Top 5 Camping Moors In England

With its abundant coastline and rolling green hills, camping in English countryside used to be something of a holiday must. However, in the pre-recession years more and more of us favoured nice hotels and the golden sands of increasingly accessible faraway countries. Well you guessed it, with international tourism officially on the decline, camping is back - and if you stay in England you shouldn't have to fork out too much for travel insurance. Here are my top five moors to camp on.

5. Bodmin Moor
Cornwall is not famed for its moorland; this is no doubt due to the great coastline that is on offer to those who visit the county and the fact that Bodmin is by no means as rugged as its peers. However, for those who merely want the option to visit the coast but are eager to explore inland Cornwall, then Bodmin is perfect. Such lakes as Dozmary Pool and Colliford are worth seeing, whilst the surrounding granite tors are less gruelling for the more mature holiday-maker.

4. Exmoor
Where Exmoor meets the North Devon and Somerset coast could well be regarded as some of the most dramatic coastline in the country. With many hidden, and sometimes hard to find, campsites - I would suggest that those who are keen to explore and to adopt a more simple holiday-lifestyle should venture here if they have not done so before. Gems such as the cliff-side towns of Lynton and Lynmouth, and the historical village of Dunster are great for days out.

3. West Pennine Moors
Moving north, the West Pennine Moors in Lancashire are known as the Little Lake District. Perhaps most famous for its lakes, such as Anglezarke and Yarrow, the area is also notable for its architecture and many unique structures including Rivington Pike, Jubilee Tower and the many scattered lead mines. Haslingden Glene is a popular destination for walkers.

2. Dartmoor
Like the aforementioned Bodmin, most holidaymakers who travel to the South West are more interested in the coast than the inland areas. Dartmoor, however, is even more dramatic than Bodmin and subsequently busier during the summer. Its tors, such as Hound Tor, Rippon Tor and Hay Tor are perhaps some of the most impressive and distinctive granite tors of the country, and the area is also known for the evidence of its Bronze Age past.

1. Peak District
The Peak District in Northern England is concentrated mostly in the county of Derbyshire, and is the oldest national park in the country. Subsequently, the area is popular with tourists and is easy to access from surrounding cities such as Manchester and Sheffield. Unlike Dartmoor and Bodmin, the area is a limestone moor, and some attractions such as Thor's Cave are distinct because of this. The area is also associated with outdoor activities such as rock climbing and paragliding.