Bowland Escapes

View prices & book 9.7 78 reviews
Aerial View of the park
Aerial view of the park
Aerial view of the park
Visitor image of the camping pod
Iron age roundhouse
Safari tent
Visitor image of the lovely site
Aerial view of the park
Aerial view of the park
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Aerial view of the park
Visitor image of the camping pod
Iron age roundhouse

  • Site in a wildlife centre in the Forest of Bowland’s Ribble Valley
  • Just under 10 minutes’ drive from Chipping and 40 from Preston
  • Petting zoo, play area, café and pond; marked walking trails on site
For a family escape with an educational twist consider a stay at Bowland Escapes, in the middle of a wildlife centre that aims to get kids up to speed on conservation and animal welfare. This place – part of the Bowland Wild Boar Park – is topnotch for groups with younger members keen on cuddling creatures like lambs and baby chicks, or seeing more exotic breeds such as white wallabies, emus and water buffaloes… and wild boar, of course. Other activities with a farmyard focus available at this spot in the Forest of Bowland Area of Natural Beauty include tractor and trailer rides (in the school holidays and on weekends) as well as wildlife walks inside the lush green Ribble Valley with fells and woodland all around. Named paths aimed at kids and adults alike range from the Cartoon and Totem Pole trails to the Bluebell Walk. A play area is also on site. (Please note the Bowland Wild Boar Park is only open to visitors during the school holidays and bank holidays from February to October; check opening times before booking your stay to see if you'll be able to visit the animals or not.) If you’d rather sit and watch the wildlife, a café is opposite the pond at the park where birds fly in to take titbits from the feeder; for other ways to spy winged critters in their natural habitat, you could also wander beside the nearby Hodder river. After lunch at the café, spark up the barbecue for dinner – local produce is plentiful at the nearby farm shop. Another café plus a couple of pubs are in Chipping just over five minutes’ drive away if you’d prefer to spend less time cooking and more time spreading out next to the firepit back on base after a meal made by someone else. Bowland Escapes has shower and toilet blocks and washing-up stations with hot water.

Campground type

Lodges, cabins, pods or huts 8
Rent a tent 2
Tent sites 5
Open all year
Opens
Please note
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • Your dog must be tattooed or microchipped.
  • No bachelor/bachelorette parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • No cars/motorcycles at the site. All cars must be parked in the designated area.
  • The campground/park caters for families (immediate members) and couples only - bookings from all other forms of groups are not accepted.
  • At least one of the party members must be aged 21 or over.
  • Please note that the animal park is only open during school holidays from February half term through to October half term. Stays can be booked outside of these times but please be aware that the animal park will not be open. Please also note that tickets for the animal park must be booked separately.

Languages spoken

English

Site types & availability

Accommodation

Tent sitesCaravan sitesRV & Motorhome sitesLodges, cabins, pods or hutsCaravans for hireRent a tent
Choose your dates
2 adults
0 children

Reviews

9.7

Overall rating from 78 Pitchup.com customers

  • 88%
    10
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    1
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 7
PeacefulWildlife havenBush

100% would recommend this campground to a friend

97% would stay here again

Reviews page 1 of 8
Arrival date (latest first)

Really enjoyed it

Overall 10/10

Location
 10
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 9
Anonymous

Camping pod (pet friendly)

Liked Staff friendly and helpful
Clean toilets and accommodation
Great walks and peaceful site

Excellent site.

Overall 10/10

Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Adam G.

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked Beautiful locations. Really nice place. Very quiet and scenic.
Wash facilities 10 stars. Staff great.

Disliked The peacock up the tree who thinks 4am is a good time to start shouting. But then again it adds character.

A fantastically kept campsite with wonderful walks and scenery

Overall 10/10

Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 1
Robert T.

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked Everything about this campsite was amazing, the owners were friendly and welcoming and the facilities were always clean and there was a small shop selling essentials.
Loved the fresh air and how peaceful it was at night and thoroughly loved watching the peacocks and hares early morning and evening.
We highly recommend this site and look forward to staying here again.

Disliked Nothing

I can not say enough good things about my stay here at…

Overall 10/10

Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
keira m.

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked I can not say enough good things about my stay here at bowland escapes this weekend. I travelled on my own with my 9 year old son and camped for the very first time, and although I have nothing to compare it to, I already feel it can't be beaten. The staff were so nice and friendly, and also very accommodating and understanding with the length of my set up and wrap up (I smashed it though for a first timer!) Haha. The grounds were stunning with gorgeous walks and animal pens dotted about, the farm was so lovely, with our highlight being the baby meerkats 🥹. The onsite shower and toilet block were lovely and clean. We will be regulars from here on in. Thank you for a wonderful stay ❤️

Clean facilities worth a trip out

Overall 10/10

Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 8
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
Samantha H.

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked Friendly site with helpful friendly staff, the gate gets locked in the evening what's always reassuring when alone, kept very tidy and clean

We loved absolutely everything about this site. The staff on arrival were…

Overall 10/10

Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
Nicola M.

