Camping at Banks

The soft rush of the River Ribble filters through the trees as you pitch up at this no-frills riverside spot, close enough to the water that you'll fall asleep to its murmur.

This is one for campers who value location over luxury — tenters and campervan tourers happy with basic facilities in exchange for direct access to the Lancashire countryside. The site sits near Banks, on the western edge of the Lancashire Plain where the land flattens toward the coast, putting you within striking distance of the Ribble estuary's birdwatching haunts and the network of quiet lanes that wind through West Lancashire's farming country. Dog walkers will want to check the policy on arrival, and the same goes for campfires — the rules can shift with the season.

You've got toilets onsite and little else, which suits the self-sufficient crowd just fine. Expect a laid-back, almost improvised feel — this isn't a manicured touring park. It's quiet, properly rural, and the kind of place where you bring everything you need and enjoy the simplicity of a night under canvas with just the river for company.