Historic Ruins to Visit While Camping in Britain: A Regional Guide
· Updated
Britain is covered in ruins, and most of the best ones sit within an easy drive of a good campsite. Tintagel Castle in Cornwall, Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire, Whitby Abbey on its clifftop, Corfe Castle in Dorset: these are proper day trips, not roadside curiosities, and a tent nearby turns each into a weekend rather than a rushed afternoon.
This guide names the ruins worth building a trip around, groups them by region so you can plan a route, and tells you who looks after each one so you know what to expect at the gate. It is part of our guide to camping at the UK's heritage sites.
It comes from Camping Sites in Britain, where you can find and compare campsites, caravan parks and glamping across the UK, including sites within reach of every ruin below.
Who looks after Britain's ruins
Almost every ruin worth visiting is cared for by one of four heritage bodies, and knowing which one tells you about opening times, entry and membership. English Heritage runs most historic sites in England, including Tintagel, Whitby, Rievaulx and the Hadrian's Wall forts. The National Trust owns land and buildings across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and looks after Fountains Abbey and Corfe Castle. In Wales the custodian is Cadw, and in Scotland it is Historic Environment Scotland.
Membership of English Heritage or the National Trust covers free entry to that body's sites for a year, which pays for itself quickly if you visit two or three on a single trip. Some abbey ruins, such as Bolton Abbey, sit on private estates with their own arrangements. Always check the individual site before you travel, because coastal and rural ruins often close earlier than town attractions.
| Ruin | Region | Custodian | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tintagel Castle | Cornwall | English Heritage | Arthurian legend, cliff footbridge |
| Glastonbury Abbey | Somerset | Charitable trust | Legend of Avalon, town setting |
| Corfe Castle | Dorset | National Trust | Civil War drama, ridge views |
| Fountains Abbey | North Yorkshire | National Trust | Largest monastic ruin in Britain |
| Rievaulx Abbey | North York Moors | English Heritage | Valley setting, soaring arches |
| Bolton Abbey | Yorkshire Dales | Private estate | Riverside priory, stepping stones |
| Whitby Abbey | North Yorkshire coast | English Heritage | Clifftop ruin that inspired Dracula |
| Dunstanburgh Castle | Northumberland | English Heritage | Remote coastal walk to the gatehouse |
| Housesteads Roman Fort | Hadrian's Wall | English Heritage | Best preserved fort on the Wall |
| Kenilworth Castle | Warwickshire | English Heritage | Tudor palace and great tower |
The South West
The South West holds two of Britain's most legend-soaked ruins and one of its most dramatic castle silhouettes. This is the region to head for if you want myth as well as masonry.
Tintagel Castle, Cornwall
Tintagel is the ruin most bound up with the legend of King Arthur, perched on a headland on Cornwall's north coast and cared for by English Heritage. The medieval castle you see was largely built in the 13th century, long after any historical Arthur, but the site was a high-status settlement centuries earlier. The 68 metre footbridge that reconnects the mainland to the island, closing a gap that had been open for around 500 years, opened in 2019 and makes the crossing far easier than the old steps (English Heritage).
Base yourself along the north Cornwall coast and you can pair Tintagel with beaches and the coast path. Browse campsites in Cornwall for pitches within reach of the headland.
Glastonbury Abbey, Somerset
Glastonbury Abbey sits in the middle of its Somerset town and carries as much legend as any ruin in Britain, tied to Avalon and to a claimed grave of Arthur and Guinevere. Once one of the richest monasteries in the country, it was dissolved in 1539 under Henry VIII, and its last abbot was executed on the Tor above the town. The grounds are broad and green, which makes it an easy, unhurried visit with children.
Corfe Castle, Dorset
Corfe is the great ruined silhouette of Dorset, a royal castle broken on purpose. Parliamentary forces slighted it in 1646 after the Civil War, deliberately blowing up its walls so it could never be defended again, which is why the towers lean at impossible angles today. The National Trust looks after it, and the village at its foot and the steam railway make a full day out. For pitches nearby, see campsites in Dorset, close to the Purbeck coast.
Yorkshire and the north
Yorkshire has the richest concentration of monastic ruins in Britain, thanks to the great abbeys the dissolution left roofless in the 1530s. You can string several into one trip.
Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire
Fountains Abbey is the largest monastic ruin in Britain and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, set in a wooded valley near Ripon and cared for by the National Trust. Founded by Cistercian monks in 1132, it grew into one of the wealthiest abbeys in the country before Henry VIII's dissolution. It sits alongside the Studley Royal Water Garden, so a visit combines soaring stone with 18th-century landscaped grounds (National Trust). It is an easy detour from campsites in North Yorkshire.
Rievaulx Abbey, North York Moors
Rievaulx is the abbey that best captures how these places felt, tucked into a steep wooded valley in the North York Moors where the monks diverted the river to build. English Heritage runs it, and the three tiers of pointed arches in the ruined presbytery are among the finest Gothic ruins in the country. It pairs naturally with Fountains for a two-abbey weekend.
