Old Man of Coniston Campsite

View prices & book 9 85 reviews
View from the pitches
View from the pitches
View of the fells
Old Man of Coniston from the site
Mountains in the distance
Light and shade on the hills
View from the pitches
Patchwork of fields and hills
Lake and fells views from the pitches
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New
View of the fells
Old Man of Coniston from the site
Mountains in the distance

  • Quiet Lake District pop-up site at the foot of the Old Man of Coniston
  • Tarn Hows 15 minutes’ drive and Go Ape Grizedale 25 minutes
  • Stunning views over fells to Coniston Water; shop five minutes’ drive
Front-row seat for spectacular views over the Old Man of Coniston and Coniston Water? Better book a spot at Old Man of Coniston Campsite, a no-frills pop-up five minutes’ drive from Coniston in the Lake District National Park. It’s something of a hikers’ paradise with numerous options for exploring the towering lakeland fells on foot; within easy reach there's much for families, watersports enthusiasts and culture seekers to do too. Barbecues and campfires are permitted on the camping field but must be raised off the ground; if you want to stock up on groceries, there’s a small supermarket in Coniston (five minutes’ drive). If you’d prefer to swerve cooking altogether, try the pub with good food and a beer garden about 20 minutes’ stroll away. As this is a back-to-nature sort of spot, the list of amenities is fairly short. There are portable toilets and a lidded waste skip, but please be aware there are no showers or electric hook-ups. Drinking water is also not available, but there is running water for washing dishes. Two vehicles per pitch are allowed on the camping field. Additional parking is in the Old Man of Coniston car park or the Walna Scar car park just above the site; both are monitored by a warden and must be paid for on arrival via app.

Site type

Tent pitches 50
Motorhome pitches 50
Open now
Opens 16 July
Please note
  • This site has no on-site shower facilities.

Admission

  • At least one of the party members must be aged 18 or over.

General

  • Please note that the toilet facilities are unisex.

Reception

  • There is no reception on-site: on arrival please contact the number provided on your booking confirmation.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Thu 16 Jul to

No availability here for your search criteria

Reviews

9

Overall rating from 85 Pitchup.com customers

  • 57%
    10
  • 17%
    9
  • 11%
    8
  • 7%
    7
  • 1%
    6
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    5
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    1
Location
 10
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 6
Spectacular sceneryWalkers' paradiseBudget/backpackerLake and/or mountain

92% would recommend this site to a friend

89% would stay here again

What customers say

This basic, no-frills campsite offers stunning panoramic views of Coniston Water and surrounding fells, making it an ideal base for hikers. Guests appreciate the peaceful location, friendly staff, and affordability. Facilities are limited to portaloos, with no showers or drinking water available. The steep, narrow access road is a common point of feedback, though many found it manageable. Some visitors noted occasional noise from fellow campers, particularly during weekends. Despite the basic amenities, the breathtaking scenery and proximity to hiking routes are consistently praised.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews. Last updated 01/09/2026

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Reviews page 1 of 9
Arrival date (latest first)

Perfect exactly like the advert. Right…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Sam R. 1 review

Non-electric grass campervan or tent pitch

Liked Perfect exactly like the advert. Right back to basics camping, and views that my pictures didn’t do justice. I will definitely stay again. Note needs to really be a confidant driver due to steep hill on way there

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great views and easy to access,…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 No rating
Wifi
 No rating
Sam B. 1 review

Non-electric grass campervan or tent pitch

Liked Great views and easy to access, and owner was helpful

Recommend to friends Visit again

Gorgeous and beautiful

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Andrew C. 2 reviews

Non-electric grass campervan or tent pitch

Liked 1 mile out of Coniston but half way up a mountain ! Beautiful scenery, clean portaloos, skip for rubbish.
Only £12 pppn, wish I had found it earlier in the camping season !
No water which was clearly stated , very clear check in instructions sent via text

Disliked Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

lovely…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
 Harrison L. 1 review

Non-electric grass campervan or tent pitch

Liked lovely

Recommend to friends Visit again

An incredible spot, helpful staff - just be aware facilities are basic

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 No rating
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 No rating
Wifi
 No rating
John D. 1 review

Non-electric grass campervan or tent pitch

Liked The site is in an incredible spot, with the lake on one side and the mountain on the other, just amazing views of the moon on the lake, clouds drifting around. It's a lovely walk to the nearest pub and Coniston is close and has great options.
Staff met us and were friendly, did a night-time walk around and when some people were a bit noisy, got them to be quiet which was helpful.

