The Old Post Office Campsite

View prices & book 8.9 299 reviews
River views
River views
Aerial view, you can see the proximity of the pub!
Taken at the bottom end of the site - hook-ups spread across the site
A quiet day in may
Tents and caravans situated at the bottom end of the site
The river irt runs alongside the site and is popular for fishing and bathing
One of the two dishwashing areas, both supplied with free hot water all day
Views
1/53
Aerial view, you can see the proximity of the pub!
Taken at the bottom end of the site - hook-ups spread across the site
A quiet day in may

  • On the western edge of the Lake District National Park
  • Bordered by the River Irt for swimming and salmon or trout fishing
  • Showers, toilets, wifi and picnic benches
Established in 1951, The Old Post Office Campsite is in a royally fab location for anyone after a peaceful spot to explore the Lake District. Those looking for quiet stays can deliver themselves to this compact site, just on the western border of the Lake District National Park, to enjoy the very best of the area's spectacular setting. You can be at the little village of Santon Bridge in a jiffy (it's just a one-minute walk away) and with the River Irt bordering the site, you’ll likely agree The Old Post Office has got the whole package… Swim, paddle or just bask on the banks of the calm freshwater river that flows right along one side of the site, while avid anglers can scale the choice of catches to be had with salmon, sea and brown trout floundering from the waters. You can borrow a daily or weekly-hire rod from the owners; just arrange this with them when you arrive. The site’s first-class facilities include modern toilets and showers, a laundry room with coin-operated machines, dishwashing sinks and wifi, with well-tended pathways all around the site and timber picnic benches to take in the mountains, river and countryside views. A gift and farm shop is in Santon Bridge a minute's walk away. Dogs are welcome too and with all the walking opportunities in and around the Lakes, a holiday here will really deliver the goods for all…

Campground type

Caravan sites 15
RV & Motorhome sites 10
Tent sites 10
Open all year
Opens
Please note
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • The campground/park does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Dangerous Dog Act (i.e. Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro).
  • Group bookings of 2 or more units (e.g. tent, caravan, motorhome or accommodation hire) travelling together are not permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • Group bookings of 3 or more adults are not permitted (couples and immediate family members excepted).
  • Single-sex bookings of 3 or more people (couples and immediate family members excepted) are not permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • No bachelor/bachelorette parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • Commercial vehicles (vehicles used for work-related purposes, carrying goods or fare-paying passengers) and sign-written vehicles are not permitted on site.
  • The campground/park caters for families (immediate members) and couples only - bookings from all other forms of groups are not accepted.
  • A cable measuring at least 10 metres is needed for the electric hook-ups.
  • Bookings must not consist of more than 2 different households.
  • Showers cost 50p for approximately 10 minutes.

Languages spoken

English

Site types & availability

Accommodation

Tent sitesCaravan sitesRV & Motorhome sitesLodges, cabins, pods or hutsCaravans for hireRent a tent
Choose your dates
2 adults
0 children

Reviews

8.9

Overall rating based on 299 reviews View breakdown

Peaceful

Voted 76% of visitors View breakdown

88%

would recommend this campground to a friend

87%

would stay here again

  • 63%
    10
  • 0%
    9
  • 27%
    8
  • 0%
    7
  • 5%
    6
  • 0%
    5
  • 2%
    4
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    3
  • 2%
    2
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    1

Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

New owners turning this site around. Very friendly. Done a…

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

Powered concrete and grass tent or motorhome site

Liked: New owners turning this site around. Very friendly. Done a great job cleaning everything up. Lovely setting by the river

Recommend to friends Visit again

No intention of venturing here again

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

Fully-serviced concrete and grass caravan site (super)

Liked: Close proximity to river and nice pub with good food and drinks.

Disliked: Pitch-Up no longer taking bookings, perhaps because of the state of the site? The toilets and showers were filthy, full of leaves and had not been cleaned for days. Hair plugging the shower drain, hair clippings in the basins, skid marks in the toilet, no hot water. Hand driers not working and no heating. Only contact with owner was via a Ring camera, he could be anywhere in the world. No TV despite a Maxview socket, negligible wi-fi signal. Neither of the latter do I consider essential, but they were advertised as available. We left after 1 night having booked for 2.
Walks from the site involve walking a distance along narrow, quite busy roads, which should be approached with caution!

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: I am really sorry to hear that you had a bad experience, The Old Post Office Campsite is reopening under new management and we would love for you to return, please email us to discuss your disrupted booking. We can also recommend some lovely walks along the river that don't involve any roads.

Great site clean, peaceful with friendly staff, enjoyed my time there

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

Fully-serviced concrete and grass caravan site (super)

Liked: A hidden gem, lovely location by the river, very peaceful, friendly staff, clean toilets, nice sized fully serviced pitches

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great staff, location next to river and pub, great facilities.

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

Powered concrete and grass campervan site

Liked: Location, facilities, staff

Recommend to friends Visit again

proximity to the river, fantastic scenery and great access to walks and…

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

Powered concrete and grass tent or motorhome site

Liked: proximity to the river, fantastic scenery and great access to walks and nearby pub.

Disliked: Payable shower facilities

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great location next to river. Great for walking.

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

Powered concrete and grass campervan site

Liked: The site is easy to find, very clean has all the facilities we wanted. Site manager very helpful and chatty.

Disliked: Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Amazing facilities and management…

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

Powered concrete and grass tent or motorhome site

Liked: Amazing facilities and management

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great spot scenic spot. Close to great walks, lakes, mountains and even…

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

Powered concrete and grass campervan site

Liked: Great spot scenic spot. Close to great walks, lakes, mountains and even the sea. Knowledgable friendly staff member.

