Hillcroft

From £65 For 1 night, 5 adults 9.7 24 reviews
Glamping Pods (added by manager 26 Aug 2022)
Views of the lake (added by manager 25 aug 2022)
Family camping pod (added by manager 10 sep 2016)
Glamping pods (added by manager 26 aug 2022)

  • Peaceful park overlooking Ullswater
  • Modern, landscaped and with spectacular Lake District views
  • Launderette, drying room, licensed shop and large play area
‘It is the happiest combination of beauty and grandeur, which any of the lakes affords,’ wrote that romantic William Wordsworth, before wandering lonely as a cloud and penning his poem about daffodils bobbing about on the banks of Ullswater. And it's easy to see why… Ullswater is said by many to be the most beautiful lake in Britain, so staying in the countryside overlooking its banks will lull any wilters into a relaxed (and romantic) mood in no time. You won’t even have to pitch a tent to retreat and get away from it all in style: the owners at lovely Hillcroft, steps away from Ullswater, will be very pleased to introduce you to their affordable camping pods, sleeping up to four (two adults and two children under five) and each with their own mini balcony. The park is modern, landscaped and snuggled among gorgeous views of the English countryside: base yourself here to relax and bloom, or to wander o’er hills and vales as you explore the Lake District. Facilities on site include all you need with a launderette, drying room, well-stocked licensed shop, washing-up area, wifi, a parent and baby washroom, and toilets with disabled access; there’s a huge play area for the little sprouts, and tail waggers are welcome too.

Site type

Lodges, cabins, pods or huts 50
Tent pitches 56
Touring caravan pitches 56
Motorhome pitches 56
Open now

Tourist board rating

Please note
  • 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 18 or over.
  • If reception is closed on arrival: please contact the number provided on your booking confirmation.
  • Families and couples only: single-sex group bookings are not accepted via Pitchup.com. Please note that gazebos are not allowed in the pod area due to fire regulations.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Fri, 9 Feb 2024 to

Gold David Bellamy Conservation Award AA Holiday Centre

Pitch types & availability

Reviews

100%

would recommend this site to a friend

100%

would stay here again

  • 91%
    10
  • 0%
    9
  • 0%
    8
  • 0%
    7
  • 8%
    6
  • 0%
    5
  • 0%
    4
  • 0%
    3
  • 0%
    2
  • 0%
    1

Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

Great site and location. Would stay again.

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

Camping pod (no pets)

Liked: Pod, facilities, clean and well kept site , like the way the bins and water taps are surrounded by dry stone walking in keeping with the surroundings.

Disliked: Poorly stocked shop not open when it said it should be and games room not open (October half term)

Recommend to friends Visit again

Beautiful site, beautiful views, close to centre, will be going again

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

Camping pod

Liked: Site was clean, staff friendly, lots of different accommodation options to suit all budgets. Space to bbq in camping pods

Disliked: As the name suggests its on a hill so it's a little bit of a walk up the hill from the centre

Recommend to friends Visit again

Perfect

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

Camping pod

Liked: Stayed in a pod with two children. We had an enclosed decked space for cooking, designated parking and picnic table. The site isn't overcrowded but never felt like a trek to the facilities, which were pristine (always seemed to be someone cleaning whenever we were about). Small shop with all the essentials on site, every member of staff we interacted with was friendly and helpful. Lovely park for the kids and recreational field. Location is ideal; walking distance to Pooley Bridge (although it's an uphill walk back which was fine for us but may be better to nip around in the car if that could be a struggle). Ideal base for driving to other local places of interest around Ullswater.

Disliked: Kids disliked having to leave. Genuinely can't fault it. Huge fan of this site now and definitely want to come back. Didn't need to use the WiFi so can't comment on it.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Everything we hoped for camping in a pod, 1st time staying in…

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

Camping pod

Liked: Everything we hoped for camping in a pod, 1st time staying in one lovely not having take a wet tent down, the front door did have some black on it that smelt like mould maybe need attention, the added benefit of the fence around so our little furbabies can’t escape already booked again

Recommend to friends Visit again

Easy to find. Quick to check in. Fantastic facilities on site and…

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

Camping pod (no pets)

Liked: Easy to find. Quick to check in. Fantastic facilities on site and great location

Recommend to friends Visit again

What a beautiful place to visit, family friendly, staff were lovely, showers…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 10
Leigh-Anne P. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Camping pod

Liked: What a beautiful place to visit, family friendly, staff were lovely, showers and toilets were immaculate we are booking to return as a family thank you for a lovely stay

Disliked: Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent site in a perfect location. Highly recommend!

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
Amanda E. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Camping pod

Liked: Everything. Great location, spacious pod, lovely clean toilets.

Disliked: Nothing to dislike

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely tidy site. Priced well. Clean facilities. Friendly staff.…

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

Camping pod

Liked: Lovely tidy site. Priced well. Clean facilities. Friendly staff.

Disliked: Couldn't find the WiFi network

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great camping in an amazing location. Super clean.

