North West campsite recommends ?

The Hat · 30th July 2010 19:39:24

Im off camping next weekend with the family and inlaws, and am still looking for a suitable campsite for us all.

What im after,

Pref South Lakeland,
super clean facilities,
good shop on site or near by
maybe a playground of some sorts on site
not full of piss heads, ( although im normally guilty of that one )

Have looked at fisherground but dont really want to go north lakes, ( travelling with the kids so dont want to be in car for hours )

What would you recommend, other areas also considered, 2 hrs drive from Manchester. Ive looked on UK Campsites but was after something that can be personally recommended.

Cheers,

The Hat

Last edited by The Hat (30th July 2010 19:42:54)

The Canoe Stig · 30th July 2010 19:53:11

Got married in the pub on the bridge, cracking site pitched so never feels full, but in the Western Lakes,WastWater just up the road. South Lakes you will struggle.
http://www.theoldpostofficecampsite.co.uk/

Not in the lakes but my favourite campsite in Britain and not that far for you.
http://www.bainbridge-ings.co.uk/index.htm

darren · 30th July 2010 21:41:14

Lynne recommends rukins farm campsite in keld near richmond. It has a river running through the site which you can camp next too but gets very busy. You can also camp in the fields. When Lynne took the kids, the farmer opens up more fields but doesn't overcrowd them. Loads of space and river to paddle in. Half a mile upstream there's a pool with waterfalls you can swim in. You can have open fires or the farmer has firepits. Lovely site. Reviews on uk campsite.

pieface · 30th July 2010 22:02:54

Nant Gwynant below Snowdon?
Haven't been for a long time so i don't know how plush the khazi is or how many berks it attracts...

But, it does have a small river running through it leading to Llyn Gwynant which has a big rock you can jump off.

Cheers, Pieface.

snowgoose.skipper · 30th July 2010 22:15:07

We camped at that site in Keld last summer, just downstream from here:

SGC in Swaledale

The Lakes was getting washed away with non-stop downpours: called in at Glenridding / Patterdale and one family who camped there year-round said they'd never experienced such horrendous weather - but we stayed fairly rain free

We chose a spot on the river: hard to beat... but if the wind dies, the midges do come out and make life hell. The spots up the hill were quiet and comparatively midge free. The walking from the site was stunning. Was the site of my first dog's final big walk

More photos here.

David B · 1st August 2010 10:41:04

Not in the lakes or the Northwest but still within 2 hours of manchester, Try here.

The plus point is it is only a mile up the road from Here

It is on the banks of the river Ure so you can play as well.

The Hat · 2nd August 2010 12:13:57

Cheers chaps for the advice. It seems i have left it too late as most places are booked up.
Just gonna see if that place in Keld has any spots.
Gav, whats the reason for giving Bainbridge your vote mate ?

The Hat

The Canoe Stig · 2nd August 2010 12:22:30

Bainbridge not to far out of Haws short walk in 10 mins or so, but the campsite is stunning they have white marks painted on the wall round the edge of there fields and you camp between the white lines only round the edge. So it never feels crowded and the kids have the whole field to play on there's plenty to do round there too and not a chav family in sight.

snowgoose.skipper · 5th August 2010 17:03:36

Related query from us now....

We were hoping to try Dalegarth with a view to easy access to Buttermere... and in preference to Sykes. Sadly, the lower tiers of Dalegarth are currently awash... so we're looking for alternatives!

Easy access to water would be most desirable...

Is there much depth of water in the river at http://www.theoldpostofficecampsite.co.uk/ ?

I guess Wasdale Head would be an option: tough scrambling country for the crew though!

The Canoe Stig · 5th August 2010 17:26:20

snowgoose.skipper wrote:

Is there much depth of water in the river at http://www.theoldpostofficecampsite.co.uk/ ?

The river Irt, yes thers a small deep pool with a rapid flowing into it, but not so far away you have the tidal sections of the Irt, Mite, and Esk fine paddling.

Campsite in the lakes school holidays, you might be lucky but I would ring and see if there booked up.

The Hat · 5th August 2010 18:01:18

Im struggling with Bainbridge Gav. Although they dont take bookings they have advised me to ring in the morning prior to setting off, to see if anyone is packing up. I can see me getting there and them having no spots and having to come home.

The Canoe Stig · 5th August 2010 18:22:06

As said above school holidays and empty campsite pitches don't mix, but since it's you Paul, one of my little secret getaway spots Have a look on there website at where there situated.

http://www.scarrhead.co.uk/index.htm

David B · 5th August 2010 18:45:29

Just got back from Hollows Farm in borrowdale
plenty of space in the open field and some space in the woodland field. The river is too low to get down but the pool by the campsite is good for a short play. The car park at kettlewell gives good access to Derwentwater but gets full early and it is £5.70 to park all day.

snowgoose.skipper · 6th August 2010 14:07:37

Thanks for the feedback. Have made some calls...

