your requirements. Wheelbarrows are available to help carry your gear through the woods. Love nature? Then you’ll love this site. It’s back to basics proper camping here, with drinking water standpipe, and now we have flushing toilets and hand wash sinks in our new toilet block. Our pitches are well spaced from one another and well sized, however, smaller tents (and/or hammocks) are recommended as our whole site is woodland there are trees within pitch areas, so we only have limited places to put large tents. Please tell us your tent size when booking so that we can get the best pitch for you. This pitch can house a tent sized 4mx4m - MAX! Dogs welcome. Fires allowed for a small additional fee. We do a fire induction with everyone and charge for a fire licence, this includes if you want to bring your own firepit and wood. The reason for this is to manage the risk of forest fires and damage to the ecology so we need to put you on a suitable pitch if you wish to have a fire. We are doing all we can to improve the ecology of the woodland, so for this reason there is no burning of deadwood allowed, as rotting wood (big logs and little sticks) are fabulous for the woodland ecology. See prices below for fires and firewood.
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
No showers
No picnic table
from
£30
/ night
for NaN guests
6 dispersed sites
  • Picture of the site
  • Picture of the site
Instant book

Woodland Floor Pitch - Large Tent

95% (20)
Tent pitch · Sleeps 6
Traditional camping in our 10 acre broadleaved woodland. Located in Oakworth in the heart of the Bronte countryside. Family friendly, feel safe knowing cars are only permitted in the car park so your children can run free within the woodland. Park up in the carpark near the site entrance, then grab your gear and the staff will guide you to a suitable pitch for your requirements. Wheelbarrows are available to help carry your gear through the woods. Love nature? Then you’ll love this site. It’s back to basics proper camping here. We have drinking water standpipe, and we now have flushing toilets and hand wash sinks in our new toilet block. Our pitches are well spaced from one another and well sized, however, smaller tents (and/or hammocks) are recommended as our whole site is woodland there are trees within pitch areas, so we only have limited places to put large tents. Please tell us your tent size when booking so that we can get the best pitch for you. This pitch can house a tent sized 4mx6m - MAX! Dogs welcome. Fires allowed for a small additional fee. We do a fire induction with everyone and charge for a fire licence, this includes if you want to bring your own firepit & wood. The reason for this is to manage the risk of forest fires and damage to the ecology so we need to put you on a suitable pitch if you wish to have a fire. We are doing all we can to improve the ecology of the woodland, so for this reason there is no burning of deadwood allowed, as rotting wood (big logs and little sticks) are fabulous for the woodland ecology. See prices below for fires and firewood.
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
No showers
Picnic table
from
£30
/ night
for NaN guests
4 dispersed sites