Bolton Abbey, Yorkshire Dales
Bolton Abbey is a ruined Augustinian priory on the banks of the River Wharfe in the Yorkshire Dales, part of a private estate rather than a national body. The nave of the old priory church is still in use for worship, so part of the ruin is a living building. The famous stepping stones across the Wharfe and the riverside walks make it as much a day out as a history stop.
Whitby Abbey, North Yorkshire coast
Whitby Abbey stands on the East Cliff above the harbour town, a gaunt clifftop ruin cared for by English Heritage. The site has been religious since the 7th century, but the dramatic Gothic shell you see dates from later medieval rebuilding. Bram Stoker stayed in Whitby and used the abbey and the 199 steps as the backdrop for Dracula's arrival in England, which is why the ruin draws so many visitors each autumn. The town below is famous for fish and chips and its jet jewellery.
The north east coast and Hadrian's Wall
Northumberland has the emptiest coastline in England and the country's greatest Roman monument, and both reward campers who like a walk to reach the ruin.
Dunstanburgh Castle, Northumberland
Dunstanburgh is the most remote major castle ruin in England, reached only on foot along the Northumberland coast from Craster or Embleton, roughly a 1.3 mile walk each way. English Heritage looks after it, and the reward for the walk is a vast 14th-century gatehouse rising straight from the cliffs with almost nobody around. Bring boots and check the weather, because there is no shelter on the approach.
Housesteads and Hadrian's Wall
Housesteads is the best preserved Roman fort on Hadrian's Wall, sitting high on the crags in Northumberland with the wall running away in both directions. English Heritage and the National Trust care for the site jointly, and you can trace the barracks, the commanding officer's house and the famous Roman latrines. It is the standout stop on the Wall for anyone wanting to picture daily life on the empire's northern frontier. For the wider Roman story, see our guide to discovering Britain's Roman forts and camps.
The Midlands
The Midlands has one ruin that outranks the rest for sheer spectacle and royal history.
Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire
Kenilworth is one of the largest castle ruins in England, a red sandstone giant in Warwickshire run by English Heritage. It was rebuilt as a palace by Robert Dudley to entertain Elizabeth I, and the great tower and the recreated Elizabethan garden show how a fortress became a stage for Tudor spectacle. It was slighted after the Civil War, like Corfe, which is why the walls stand broken today.
Planning a ruins-and-camping trip
The trick is to cluster ruins by region and pick a campsite in the middle, rather than chasing single sites across the country. Yorkshire alone gives you Fountains, Rievaulx, Bolton and Whitby from one base. If castles are your main interest, our guide to Britain's historic castles and their campsites covers where to pitch near the best of them, and for the deeper past, see discovering Neolithic sites near UK campsites.
Check opening times before you set off, because clifftop and rural ruins such as Dunstanburgh and Whitby often close earlier than you expect, and coastal walks to sites like Dunstanburgh add time you need to plan for. To find a base near any of the ruins above, browse campsites across Britain and filter by region.
Frequently asked questions
What is the largest monastic ruin in Britain?
Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire is the largest monastic ruin in Britain. Founded by Cistercian monks in 1132, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site cared for by the National Trust, set alongside the Studley Royal Water Garden near Ripon.
Which ruin is linked to King Arthur?
Tintagel Castle in Cornwall is the ruin most closely tied to the legend of King Arthur. The medieval castle dates from the 13th century, but the headland was a high-status settlement centuries earlier. It is run by English Heritage.
Can you camp at historic ruins in Britain?
No, you cannot camp within protected ruins, as they are scheduled monuments looked after by English Heritage, the National Trust, Cadw or Historic Environment Scotland. You can pitch at nearby campsites and visit during opening hours instead.
Which ruin inspired Dracula?
Whitby Abbey on the North Yorkshire coast inspired part of Bram Stoker's Dracula. Stoker stayed in Whitby and used the clifftop abbey and the 199 steps up to it as the setting for the count's arrival in England.
Do I need to pay to visit ruins?
Most major ruins charge entry, though membership of English Heritage or the National Trust covers free entry to that body's sites for a year. Some ruins, including many smaller abbey remains, are free to walk around. Check each site before you travel.
Who looks after ruins in Wales and Scotland?
Cadw looks after historic sites in Wales, and Historic Environment Scotland cares for those in Scotland. In England the main custodians are English Heritage and the National Trust. Each runs its own membership and opening arrangements.
The short version
Cluster your ruins by region, pick a campsite in the middle, and check who runs each site and when it closes before you go. Yorkshire is the richest single base, the South West brings the legends, and Northumberland rewards a walk. Start with camping at the UK's heritage sites or browse campsites across Britain to find your pitch.