Disliked It's very open about being off-grid so complaining about lack of facilities is not reasonable, but do be prepared for festival-style portaloos. They seemed to be serviced quite often but varied a lot from clean to disgusting.

The hill for the last 1/2 mile is really quite something - if you walk back from the pub you need to be fit and able.

The main site is on quite a slope so when it rained, people were starting to get stuck - at least it's downhill as you leave so getting out is no problem

Recommend to friends Visit again

Will definitely return here

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 8
Wifi
 No rating
Jonathon G. 1 review

Non-electric grass campervan or tent pitch

Liked The campsite is breathtaking. Really pushes cars to their limit driving up to it but wow!! What a place. Staff were amazing and responded very quickly when needed. Toilets were basic but generally acceptable. After nearly 30 years of visiting Ullswater and Windermere, this is a breathtaking of fresh air. Not commercialised and fantastic pubs a short walk away. Highly recommended 👌

Disliked Nothing really

Recommend to friends Visit again

-the toilets were cleaned whilst I…

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Natalie R. 1 review

Non-electric grass campervan or tent pitch

Liked -the toilets were cleaned whilst I was there and there are 5 toilets
-insane location
-was very nice and quiet during the week and got busier for the bank holiday
-the hill isnt that bad to walk up from coniston especially after a pint
-perfect location for the old man of coniston
-really lovely and helpful people who run it

Recommend to friends Visit again

Nice view but it’s like the Wild West when weekend comes.

Overall

6 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 3
Customer service
 1
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 1
Wifi
 1
 Bradley 1 review

Non-electric grass campervan or tent pitch

Liked The view.

Disliked People were noisy, people arrived really late at 2:00am. The toilets were disgusting(turds not flushed). Dogs off leads barking and growling at me. But for the most part it’s the people slamming doors at 1am and people shouting at 5 in the morning. It was peaceful in the week because there was only 3 other people stretched along the campsite but when Friday came it was madness. Noise all night. People throwing up at 1am and music blasting. It was like a festival. It got very loud. Me and my friend are 24 years old and we were so tired from walking all day and it was our last night and people just ruined it for us because they were too selfish to think of other people. The biggest problem was the hill up to the site. It was extremely steep and we found it very hard to get up and down.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thank you for your feedback. Unfortunately over the bank holiday weekend a couple of the toilets were left by other customers in poor order despite the fact that every toilet has ample toilet roll, a toilet brush, hand sanitizer and air freshener. But the toilets were cleaned 4 times every day. Weekends generally are busier on all campsite and as advertised we allow up to 50 pitches, it would not be financial viable for us to open without an increase footfall over the weekend. The campsite was supervised from 10.30 until 11 on Friday evening where all raised fires were put out and music off. Noise was at an absolute minimum when we left. I’m sorry the some fellow campers were disrespectful after this time but unfortunately we were not notified in order to address this.

Set in a stunning location, overlooked…

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 9
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
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Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
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Wifi
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Mark B. 2 reviews

Non-electric grass campervan or tent pitch

Liked Set in a stunning location, overlooked by towering peaks and views of Lake Coniston.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Location is amazing, beautiful views and…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 No rating
Value for money
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
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Customer service
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Child friendliness
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Cleanliness
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Wifi
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Tina C. 4 reviews

Non-electric grass campervan or tent pitch

Liked Location is amazing, beautiful views and walks, owner was in touch by text making sure everything was ok. Thoroughly enjoyed my stay!

Disliked Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Features

Portable toilet

Pop-up campsite

Dogs allowed

Campfires 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 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

Themes

Lake and/or mountain Peaceful Remote location Spectacular scenery Walkers' paradise

Utilities

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

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby Shop nearby

Type

Medium (26-50 pitches) Pop-up campsite

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Climbing nearby Cycle hire nearby Cycling nearby Restaurant nearby Sailing nearby

Location

Old Man of Coniston Campsite

Walna Scar Road

Coniston

Cumbria

England

LA21 8HD

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London BST (GMT+01:00)

GPS

54.36414°N
3.09357°W

Route directions

This site's What3words is: devours.eclipses.banter. There is a steep hill you have to climb before you arrive at the site but this can climbed without difficulty if you remain in a low gear.

