The North West of England is one of the most varied regions in the country for van travel. The Lake District National Park occupies the west of Cumbria – a landscape of fells, lakes, valleys and ancient woodland that is justly regarded as one of England’s greatest landscapes. Lancashire to the south brings the Forest of Bowland, the Ribble Valley and the Lancashire coast. The urban areas of Manchester and Liverpool offer excellent city van stops with strong cultural draws.
The Lake District is the headline attraction – Windermere, Coniston, Ullswater, Wastwater and the high fells of the Central Fells all offer iconic van travel experiences. Overnight van stops in the Lake District range from Forestry England sites and certificated locations to roadside options on the quieter valley roads. The popular sites can be very busy in summer; the western and northern fells are consistently quieter and often just as rewarding.
Beyond the Lakes, the Forest of Bowland – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty overlooked even by many people in Lancashire – offers exceptional van travel on quiet moorland roads. The Trough of Bowland is one of the finest drives in the North of England. The coast at Morecambe, Silverdale and Arnside gives access to the edge of the Lake District and the unusual landscapes of Morecambe Bay.
The North West posts on this site cover specific stops and experiences from real van trips across the region – honest first-hand accounts from the road.
Booked after a breakdown turned the drive home into a much longer day, this £52.99 stopover seemed like a sensible place to rest. The room was acceptable, but the atmosphere in and around the hotel made us uncomfortable enough to leave.