Helton Campsite

View prices & book 8.1 148 reviews
Visitor image of the lovely site
Visitor image of the view across the field as the sun was setting behind them around 6:30pm
Pitches with a view
Views across the site

  • Scenic Lake District site with easy access from the M6
  • A 10-minute drive to Pooley Bridge, Ullswater and Lowther Castle
  • Laidback pitches with space for kids to play; dogs welcome
You don’t have to go very far into the Lake District National Park to start appreciating the gorgeous views – and the area around Helton Campsite is a case in point. This spacious Cumbria site is only a couple of miles from the M6 at the northern end of the park so it’s a handy spot for a stopover or a quick fix of country air. That said, the scenery around here is lovely enough that you could certainly settle here for several days – pitches have gorgeous open views over the surrounding countryside, and there are lots of places to get out for a walk nearby too. Pooley Bridge is about 10 minutes’ drive away for outings on and around Ullswater, and you’ll also easily be able to get to other top spots like Aira Force waterfall and Haweswater (or Skiddaw and Helvellyn if you’d rather do some climbing). Life on site is fairly simple, with just the essentials provided to keep you going: pitches have access to a toilet and fresh mountain water for drinking, and there’s a field where families can play games. Dogs are welcome to join you here for Lake District jaunts, and there’s space to give them a run around on site plus plenty of choice for walking routes nearby. This corner of the Lake District has several choices for eating out at pubs and the like, but you’re also welcome to light barbecues or campfires on site if you’d rather settle in for an evening of outdoor cooking. There’s a convenience store just over a mile away in the village of Askham (which also has a pub and an open-air swimming pool).

Site type

Tent pitches 50
Open now
Opens 18 April
Please note
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Fri, 18 Apr to

No availability here for your search criteria

Reviews

  • 43%
    10
  • 3%
    9
  • 26%
    8
  • 6%
    7
  • 10%
    6
  • 2%
    5
  • 1%
    4
  • 0%
    3
  • 4%
    2
  • 1%
    1
Location
9
Value for money
8
Accommodation
8
Facilities / Activities
7
Customer service
9
Child friendliness
8
Cleanliness
9
Wifi
4

84% would recommend this site to a friend

80% would stay here again

What customers say

This is a basic, no-frills campsite with a relaxed atmosphere and stunning views. Guests praised the clean, functional toilets and the spacious, flat pitches, many enjoying the option to hire fire pits. The location is convenient for exploring the Lake District, with plenty of nearby walks. While many found the site peaceful, some reviews mention issues with noise from other campers, particularly during busy periods. Facilities are generally adequate, though the single cold shower was a common point of note.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews

Reviews page 1 of 15
Arrival date (latest first)

Would def come again.

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
10
Value for money
10
Accommodation
No rating
Facilities / Activities
10
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
10
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
No rating
Hilary H.

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Lots of space even though it was busy over the bank holiday weekend.
Close to activities
Owners came around with wood. There's a number to ring them on next to the toilets.
Found everyone respectful.
Toilets were clean but by the monday and little smelly...only the portacabin ones.

Disliked This wasn't anything to do with the actually campsite.
Think for the bank holiday more bins should of been provided. They were emptied once then full again on the monday when everyone left

Recommend to friends Visit again

Very basic campsite. Well kept and easy to find, no frills camping.

Overall

7 out of 10
Location
7
Value for money
10
Accommodation
No rating
Facilities / Activities
3
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
No rating
Cleanliness
8
Wifi
10
Kay G.

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Open space, well kept. Views of the countryside were brilliant.

Disliked States toilet and shower block but all portaloo style. No one to check and out of site with. Other camp members very noisy with music and activities and no policing of camp rules.

Recommend to friends Visit again

We had a lovely stay. We…

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
10
Value for money
10
Accommodation
No rating
Facilities / Activities
9
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
No rating
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
No rating
Kym M.

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked We had a lovely stay. We went on a bank holiday weekend and still had plenty of space. Good value for price, great location, toilets cleaned regularly.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Very Basic campsite, with minimal amenities.

Overall

1 out of 10
Location
5
Value for money
1
Accommodation
No rating
Facilities / Activities
No rating
Customer service
1
Child friendliness
No rating
Cleanliness
3
Wifi
1
Anonymous

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked The field was fine, flattish where we camped, location brilliant

Disliked Toilet block was just a shed made out of palates loads of holes and gaps and no lights inside for night time use, maybe not a bad idea as people outside would see you. Only one cold water shower for the whole campsite, not impressed. Outside tap no drainage so grass got flooded. Would hate to stay here on a wet weekend. No phone signal/internet the whole stay.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Would recommend!!

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
10
Value for money
10
Accommodation
No rating
Facilities / Activities
10
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
10
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
No rating
Lindsey M.

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Good campsite would recommend

Disliked Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Would definitely revisit!

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
7
Value for money
6
Accommodation
No rating
Facilities / Activities
10
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
No rating
Cleanliness
7
Wifi
No rating
Anonymous

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Very good toilet/shower facilities!
Scenery is beautiful!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely site, would def. come again though it is very basic.

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
10
Value for money
8
Accommodation
No rating
Facilities / Activities
4
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
10
Cleanliness
8
Wifi
No rating
Nicola Z.