Reviews

98% Recommend60 Ratings · 35 reviews
Recommends
· April 2025
Great stay
Tent ·
Woodland floor Pitch - Small Tents
Perfect stay, no hassle. Super quiet. Great for anyone who wants the feeling of wild camping with a safety net 😊
S
Sam R.
2 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· March 2025
Lovely place
Tent ·
Woodland floor Pitch - Small Tents
Beautiful place. Extremely quiet and well thought out. Friendly people and easy to find. Would definitely stay again if I’m in the area.
C
Chris H.
2 reviews
Recommends
· February 2025
Tent ·
Woodland Floor Pitch - Large Tent
Great patch of natural woodland and great welcome from the staff on arrival. The team have been looking after this patch of land a few years longer than Sandi Toksvig has hers and are full of knowledge which they are happy to share with visitors.
A
Andy P.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2024
Relaxing camping
Tent ·
Woodland floor Pitch - Small Tents
We really enjoyed our time. The plots are great spaces with space in between each one which gives you privacy but also the ability to chat with passing neighbours. It was so calm and relaxing. There was a little noise from a bunch of young lads but this was dealt with quickly by the owners and this came with an apology, not that we minded though as we had our music on (quietly). No showers and toilet sinks aren’t private but good bathroom facilities.
P
Paul I.
10 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2024
Camping in the woods
Tent ·
Woodland floor Pitch - Small Tents
Brilliant place. Owner is very friendly. It has the feels of wild camping whilst feeling secure. Nice tidy site. Good firepits.
J
Jamie E.
3 reviews
Recommends
· August 2024
Great time in the woods.
Tent ·
Woodland floor Pitch - Small Tents
Brilliant few days in the woods. Arrived, induction complete and taken to the pitch, think we had the best one as was right at the end, in the corner and whilst a trek with the gear it was well worth it. So peaceful in the woods during the day and night, loads of wildlife and nice to sit and chill. Used on the OS map walks yesterday, around 8mile up to one of the reservoirs and back again, surrounding area is great with lots of walks and exploring to do. Will defo be back again!
A
Allen Y.
2 reviews
Recommends
· August 2024
Tent · With kids ·
Woodland floor Pitch - Small Tents
The campsite was an amazing piece of woodland. Lots of wildlife and well run! Would definitely recommend it to anyone who'd like some near to wild camping!
D
Daniel B.
11 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2024
Tent · With kids ·
Woodland Floor Pitch - Large Tent
Nice induction. Lovely forest and very well spaced pitches making it feel like wild camping.
H
Henry L.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2024
Forest friends
Tent ·
Woodland Floor Pitch - Large Tent
Really lovely campsite. All pitches are spread out so you only really see people when walking along the path between your tent and the bathroom/car park. The trees kept us very cool during the summer heat. I spoke with some locals who are very impressed with the amount of conservation done at the campsite. Got to see a squirrel and hedgehog while just sitting by the tent One improvement: hot water please. But would definitely come again
B
Becci F.
11 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2024
Tent · Group trip ·
Woodland floor Pitch - Small Tents
Beautiful wooded camping location with relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff. Highly recommend!
J
Jude W.
11 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2024
Amazing.
Tent · With kids ·
Woodland Floor Pitch - Large Tent
Such a beautiful and amazing place. Took my two kids (15 and 7) for a single night and we all loved it. Pitches are well spaced out and despite the long walk from the farthest pitch to the car and toilet block, it's well worth it. Sat reading around 6am and so many little animals come to investigate. Highly recommend this place and 100% will be coming back.
C
Crude J.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· June 2024
Thoroughly recommend!
Tent ·
Woodland floor Pitch - Small Tents
Wonderful woodland camp, dog friendly, and the owners were so lovely you can tell this is a passion project for them. Felt like being cocooned in the forest!
S
Sasha C.
2 reviews
Recommends
· May 2024
Tent ·
Woodland floor Pitch - Small Tents
Fanatic place and considerate, accommodating host. The forest is beautiful and really has the feeling of seclusion, whilst being in reach of toilets etc. Perfect.
S
Steven S.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· April 2024
Woodland camping = Best camping
Tent ·
Woodland floor Pitch - Small Tents
I googled around for ages for somewhere to camp with nowhere catching me at all, it wasn't until I saw Woodworth Exploring that I knew what it was that I was looking for. Camping in a secluded woodland surrounded with wildlife and trees was exactly what I wanted. Duncan was a great host, a true nature enthusiast. He's friendly and knows his stuff about the woods and the wildlife, brimming with cool facts about everything about the forest and the animals. The unpredictable weather meant I didnt have much chance to explore the local town much but it honestly didnt matter because I was perfectly at home on the site, the hailstone just added to the camping charm. Unexpected highlight of the trip was probably the robins flitting around the camp, always poking around hoping I'd kicked up a juicy worm or something. The peace and tranquility of the woodland surroundings was the perfect escape from work and the perfect little chance to unplug. Thanks a lot. I will be back!
M
Mike L.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· April 2024
Tent · With pets ·
Woodland floor Pitch - Small Tents
Had a great couple of nights at Woodsworth camp, they do a great job taking care of the woodland and it certainly shows. Very peaceful sat by the fire at night and plenty of wildlife to observe, specially the birds, can’t beat waking up in the tent to the dawn chorus and the busy woodpeckers! Plenty of space between the pitches and the basic facilities are nice and clean, can’t ask for much more 👍🏼 Cheers
T
Tom P.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· March 2024
Camping in the woods
Tent · Group trip ·
Woodland floor Pitch - Small Tents
It’s a great place pretty much wild camping in the woods and nature with the added bonus of taking a few extra comforts, I would highly recommend if it if you want to have a taste of wild camping but want to feel safe. Duncan the owner was very friendly and very knowledgeable about the wildlife and trees lovely guy.
