North Lakes Campsite

No availability at present on Pitchup.com 7.1 7 reviews
Grassy field - panorama
Grassy field
Grassy field
Grassy field

  • No-frills site on the northern fringes of Lake District National Park
  • Cockermouth 10 minutes’ drive; Moss Force Waterfall 35 minutes
  • Dogs welcome; spectacular fell views; a 10-minute walk from a pub
If you spend your working life in front of a computer, behind the wheel or dealing with customers on the phone, you might want to disconnect from it all and go back to basics during your holiday. Cue North Lakes Campsite, an off-grid pop-up site on a farm that’s… well, north of Lake District National Park. And ‘back to basics’ really means that in this instance: there is no running water on site, for example – so that’s neither drinkable water (be sure to bring supplies from home, or stop at a supermarket en route to stock up on bottled water and other essentials), nor hot water. What there is, though, is indescribable peace and far-reaching views of splendid rural landscapes crowned by mountain peaks in the distance. (In more practical terms, there is also a portable toilet.) The vibe is distinctly remote, but you’re only a five-minute drive from the A5086 road, which leads into the market town of Cockermouth (10 minutes’ drive), with its shops and dining options, plus a leisure centre with a swimming pool. Arguably better than that: you’re a 10-minute stroll from the nearest pub, which also serves meals prepared with seasonal, West Cumbria-grown produce. The site owners welcome families with children and dogs (and there are plenty of canine-friendly walks in the vicinity); plus, the expansive field where you’ll set up your tent makes for a great playground on which to kick a ball around or fly a kite (just be aware and respectful of other guests, please).

Site type

Tent pitches 30
Opens
Please note
  • This site has no on-site shower facilities.
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • The site does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Dangerous Dogs Act (i.e. XL Bully, Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro) and/or any of the following: Staffordshire bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Rottweiler, any Mastiff or Tosa.
  • No hen/stag 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.
  • This is a quiet site: no music is allowed.
  • Guests are advised to bring a good quality torch with them as parts of the site are unlit.
  • Please note that the toilet facilities are unisex.
  • There is no reception on-site: on arrival please contact the number provided on your booking confirmation.
  • Fires, barbecues and/or firepits will not be permitted in dry, windy and/or hot weather conditions.

Languages spoken

English

Reviews

57%

would recommend this site to a friend

71%

would stay here again

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Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

Field with portaloo.

Overall 4/10
Location 8
Value for money 2
Accommodation 2
Facilities / Activities 2
Customer service 2
Child friendliness 6
Cleanliness 4
Wifi 2
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: Remote location

Disliked: This is a field with a single portaloo. The bin has a sign saying ‘please take your litter home’.
There is no water. When I messaged to ask was told ‘we don’t provide water’.
Expensive for (lack of) facilities.
Entrance gate got so muddy it needed run up to get out.

Recommend to friends Visit again

It's a very quiet place until morning that you could hear some…

Overall 2/10
Location 6
Value for money 4
Accommodation 4
Facilities / Activities 4
Customer service 2
Child friendliness 6
Cleanliness 2
Wifi 2
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: It's a very quiet place until morning that you could hear some works around

Disliked: The toilet looked and smelled so bad... Probably one of the worst toilets I've seen. Tall grass so as soon as it rains it's so wet

Recommend to friends Visit again

Just booked it as a spur of the moment thing to do…

Overall 10/10
Location 4
Value for money 10
Accommodation 6
Facilities / Activities 4
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi No rating
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: Just booked it as a spur of the moment thing to do with the kids instead of sitting in the house. It was just what we needed. Close to home and cheap no frills field with a portaloo. The kids really enjoyed it

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent site, with clean facilities, level pitches and great staff.

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

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: Great campsite, amazing communication. Clean field definitely come again, so close to a beautiful lake.

Thankyou

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent for the price

Overall 8/10
Location 8
Value for money 10
Accommodation 8
Facilities / Activities 4
Customer service 10
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 6
Wifi No rating
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: Me and my girlfriend stayed here over the weekend and had a great time. Easy enough to find the location and we were allowed to pitch up anywhere which was nice. Making contact with Mike (the landowner) was simple and he was pleasant and easy going.

