Want to hear about a campsite in a part of the Lake District that’s peaceful even in the height of summer? Of course you do – who wouldn’t? With England’s highest mountains, largest lakes and some of its most scenic campsites, the Lake District National Park is understandably, undeniably and sometimes frustratingly busy in the school holidays. But up in its northern reaches, there’s a kind of campers’ paradise; a place that’s family friendly, easy to get to and appropriately called Eden. If you like sleeping under canvas, eating woodfired pizza and supping local drinks round the campfire, this place is heaven-sent.
Camp Eden is a summer-only pop-up camping and glamping site five miles south of Penrith, in the grounds of Lowther Castle. Head here from the south and you can whizz by Windermere; arrive from the north and you’ll stop before you get to its often busy shores. The nearest lake is the relatively peaceful Ullswater, with its scenic paddle steamers and lovely lakeside walks. For walkers, scramblers and climbers, the dizzy heights of Blencathra and Helvellyn are near enough to scale and, as you’re camping in the grounds of Lowther Castle, it’d be rude not to explore.
While this is a peaceful part of the national park, it’s not a tiny site. This place has 100 off-grid pitches and more than 120 glamping tents ranging from basic bring-your-own-bedding bell tents to fully-furnished, Arabian Nights’-style shikar tents. It’s a sociable sea of canvas but there’s plenty of room and event-style facilities for everyone; all set up by the experienced team behind Kendal Calling music festival. The festival is a separate entity on a separate site but it’s existence means Camp Eden is in the very capable hands of a team who are used to hosting events and campers on a much larger scale than this.
The slick operation of it all and the communal area, with its woodfired pizza cafe and pop-up bar, has a touch of a festival feel but the vibe couldn’t be more different. While a festival is its own destination, this place is very much a base camp. Don’t be surprised to find it deserted in the day as campers scale mountains, take to the lakes and see the sights. The only music you’ll hear will be acoustic, not amplified and the food stalls are more about easy dinners for the kids, rather than fuelling the night’s adventures. In fact, as the stars come out, the place quietens down until the last campfire crackle signifies the end of another day in this Lake District idyll.