Smithills View Campsite

View prices & book 8.4 45 reviews
Our Grass pitch camping field
Shortstay non electric with a log pack upgrade
A room with a brew
Glamping campfire

  • Pop-up micro-site on a non-working farm in rural west Lancashire
  • A 15-minute drive to Preston; 30 minutes to Blackpool
  • Secluded site with ball games court and picnic spots, plus pubs nearby
With views across Preston to the Pennine Hills in the distance, Smithills View Campsite is a quiet spot with just a handful of pitches on a repurposed farm estate. Using this family-run micro-site as your Lancashire base, you can pick up the 21-mile, circular Preston Guild Wheel cycling track in 10 minutes’ ride (largely off-road, so it’s smashing for kids) or be paddling on Blackpool beach in 25 minutes by car. Should you decide to stay put for lazy days exploring the farm, there are picnic spots tucked away in meadows and by the pond. Kids can play basketball or kick a ball around on the all-weather ball games area, and spot the deer in neighbouring fields. On the facilities front, there's a toilet block and a shower here. Source meat for your barbecue from local farm shops, or whizz into Preston in 15 minutes to load up at bigger supermarkets. If cooking’s not on the agenda for this mini-break, several pubs with beer gardens and decent grub are within a 15-minute stroll; the nearest is just under 10 minutes' walk away. There is also a petrol station with electric vehicle charging points, a small shop, coffee shop and a couple of takeaways five minutes' drive away. Talking of getting out and about, the motorway is five minutes' drive away. You’ll have plenty of choice when it comes to outdoors action, with footpaths along the Ribble river or Lancashire Canal. And of course, Lake District fells and the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty are both criss-crossed with hiking and cycling paths for you to explore.

Site type

Motorhome pitches 2
Tent pitches 45
Open now
Opens 1 April
Please note
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • Group bookings of 3 or more units (e.g. tent, touring caravan, motorhome or accommodation hire) travelling together are not permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • At least one of the party members must be aged 25 or over.
  • A cable measuring at least 15 metres is needed for the electric hook-ups.
  • Bookings must not consist of more than 1 different households.
  • Please note that the toilet/shower facilities are unisex.
  • No electric barbecues allowed.
  • Swimming in the lake is not allowed.
  • If reception is closed on arrival: please contact the number provided on your booking confirmation.
  • Vehicle height restriction for grass pitches is 9ft.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Tue, 1 Apr to

Pitch types & availability

Reviews

87%

would recommend this site to a friend

84%

would stay here again

  • 57%
    10
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    8
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    1

Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

Great communication and helpful/friendly owner. Pretty enclosed seating area. Tent fields looked good.…

Overall 6/10
Location 6
Value for money 2
Accommodation No rating
Facilities / Activities 2
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 6
Wifi 2
Lynne E. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Pennine electric gravel and hardstanding motorhome pitch

Liked: Great communication and helpful/friendly owner. Pretty enclosed seating area.
Tent fields looked good.

Disliked: Toilet/shower block very rustic.
There weren't really hard standing 'pitches' as such, there was a hard standing area, a bit like a car park, where you could park up next to an electric point, along the side of the toilet block.
Quite expensive for a basic site.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Rustic Farm, Great views . Rick worked his socks off to make…

Overall 8/10
Location 10
Value for money 6
Accommodation 8
Facilities / Activities 6
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi No rating
Dean B. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Pennine electric gravel and hardstanding motorhome pitch

Liked: Rustic Farm, Great views . Rick worked his socks off to make everyone welcome.

Disliked: Just my opinion , Uni sex toilets wasn't ideal.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Friendly staff quiet location clean facilities…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation No rating
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi No rating
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Pennine electric gravel and hardstanding motorhome pitch

Liked: The quietness the friendly owner and the setting was beautiful

Disliked: Nothing really just need shower that stays on for longer but did not take away from the stay maybe a little honesty shop for essentials as nothing near by

Recommend to friends Visit again

Everything!! Perfect 👌…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 2
Katie H. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked: Everything!! Perfect 👌

Disliked: Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thanks for the feedback. 🤩

Great site, great value, chilled and friendly. Will be back

Overall 10/10
Location 8
Value for money 8
Accommodation 8
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 8
Wifi 6
Samantha W. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass campervan pitch (small)

Liked: Easy to find, separate fields for different kinds of camping (ie there was a family field, tent field, campervan field etc)
Relaxed place, nice outlook and not too noisy ...recycling and loos not far away. Lovely host with good local knowledge. I felt chilled after a fair drive. Thumbs up from me.

Disliked: Nothing ...but maybe a small off lead dog exercise area could be a good enhancement? The people next to us let their dog off constantly despite the keep on lead rule. It was a nice dog and you can't help but sometimes attract those sorts of people, but their dog running around wound everyone else's tethered dogs up (I think mine fancied her 🤣). So just a suggestion.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great price, proper farm atmosphere.

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 2
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Pennine electric gravel and hardstanding motorhome pitch

Liked: Loved the relaxed atmosphere. Owner left you to do your own thing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Nice for Families with Kids. 2 Toilets and Showers, but new ones…

Overall 8/10
Location 8
Value for money 8
Accommodation 6
Facilities / Activities 6
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 8
Cleanliness 8
Wifi No rating
Elmar B. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Pennine electric gravel and hardstanding motorhome pitch

Liked: Nice for Families with Kids. 2 Toilets and Showers, but new ones are under construction. Rick is engaged and will convert this farm into a camper-Paradise!