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Location was excellent.
Field was lovely, picturesque like district with stone walls and rolling hills.
Friendly and attentive owners when they came to check the site.

Disliked The cold shower is only for the brave but we came knowing that was the case.
Portaloos got a bit grim after a busy few days over the bank holiday but there was also a couple of flushing toilets.
A sink would have been helpful even if it did only have cold water.
Lots of different groups staying and though there was some music and noise later on into the night everyone was far enough away from each other for it to not matter at all.
Beautiful stargazing spot too!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Clean site, toilet roll was always there, plenty room for all!

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
10
Value for money
10
Accommodation
No rating
Facilities / Activities
10
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
No rating
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
1
Rose T.

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Clean area with plenty room for all. Friendly management team that were relaxed and quick to respond when needed. They patrolled the site at various points so we felt assured and safety was paramount.

Disliked If i had to find something, the shower was cold but our group found it refreshing in the morning and it is to be expected!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Super quiet through the night, lots…

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
9
Value for money
7
Accommodation
No rating
Facilities / Activities
7
Customer service
9
Child friendliness
No rating
Cleanliness
9
Wifi
No rating
Anonymous

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Super quiet through the night, lots of space, clean toilets that were well stocked with toilet paper.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Clean facilities, friendly staff, safe area,…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
10
Value for money
10
Accommodation
No rating
Facilities / Activities
10
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
10
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
No rating
Anonymous

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Clean facilities, friendly staff, safe area, the home made fire pits

Recommend to friends Visit again


Features

Leisure on site

Bar or club house Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Games room Indoor swimming pool Kids' club On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Play area TV room Take away Tennis Watersports

Amenities on site

Bath available Car parking by pitch/unit Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Launderette Parent & baby washroom Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Public telephone Shower available Toilet block Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided Barbecues allowed Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all year

Themes

Budget/backpacker Peaceful Spectacular scenery Walkers' paradise

Utilities

Charging facilities Chemical disposal Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available No hot water Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby Nearby farmers' market Public transport nearby Shop nearby

Type

Farm Medium (26-50 pitches) Pop-up campsite

Nearby leisure

Climbing nearby Cycle hire nearby Cycling nearby Fishing nearby Horse riding nearby Mountain biking nearby Outdoor pool nearby Restaurant nearby Sailing nearby Watersports nearby

Location

Helton Campsite

Helton

Askham

Pooley Bridge

Cumbria

England

CA10 2QB

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London BST (GMT+01:00)

GPS

54.58753°N
2.76028°W

Route directions

Go all the way through the village of Helton, past the triangle field on the way to Bampton. Just as you pass the triangle field, you will see the site to your right.

Nearest transport

Coach
5.2 mi Rail Station
13.6 mi Kelsick Road opposite Library
13.8 mi Lakeside House for Dove Cottage
Rail
5.1 mi Penrith North Lakes Rail Station
8.3 mi Langwathby Rail Station
11 mi Appleby Rail Station
Ferry
3.1 mi Pooley Bridge Ullswater Ferry Landing
4.3 mi Howtown Ullswater Ferry Landing
8 mi Glenridding Ullswater Ferry Landing

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Local attractions

Walking trails for all abilities are plentiful in the Lake District – from Helton your options include lakeside ambling by Ullswater (10 minutes’ drive) or the short stroll to Aira Force waterfall (25 minutes) or more challenging outings like the ascent of Helvellyn (half an hour). Those aren’t the only options for exploring though – the area around Pooley Bridge (10 minutes) has boat hire, various watersports and horse riding centres. The natural views are spectacular, of course, but there are some lovely buildings to see too – nearby Lowther Castle & Gardens (10 minutes) is worth a visit for the grand building, the 130-acre gardens and the adventure playground, and the Grade I-listed Dalemain Mansion & Historic Gardens (15 minutes) is equally lovely. If the weather takes a turn, there are several things to keep you busy in Keswick (35 minutes), including the Derwent Pencil Museum, Puzzling Place and tours of the Keswick Brewing Company.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Allonby 29.7 mi Sea N/AGoodGoodGood

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Dalemain Historic House & Gardens 3.8 mi

The Rheged Centre 4.2 mi

Ullswater Steamers 8 mi

Rydal Mount and Gardens 13.2 mi

Castlerigg Stone Circle 13.6 mi

National Trust

Acorn Bank Garden and Watermill 7.7 mi

Townend 13.8 mi

Grasmere and Great Langdale 14.7 mi

Windermere and Troutbeck 15 mi

Beatrix Potter Gallery 17.6 mi

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

ASKHAM HALL 1.5 mi

LOWTHER CASTLE 1.5 mi

Pooley Bridge - Loadpot Hill - Howtown - Pooley Bridge 3 mi

Pooley Bridge and Heughscar Hill 3 mi

DALEMAIN 3.7 mi

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Want to know more about camping in The Lake District and Cumbria?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Helton Campsite have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Helton Campsite dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Helton Campsite? Walking trails for all abilities are plentiful in the Lake District – from Helton your options include lakeside ambling by Ullswater (10 minutes’ drive) or the short stroll to Aira Force waterfall … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Helton Campsite?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  Anytime –  Anytime
    Depart by:  Anytime
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Helton Campsite? From £23 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.