With the Lake District universally hailed as a haven for outdoorsy folks, it perhaps comes as no surprise that the National Parkâs vast & varied landscape is teeming with fantastic campsites to discover.
With so many campsites to choose from however, whittling down your selection can often feel a tad overwhelming!
Especially if youâre unfamiliar with the Lake District, since you may not know the best areas to stay and what activities to get up to in the whopping 2,362 km² National Park.
However, if this is you donât worry, weâve got you covered!
Using our expertise of the area, weâve carefully selected 5 of the very best campsites in the Lake District weâre certain youâll like the sound of as you read through this post.
Conveniently located just a stoneâs throw away from some of our personal favourite spots in the whole of Lakeland, these campsites are highly rated, reasonably priced and full of outdoor wonder – meaning youâll never be short of things to do!
Best Campsites In The Lake District
Just to preface this blog post however, weâre by no means claiming to have visited all campsites in the Lakes. There are simply too many to count!
This post is purely personal opinion of me and my partner; two self-professed Lake District connoisseurs.
If there are any campsites you think should be on this list please reach out and let us know, weâd love to scout it out sometime.
Likewise, each of the campsites on our list are family-friendly sites where you should be able to get a quiet nightâs sleep to recharge for all your daytime activities.
These are NOT party campsites. If thatâs what youâre after then youâll have to look elsewhere.
Right, now thatâs out of the way, letâs get to it đđ
Syke Farm Campsite â Buttermere
Residing just southwest of Keswick in the Lake District â between the lakes of Buttermere and Crummock Water â the small village of Buttermere is perfect for those wanting to get away from the hustle & bustle and reconnect with the simplicity of the great outdoors.
Conveniently situated in the heart of Buttermere youâll uncover Syke Farm; a rustic campsite providing just the bare necessities & nestled within some of the most sublime Lakeland countryside youâve ever seen.
The no frills mantra of the farm really is such a welcome change â there are no electric hook-ups here, just a humble plot of land with a few toilets, showers and a small shelter. Perfect!
Upon arrival you simply collect your camping reservation ticket from the cafĂŠ across the road (we also recommend treating yourself to one of their homemade ice-creams!), and then head to the campsite which is tucked away just beyond the local National Trust carpark.
The best part of camping here for me was once evening came.
After sunset, the village quickly begins to slow down, and youâre just left with the serene sounds of wildlife and the river trickling beside the campsite.
When it comes to nearby activities, Buttermere Lake & Crummock Water are only a stoneâs throw away from the campsite and make for some picturesque rambling.
Likewise, for more challenging walks youâre also conveniently surrounded by a plethora of iconic fells to tackle, plus the secret Buttermere Infinity Pool isnât too far from camp for the particularly adventurous.
Whatever you decide to get up to during your stay however, youâll certainly appreciate the secluded tranquillity sheltered between the high-rise fells.
Itâs so idyllic, come the end of your trip youâll likely not want to leave!
Click here to check out the official Syke Farm Campsite website.
Low Wray Campsite – Low Wray, Ambleside
One of the top-rated campsites on Windermere (the Lake Districtâs most iconic body of water), you really will struggle to find a better location to camp in the Lakes than here.
Offering easy wild swimming access and home to an epic castle and charming shingle beach, pitching here almost feels like youâve stumbled onto the film set of some kind of medieval fantasy!
Fun fact â While the imposing castle may look medieval in nature, this Victorian neo-gothic building wasnât actually built until 1840. Despite not being as old as it first may look however, thereâs still no denying that itâs super cool to camp besides.
With options to pitch in the woodlands or beside the lake, there are few things in life better than waking up on a breezy summer morning, zipping open your tent and heading straight for a morning dip as you watch the sun rise!
In addition to camping, campervans are also welcome at Low Wray. Plus, there’s always glamping accomodation available in their camping pods or Berber tents for those wanting something a tad more luxurious.
With picturesque walk & cycle routes available directly from the campsite, you could quite easily spend your time here exploring the surrounding landscape without getting in the car once.
Likewise, to keep you occupied, thereâs always the options of canoe, kayak or paddleboard hire (available from April-October) if you’d like to get up close and personal with Lake Windermere.
If you are itching to travel a little further afield however, highlights include Hawkshead which is just 10 minute drive from camp, or the town of Windermere which is around 20 minutes.
Likewise, for wild swimming fanatics, there are certainly no shortage of fantastic spots to check out on Windermere during your visit.
Click here to check out the official Low Wray Campsite website.
Hoathwaite National Trust Campsite – Coniston Water
Update: This campsite is now unfortunately closed, and weâre unsure if itâs set to reopen. Fingers crossed it opens its doors once again in 2024 đ¤
Residing roughly 7 miles east of Low Wray Campsite you can find Hoathwaite National Trust Campsite – a quaint & quiet campsite overlooking the spectacular western shore of Coniston Water.