Recommend to friends Visit again

This has to be one of my favourite campsites ever! Lovely spot…

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

Powered concrete and grass campervan site

Liked: This has to be one of my favourite campsites ever! Lovely spot right next to the river, facilities spotless and warm! Lovely welcome and information about where to swim etc. near to Waswater which is spectacular. Cafe a couple of miles away and dog friendly sky pub next door.

Disliked: Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Toilet block clean and warm. Again great guy running it.

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

Powered concrete and grass tent or motorhome site

Liked: Great welcome - really great warden- on hand for a chat (if you want) and recommendations for the area.
Good pitches, all maintained even this late in season.
Pitch right next to the river .... which the dog loved.
Soggy weather but the pitch was well drained so not dragging in too much mud.
Ideal base for exploring ...
Pub at the end of the site.

Disliked: Nothing to dislike

Recommend to friends Visit again

Features

Dogs allowed

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

Groups welcome

D. of E. 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

Camping 2.0

Jumbo tent sites

Themes

Budget/backpacker Lake and/or mountain Peaceful Remote location Spectacular scenery Walkers' paradise Wildlife haven

Utilities

Charging facilities Dump point Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Convenience store nearby Dog walk nearby Public transport nearby

Type

Medium (26-50 sites)

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Climbing nearby Cycle hire nearby Cycling nearby Fishing nearby Golf nearby Horse riding nearby Mountain biking nearby Restaurant nearby Sailing nearby Tennis nearby

Touring and motorhomes

Caravan storage facilities Drainage hook-up points for caravans Motorhome service point Water hook-up points for caravans

Location

The Old Post Office Campsite

Santon Bridge

Wasdale

Holmrook

Cumbria

England

CA19 1UY

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London +0100 (GMT+01:00)

GPS

54.4021°N
-3.371°W

Route directions

Turn off the M6 at Junction 36. Follow A590 west to Broughton-in-Furness, passing through Newby Bridge. Follow the A595 through Bootle, Muncaster to Holmrook. Approaching Holmrook turn right for Santon Bridge; follow this road to the end, passing Irton Hall (on your left) and Wasdale Craft Shop (on your left). At the junction turn left - we are at the bottom of the hill near to the river. Please note - some satellite navigation systems suggest a route via Wrynose Pass and Hardknott Pass. These high level routes are not recommended in the dark, or in adverse weather conditions.

Nearest transport

Coach
21.7 km Tangier Street
23.7 km Lakeside House for Dove Cottage
23.7 km Daffodil Hotel for Dove Cottage
Rail
5.5 km Drigg Rail Station
5.7 km Ravenglass Rail Station
7.4 km Seascale Rail Station
Ferry
20.1 km Torver (Coniston) Ferry Landing
20.2 km Coniston Ferry Landing
20.4 km Sunny Bank (Coniston) 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

Pull on your comfiest boots and walk yourself to merriment around these Cumbrian parts: just over five miles away in Wasdale is one of Britain’s tiniest churches, St Olafs, with its timber beams thought to have been made from Viking ships. For hungry (and thirsty) fell explorers, the Wasdale Head Inn makes for a welcome pitstop, and the Bridge Inn, just a stroll from the site, is home to the annual ‘Biggest Liar’ competition – no kidding, it’s a real thing… Hikers hotstep to the mighty heights of Scafell Pike and Great Gable (both about seven miles away) and Red Pike (approximately 20 miles north from the site). At the Wasdale valley, as well as nurturing peaks aplenty, canoeists, kayakers and windsurfers alike will rapidly make their way to Wast Water, just five minutes from the site, the deepest lake in the UK. Cycling and walking routes around the lakes and mountains are plentiful, as are the chances for boating and fishing, but if you really want to go off-piste, you could try abseiling, climbing, a high ropes course, or even flying: hot air balloon and paragliding experiences are available for those who want to soar even higher than Scafell.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Seascale 7.7 km Sea N/AGoodGoodGood
St Bees 18.2 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Silecroft 20.4 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Haverigg 24.3 km Sea PoorN/AN/AN/A
Walney West Shore 31.9 km Sea N/AGoodGoodN/A

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway 5.6 km

Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth Museum 23.6 km

Beatrix Potter Gallery 24.2 km

Whinlatter Forest & Visitor Centre 25.2 km

Rydal Mount and Gardens 25.6 km

National Trust

Wasdale, Eskdale and Duddon 2.8 km

Buttermere and Ennerdale 16.9 km

Gondola' 20.1 km

Coniston and Tarn Hows 20.7 km

Grasmere and Great Langdale 22.9 km

Cycle routes

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

Other

Eskdale Green - Muncaster Fell - Muncaster Head - Eskdale Green 3.3 km

MUNCASTER CASTLE 5.4 km

High Gillerthwaite - Red Pike Ridge Traverse - High Gillerthwaite 12.9 km

Seathwaite - Scafell Pike - Seathwaite 16.3 km

The Gables from Honister Pass 16.3 km

Local events

  • Kendal Calling (Thursday 31 July 2025 – Thursday 31 July 2025)

    Penrith, England 47.9 km

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

Conditions apply - see site type section for details

Nearest campgrounds

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable campgrounds.

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

Frequently asked questions

  • Does The Old Post Office Campsite have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is The Old Post Office Campsite dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near The Old Post Office Campsite? Pull on your comfiest boots and walk yourself to merriment around these Cumbrian parts: just over five miles away in Wasdale is one of Britain’s tiniest churches, St Olafs, with its timber … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of The Old Post Office Campsite?
    Camping and caravan
    Arrive:  1 p.m. –  6:30 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at The Old Post Office Campsite? From $41.48 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.