UK campsites where sat navs send caravans the wrong way
Last checked: 26 October 2026
Plenty of UK campsites publish a warning in their directions that boils down to the same thing: do not follow your sat nav for the last few miles. This page collects those warnings in one place. Every entry below comes from the campsite's own directions page, linked in each entry, and we have kept to what the site itself says. If you are towing to one of these sites, or driving a motorhome there, read the site's own page before you set off, because directions change.
Jump to: North East & North Yorkshire · Cumbria, the Lakes & the Dales · Wales · Forest of Dean & Wye Valley · West Country · Southern & Eastern England
Why sat navs get campsites wrong
A standard car sat nav or phone app plans the route for a car. It does not know that there is a 2.3 m-wide caravan behind you, that the outfit is 12 m long, or that it weighs three tonnes, so it will happily pick the shortest line on the map, even when that line is a gated fell road, a 1-in-4 hill or a lane with no passing places. Rural postcodes cause the rest of the trouble. One postcode can cover a whole hamlet, so the pin may land on the neighbouring farm, a housing close or the wrong entrance, and that is a long way to reverse with a caravan on the back. That is why so many campsites give their own directions and ask you to use them instead.
North East & North Yorkshire
Berwick Seaview Club Campsite
Spittal, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland
- The trap: the Club says not to use sat nav for directions to the site from the A1, and not to use Cow Road, a narrow approach that leads to a dead end and a level crossing.
- What the site says to do: stay on the A1 Berwick bypass, take the A1167 (signposted Scremerston, Tweedmouth, Spittal), then turn into Billendean Terrace (signposted Spittal). The site is on the right just past the railway bridge. Watch for the speed ramps.
- Source: Caravan and Motorhome Club site page, Directions
Hutton le Hole Caravan Park
Hutton le Hole, North York Moors National Park
- The trap: Sutton Bank on the A170 from Thirsk. The site also warns that a sat nav will most likely take you down a single-track lane where you would have to unhitch to turn round.
- What the site says to do: when towing, avoid Sutton Bank and use the caravan route instead: from Thirsk take the A19, turn east through Coxwold and Ampleforth to Helmsley, then follow the A170 towards Kirkbymoorside. The site suggests using a map once you are in the area.
- Source: Hutton le Hole Holidays, Find Us
Hillside Caravan Park
Knayton, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire
- The trap: turning off the road too early after Knayton village. The site's directions carry a note aimed at sat nav users.
- What the site says to do: leave the A19 at the Knayton turn, go through the village, and do not turn off until you reach the site entrance, about 1½ miles on.
- Source: Hillside Caravan Park, Contact Us / Directions
Studfold
Lofthouse, Nidderdale, North Yorkshire
- The trap: the route from Masham to Lofthouse, which has exceptionally steep hills. The site asks caravans, motorhomes, campervans and cars with heavy trailers to avoid it, and says not to use a sat nav for the last part of the journey.
- What the site says to do: travel via Pateley Bridge, not Masham, and take the Low Wath Road (signposted Lofthouse), not the Top Wath Road. From the A1 the site names the Ripon junction or the Knaresborough/York junction, depending on your direction, rather than Bedale or Leeming Bar.
- Source: Studfold, How to find us
Cumbria, the Lake District & the Yorkshire Dales
Borrowdale Club Campsite
Grange, Borrowdale, near Keswick, Cumbria
- The trap: the Club says to use its directions rather than sat nav for the final approach, because the alternative routes are unsuitable for towing. When towing, it says not to approach or leave the site along the west side of Derwent Water.
- What the site says to do: M6 junction 40, then the A66 to Keswick and the B5289 into Borrowdale, then turn right over the double hump bridge at Grange. The Club notes that the width restriction sign there does not apply to the bridge, and asks you to check the bridge is clear before turning.
- Source: Caravan and Motorhome Club site page, Directions
Kendal Club Campsite
Near Kendal, Cumbria
- The trap: the Club asks you not to use sat nav for the final approach because of roads that are unsuitable for towing.
- What the site says to do: M6 junction 36 onto the A590, leave at the Milnthorpe/Barrow slip road, follow the International Caravan Site signs towards Sedgwick, then take the lane along the River Kent. The last stretch is narrow and single-track, with passing places.