Fun fact â 5 miles in length and running up to 184 feet deep, Coniston Water is the third largest lake by volume in National Park and the fifth largest by area.
Another back-to-basics campsite, you wonât find much in the way of luxurious amenities here (apart from shower and toilets), making it perfect for those wanting an authentic outdoorsy escape.
While certainly not for everyone, the remoteness & simplicity offers a welcome respite for those wanting to plug out from the modern world.
Coniston Water proves to be a fantastic hub for adventure, providing visitors with fabulous wild swimming & water sport opportunities, spectacular walking & numerous idyllic villages to explore.
Plus, thereâs also the option to ride in style on the Victorian steam boat across Coniston Water! Bound to prove a favourite with the kids, the renovated Steam Yacht Gondola sails between March and November and provides breathtaking views of the glorious landscape.
For walking inspiration in the area, weâd also recommend checking out our recent post on the â6 BEST Walks In Conistonâ blog post!
Notice – One common gripe with this campsite however is that there is a road running through the middle of the grounds, which can prove to be a nuisance if youâre camped too close to it.
It may also be a potential hazard if youâve children running around. So you may want to try and nab a spot further away from the road if possible.
Rydal Hall Campsite – Rydal, Ambleside
Outdoor enthusiasts really would be hard-pressed to find a better camping location than at the historic Rydal Hall.
One great thing about this campsite is that it has a 3-metre pitching distance rule, meaning youâll never feel too cramped when setting up base!
There are also glamping & even BnB options available for those who don’t fancy roughing it.
The main activity to jump on during your stay here would be to hike around Rydal Water and check out Rydal Cave & Rydal Waterfall.
Nevertheless, if youâd like to venture a little further afield, Rydall Hall is also in walking distance of Ambleside & Grasmere village.
Iâm a particular fan of Grasmere. Not only for its beautifully fairy-tale like appearance, but also for itâs world famous gingerbread!
Likewise, with plenty of formidable fells surrounding the campsite just waiting to be tackled, ramblers are wholly spoilt for choice within this gorgeous terrain.
Don’t just take my word for it, William Wordsworth (legendary poet and rambling fanatic) even went so far to describe Rydal Water as
âthe loveliest spot that man hath ever foundâ.
After you’ve visited, I’m sure you’ll be hard pressed to disagree!
Click here to check out the Rydal Hall campsite.
Wasdale Campsite – Wasdale Head, Seascale
Last but not least, thereâs simply no way we couldnât mention this campsite conveniently situated at the base of Scafell Pike; the Lake Districtâs most infamous peak.
This campsite is owned by the National Trust and is nestled within the jaw-dropping Wasdale Valley – home to England’s deepest lake, highest mountain and smallest church!
With a plethora of trails to choose from when climbing Scafell Pike, this site is situated only a stoneâs throw away from Wasdale Head Car Park which is the starting point for one of the peakâs most popular routes.
Providing campers with a scenic & secluded plot of land engulfed by classic craggy Lakeland countryside, pitching here really does feel like youâre right in the thick of the National Park.
To maintain the serene vibe of the camp, the National Trust have even limited the maximum number of adults allowed in a party here to just four people (which applies whether you book together or separately).
A fantastic hub for hill walking fanatics, surrounding the campsite youâll also be in close proximity to popular fells such as Great Gable, Kirk Fell, Bowfell & Red Pike just to name a few.
Plus, during your stay it’s also certainly worth admiring the awe-inspiring vistas at the nearby Wastwater Lake, which has been previously crowned Britain’s favourite view!
In addition to camping, Wasdale Campsite offers eight heated camping pods, 3 tipis and a bell tent, meaning they have accommodation options to suit all kinds of folks.
Click here to check out the official Wasdale Campsite website.
Conclusion – Where is the best place to camp in the Lake District?
With 5 hard-hitting camping contenders on offer, I really hope you can find something to tickle your fancy here.
We donât receive commission from these campsites, but if you do end up camping at one of them, we’d massively appreciate if you let the owners know that you found them through us.
We’re always trying to grow this little ol’ blog of ours. Thanks a bunch!
More resources
While youâre here…
Why not check out the Lake District section of our blog for more outdoor inspiration? A few crackers include:
- 10 Spectacular Lake District Walks To Try
- 9 Easy Lake District Walks Suitable For All Abilities
- 19 Stunning Lake District Waterfalls To Visit
- 9 Incredible Wild Swimming Spots In The Lake District
- Top 3 Lake District Scrambles For Daring Hikers
- 7 Amazing Walks Around Lake Windermere
Happy camping đď¸đď¸