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

Camping pod

Liked: Amazing campsite set in a Beautiful location. The pod was really clean and surprisingly really warm. The pod was enclosed with a little decking and fenced, great for our dogs. A little barn door too which was great to allow airflow. Campsite was a 10-15 minutes walk away from pooley bridge with loads of pubs shops and on Ullswater lake. Campsite was super friendly. The shower and toilet block were the cleanest I’ve ever seen. These a radio playing nature music 24/7 which was a great touch. Loads of cubicles great for busy summer months. Showers really clean powerful and warm.

Disliked: In the pod there could’ve been a few more hooks and shelf. We was living out of bags in the floor. Would it been nice to put our food up a little higher so it wasn’t in the floor.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely scenic site, clean facilities, spacious pods. Better in summer

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

Camping pod

Liked: Site was lovely. Close to amenities. Shower/toilet block was very nice and clean

Disliked: We were not oriented to the site on arrival, we had to locate where the toilets were, where to get water, wash dishes ect. It was getting dark and raining so not the best. It was not very relaxing or quiet as there were leaf blowers constantly on throughout the day.

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

Local produce

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

Budget/backpacker

Lake and/or mountain

Luxury

Peaceful

Spectacular scenery

Walkers' paradise

Utilities

Charging facilities

Chemical disposal

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

Large (51-200 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

Location

Hillcroft

Pooley Bridge

Penrith

Cumbria

England

CA10 2LT

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London GMT (GMT+00:00)

GPS

54.60989°N
-2.81091°W

Route directions

From Junction 40 of the M6 take the A66 to Keswick. After one mile turn left onto the A592 for Ullswater. At the lake turn left to Pooley Bridge; bear right at the village church; go straight over the crossroads and the park is after 100m on the left. PLEASE NOTE FROM SEPTEMBER 2019 to SPRING 2020: From Junction 40, take the A66 east towards Brough, then at the next roundabout take the fourth exit (A6 Shap). Follow this road to the next roundabout and take the second exit for Pooley Bridge.

Nearest transport

Coach
4.2 mi Rail Station
13.3 mi Bus Station
13.6 mi Lakeside House for Dove Cottage
Rail
4.2 mi Penrith North Lakes Rail Station
8.3 mi Langwathby Rail Station
10.6 mi Lazonby & Kirkoswald Rail Station
Ferry
0.7 mi Pooley Bridge Ullswater Ferry Landing
3.4 mi Howtown Ullswater Ferry Landing
7 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

Never be dull around Lake Ullswater, which has a watery wealth of things to do: take a trip on Lady Dorothy or one of the other Ullswater Steamers; zip across the lake in a motorboat or drift around gently on a yacht; go rowing, go diving… or be overwhelmed at the crashing waterfall Aira Force, also mentioned by Wordsworth in his Lake District scribblings. Those who like to stretch their legs a tad more can make their way to the nearby village of Glenridding at the south of Ullswater to scale Helvellyn, England’s third highest mountain (goggleboxers or campers of a less energetic bent might be persuaded to come along too as this was the setting for the TV series The Lakes). The village of Pooley Bridge to the north is five minutes’ walk away from Hillcroft and has exceptional views, three pubs and a sixteenth century bridge straddling the River Eamont. It’s said that the Lake District can experience four seasons in one day, so luckily there’s an array of attractions around suitable for all types of British weather: take tea at Dalemain Historic House and Gardens; trundle on the Lakeside Railway from Haverthwaite to Windermere; gape at the Ice Age stalactites at White Star Cave; go underground again at the Honister Slate Mines; or rabbit away to Jemima Puddle Duck and Mrs Tiggy-Winkle at Bowness’s The World of Beatrix Potter.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020 2019 2018 2017
Allonby 27.2 mi Sea N/A Good Good Good

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Dalemain Historic House & Gardens 1.5 mi

The Rheged Centre 2.8 mi

Ullswater Steamers 7 mi

Castlerigg Stone Circle 11.5 mi

Rydal Mount and Gardens 13.2 mi

National Trust

Acorn Bank Garden and Watermill 8.9 mi

Townend 14.4 mi

Grasmere and Great Langdale 14.6 mi

Windermere and Troutbeck 15.8 mi

Beatrix Potter Gallery 17.9 mi

Cycle routes

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

Other

Pooley Bridge - Loadpot Hill - Howtown - Pooley Bridge 0.4 mi

Pooley Bridge and Heughscar Hill 0.4 mi

DALEMAIN 1.6 mi

ASKHAM HALL 2.5 mi

LOWTHER CASTLE 3.1 mi

Local events

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

    Penrith, Cumbria 3.8 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 Hillcroft have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Hillcroft dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Hillcroft? Never be dull around Lake Ullswater, which has a watery wealth of things to do: take a trip on Lady Dorothy or one of the other Ullswater Steamers; zip across the lake … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Hillcroft?
    On-site accommodation
    Arrive:  1:30 p.m. –  8 p.m.
    Depart by:  10:30 a.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Hillcroft? From £65 (for 1 night, 5 people) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.