Cumbria is considered one of the most beautiful regions in the UK and for good reason.
It’s home to the whole of the Lake District National Park, as well as the Eden Valley, the North Pennines, the Furness Peninsula, the Solway Coast and part of the Yorkshire Dales. To say that campsites here have good views, then, would be an understatement. With some of the UK’s best walking, climbing, sailing, cycling and sightseeing, visitors will find the perfect outdoor holiday destination. Naturally that means it’s an awesome place for camping and glamping too. We’ve picked out the best campsites to help you get the most from your stay in Cumbria.
The Lake District isn’t the only reason to visit Cumbria – but there’s no denying that for most people it’s the main one. Home to the highest mountains and largest lakes in England, it’s no wonder that it’s the most visited of the UK’s 15 national parks. There are, of course, camping and glamping sites galore in this area – catering to all tastes. Thankfully, there are plenty which tick the boxes for Cool Campers. There are campsites where you can pitch next to the water, places to park a camper in the shadow of mountains you want to hike up and places where no tent is necessary at all. That’s right – glamping has reached the Lake District and you’ll find all sorts of glamping accommodation from pods to treehouses, bell tents to shepherds’ huts. There are plenty of places which are family friendly, lots of places where you can take your dog and some that are simply good for grown-ups.
The Lake District National Park covers 900-square-miles of Cumbria. It has 16 large lakes within its boundaries along with many mountain tarns, streams, becks and waterfalls. Many people come here to canoe, kayak, sail or wild swim in its waters, while others come to walk the fells or to conquer the highest peak in England, Scafell Pike. It’s a landscape that’s inspired artists and writers for centuries from Beatrix Potter who lived on the shores of England's largest lake, Windermere, to the poet William Wordsworth. Sites associated with both now form some of the best-loved tourist attractions – the World of Beatrix Potter and Wordsworth’s former home, Dove Cottage in Grasmere.
While the Lake District contains many of Cumbria’s best highlights, the rest of the county is still great camping country. It’s largely rural and borders Scotland to the north with a long stretch of coast on its western edge including The Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Part of the Northern Pennines AONB also falls within Cumbria’s boundaries and then there’s the Yorkshire Dales. Another national park, it’s possible to walk seamlessly from one national park in to the other, perhaps on Alfred Wainwright’s famous Coast-to-Coast walking route. Here, the scenery of the high fells changes to rolling meadows, green dales and waterways that are rich in wildlife.
Camping in Cumbria is like having afternoon tea in the Ritz. Nothing else comes close. Find the best campsites in Cumbria and the Lake District here, with Hipcamp’s expertly chosen collection – including places to pitch your tent, park up your campervan and even luxury glamping locations in and around the national park.