M
Maz A.
4 reviews
Recommends
· March 2024
Tent ·
Woodland floor Pitch - Small Tents
Great place, I would recommend it. Unfortunately it has been raining a lot and the ground was very wet and soft. Good experience overall. Thank you
M
Miguel Angel P.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· February 2024
Tent · With pets ·
Woodland floor Pitch - Small Tents
This was the first time staying at the site, as a way to get back into wild camping and trying out a new tent as it was only an hour away for us. The site is clean and has the bare essentials such as a flushing toilet block by the carpark and running water. The pitch we stayed on was about 400m from this through very muddy path into a wooded area. I would recommend taking wellies during the wet months. The pitch was good and spacious for us and was dog friendly and allowed dogs to be off lead which is a nice change :) The guy who did our introduction was helpful and assisted us with directions to walk into Howarth for the day (40mins approx) we did however get the B2 bus back to Oakworth which left only a short walk back to the campsite. I would deffo say pack light going to site despite there being wheelbarrows available to cart your things. Would recommend to anyone wanting to try and get into wild camping but still keeping that toilet facilities and fresh water near by. The other great thing about the site was the secure car park where your car is parked over night :)
A
April P.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· November 2023
Great woodland setup
Tent ·
Woodland Floor Pitch - Large Tent
Had an excellent 2 nights , woodland pitches were great , as natural as it comes. Helpful staff and alotbof info abut the area and wildlife. Decent torches are a must. Toilets were very clean and not too far from the pitches. Also the location is 5 mins away from local shops and restaurants pubs etc . Will be back in the new year for sure
M
Mark L.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2023
Tent ·
Woodland floor Pitch - Small Tents
Great little woodlands with well positioned pitches. Good foliage cover which gives a nice feeling of isolation from the other pitches and provides a taste of wild camping but with the convenience of a comfortable toilet block. Good array of birds and smaller wildlife. Host Duncan is great! I definitely recommend this site!!!
J
James S.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2023
Beautiful experience
Tent ·
Woodland floor Pitch - Small Tents
Absolutely amazing .. the experience here is a beautiful quiet and well respected retreat… great for unwinding and getting some peace and quiet and oneness with nature. What stoop Out is the heart and care behind what Duncan’s dream .. his team has done so well and I look forward to making more memories and being able to embrace the environment they care for again.. to me the camping experience they are providing is unique in its self and priceless for people wanting to escape, unwind and reconnect!
H
Holly B.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2023
Camping in the woods
Tent · With pets ·
Woodland Floor Pitch - Large Tent
I loved my weekend at Woodsworth Exploring. The site is beautiful, it is a basic site only having toilets and cold water sinks but that was a worthy trade off for a weekend of peace and quiet on a woodland pitch. We had a long chat with Duncan who explained about the history and ecology of the site and we will definitely be returning. Plus it’s always great to be able to spend your evenings sitting round a fire pit.
R
Richard ?.
8 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2023
Tent ·
Woodland floor Pitch - Small Tents
The campsite was very relaxing. We loved the feel of wild camping in a wooded area. Be prepared for a walk to the toilet block should you be at the far end of the campsite. Also good torches will be required as it can be a bit disorienting walking around the campsite at night. Maybe a good idea to have some sort signage or posts for direction indication. Love the fire pits for a small reasonable fee. The toilet block was clean and basic with no hot water but this was advertised as so. The staff were friendly and informative.
M
Mark P.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2023
Family camping with a dog
Tent · With pets ·
Woodland Floor Pitch - Large Tent
Took the family here for three nights and everyone loved it. Yes, some of the pitches are a bit of a walk with all your kit but it is absolutely worth it. You have the freedom to make your pitch your own and the setting of the woods is second to none. Spent time chatting to Duncan and Emma during our stay, both very friendly and helpful. Will definitely be back again.
J
James S.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2023
Great introduction to wild camping
Tent · With kids ·
Woodland floor Pitch - Small Tents
We (mum & 11 year old son) absolutely loved our stay at Woodsworth Exploring. Beautiful, well spaced, woodland site. Run by knowledgeable hosts who clearly love the land and sharing it responsibly with campers. We were allowed to build a bivvy and experience "wild camping" in a safe environment. We can't wait to return. Highly recommended!
J
Jen M.
2 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2023
Tent ·
Woodland floor Pitch - Small Tents
Lovely location, completely serene and the staff clearly have a love of the outdoors!
L
Lewis F.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2023
Proper wild camping!
Tent · With kids ·
Woodland floor Pitch - Small Tents
Relaxing, natural and as wild as you can get, brilliant campsite that revolves around conservation. Ideal for people who love going back to basics. Helpful and knowledgeable staff
L
Liam A.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2023
Tent · With kids ·
Woodland Floor Pitch - Large Tent
Great campsite, something a little different o usual campsites where you are nestled within a wood. Would recommend.
T
Thomas Philip S.
2 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· June 2023
Amazing Site
Tent ·
Woodland Floor Pitch - Large Tent
Brilliant camp site! Friendly welcoming owners Private pitches with fire pits and able to purchase wood. Lots of wildlife and acres to explore Looking forward to another visit!
D
Daniel M.
2 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· May 2023
Wild Camping with Benefits
Tent ·
Woodland floor Pitch - Small Tents
If you’re into wild and rustic camping, this is the place for you. Looking for a worry free place to camp in the forest I would recommend this place. Plus there are some nice bonuses with this site.
D
Devon J.
2 years on Hipcamp

