Next month will see the world’s biggest annual cycling event kick off across the Yorkshire counties. This means it’s high time for holiday makers and anxious spectators to consider where they plan to lay their head at night after the excitement of the Grand Départ is over.
Hotels in surrounding areas are already posting their ‘fully booked’ statuses online, leading tourists to seek alternative accommodation options.
Recent years have seen camping, or for those who do it in style, ‘glamping’, rise rapidly in the popularity stakes. For outdoorsy types, the chance to set up tent for the night in England’s greenest counties is more than just option B.
Sam Shelley, a cycling enthusiast from Hampshire who plans to follow the UK leg of the cycling event, commented:
“It’s a great chance to get out and enjoy the countryside at the same time as indulging my fondness for competitive cycling. We’ve been to watch the Grand Départ a couple of times in the past but have never camped. Besides being much cheaper than traditional accommodation, it also gives me and my family a chance to get away from the crowds and enjoy the event at our own pace. Let’s just hope the weather keeps up!”
As well as the draw of watching the cyclists battle it out for that prestigious yellow jersey, events across the county will be attracting tourists from far and wide as Yorkshire pulls out all the stops to impress. Theatre productions, spoken word events, art exhibitions and music concerts galore will be on offer as part of York Festival’s ‘100 days of art and culture’, whilst spectators in the sky will be given the chance to admire giant aerial artworks etched into the hillsides between Blubberhouses and Holmfirth.
For those looking for camp-sites close to the route of the event, Salop Leisure, a leading UK caravan dealership, has taken the liberty of creating this map for potential spectators hoping to pitch up in prime locations.
Zoom in to take a look at the routes the three stages will be taking and click on the small tent icons to see each campsite’s web address, location and contact details. Many of the listings also include a picture of the campsite’s local area, so be sure to search around.
