Mountain campsites in Helvellyn
Discover and reserve the best camping, glamping, caravan parks, and more.
97% (248 reviews)
- Helvellyn
97% (248 reviews)
Popular camping styles for Helvellyn
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12 top mountainous campsites in Helvellyn
100%
(19)
Chapel View Wild Campsite
3 units · Tents3 acres · High Peak, Derbyshire
A remote campsite for Hikers and Wild Campers
Sittng on the Penine Bridleway on the foothills of Kinder above Chapel-en-le-Frith, offering beautiful views across the valley and being within immediate reach of some of the most popular walking trails in the UK.
The campsite is in shadow of South Head and is directly on the Penine Bridleway less than 2 miles from Jacobs Ladder, the Penine Way and Kinder Low.
You can break camp in the morning already in the heart of hiking country and return to your camp in the evening without ever leaving the remote wilderness of the national park.
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£5
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98%
(110)
Baystone Bank Farm Campsite
47 units · Motorhomes, Tents1 acre · Millom, England
Lake District camping on a working farm with a stream to splash in, campfires encouraged and a horse-riding centre on the doorstep
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£25
/ night
100%
(24)
Camping at Cardewlees
37 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents1 acre · Carlisle, England
A welcoming, family-run farm campsite between the Lake District and Hadrian's Wall
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£20
/ night
97%
(150)
Kestrel Lodge Campsite
10 units · Tents4 acres · Keswick, Cumbria, North West England
A family-friendly Lake District campsite, nestled between the quiet shores of Bassenthwaite Lake and the beautiful Cumbrian fells
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£24
/ night
100%
(6)
Ruberslaw Wild Woods Camping
53 units · Glamping, Tents500 acres · Hawick, Scottish Borders
Pick between the woods and the walled garden at this stunning Scottish Borders site
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£33
/ night
93%
(116)
Moss Side Farm Campsite
33 units · Tents4 acres · Cumbria, North West England
Small-scale farm camping in the South Lakes, with campfires, wildlife and fine views
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£25
/ night
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Primrose Cottage Camping
13 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents8 acres · Chorley, England
A quiet adult-only site (this site does not cater for children), with tents and campervans only, nestled below Healey Nab in the Lancashire Countryside. Rustic and back to basics is what this site is all about. Set amid spectacular countryside, grassy fields, woodland and streams to boot! Well behaved four legged friends are more than welcome. Campfires and good times allowed. *Please note loud music is not allowed.*
Flat walks are a plenty along the Leeds and Liverpool canal or maybe a circular walk to white White Coppice might float your boat? For the hill walkers amongst us there is Great Hill and Rivington Pike to climb.
Within walking distance or a few minutes drive there is pub at the end of the lane and local shops within the vicinity for those last minute snacks. Chorley town centre is 10 minutes drive away and we are close to the M61 which can take you to the Lake district in less than an hour, Manchester or Blackpool are roughly 30 Minutes away.
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£25
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98%
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Ewe Love Camping Pods
3 units · Glamping120 acres · Penrith, Cumbria, North West England
Modern Lake District glamping pods among the trees, with exceptional views of Blencathra
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£85
/ night
100%
(16)
The Black Swan
3 units · Glamping1 acre · Kirkby Stephen, England
Our three, brand new wood and canvas yurts are nestled in our private, woodland hotel garden beside the beautiful conservation (SSSI) river of Scandal Beck. Just a short drive from The Lake District, The Yorkshire and Durham Dales as well as The Scottish Border, we are perfectly located for you to explore.
The yurts themselves are individually decorated with full size furniture, electricity and double beds. The yurts are all located in the garden of The Black Swan Hotel, Ravenstonedale, a multi award-winning hotel, restaurant and bar; recipient of 2 AA Rosettes as well as AA pub of the year for England 2018/19. As part of your stay in our yurts you will receive a full cooked breakfast and buffet option included in the price for 2 people in our hotel restaurant. We like to think of ourselves as a cosy home from home with a relaxed dining atmosphere throughout. We are very dog friendly in the hotel, restaurant, bar and yurts so please bring your furry family members.
