The Yorkshire Dales by roof tent

By the Overlanding.info team · Updated 21 October 2026 · Sources checked 21 October 2026

For a first Yorkshire Dales roof tent trip, try a weekend focused on Wharfedale, or add a day to explore Wensleydale. This suggested itinerary starts around Grassington and finishes around Hawes, with a booked campsite providing the overnight base.

The plan is deliberately flexible about the road between the two dales. Choose your campsite first and check the approach with its operator; do not let a navigation app turn a gentle touring break into a narrow-road challenge you did not intend.

A suggested three-day itinerary

For a two-day trip, keep both nights in one area and leave the other dale for another visit. That gives you more time outside the car and fewer packing sessions. The National Park's Wensleydale guide calls Hawes the main town in Upper Wensleydale, with the Dales Countryside Museum, shops and places to eat; use it to decide whether Hawes suits your group.

If you include Aysgarth, the authority's visitor information says to follow the A684 from Leyburn towards Hawes, then follow the signs for Aysgarth Falls. Plan the complete connection from your accommodation and check current road signs and restrictions. There is no single fixed distance for this suggested trip.

When to go

Choose dates around your campsite's opening, available daylight and the forecast. Keep a lower-effort alternative for a day when the conditions do not suit your intended outing. Walking routes, river conditions and the suitability of footwear need their own checks; this driving plan does not assess them.

On a short break, allow time to pack on departure morning and dry the tent after returning home. Our condensation and storage guide helps plan that part of the trip.

Roads and vehicle planning

Save the campsite's recommended approach before leaving. Check your complete vehicle height, roof load and carrying limits using the handbook and equipment instructions. Carry offline directions for the final approach as well as your usual navigation.

Choose roads you can comfortably negotiate with the vehicle as loaded. A roof tent is sleeping equipment; it does not establish access rights to a track or make it a suitable driving route. Read green lanes explained if your map includes an unsurfaced section you are considering.

Daytime parking

Use the National Park car park information to plan daytime stops. It lists the Authority's car parks, including Grassington, Aysgarth Falls and Hawes, and says the machines are card-only, with cash taken at the National Park visitor centres while they're open. Check the current price and the signs on arrival, and don't assume every space fits your loaded setup.

The authority's new visitor guidance says car parks in the south of the park fill early and quickly. If a car park is full, it asks you not to park in village centres or on verges, because roadside parking can stop emergency services getting through. Have a second outing planned, so a full car park changes the day without forcing a roadside stop.

Where to sleep

The authority's car park page says overnight occupation of vehicles is prohibited in all its car parks, and so are camping and overnight occupation of motorhomes. Paying for a long parking period does not override that restriction. Book a campsite for your roof tent nights instead of planning to sleep at the daytime stop.

The authority's where-to-stay page says there are many campsites and caravan sites around the Dales; use its search, then contact the owner directly to book. A listing for tents or campervans does not establish roof tent acceptance. Ask which pitch to book, whether the car stays with the tent, how much room the open tent and ladder need, and whether arrival times or ground conditions affect your booking.

Supplies and departure checks

Plan shopping and fuel or charging before checking in. Confirm the site's drinking water and waste facilities and carry what your group needs between stops. Keep the next morning's essentials accessible so you do not unpack the whole car for breakfast.

Before driving, close and secure the tent as its maker directs, stow loose camping equipment and check that nothing has been left beside the pitch. The vehicle preparation checklist covers wider checks before leaving home.

Official sources

Check with the source before travel for current parking terms, local visitor advice and campsite arrangements. The suggested itinerary is ours; the authority sources below support the parking and visitor information. For another compact regional break, compare the Lake District guide.

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