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Son and girlfriend have got a week off coming up and want to go to Lake District, just the 2 of them, small car and camping clobber, maybe staying at a couple of nice sites over the week. Should be a bit quieter now schools back. Years since I have been and can't remember what's good etc. He said googling only seems to find sites where you have to park some way away and carry all your gear some distance, just wondering if anyone knows good places where you can just park and stick the tent up on same pitch? Cheers
coniston hall. park by the lake or in a quiet corner
+1 for Coniston Hall, basic site with views over Coniston.
Gillside in Glenridding is a lovely friendly site sat just under Helvellyn
Hawkshead ..not too far from the village ..shower block / games room ( pool table & tv ) ..hook up if needed ..
Sykeside campsite in Patterdale is rather nice, on site pub which does food too. Burns Farm just outside Keswick is also nice enough, nothing fancy but ticks the boxes and been able to get on there even during a bank holiday at the last minute.
We've stayed at Sykeside a few times, mainly for the good pub. In fact will be there later this week; down for the Tour of Britain.
Thanks all, that's really helpful
Park Foot in Pooley Bridge. Decent facilities and riding from the camp.
Turner Hall, Duddon Valley.
Hill Croft, also at Pooley Bridge with an easy walk into the village and Ullswater steamers.
Scotsgate in Braithwaite, some cracking pubs, easy access up to Whinlatter, Portinscale and Keswick.
I suspect their search may have been limited:
https://www.campsites.co.uk/search/campsites-in-cumbria-and-the-lake-district/keswick
Baysbrown in langdale is nice or eskdale campsite in boot.
Or any of the national trust ones
Scotgate has very nice facilities, not exactly out of the way but good for getting into Keswick and whinlatter Forrest
Castlerigg farm at Keswick is also very good, great views, strict about noise after 10:00pm, and onsite bar and cafe is decent!
The campsite in buttermere (Skye farm??) is lovely, although basic. Doesn’t meet you criteria of park next to the pitch, but the being in between two lakes, 2 decent enough pubs a short stroll away and the view make up for it
Another vote for sykeside here. Good campsoit, good pub and some lovely views especially if you pitch up on the raised area towards the entrance.
Not been for a few years but
Bowkerstead farm, 10min walk to pub, 15min pedal to grizedale.
Slow shallow river on the edge of the site, has yurts and pods, large field or secluded areas in the woods to pitch tents.
facilities are ok, fires are allowed,
arthur the owner is a nice chap.
I like the NT sites at wasdale and langdale. You can't park next to your tent but it's close by.
Castlerigg farm at Keswick is also very good, great views, strict about noise after 10:00pm, and onsite bar and cafe is decent!
Ive stayed there a few times and quite like it. However, we had dinner once in the onsite place and it was woeful.
Hollows Farm ,Grange, Keswick.
Recently stayed at Fisherground in Eskdale... really enjoyed it there, the only downside for us was that it was also the week that the weather broke over the summer and so it rained every day for the week we were there... but can't really hold that against the place!!! Currently planning on going back next year...
You don't park directly next to the tent though, so had to walk about 10m from the car to the tent.
So many cracking sites in the Lakes, I’d go for Langdale NT, handy to pop into the old dungeon ghyll pub which has to be one of my fave pubs!
Just back from a week at Church Stile in the West of Lake District in Nether Wasdale. Great facilities and two pubs very nearby.
I'll second Park Foot at Pooley Bridge. My folks have a static there that we use a lot as a base for the rest of the lakes, and there are plenty of facilities on site (clubhouse/restaurant/takeaway/laundry/shop/etc) if that's what they're looking for.
Plenty of riding up the fell directly behind the campsite, too.
Turner Hall Duddon Valley cracking site
Park Foot is a chav fest was there 3 weeks ago I would avoid personally you don't feel as though you are camping in the Lakes.
My top 5
1. Turner Hall Seathwaite( toilets pay for showers) stunning views Newfield for Beer and Food
2. Loughrigg Tarn (basic) toilets stunning views Brittiania Pub for food and beer
3. Low Wray Campsite NT pricey but great site Drunken Duck for beer and food
4. Old Hall Coniston avoid at weekends The Sun for beer and food
5. Side Farm Ullswater if its busy when you get there you will end up on a sloping pitch Glennridding Hotel for food and beer
SHHH, don’t tell.
Not a campsite more slum glamping (slumping?)
holmewood bothy needs to booked well in advanced but so far it’s the finest place I have stayed in the lakes.
Basically a large secluded dry stone tent with your own little shingle beach on the bank of loweswater. 30min pedal to whinlatter , 10min pedal to the ( forgot name ) gastro pub with some serious real ales and superb views from the beer garden.
national trust owned site that will sleep 10 (If your sneaky) . Parking on the door step.
facilities include a log burner,oven,sink, gas lamps,table and bench, 👍
stayed a few times but not since hale bopp comet was in the sky,
The ranger will provide rowing boats on request.
waterfall a short walk away (force scar I think?) provides your shower facilities and is garaunteed to cure the meanest of hangovers.
nice little walk up the hill? At the rear of the bothy.
such a magical place.
Another +1 for Langdale NT - just finished a week there with my oldest. Lots of good riding and great walking close by, plus 2 great pubs in walking distance and the site shop sells useful stuff (from the stuff you've forgotten to breakfast treats like bacon sandwiches or pain au chocolat).
Castlerigg farm is very particular about its noise policy. Can't think of anywhere else I've stayed in the lakes that has asked me to read a policy doc on arrival. Personally prefer Castlerigg hall as the place is well laid out, has better facilities and is nice and relaxed. Plus great views and it's nice and quiet!
Langdale is a fab spot for stopping. The valley lends itself to one of the lakes best pub crawls. Stay at the NT site, walk down the ridge between great and little langdale, have lunch at the brittania and your first pint then start walking back up the valley. If you include the shop and the langdale country club you can get in a decent afternoons drinking with no repeats!
(The pubs are - brittania, wainwright, the new dungeon Ghyll, sticklebarn, the dungeon Ghyll.)
Castlerigg farm is very particular about its noise policy. Can’t think of anywhere else I’ve stayed in the lakes that has asked me to read a policy doc on arrival. Personally prefer Castlerigg hall as the place is well laid out, has better facilities and is nice and relaxed. Plus great views and it’s nice and quiet!
Fisherground is a bit like that - it's a beautiful spot, allows fires, but they run a tight ship and have the rules and regs to prove it (no farting after 10pm). I don't mind it for family camping, it's a scally-free zone, but for a younger crowd or away with mates it would feel a bit onerous IMO.
Definitely second Castlerigg Hall. Best facilities I've ever found at a campsite (about 30 years more modern than Castlerigg Farm over the road too - I've stayed at both many times over the last 15 years).
Great views of Derwen****er from the site, has a playing field and a very pleasant 30 minute walk down through the woods into Keswick.
Thanks for all the leads, they've taken note and gone today, Sykeside first then on elsewhere, and it's raining of course...