Northumberland County Council is expanding its overnight motorhome parking scheme to more locations even as local officials push back against campers who park illegally, light unauthorized fires and leave waste behind.
The county drew a record 11 million visitors last year, with tourism now valued at £1.58 billion to the local economy.
But the surge in staycation traffic has created tension between campground operators, residents and visitors who bypass legal sites entirely, according to an article by Hexham Courant.
The council’s annual “Love it Like it’s Yours” campaign urges campers and motorhome users to book at registered campgrounds, use designated waste disposal sites and take their litter home.
After a successful pilot, the overnight parking program has been expanded for 2026 to include Forestry England car parks at Kielder, where visitors can park for £15 after 5 p.m. and take in dark-sky views.
Car parks at Amble, Bamburgh and Beadnell also offer 24-hour overnight motorhome parking for £15 per ticket.
Councillor Gordon Stewart, cabinet member for looking after our communities and chair of the fire authority, said: “We are so lucky in Northumberland to have such beautiful surroundings and to ensure it stays like that. The council is running its annual ‘Love it Like it’s Yours’ campaign.”
“The message is simple but crucial – leave no trace. Book at legal campsites, take your litter home, and use designated waste disposal sites. Together, we can protect and preserve our countryside now and, in the future, ensuring it remains a haven for wildlife and a place of peace and beauty for all who visit and live here.”
Alex MacLennan, of Forestry England, said: “We’re asking everyone visiting Northumberland in a motorhome, campervan, or tent to do their bit to help keep our county special.”
“Most visitors already do a great job of respecting the countryside, but occasionally we still see issues with littering, illegal parking, waste disposal and campfires.
These simple actions can have a big impact on local communities, wildlife and the landscapes we all come to enjoy.”
The push for compliance comes alongside enforcement. Druridge Bay, where a devastating wildfire swept through the sand dunes last year, is now under a public spaces protection order with 24/7 CCTV monitoring.
Councillor Scott Dickinson, who represents the Druridge Bay ward, said the measures are already reducing overnight stays by rule-breakers and illegal campfires.
“I’m not the fun police, but I do want to protect my local area,” Dickinson said. “I want people to enjoy the area safely and when they leave, local people are left with no trace.”
“We just had to go to this level after the devastating fire last year. The damage is still being repaired, and the wildlife that was lost will never come back.”
In Bamburgh, one of the county’s busiest tourist draws, the problem runs in a different direction.
Councillor Guy Renner-Thompson said campervans park on residential streets overnight, taking up parking spaces and angering local residents — while the area’s licensed campground operators report that they are struggling to fill pitches.
“It is an ongoing problem and it is getting more of a problem,” Renner-Thompson said. “At the same time, we have caravan site owners saying they’re struggling.”
“It would be much better if campervans and people who are camping used the regular sites. That would put more money into those businesses – they’re not contributing to local businesses and they’re upsetting everyone.”
Bamburgh Parish Council is now exploring bylaws against sleeping in vehicles overnight.
For campground operators in Northumberland, the council’s approach sends a clear signal: the county is willing to enforce rules against free camping and illegal parking, which could help drive more visitors toward licensed sites at a time when some owners say they are struggling to fill pitches.