Nearest transport

Coach
6.9 mi Daffodil Hotel for Dove Cottage
6.9 mi Kelsick Road opposite Library
7 mi Lakeside House for Dove Cottage
Rail
7.8 mi Windermere Rail Station
8.8 mi Foxfield Rail Station
9.8 mi Kirkby-in-Furness Rail Station
Ferry
1.1 mi Coniston Ferry Landing
1.3 mi Waterhead Hotel (Coniston) Ferry Landing
1.4 mi Torver (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

The Old Man of Coniston towers above the site and is a challenging hour-and-a-half hike rewarding you with fabulous views over the southern Lakes. For easier strolls, head for Tarn Hows (15 minutes’ drive), an easy-access route around a peaceful tarn. Water-babies can take tours of Coniston Water (also 15 minutes) on the National Trust-run Steam Yacht Gondola, or hire kayaks, canoes, paddleboards and electric boats to explore the water from Coniston Boating Centre (both 10 minutes). Grizedale Forest is a good option for active families, with numerous walking, cycling and sculpture trails, as well as high ropes and zipwires at Go Ape Grizedale (both 25 minutes). Younger kids can play crazy golf at White Platts Recreation Ground (also 25 minutes), while teenage daredevils go gorge scrambling at Church Beck (five minutes). Sneak a bit of culture onto your agenda with a tour of the period rooms and lakeside gardens at Brantwood (15 minutes), the former home of Victorian philosopher John Ruskin. The Ruskin Museum (five minutes) has displays on the history of Coniston, its mining heritage and the speed-record attempts by local hero Donald Campbell.

Food and drink

  • The Ship Inn Pub 0.6 mi
  • Sun Hotel Pub 0.7 mi
  • The Yewdale Inn Pub 0.8 mi
  • Sara's Indian Restaurant 0.8 mi
  • Crown Inn Pub 0.9 mi
  • The Terrace Coffee House and Restaurant 1.6 mi
  • The Church House Inn Pub 1.8 mi
  • The Wilson Arms Pub 1.8 mi
  • Kings Arms Hotel Pub 3.9 mi
  • The Red Lion Inn Pub 3.9 mi

Parks and play

  • Play and Picnic Area 3.6 mi

Family days out

  • John Ruskin's Grave Visitor attraction 0.8 mi
  • Steam Yacht Gondola Visitor attraction 1.1 mi
  • Dog Kennel Folly Visitor attraction 1.1 mi
  • Monk Coniston Visitor attraction 1.9 mi
  • Go Ape Visitor attraction 3.2 mi
  • Hawkshead Courthouse Visitor attraction 3.8 mi
  • Hill Top Visitor attraction 5 mi
  • Eskdale Needle Visitor attraction 5.1 mi
  • Eskdale Needle Visitor attraction 5.1 mi
  • Wray Castle 5.8 mi

Public transport

  • Church near Adam Bridge (N) 0.6 mi
  • John Ruskin School (W bound) 0.8 mi
  • The Ruskin Centre 0.8 mi
  • The Crown Inn 0.9 mi
  • The Crown Hotel 0.9 mi
  • Park Coppice caravan park (N bound) 0.9 mi
  • Park Coppice Caravan Park (S bound) 1 mi
  • Primary School 1 mi
  • Holly How Youth Hostel 1 mi
  • Waterhead Hotel (W bound) 1.3 mi

Local services

  • Coniston Medical Practice Doctors 0.7 mi
  • Hill's Garage Fuel station 0.8 mi
  • Collins and Butterworth Pharmacy 3.9 mi
  • Pod Point Charging station 3.9 mi
  • Hawkshead Surgery Doctors 4 mi

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Must see

Beatrix Potter Gallery 3.8 mi

Hill Top 5 mi

Brockhole - Lake District Visitor Centre 6.6 mi

Windermere Lake Cruises, Bowness 6.9 mi

Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth Museum 6.9 mi

National Trust

Gondola' 1 mi

Coniston and Tarn Hows 1.8 mi

Beatrix Potter Gallery 3.8 mi

Hill Top 5 mi

Grasmere and Great Langdale 5.8 mi

Cycle routes

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

Other

The Coniston Heights: The Old Man to Swirl How 0.08 mi

Coniston - Tarn Hows - Coniston 0.8 mi

Coniston - Levers Water - Coniston 0.8 mi

Coniston - Holme Fell 0.9 mi

Coniston - Little Arrow - Coniston Lakeshore 0.9 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 Old Man of Coniston Campsite have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Old Man of Coniston Campsite dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Old Man of Coniston Campsite? The Old Man of Coniston towers above the site and is a challenging hour-and-a-half hike rewarding you with fabulous views over the southern Lakes. For easier strolls, head for Tarn Hows (15 … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Old Man of Coniston Campsite?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  1 p.m. –  10 p.m.
    Depart by:  12 p.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Old Man of Coniston Campsite? From £20 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.