Camping in the Lake District

Now that Covid-19 is under some sort of control and people can take holidays in the UK we are getting a lot of people heading here to camp. So camp sites are getting full. In addition people are irresponsibly wild camping and leaving a mess behind including whole tents, bags, rubbish and ... sadly ... poo.

So if you're determined to come here to camp then here's a summary of the options.

Wild Camping

Generally speaking wild camping is for the experienced because the only place it's tolerated in the Lakes is above the "intake wall" on the high fells ... so long as you are responsible. The National Trust have a page about wild camping which is well worth a read. Note what it says about fires and, in particular that:

... litter includes all human waste. If you need a bin or a toilet, this kind of camping isn't for you.

It's also worth pointing out that this means that you are going to have to hike, with all your kit including everything you need, some distance from the nearest road as the intake wall is the start of the high fells. You also need to be prepared for activity like doing number twos responsibly (which means taking a spade for the solids and also burning or bringing back with you the used loo paper, none of which is much fun).

Wild camping with our collie Jake

Wild camping anywhere else is causing real problems because people are being idiots so we're now in the situation where this Patrols launched to clamp down on Lake District wild camping is going on with Cumbria police along with Lake District National Park Authority, United Utilities and National Trust rangers all working together on the clampdown so don't wild camp below the intake wall.

Camp Sites

There are lots of camp sites around the Lakes ranging from very basic (farmer's field with a toilet block in a corner) to very fancy. They're all busy but ring around and you should find somewhere. Here's the ones we're aware of. Contact us if you know of any others and we'll add them to this post.

• Kestrel Lodge, Bassenthwaite
• Camping at Cardewlees, Carlisle
• Hollows Farm, just south of Keswick
• Castlerigg Hall, south east of Keswick
• Cross Dormont, south side of Ullswater
• Baysbrown Farm, Great Langdale Valley
• Keswick Camp Site
• Thirlspot Farm Camping, Thirlmere
• Lanefoot Farm Camping, Thornthwaite
• Turner Hall, Duddon Valley
• Hazel Head Farm, Duddon Valley
• The National Trust also has five camp sites scattered around the Lake District at:
  • Low Wray, west side of Windermere
  • Wasdale Head
  • Great Langdale
  • Hoathwaite, Torver, near Coniston
  • Eskdale

The Scotland Effect

In closing it's worth noting that a lot of people from the Scottish central belt, especially Glasgow, come south to the Lakes to holiday. Scottish schools go back in the week commencing 10th August, so three weeks before England and Wales, and you may find there's slightly less pressure on camp sites if you can hold off until then.

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