- Source: Caravan and Motorhome Club site page, Directions
High Laning Caravan & Camping Site
Dent, Yorkshire Dales National Park
- The trap: the sat nav route from M6 junction 34 via the A683, A687 and Kingsdale to Dent. The site says the gated road is very narrow and steep.
- What the site says to do: leave the M6 at junction 37 and follow the A684 to Sedbergh. Dent is signposted from there and is about 4 miles further on.
- Source: High Laning, How to find us
Riverside Caravan Park
High Bentham, North Yorkshire
- The traps: the site lists three. A sat nav right turn in Wray. Duke Street in High Bentham, a very narrow street by the old Horse and Farrier pub that is hard to turn round in. And, from the north, a turn off the A65 at Ingleton that leads onto narrow country roads.
- What the site says to do: in Wray, ignore the sat nav and carry straight on towards Wennington. In Bentham, keep to Main Street and turn down Station Road. From the north, stay on the A65 to Clapham before turning off.
- Source: Riverside Caravan Park, How To Find Us
Wales
Ceiriog Valley Park
Glyn Ceiriog, near Llangollen
- The trap: the site says plainly not to follow your sat nav, because it will take you up steep, narrow hills. It also advises tourers and motorhomes against the more scenic routes, which it says are very narrow, with steep hills and blind bends.
- What the site says to do: go to Chirk (on the A5 if you are coming from Llangollen), then take the B4500 up the Ceiriog Valley for about 6 miles without turning left or right, whatever the sat nav says. The park is signposted on the left about half a mile past Glyn Ceiriog.
- Source: Ceiriog Valley Park, Directions
Pwllgoed Touring Caravan Site
Tudweiliog, Llŷn Peninsula, Gwynedd
- The trap: the postcode. The site says a sat nav will stop you beside another farm and caravan site in the village.
- What the site says to do: keep going. Turn left in Tudweiliog opposite The Lion, and the site is about ¾ mile out of the village, the first farm on the left.
- Source: Pwllgoed, directions
Abermarlais Caravan Park
On the A40 near Llangadog, between Llandovery and Llandeilo
- The trap: for sat nav users coming from the south, the left turn at the large stone, which leads into a separate storage and auction business.
- What the site says to do: take the next left, where the site's sign is at the entrance. If you come through Llandovery, the site recommends ignoring the Llangadog sign and following the sign for Llandeilo, which it says is a far easier route.
- Source: Abermarlais Caravan Park, Where to find us
Forest of Dean & Wye Valley
Forest and Wye Valley Camping
Bearse Common, St Briavels, Gloucestershire
- The trap: the site says sat navs are not always the best way to reach it. From Chepstow, it advises ignoring the St Briavels sign, because that road is narrow in places.
- What the site says to do: from Chepstow, follow the A48 towards Lydney, turn left opposite the Tesco garage onto the B4231 (signposted Coleford/Bream), then turn left at the T-junction onto the B4228 (signposted St Briavels).
- Source: Forest and Wye Valley Camping, Find Us
Hawthorne Cottage Caravan Site
Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire
- The traps: the site names two places not to go through. One is Bream village, where the road gets very narrow on one corner. The other is Symonds Yat, “The Rocks” on the Monmouth side, which the site says you will not get a caravan or motorhome up because it is narrow and steep. There are signs, but the site points out that they are easy to miss while you are following a sat nav. It also says the postcode brings you to a house about 100 m from the turn into the site.
- What the site says to do: follow the site's own directions for your approach (it gives routes from several towns) and phone the site if you get lost.
- Source: Hawthorne Cottage Caravan Site, Find Us
West Country
Trewethett Farm Club Campsite
Trethevy, near Tintagel, Cornwall
- The trap: the Club asks you to use its directions rather than sat nav for the final approach, because of roads that are unsuitable for towing.
- What the site says to do: leave the A30 for the A395, turn right onto the A39 (signposted Bude), turn left just before the transmitter, then right onto the B3266 (signposted Boscastle) and continue onto the B3263. Do not turn right down the hill. The site entrance is on the right.
- Source: Caravan and Motorhome Club site page, Directions
Carlyon Bay Caravan & Camping Park
Carlyon Bay, St Austell, Cornwall
- The trap: Penny's Lane. The site says that if a sat nav suggests it as a shortcut, you should ignore it, because the lane is not suitable for large vehicles.