Our beautiful woodland is also home to red squirrels (which are seen daily), protected, freshwater crayfish in the river, an otter (seen very infrequently but the nemesis of our ducks), 6 Indian runner ducks, free range chickens and our two cockerels! (Dogs are very welcome but are to be kept on a lead whilst in the woodland itself).
We are very dog friendly and charge an additional fee of £15 for 1 dog/ £20 for 2 dogs for an additional cleaning fee and for some dog friendly goodies such as poop bags and treats. The price of this yurt is based on an occupancy of 2 people. Any other people who will be staying on the sofa bed will add a charge of £40 per person per night for breakfast and their stay.
All yurts come with electrical battery pack, chargeable lanterns, tea/coffee, homemade biscuits, log burning stoves, towels, full breakfast included from the hotel, an outdoor seating area and access to our outdoor toasty warm woodland shower as well as our very cute, wooden toilet cabin. Hairdryers are available in the hotel for your use.
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£170
/ night
100%
(15)
Deerstone Glamping
6 units · Glamping82 acres · Lancashire, North West England
Geodesic domes with a sauna and a dome cinema on site in the Lancashire countryside
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£175
/ night
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Woodman's Huts
3 units · Glamping1 acre · Cumbria, North West England
Beautiful handmade shepherd's huts in the heart of the picturesque South Lakes
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£110
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100%
(2)
Nearly-wild camping @ Heggs Farm
1 unit · Tent136 acres · Reeth, England
Get back to basics and immerse yourself in the joy of simple outdoor living with a nearly-wild camping experience @ Heggs Farm, Arkengarthdale--part of a collaborative, 200-acre renaturing project, spanning the northern tip of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Stretching from the wooded banks of the Arkle Beck, up to the dizzying heights of Fremington Edge, our undulating, south-facing site is a wonderfully biodiverse and off-the-beaten path spot, offering adventure-loving families and small groups the chance to unplug completely, and get a taste of no-frills camping, the way mother nature intended.
What's more, every booking is for exclusive use of the camping area by you and your group, guaranteeing you a truly unique (and undisturbed) experience.
NB Due to the undulating nature of the terrain, our site is most suited to tents with a smaller footprint.
Why Heggs?
Get a taste of 'wild-camping' with a few bare bones facilities: Pitch up where you like, make the most of a private firepit cooking area, and enjoy our compost loo with a view. Our remote, no-frills site is the perfect intro to simple living; yet sits close enough to 'civilisation' to hike out for picnic supplies, and/or a pub meal.
Reconnect with nature through wholesome, unplugged activities: Fill your days with poo sticks, pebble skimming, and foraging for kindling. Spend your evenings playing scrabble by torchlight, identifying owl calls, and marvelling at the constellations in our Dark Skies conservation area. No wifi = no distractions.
Explore endless routes right from the doorstep: Arkengarthdale is one of the Dales' most beautiful yet undiscovered valleys. Multiple bridleways and footpaths connect Heggs to Reeth (2 miles) and Langthwaite (1.5 miles), running along both sides of the Arkle Beck, and up the slopes of Fremington Edge.
Part of the adventure is getting here: Our walk/cycle-in-only camping area is all part of the magic of our tucked-away site. Free bag transfer is available to our farmhouse from the nearest roadside parking spot (20 mins walk); or from the public parking areas in Reeth or Langthwaite (40 mins walk). From the farmhouse, the camping area lies a further 200m along a rough grass track.
NB Limited parking for 4WD vehicles is available on site, 7-8mins walk from the camping area along the public footpath. Please note we cannot accept campervans or trailer tents.
Every stay plants trees, literally: All profits from nearly-wild camping support our ongoing habitat restoration as part of the Heggs-Castle renaturing cluster. Enjoy the 'feel-good' factor as you roam free across the site and explore our latest woodland creation areas. Find out more at heggscastlecluster.org.
