Camping in Windermere

Nine sites, and how they're spread

There are nine campsites published on BritStays for the Windermere area, and they're clustered tightly: six sit in Windermere itself, with one at Newby Bridge and one at Ings. That matters more than it sounds. It means you're rarely choosing between wildly different parts of the county — you're choosing between a lakeside-ish base, a site closer to the southern end of the water, or something a little further back from the busiest stretch.

The nine are all listed as camping, so this isn't a mixed set of cottages and lodges with a field attached. What varies is how much is laid on. At one end you have Park Cliffe in Windermere, which lists a bar, a restaurant and a playground — the sort of setup where you can arrive late, feed everyone and not drive again. At the other, Borderside Farm and Ings Kippers carry no facilities on their listings at all, which usually points to something simpler and quieter.

Reading the facilities honestly

Across all nine, the most commonly listed facilities are toilets (four sites), EV charging nearby (four), then a bar, gift shop, guided tours, pet friendly, WiFi and laundrette at two each. A few things follow from that:

• Only four of nine list toilets. That doesn't always mean the others have none — listings vary in how much detail they give — but it does mean you should confirm what's on site before you turn up with small children or a tent and no plan B.
• Only two sites list pet friendly. If you're bringing a dog, ask directly rather than assuming a campsite is relaxed about it.
• WiFi and a laundrette appear twice each. Treat both as a bonus, not a given, and download maps before you travel.
• EV charging nearby at four sites is a reasonable showing. Scout Adventures Great Tower, YHA Windermere Campsite and Glaythwaite Glamping all list it.

Which site suits which trip

Families tend to do best where there's structure. Park Cliffe's playground and on-site food take the pressure off wet afternoons. Scout Adventures Great Tower and Great Tower Scout Activity Centre both sit in Windermere and both list toilets, with the Scout Adventures listing also showing EV charging nearby — activity-centre settings like these suit groups and older children who want something to do beyond sitting in a field.

Couples after a bit of comfort should look at Moss Howe Farm campsite, which lists a hot tub, a bar and toilets — an unusual combination in this set — or at Glaythwaite Glamping if you'd rather not sleep on the ground. Those are also the two most likely to go first, for obvious reasons.

Arriving without a car is genuinely possible here. Fell Foot Wood Campsite at Newby Bridge lists being near a train station, and YHA Windermere Campsite is the sort of base that works for walkers travelling light.

What to do once the tent's up

Lake Windermere is the obvious draw and shapes most itineraries, whether you're on the water or walking a stretch of shoreline. Fell Foot, in National Trust care, gives you lakeside access at the southern end, handy if you're camping around Newby Bridge. The Lakes Aqua Park is the one to keep in reserve for a day when the children need burning off.

For slower days, Hill Top and Townend are both National Trust properties with plenty of interest in the buildings themselves, and High Lickbarrow is another Trust site in the area. Graythwaite Hall adds a stately home and gardens to the mix.

Rain is part of the deal. The Heritage Centre at Kendal and Keswick Museum & Art Gallery are the nearest indoor fallbacks of the museums listed, with Eskdale Mill elsewhere in the Lake District. Further afield, the Laurel and Hardy Museum and Judges' Lodgings Museum at Morecambe, the West Cumberland Railway Museum at Keswick and Killhope Lead Mining Museum over in County Durham are day-trip territory rather than casual drop-ins — check journey times before committing.

When to book

With only nine sites and six of them in Windermere itself, supply is thin for a place this popular. School holidays, bank holidays and any stretch of settled summer weather will clear availability quickly. Book Easter and summer several months out if you want a specific site rather than whatever's left.

Shoulder season — late spring and early autumn — is where you'll find choice, and it's also when the quieter listings like Borderside Farm and Ings Kippers are most likely to have space. Before you confirm anything, check three things with the site directly: whether dogs are accepted, what washing facilities actually exist, and whether vehicle access and parking suit what you're arriving in.