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thanks for your feedback. We really appreciate it

Rustic family friendly camp Everyone we met was lovely Loved waking up to…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 8
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 6
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Pennine electric gravel and hardstanding motorhome pitch

Liked: Rustic family friendly camp
Everyone we met was lovely
Loved waking up to the cows in the field

Recommend to friends Visit again

Work in progress, facilities wise. A reasonbly priced site.

Overall 6/10
Location 8
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 4
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 6
Graeme S. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked: We liked the location, the friendly site owner. The potential of the site is clear as the toilets and showers are in the process of being added too.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely site. Back to basics with everything you need.

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 2
Mark M. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked: Liked everything about it. Booked this site before reading the reviews. I was expecting something out of a nightmare but could not have been more wrong. It’s no mainstream site with every amenity and multiple of. It’s back to basics. It’s a pop up site that’s open 30 days of the year. But it has everything you need for a nice relaxing stay. Hot shower that is not alfresco. It’s been upgraded to an indoor cubicle. It has a hot wash point. It has indoor flushing toilets.
It’s well kept and clean outdoors and in. It has a few electric points if needed.
There is no reception and no need for one either.
The owner is a nice approachable guy. Who comes to meet you as soon as you arrive. Sends you all the details via WhatsApp and is available 24/7 either by phone or what’sapp.
There was no need for me to phone or message while there.
There are fire pits available to hire @ £5 per stay and bags of logs @ £8
All paid for via QR code.
All in all it’s a great site with a great owner.
As with every site people have different needs, standards and expectations.
If you book here thinking it’s 5 start you will be disappointed.
But if you book here for what it is you will have an amazing stay.

Disliked: Electric was a little pricey @ £10 per night.
But can also understand some people take the mick with heating and cooking via electric.

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 Rallies welcome Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

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

Utilities

Charging facilities Chemical disposal Communal fridge Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available 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

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Climbing nearby Cycle hire nearby Cycling nearby Fishing nearby Golf nearby Horse riding nearby Indoor pool nearby Leisure/theme park nearby Mountain biking nearby Restaurant nearby Sailing nearby Tennis nearby Watersports nearby

Location

Smithills View Campsite

Mason Fold Farm

Lea Lane

Preston

Lancashire

England

PR4 0RN

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London BST (GMT+01:00)

GPS

53.77511°N
-2.79134°W

Route directions

The site recommends that you use Junction 1 of the M55, five minutes' drive away.

Nearest transport

Coach
3.3 mi War Memorial
3.6 mi Blackfield Road
4 mi Bus Station
Rail
1.1 mi Salwick Rail Station
3.6 mi Preston Rail Station
3.8 mi Kirkham & Wesham Rail Station
Ferry
13.5 mi Knott End-On-Sea Ferry Landing
13.7 mi Fleetwood for Knott End Ferry Landing
18.5 mi Heysham Ferry Terminal

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

Whether you’re after challenging fell hikes or waterside cycle rides, the Lakes are outdoor-activities central. There are watery adventures (sailing, paddleboarding, kayaking and plenty more) to be had on Lake Windermere, or for a change of pace, take the kids to meet Peter Rabbit at The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction (all around an hour's drive). Get the bucket and spade out for family trips to seaside Blackpool (30 minutes), where you can be scared witless on thrill rides at Blackpool Pleasure Beach and reward your bravery with comforting fish and chips on the South Pier. On rainy days (which can sometimes occur in northern England), watch acrobats at Blackpool Tower Circus, or whizz to the top of the tower for Irish Sea and Lake District views. Back near base, there’s a lot happening in Preston (15 minutes) too. Let the kids run around in Avenham Park while you admire the Japanese Garden, or you can puff around Preston Docks on the Ribble Steam Railway (10 minutes).

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
St Annes 10.3 mi Sea GoodGoodGoodGood
St Annes North 10.7 mi Sea N/AN/AGoodGood
Blackpool Central 11 mi Sea N/AGoodGoodGood
Blackpool South 11 mi Sea N/AGoodGoodExcellent
Blackpool North 11.2 mi Sea PoorPoorN/AGood

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Forest of Bowland 3.7 mi

Beacon Fell Country Park 9.1 mi

Camelot Theme Park 10.5 mi

Pleasure Beach Resort 10.9 mi

Sandcastle Waterpark 11 mi

National Trust

Rufford Old Hall 9.5 mi

Formby 18.8 mi

Gawthorpe Hall 20.2 mi

Mr Hardman's Photographic Studio 27 mi

Cycle routes

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

Other

THE WILLOWS 2.3 mi

HASLAM PARK 2.4 mi

Preston, the Lancaster Canal and the Millennium Link 2.4 mi

HARRIS KNOWLEDGE PARK (FORMERLY THE HARRIS ORPHANAGE) 3.3 mi

Preston and the Ribble 3.6 mi

Local events

  • Lytham Festival (Wednesday 2 July 2025 – Wednesday 2 July 2025)

    Lytham St Annes, Lancashire 7.5 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.

Offers

Tent pitch
Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch
  • 20% off 20% Off off-peak Nights in September 2025

Conditions apply - see pitch type section for details

Nearest sites

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable sites.

Want to know more about camping in Lancashire?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Smithills View Campsite have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Smithills View Campsite dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Smithills View Campsite? Whether you’re after challenging fell hikes or waterside cycle rides, the Lakes are outdoor-activities central. There are watery adventures (sailing, paddleboarding, kayaking and plenty more) to be had on Lake Windermere, or … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Smithills View Campsite?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  12 p.m. –  9 p.m.
    Depart by:  12 p.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Smithills View Campsite? From £10 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.