What's included/provided with my booking?
-Exclusive use of the camping area for you and your group (up to a max of 8 people), including compost loo and firepit with grill.
-Access to weatherproof cow byre HQ for storage of camping equipment, including bikes.
-1 x wheelbarrow load of firewood, with kindling and natural firelighters (more can be bought on site).
-Unlimited potable water in canisters with taps.
-Large Ghillie Kettle, firepit cooking utensils and heatproof gloves, biodegradable washing up liquid, washing up bowl, tea towels, first aid kit, fire extinguisher.
-Bag transfer from/to the nearest roadside or public parking place on arrival and departure.
Please pack everything else you need to sleep, cook (your own portable gas stove and/or charcoal is welcome), eat, and keep yourself and your equipment safe; remembering that you’ll have to carry your own gear for at least the last 200m down to the cow byre...and then beyond to wherever you pitch up!
Note too that the site is completely unlit after dark, there are no charging facilities, and phone signal can be spotty. Headtorches, camping lanterns, and portable battery/solar chargers are all strongly recommended.
Where can I stock up?
Our local businesses would love your support! Award winning bread, cafe-quality ready meals, and Thursday night pizzas can be pre-ordered for collection at Two Dales Bakery; the Bike Centre is known for its incredible cake selection (and excellent rental service); Reeth Post Office sells the usual camping cupboard staples, as well as local milk, cheese and sausages; and Reeth's Friday morning market has all your meat, cheese, and fruit and veg supplies covered.
For dining out, there are four pubs within a two-mile hike/cycle: The CB Inn, The Bridge Inn, The Black Bull and The Buck (the only to offer all-day dining 12-8pm). Ramsay’s Fish and Chip Van also visits Reeth between 4-6pm every Friday evening; you’ll find it parked up in Langhorne Drive.
Finished reading and not sure it's for you?
Search for The Annexe @ Heggs Farm on AirBnB for simple, off-grid living with a few creature comforts e.g. hot running water, a bed and a bath. This can also be booked in tandem with our nearly-wild camping area, subject to availability.
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£45
/ night
Under £50
Available this weekend
Mountain campsites in Helvellyn guide
Overview
Scaling the 950-metre summit of Helvellyn—the third-highest peak in the Lake District National Park—has long been a popular challenge for hikers and mountaineers. There are several routes to the top, but the most scenic is via Striding Edge. Hike along dramatic mountain ridges, scramble up steep passages, then walk the summit plateau for magnificent views across the lakes and the distant Pennines. Summiting Helvellyn takes about six or seven hours return, depending on the chosen route, and there are five mountain ridges to explore. Campers will find plenty of options in nearby Ullswater and Thirlmere.
When to go
The most popular time to climb Helvellyn is from June through September, when the weather is most favourable for hiking, and the terrain is typically dry and easily accessible. Choose a clear, dry day for the best views. The summit is still accessible throughout winter, although it’s a much more technical climb, and shorter daylight hours mean you might find yourself descending in the dark.
Know before you go
- Helvellyn is located just north of Ambleside in the Lake District National Park. There are several routes up the mountain, but the most popular are via Striding Edge (for the most impressive views) or Swirral Edge (for the shortest and easiest way to the top). Paid parking is available in Glenridding, the starting point for both routes.
- Hiking Helvellyn is a moderately challenging route and best suited to intermediate hikers. Depending on the route, there are some steep sections and scrambles. Hiking outside of the main season is best left to experienced hikers.
- The weather on Helvellyn is notoriously changeable, and it’s essential to check conditions before setting out. Follow the Lake District Weatherline for daily updates and prepare for all seasons, even in summer.
- Proper hiking gear and boots are essential for summiting Helvellyn. Bring an OS map and compass, plenty of food and water, sunscreen, a raincoat, and warm clothes for the summit.
- Wild camping is not permitted anywhere in the Lake District. However, some hikers do wild camp around Red Tarn lake on the mountain’s eastern slopes.
Top parks in and near Helvellyn
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