Campsites near Ullswater in the Lake District National Park

At one end the famous Ullswater steamship puffs its way across the waters and, at the other, sailors and kayakers launch their vessels on to the lake.

98% (342 reviews)
98% (342 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Ullswater

Available this weekend

Under £50

12 top campsites near Ullswater

87%
(27)

Social District

15 units · Tents55 acres · Grizedale, Cumbria, North West England
Lake District camping on the banks of Lake Windermere, with direct access to the water.
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£50
 / night
96%
(133)

Kestrel Lodge Camping

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
98%
(89)

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%
(6)

The Old Chapel Campsite

30 units · Tents1 acre · Grizedale, England
Nearly wild camping in the North Pennines
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£20
 / night

Wanderlusts Gypsy Caravans

3 units · Glamping4 acres · Melmerby, England
Travelling from site to site in a bow-top gypsy caravan, through Cumbria's stunning scenery
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£95
 / night
94%
(9)

Howbeck Lodge

27 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents7 acres · Hesket Newmarket, England
A dog-friendly farm campsite on the northern edge of the Lake District
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£30
 / night
100%
(1)

Howdy Glamping

10 units · Glamping14 acres · Penrith, Cumbria, North West England
Sociable, eco-friendly glamping in the woods, 10 minutes' drive from the Lake District.
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£75
 / night

Lake District Herdwick Huts

5 units · Glamping2 acres · Rydal, England
You will not find a more stunning place to stay and explore within the UK. Set in the very heart of the Lake District National Park, there is good reason why this magnificent location inspired the poet William Wordsworth to commit some of his most world-renowned poetry to paper. These beautiful huts are nestled underneath the Fairfield horseshoe mountain range and Nab scar, so there is no need to drive anywhere for the finest mountain hikes. With Rydal Lake, a wild swimmers hot spot, and waterfalls and plunge pools on site, it really is hard to beat! You will not find a more stunning place to stay and explore within the UK. Set in the very heart of the Lake District National Park, there is good reason why this magnificent location inspired the poet William Wordsworth to commit some of his most world-renowned poetry to paper. Grasmere is on the doorstep, voted one of the top places to visit in the Lake District, with the famous '‘Coffin route’ walk offering a spectacular lake and mountain view stroll straight from your hut door. With low level to high level walks exploring the Lakes from Rydal caters for everyone. Ambleside and Grasmere are both walking distance for cafes, restaurants and cinemas and Rydal offers scenic off-road strolls to arrive by. Each with fresh linen, wood burning stove and cast iron gas hob, you are sure to be comfortable even in the thick of winter.
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£110
 / night
100%
(19)

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

Puddlemire

21 units · Glamping, Tents5 acres · Kirkby Lonsdale, England
Camping in countryside between the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales
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£30
 / night
99%
(101)

Baystone Bank Farm Campsite

17 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
Booked 3 times

Nearly-wild camping @ Heggs Farm

1 unit · Tent136 acres · Reeth, England
Get back to basics and immerse yourself in the joy of simple 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 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. 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 dinner. 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 and Langthwaite, 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 public parking in Reeth or Langthwaite (40 mins walk), and the camping area lies a further 200m along a rough grass track. (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 public parking place on arrival and departure. Please pack everything else you need to sleep, cook (portable gas stoves welcome), eat, and keep yourself and your equipment safe; remembering that you’ll have to carry your own gear for the last 200m 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 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 five pubs within easy-ish walking/cycling distance: The CB Inn, The Bridge Inn, The Black Bull, The King's Arms and The Buck. 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 our off-grid annexe 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
Value Prop
Value Prop

Whether you choose to pitch up lakeside at the south end or opt for a glamping pad near Pooley Bridge in the north, there are endless opportunities for adventure around Ullswater – and loads of excellent campsites too.

Campsites near Ullswater in the Lake District National Park guide

Overview

Camping and glamping in Ullswater

Surrounded by high fells including the imposing peak of Helvellyn, Ullswater offers Lake District camping and glamping at its best. The glassy waters of England’s second largest lake reflect the stunning scenery that surrounds it and there are a cluster of pretty villages and places to visit on its shores. No wonder it’s often claimed to be the most beautiful lake in England. Its natural beauty was not lost on the poet William Wordsworth who wrote of “wandering lonely as a cloud” in his most famous poem, Daffodils, about this area.

Tempted yet? You should be. As you’d expect from an area that’s been attracting visitors for a couple of hundred years, the place thrives on tourism and yet manages to have avoided the level of crowding that can happen around it’s bigger sister in the south, Windermere. All this adds up to make Ullswater a pretty perfect spot to pitch up for a camping holiday. And there’s glamping too. The Hipcamp team have sought out some of the best glamping in the Lake District from bell tents and yurts to shepherds’ huts, camping pods and cabins, and you can rest assured that some of it can be found around the edges of Ullswater.

Things to do in Ullswater

Whether you’re following in the footsteps of the famous Lakeland fell walker Alfred Wainwright, peak-bagging, fell running, kayaking, sightseeing or wild swimming it’s likely you’ll be satisfied with Ullswater. As a Lake District destination, Ullswater offers it all so it’s an incredible place for a camping or Glamping Holiday. There are cosy pubs and quaint villages like Pooley Bridge and Dacre to explore with historic grand manor houses like Dalemain at the other end of the scale. You can cruise across the lake on a historic Ullswater Steamer or use your own initiative to sail, row or paddle around its edges. On land, you can visit the spot that inspired Wordsworth’s most famous poem at Glencoyne Bay and wander up to see the 65ft Aira Force waterfall nearby. You can base yourself near the village of Glenridding for a handy launching point to conquer Helvellyn’s 950 metres or set off on the Ullswater Way footpath around the lake’s shores. Choose camping or glamping near Ullswater and you’re well placed to discover the rest of the Lake District’s treasures too. The largest of England’s 10 national parks, its vast 900 square miles includes England’s highest mountains and largest lakes and is now recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For more information on things to do in the area visit the Lake District National Park website.

About

As you pitch your tent on the shores of Ullswater its easy to see how this place inspired Wordsworth and his kin. Sail across the waters in the UIlswater Steamer, rent your own canoe instead, hike to Aira Force waterfall or sit back in a pub in Pooley Bridge – whatever you do, camping near Ullswater is an absolute treat.

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