Working farms across Northumberland and Cumbria are among the UK’s top holiday destinations this summer as the trend for rural staycations soars.

Of the 256,200 bookings made on Pitchup.com for farm-based campsites this summer, more than 51,000 were on working farms in Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cumbria, and Northumberland, proving it’s not so grim up north. The region was second in popularity only to the South West, which saw 74,500 bookings from campers eager to experience life down on the farm.

Dan Yates, founder of Pitchup.com – Europe’s largest outdoor accommodation provider – said he wasn’t surprised northern England was such a popular destination among campers. “With national parks including the Peak District, Lake District, North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales, it’s no wonder farms in the north are attracting so many visitors,” he said.

In total, the bookings have injected a whopping £42m into the UK’s rural economy so far, with many more millions expected to be generated before the holiday season ends.

Figures show that on top of the camping fees, visitors spend around £30 per night in the local area, helping pubs, restaurants, cafes, visitor attractions and the rural communities bounce back from the Covid pandemic.