- What the site says to do: from the Plymouth direction, stay on the A390 to the A3082 roundabout just past the Britannia Inn, turn left there, and the site is signposted about half a mile further on.
- Source: Carlyon Bay, FAQs (directions)
Sea View Campsite
Slapton, South Devon
- The trap: the site says sat nav is often inaccurate in the area and can send you through unsuitably narrow lanes. Slapton village has a 6′6″ width restriction.
- What the site says to do: set the sat nav to Totnes first, then reset it to Slapton once you get there. Caravans and motorhomes must use the site's A-road route: from the A38 at Buckfastleigh (Dart Bridge junction) to Totnes, then the A381 towards Kingsbridge, as set out on the page.
- Source: Sea View Campsite, Directions
Exe Valley Caravan Site
Bridgetown, Exmoor National Park
- The trap: the site warns that sat navs can take you down steep and winding roads. It describes its northern approach as not recommended for caravans and large motorhomes.
- What the site says to do: if you are towing, keep to A roads. The recommended route for caravans leaves the M5 at junction 27 and follows the A361 towards Tiverton, then the A396 up the Exe valley past Exebridge, without turning off towards Dulverton.
- Source: Exe Valley Camping, Directions
Cheddar Club Campsite
Cheddar, Somerset
- The trap: the Club says not to use sat nav, because a CL site is very close by and you cannot turn round in the road if you take the wrong entrance. It also says not to leave the M5 at junction 21, because Banwell is very narrow and congested.
- What the site says to do: M5 junction 22, then the A38 and the A371 into Cheddar. Over the small river bridge, turn right into the lane behind Cheddar Football Club, not into the other two sites nearby. The approach is narrow with no passing places.
- Source: Caravan and Motorhome Club site page, Directions
Southern & Eastern England
The Inside Park
Fairmile Road, Blandford, Dorset
- The trap: the postcode. The site's sat nav warning says not to rely on it.
- What the site says to do: enter the road name, “Fairmile Road, Blandford”, and follow the brown signs from the Badger Roundabout by the Tesco store.
- Source: The Inside Park, How to get to the park
South Downs Way Camping and Caravan Park
Lodge Lane, Hassocks, West Sussex
- The trap: the site says some sat navs send you to Park Road, a small housing complex that is not near the entrance and is difficult to turn a caravan in.
- What the site says to do: from the A273, turn right just after Clayton onto the B2112 New Road, then after about 2 miles turn into Lodge Lane. The entrance is signposted immediately on the left.
- Source: South Downs Way Camping and Caravan Park, Contact / directions
Wyatts Covert Club Campsite
Denham, Buckinghamshire (near M25 junction 17)
- The trap: the Club asks you to use its directions rather than sat nav for the final approach, because of roads that are unsuitable for towing.
- What the site says to do: from M25 junction 17, take the A412 towards Denham Green and turn into Denham Green Lane (not Tilehouse Lane), then turn right at the T-junction into Tilehouse Lane. Check the site page for any current roadworks notice.
- Source: Caravan and Motorhome Club site page, Directions
Cambridge Cherry Hinton Club Campsite
Cherry Hinton, Cambridge
- The trap: the Club says not to use sat nav, because other routes use very unsuitable roads, and that Cherry Hinton High Street is not suitable.
- What the site says to do: from the north and east, leave the A14 at junction 35 for the A1303. From the south and west, ignore the Cherry Hinton signs on the A11 and go via Fulbourn. Both routes end in Lime Kiln Road.
- Source: Caravan and Motorhome Club site page, Directions
Avoiding most of these in the first place
Most of the traps above come from one problem: the sat nav does not know what you are driving. A caravan or motorhome sat nav lets you enter the outfit's height, width, length and weight, and then routes around signed restrictions and down-ranks roads its map marks as unsuitable. That removes many of these problems, but not all of them. It cannot know about a lane with no restriction data, and it cannot know that a postcode points at the farm next door, so the campsite's own directions still come first. If you want to know what to look for, our guide to sat navs for towing a caravan covers setting up an outfit profile, and the comparison table puts the current models side by side.
Know another one?
If your campsite's directions warn about a sat nav trap, or you have been sent somewhere you should not have been with a caravan behind you, email craig@caravansatnav.com with the campsite's name and a link to its directions page. We only add entries that the campsite itself publishes. Campsite owners: if your directions have changed and we should update or remove an entry, please tell us at the same address.