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked We loved absolutely everything about this site. The staff on arrival were super friendly and helped two pretty clueless first time campers. The pitch was so peacefull but felt really safe, we hired a firepit and the team helped us put it up. We had to leave a day early and the office was closed when we came to leave so were unable to find out where to put this back. And felt bad we couldnt say goodbye and thanks. But that was no reflection on the brilliant team and campsite. The walks locally and scenery was stunning and we had peacocks and baby ducklings walking around us in the morning :)

Disliked Nothing.

Excellent facilities highly recommend

Overall 10/10

Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 8
Amanda R.

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked Had an amazing time here would highly recommend the venue. Spotlessly clean staff very friendly. Kids loved the farm with the rides and holding the chicks. The mud kitchen and the baby meerkats

Disliked Nothing

Brilliant

Overall 10/10

Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 8
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 4
Catherine P.

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked Great toilet/ shower
Amazing location
Super staff

From the manager: Amazing... thank you for your super review and great photos :)

Great site for my daughter’s first camping trip.

Overall 10/10

Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 6
Aaron F.

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked Great little site, clean & good toilet/ washroom facilities. The boar park was good. Friendly staff.

From the manager: Great review, thankyou for visiting :)

Lovely and Friendly staff at check in and throughout. Lovely camping pitch safe…

Overall 10/10

Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
Toni Louise D.

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked Lovely and Friendly staff at check in and throughout.
Lovely camping pitch safe and secure for our young child to play.
Quiet
Had a great day out at the wild boar park too.
Shower and toilet facilities very clean and modern

We really enjoyed our first family camping trip and will be back! 🏕️

Disliked Nothing!

From the manager: Lovely review, thankyou so much and really pleased you enjoyed your first family camping trip :)

Features

Dogs allowed

Leisure on site

Bar or club house Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Games room Indoor swimming pool Kids' club On-site cafe On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Play area TV room Take away Tennis Watersports

Amenities on site

Bath available Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Laundry Parent & baby washroom Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Public telephone Shower available Toilet block Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

D. of E. welcome Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided Barbecues allowed Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all year

Themes

Bush Peaceful Remote location Walkers' paradise Wild camping Wildlife haven

Utilities

Charging facilities Dump point Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Convenience store nearby Dog walk nearby

Type

Farm Small (11-25 sites)

Accessibility

Bathrooms: Large spacious shower Bathrooms: Large spacious toilet Bathrooms: Step-free access Bathrooms: Wheelchair accessible shower

Nearby leisure

Cycling nearby

Location

Bowland Escapes

Chipping

Preston

Lancashire

England

PR3 2HB

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London +0100 (GMT+01:00)

GPS

53.90099°N
2.53372°W

Nearest transport

Coach
17.2 km Coach Stop C3
18.9 km Bus Station
19.6 km Crossroads
Rail
9.7 km Clitheroe Rail Station
11.7 km Whalley Rail Station
12.1 km Langho Rail Station
Ferry
28.9 km Heysham Ferry Terminal
30.6 km Knott End-On-Sea Ferry Landing
31.2 km Fleetwood for Knott End Ferry Landing

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Local attractions

There may be much to keep you at this wildlife park but family-friendly activities are all around the region too, with the rare breeds of cattle at Cobble Hey Farm & Gardens 25 minutes’ drive away and the rainy-day workshops and events at Barton Grange Garden Centre within half an hour. If it’s sunny, Brock Bottoms Picnic Site (25 minutes) is an excellent spot for an outdoor meal – followed up with an ice cream made courtesy of the milk from the dairy cows at Mrs Dowsons Farm half an hour away. Famous places for the kids are also within an hour’s drive, like the rides at the Blackpool seaside; for grownups, the fell walks of the Lake District are the same distance away.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Morecambe North 29 km Estuary GoodN/AGoodGood
Morecambe South 29.4 km Sea N/AN/AGoodGood
Fleetwood 32 km Sea N/AGoodGoodGood
Cleveleys 33.8 km Sea N/AGoodGoodGood
Bispham 34.7 km Sea N/AGoodGoodGood

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Beacon Fell Country Park 8.5 km

Gawthorpe Hall 19.1 km

Oswaldtwistle Mills 19.4 km

Forest of Bowland 20.1 km

Lancaster Castle 24.2 km

National Trust

Gawthorpe Hall 19 km

Malham Tarn Estate 32.4 km

Rufford Old Hall 34.6 km

Hardcastle Crags 36.7 km

East Riddlesden Hall 42.9 km

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

Journey through the Centre of the Kingdom, Section 6: Whitewell - Chipping 1.9 km

Chipping - the Southern Pastures 3.3 km

Chipping and Burnslack 3.3 km

Journey through the Centre of the Kingdom, Section 7: Chipping - Bashall 3.3 km

Chipping and Dinkling Green 3.3 km

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Nearest campgrounds

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable campgrounds.

Want to know more about camping in Lancashire?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Bowland Escapes have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Bowland Escapes dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Bowland Escapes? There may be much to keep you at this wildlife park but family-friendly activities are all around the region too, with the rare breeds of cattle at Cobble Hey Farm & Gardens … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Bowland Escapes?
    Camping and caravan
    Arrive:  4 p.m. –  6 p.m.
    Depart by:  10 a.m.
    On-site accommodation
    Arrive:  4 p.m. –  6 p.m.
    Depart by:  10 a.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Bowland Escapes? From $41.23 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.