Gill Head Farm

From £26 For 1 night, 4 adults 9.5 974 reviews
Camp life (added by visitor 18 Jul 2022)
Exterior (added by carolincastro 21 apr 2021)
Tent pitches (added by carolincastro 21 apr 2021)
Our pitch set up near the little stream (added by visitor 22 aug 2022)

  • Working hill farm in the north of the Lake District National Park
  • A 15-minute drive from Keswick and Penrith; 10 minutes from Ullswater
  • Stunning views of Blencathra and the Northern Fells
Check out those views… family-run Gill Head Farm is a scenic place indeed, with a backdrop of Blencathra and the Northern Fells. And it’s a cinch to get to as well – this site on the banks of Trout Beck is less than a mile from the A66, so you can get your fix of proper rural time without having to navigate miles of winding lanes. It’s often said that visitors to the Lake District National Park are spoilt for choice when it comes to activities – and that’s certainly true at this Cumbria site. Days of hikes, horse riding, watersports, climbing, visiting historic houses and wild swimming are among the many options around here. If you don’t know where to start, have a chat with the owners – as outdoorsy folk themselves they’re happy to help plan your adventures and offer up local tips. Whatever you get up to by day, it also must be noted that those views make a great setting for an evening by the campfire – handily, there are firepits to hire on site, and bags of logs and kindling for sale. What if it’s not campfire weather? Retreat to the indoor communal area which has comfy seating, a dining area and a little kitchen area (with microwaves, kettles, a fridge and a freezer) – or take the 15-minute walk to the local pub. To stock up on food for your barbecues/picnics there are plenty of shops in Penrith and Keswick, both 15 minutes’ drive away (or get to Keswick on the bus). Back at base, facilities include a laundry room and a shower/toilet block that was done up in 2019 to offer spacious and clean amenities. Please note that group bookings are strictly not allowed at Gill Head Farm. Due to the rural location, the wifi also does not cover the whole site and is limited to a hotspot in the communal room.

Site type

Touring caravan pitches 8
Motorhome pitches 8
Lodges, cabins, pods or huts 11
Tent pitches 10
Opens 22 March
Please note
  • Group bookings of 2 or more units (e.g. tent, touring 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 4 or more people (couples and immediate family members excepted) are not permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • No hen/stag parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • Bookings must not be for more than 14 consecutive nights.
  • The site caters for families (immediate members) and couples only - bookings from all other forms of groups are not accepted.
  • At least one of the party members must be aged 21 or over.
  • Minimum spacing of 4 metres between pitches.
  • This is a quiet site: no music is allowed.
  • If making a fire, the fuel, logs and coal have to be purchased on site.
  • Guests are advised to bring a good quality torch with them as parts of the site are unlit.
  • No naked flames are allowed inside the hired accommodation units.
  • No electric barbecues allowed.
  • Roof tents, trailer tents and campervans are only permitted on the gravel pitches.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Fri, 22 Mar to

Pitch types & availability

Reviews

97%

would recommend this site to a friend

95%

would stay here again

  • 82%
    10
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  • 13%
    8
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    1

Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

This is our second time staying here and as before we really…

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

Electric grass and gravel touring pitch

Liked: This is our second time staying here and as before we really enjoyed our stay. The toilets and showers were clean . The communal area is amazing with toasters,microwaves,sofas and a tv to name a few of the features the thoughful owners have provided.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Wonderful site with amazing views across the Lake District, friendly hosts, the…

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

Camping pod (no pets)

Liked: Wonderful site with amazing views across the Lake District, friendly hosts, the toilets and showers are immaculate, and an added bonus of a well equipped communal area. What's not to like. Thank you.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Brilliant site, great and clean facilities, camping pods great value

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

Camping pod (no pets)

Liked: Everything spot on really Professionaly ran and great value for money

Disliked: Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Location, reception staff, friendly and always helpful. Showers and water temp good.…

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

Electric optional grass tent pitch

Liked: Location, reception staff, friendly and always helpful. Showers and water temp good. Toilets clean. The views of the hills/mountains!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely location and very friendly staff.…

Overall 8/10
Location 10
Value for money 6
Accommodation No rating
Facilities / Activities 6
Customer service 10
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 6
Wifi 2
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric grass and gravel touring pitch

Liked: Lovely location and very friendly staff.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Wonderful settings, cosy cabin, and great facilities

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

Kipper cabin

Liked: Lovely stay in Kipper Cabin, sharing the surroundings with red squirrels, rabbits, bats, and so many birds! I got absolutely drenched on my walks, but it was lovely to come back and sit in front of the fire with a coffee, watching the red squirrels!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Clean toilets Nice and quiet Beautiful views Short drive to local walks…

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

Electric grass and gravel touring pitch

Liked: Clean toilets Nice and quiet Beautiful views Short drive to local walks

Disliked: Not a lot walking distance away

Recommend to friends Visit again

Accommodating with a late check in, large pitch, nice to have a…

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

Electric grass and gravel touring pitch

Liked: Accommodating with a late check in, large pitch, nice to have a kettle and toaster in the common area.