Location

Ilkley, England, United KingdomTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
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Hosted by Duncan D.

Joined in October 2022
From the host
Traditional camping in our 10 acre broadleaved woodland. Located in Oakworth in the heart of the Bronte countryside. Family friendly, you can feel safe knowing cars are only permitted in the car park so your children can run free within the woodland. Park up in the carpark near the site entrance then grab your gear and the staff will guide you to a suitable pitch for your requirements. Wheelbarrows are available to help carry your gear through the woods. Love nature? Then you’ll love this site. It’s back to basics proper camping here! We have a drinking water standpipe, we now have flushing toilets and hand wash sinks in our new toilet block. Our pitches are well spaced from one another and well sized, however, smaller tents (and/or hammocks) are recommended as our whole site is woodland there are trees within pitch areas, so we only have limited places to put large tents. Please tell us your tent size when booking so that we can get the best pitch for you. Dogs welcome. Fires allowed for a small additional fee. We do a fire induction with everyone and charge for a fire licence, this includes if you want to bring your own firepit and wood. The reason for this is to manage the risk of forest fires and damage to the ecology so we need to put you on a suitable pitch if you wish to have a fire. We are doing all we can to improve the ecology of the woodland, so for this reason there is no burning of deadwood allowed, as rotting wood (big logs and little sticks) are fabulous for the woodland ecology.
Nearby attractions

Beyond the 10-acre woodland of Woodsworth Exploring, you can enjoy some excellent walks through the undulating moors in this part of West Yorkshire. It’s a short steep walk down into the village of Oakworth from site and you could continue to neighbouring Haworth (two miles) if you wanted to in about 40 minutes. It’s famous as a very pretty village and as the former home of the Brontё sisters; as you won’t fail to notice in the name of shops, cafes and galleries in the village. You can find out more about their literary lives and legacy at the Brontё Parsonage Museum, which occupies their former home. Another way to reach Haworth – or to travel to Oxenhope or the market town of Keighley – is to hop aboard one of the heritage trains of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway. The nostalgic station in Oakworth was the setting for the film The Railway Children. The lie of the land is great for road cyclists and nearby you can join part of the Tour de Yorkshire cycle route. The Cote de Goose Eye is a mile up the road from the campsite. Skipton is just under 10 miles north of the campsite and sits on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Food and drink

Woodsworth Exploring is on the outskirts of the village of Oakworth (half a mile downhill) where there’s a Co-op and a few options if you don’t fancy cooking for yourselves. One of those is Mill Stack Café which does breakfasts, lunches, coffee and cake. Plus, on Sunday mornings they will deliver breakfast sandwiches to the campsite (if you order on site, in advance). The village is also home to takeaways and a choice of pubs including The Golden Fleece which does food including generous Sunday roasts. A little further in the other direction, but still only about a mile, is the traditional Yorkshire Inn, The Turkey (still only about a mile away). It has a good reputation for food. Another recommended option is The Waggon & Horses Inn at Oxenhope (five miles) which offers great food and amazing views thanks to being in a great position on top of the moors between Haworth and Hebden Bridge.

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