Hollows Farm should be no problem in terms of space (doesn't take bookings, but arriving midweek should apparently give us lots of options for where to pitch).

The site on the Irt looks good and has space for the following week....

Just hoping you've got it as dry in Cumbria as we've currently got it down here: still no rain!

docksider · 6th August 2010 18:00:02

You can hope! Too much more today in the Howgills. Cloud blotting out the tops.
Washing hung out a.m. now wetter than ever.

The Canoe Stig · 6th August 2010 18:03:06

Rained on and off for most of the day tomorrows better, all this talk of camping I think a spot of wild camping tomorrow evening is in order.

docksider · 6th August 2010 19:52:01

for the tough guys, ok. I think it's time the Eastern half of the crew got to grips with the Western reaches. August is not the month for sunshine. That's why it is so green and lake-land.

The Canoe Stig · 6th August 2010 20:31:00

Aye it's grim up north ,but the country side is the best in England

snowgoose.skipper · 6th August 2010 21:00:07

docksider wrote:

I think it's time the Eastern half of the crew got to grips with the Western reaches. August is not the month for sunshine. That's why it is so green and lake-land.

I don't mind the lakes being wet... and having lived for three years in Aberystwyth and for a year in the rainforests of Ghana, and having spent my teenage years paddling month in, month out.... I've seen my share. Main reason for wanting some dry weather is to dry out the obvious campsite enough to gain access!

Sadly, wild camping for a week and more with dog, daughter and the like in high season isn't really practical

The Canoe Stig wrote:

Aye it's grim up north ,but the country side is the best in England

Yup. Spent my entire life wanting to move north and west... and ended up here

ps. Out of interest... how does Low Wray compare with Hollows Farm? For me it's the "wrong" end of the Lakes.. but is it a chav infested hell hole like Coniston Hall?

Last edited by snowgoose.skipper (6th August 2010 21:01:03)

The Canoe Stig · 10th August 2010 07:54:31

Just noticed your online SGS, are you not "up here" yet? Weathers not to bad this morning.

docksider · 10th August 2010 08:08:54

There's a certain frisson about getting wet, if and a big if, you have somewhere to dry out. Never been to Ghana, but have visited Aber. That said I risked leaving the jacket at home when Sat. a.m. looked fair. Still didn't make it without a fair dampening. That fine stuff still penetrates ordinary clothing. Some greatest memories are of bad weather outings, though. Stripping off under a tree at Howtown small price to pay for watching the oncoming big black cloud getting closer as we, 12 year old and a younger me, came over the High Street fells from Shap and Bampton. All the pundits would say walk with the weather behind you but the logistics sometimes provide more "excitement" and new outlooks.

Have to confess that we weren't camping, though. In those days a proper bed and a big tub in a farmhouse bathroom with steaming water and a huge meal at the pub rounded up the experience.

Last edited by docksider (10th August 2010 08:14:01)

snowgoose.skipper · 10th August 2010 10:16:40

The Canoe Stig wrote:

Just noticed your online SGS, are you not "up here" yet? Weathers not to bad this morning.

Leaving the Midlands inside the next hour or two. Detoured to visit family and let SGC play with her cousins...

Terrible Trio

Getting Wet

That was Sunday. Then hung around here to allow grandma to take SGC to the butterfly farm and to paddle with the whole family at my old club. Apologies for the image quality (settings got screwed up) but...

Family

SGC went out with my sister and BIL.

sister, DD and BIL

And I got to borrow a pole: had loads of fun. Flashfire was fun, but not easy!

Poling

After that, I poled the Jensen: worked brilliantly as I could get one foot in each chine and heel easily (and move around confidently). I suspect that on a river-ascent I'd need to get the bows high to avoid excessive carving... but looking forward to it.

If only I can convince the others to fall asleep in the car and not notice a Brookbank detour to get a pole...

Last edited by snowgoose.skipper (10th August 2010 10:19:17)

The Canoe Stig · 10th August 2010 11:18:00

Ah Topper sailing great fun, enjoy your Holiday.

snowgoose.skipper · 13th August 2010 14:19:06

We seem to have got very lucky with a near perfect pitch at Low Wray, away from others and very quiet - and close to a great beach in a quiet, sheltered cove. Quite a few of the wildcamping area and woodland area spots would have suited us, and not just those which attract a primium due to proximity to the lake.

Taking a walk around other bits of the site... they are more like Coniston Hall: lots of tents quite close together, and far from tranquil!

Advanced bookings are now possible online and this time of year are strongly recommended: we got in despite the 'site full' signs, but vacant pitches are few and far between.

Black Sheep Paddlers

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