Disliked: Portaloo was very unclean

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great site in a very good location

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
Oksana G. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: Great place, very peaceful and quiet. Budget friendly campsite. Clean facilities. Would go back one day for sure.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Basic and cheap site, only one portaloo but good base to explore.

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

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked: Convalescent location for visiting derwent water and ullswater lakes, with local town providing having plenty of shops and takeaways.
Also fairly close to the motorway making accessing the rest of the lakes easy by car.

Disliked: Grass on the field wasn't cut (was quite long) and only one portaloo on site, although this was clean.

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

D. of E. 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

Utilities

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

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby

Type

Farm Large (51-200 pitches) Pop-up campground

Accessibility

Accessible parking at pitch Disabled facilities Level site, no steep slopes

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Climbing nearby Fishing nearby Golf nearby Tennis nearby

Location

North Lakes Campsite

Croftlands Bracken Barrow Farm

Deanscales

Cockermouth

Cumbria

England

CA13 0SL

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London GMT (GMT+00:00)

GPS

54.6269°N
-3.40572°W

Nearest transport

Coach
4.5 km Gallowbarrow
4.6 km Fairfield Junior School
9.2 km The Queens Head
Rail
10.1 km Workington Rail Station
10.2 km Flimby Rail Station
10.4 km Harrington Rail Station
Ferry
16.5 km Nichol End (Derwentwater) Ferry Landing
16.7 km Hawes End Derwentwater Ferry Landing
17 km Low Brandelhow Derwentwater 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

With its pretty stone cottages, Cockermouth (10 minutes’ drive) sits at the confluence of the Cocker and Derwent rivers. On the banks of the latter is the National Trust - Wordsworth House and Garden, the elegant Georgian townhouse where the Romantic poet was born in 1770. Cross Miller’s Bridge across the Derwent to reach the Memorial Gardens, with a playground and riverside paths. From tiny, inquisitive meerkats to large, long-haired yaks, Lake District Wildlife Park (15 minutes) is home to a wide range of beasties. The park also runs a series of keeper talks, displays and animal experiences, and there are indoor and outdoor playgrounds, plus picnic areas. In these land of lakes, you owe it to yourself to spend some time in the water. Start with a wild swim with views of the surrounding peaks at Crummock Water (25 minutes), then clamber up Scale Fell all the way to Scale Force Waterfall, which thunders down a forested gorge. Alternatively, drive to Moss Force Waterfall (35 minutes).

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Allonby 15.8 km Sea N/AGoodGoodGood
St Bees 20.1 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Seascale 26.3 km Sea N/AGoodGoodGood
Southerness 30.3 km Sea N/AGoodGoodExcellent
Sandyhills 34.7 km Sea N/AN/APoorPoor

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Whinlatter Forest & Visitor Centre 13.4 km

Mirehouse Historic House and Gardens 14.1 km

Castlerigg Stone Circle 20 km

Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway 30 km

Ullswater Steamers 31.1 km

National Trust

Wordsworth House and Garden 4.7 km

Buttermere and Ennerdale 13.5 km

Wasdale, Eskdale and Duddon 22.9 km

Grasmere and Great Langdale 32.5 km

Coniston and Tarn Hows 36 km

Cycle routes

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

Other

Cockermouth - River Cocker 4.9 km

WORKINGTON HALL 8.1 km

Buttermere - Haystacks - Red Pike - Buttermere 12.6 km

Around Buttermere 12.6 km

High Gillerthwaite - Red Pike Ridge Traverse - High Gillerthwaite 13.4 km

Local events

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

    Penrith, England 44.5 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 pitch type section for details

Nearest sites

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable sites.

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

Frequently asked questions

  • Does North Lakes Campsite have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is North Lakes Campsite dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near North Lakes Campsite? With its pretty stone cottages, Cockermouth (10 minutes’ drive) sits at the confluence of the Cocker and Derwent rivers. On the banks of the latter is the National Trust - Wordsworth House … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of North Lakes Campsite?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  9:30 a.m. –  8 p.m.
    Depart by:  Anytime
    Read more