Spotlight on: Golden Square Caravan & Camping Park

A visit to Sutton Bank, on the western edge of the North York Moors National Park, has always appealed. Sutton Bank is a high point on the Hambleton Hills between Thirsk and Helmsley, with a superb view described by author, James Herriot, as the ‘finest in England’.

At Sutton Bank there is a visitor centre, a choice of walking and cycling trails and it is also a Dark Sky Discovery Site, so ideal for stargazing. I have always wanted to visit to get out on two wheels across the moors, and to catch a glimpse of those elusive northern lights!

Golden Square is located just six miles from Sutton Bank, and three miles from the pretty market town of Helmsley, where there is also a 900-year-old castle with sculpture garden. You can walk to the town through fields from the site.

The site has over 100 pitches and is terraced on three levels. A new viewpoint area on the top field allows you to sit, relax and take in the countryside views. Hedge and tree screening offer privacy and you can choose hardstanding pitches with electric, or deluxe pitches that are larger and come with additional fresh water, waste water, and chemical waste connections, along with a picnic table. Designated family areas are close to the playground, plus there are quieter pitches for those seeking relaxation.

There are two toilet and shower blocks with underfloor heating, along with a family/accessible bathroom in each block. A motorhome waste point and laundry room is provided. There is also an on-site licensed shop, dog exercise field, indoor games shed, and crazy golf.

Locally, you can explore Duncombe Park (four miles away), an estate with 450 acres of gardens, parkland and nature reserve. The park is also home to the National Centre for Birds of Prey, where you can see owls, falcons, hawks, buzzards and eagles, and watch flying demonstrations. In addition, only six miles away is Rievaulx Abbey, an impressive abbey ruin in a wooded valley.

All in all, this site is a great base for sightseeing around the moors. And the elusive aurora borealis? In typical fashion, a huge solar storm meant I actually saw them from the bedroom window of my own home back down south!

Golden Square Caravan & Camping Park
Oswaldkirk, Helmsley, North Yorkshire YO62 5YQ
01439 788269

This site review first appeared in MMM magazine, November 2025 issue, submitted by Claire Tupholme.

Photo credits: Image 3 courtesy of David Whitemyer Shutterstock, image 4 courtesy of Jeanette Teare/Shutterstock.