Disliked: Toilets and showers weren't very clean or tidy, I did raise it at the beginning of our stay and there was no improvement by the end. Road noise was quite distracting from the A66.

Recommend to friends Visit again

One of the best places we’ve stayed *****

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

Electric grass and gravel touring pitch

Liked: Second time we’ve stayed here and loved it as much as the first time! Beautiful location, well kept and cared for site and friendly management on hand for anything you need. We came last time with the kids, who throughly loved the space to run around, enjoy the play area and go and see the animals in the barns - this time as couple only for a birthday (peaceful) weekend, but we will be booking again for spring with the kids. Definitely recommend, one of our favourite spots we’ve found so far and definitely recommend the Troutbeck Inn for dinner (2 minutes away) - amazing staff and great food.

Recommend to friends Visit again

5 star

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

Electric optional grass tent pitch

Liked: Great campsite, great location great views and great facilities, owners very friendly will definitely be returning

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

Disabled facilities

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

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

Themes

Peaceful

Remote location

Spectacular scenery

Walkers' paradise

Wildlife haven

Utilities

Charging facilities

Chemical disposal

Communal freezer

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)

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby

Climbing nearby

Cycle hire nearby

Cycling nearby

Fishing nearby

Golf nearby

Horse riding nearby

Indoor pool nearby

Mountain biking nearby

Outdoor pool nearby

Restaurant nearby

Sailing nearby

Tennis nearby

Watersports nearby

Touring and motorhomes

Seasonal pitches

Location

Gill Head Farm

Troutbeck

Penrith

Cumbria

England

CA11 0ST

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London GMT (GMT+00:00)

GPS

54.6334°N
-2.96195°W

Nearest transport

Coach
7.6 mi Bus Station
8.4 mi Rail Station
12.6 mi Lakeside House for Dove Cottage
Rail
8.4 mi Penrith North Lakes Rail Station
12.7 mi Langwathby Rail Station
13.1 mi Lazonby & Kirkoswald Rail Station
Ferry
5.6 mi Pooley Bridge Ullswater Ferry Landing
5.8 mi Howtown Ullswater Ferry Landing
6.2 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

Ullswater is the nearest of the lakes at 10 minutes’ drive away, so that’s as good a place to start as any – stop by at Aira Force waterfall on your way down there, then get down to the lake itself for waterside walks, steamer cruises and various watersports – or even a wild swim if you’re feeling brave. Over on the banks of Derwentwater, Keswick (15 minutes’ drive) is another good place to explore, with a brewery, The Puzzling Place and the Derwent Pencil Museum as well as boat trips and paddleboards to hire. Walkers of all varieties have much to choose from around here, from gentle lakeside wanders to uphill scrambles at Blencathra and Helvellyn, both of which are close by. The folk on the farm are happy to suggest routes to suit – or point you towards the likes of Dalemain Mansion (15 minutes), Mirehouse & Gardens (20 minutes) or Lowther Castle (25 minutes) for stately-home strolls.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020 2019 2018 2017
Allonby 21 mi Sea N/A Good Good Good
Seascale 26.8 mi Sea N/A Good Good Good
St Bees 27.7 mi Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Dalemain Historic House & Gardens 5.8 mi

Castlerigg Stone Circle 5.9 mi

Ullswater Steamers 6.2 mi

The Rheged Centre 7.2 mi

Mirehouse Historic House and Gardens 9.1 mi

National Trust

Grasmere and Great Langdale 13.7 mi

Acorn Bank Garden and Watermill 14.5 mi

Townend 15.5 mi

Wordsworth House and Garden 16.4 mi

Windermere and Troutbeck 17 mi

Cycle routes

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

Other

Blencathra Classic - Sharp Edge and Narrow Edge 2.3 mi

Mungrisdale - Bannerdale Crags 2.3 mi

Threlkeld - Blencathra - Sharp Edge - Scales - Threlkeld 3.9 mi

Threlkeld, Westcoe and Keswick Railway 3.9 mi

Aira Force - Dockray - Dowthwaitehead - Aira Force 4.5 mi

Local events

  • Kendal Calling (Thursday, 1 August 2024 – Thursday, 1 August 2024)

    Penrith, Cumbria 10.1 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?

  • Does Gill Head Farm have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Gill Head Farm dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Gill Head Farm? Ullswater is the nearest of the lakes at 10 minutes’ drive away, so that’s as good a place to start as any – stop by at Aira Force waterfall on your way … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Gill Head Farm?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  1 p.m. –  6 p.m.
    Depart by:  11:30 a.m.
    On-site accommodation
    Arrive:  1 p.m. –  6 p.m.
    Depart by:  10:30 a.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Gill Head Farm? From £26 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.