Orthwaite Pop-up Campsite

View prices & book 9.2 118 reviews
View of the campsite with Skiddaw in the background
View of the campsite with skiddaw in the background
View across over water
View of the campsite on a sunny day with skiddaw in the background
Views towards over water
View of the campsite with skiddaw in the background
Grass pitches
Grass pitches
Happy campers
1/140
View across over water
View of the campsite on a sunny day with skiddaw in the background
Views towards over water

  • Pop-up site on a working fell farm in the northern Lake District
  • Bassenthwaite Lake 10 minutes’ drive; Keswick 20 minutes
  • Views of Over Water; close to cycle routes and Wainwright hikes
A peaceful, off-grid spot for wild camping, Orthwaite Pop-up Campsite sits within sight of Over Water, a feeding place for ospreys, in the northern Lake District. Here, you get a front-row seat to views of the northern fells, including Longlands, Lowthwaite, Great Sca Fell, Knott, Great Cockup, Little Cockup, Meal Fell and Binsey. Indeed, the site’s location is so convenient that you will soon be bagging Wainwrights (as the local peaks are affectionately known) or pedalling down stunning cycle routes. More Wainwrights await at the ‘back o’ Skiddaw’ (20 minutes), as the locals call it. This area has cycling routes such as the Skiddaw Loop, the Lakeland Monster Miles Adventure Cross and the Lakes 100. Added bonus: somehow, big crowds have yet to discover it… Well-behaved dogs are welcome, but they must be kept on a lead at all times, since the site is on a working sheep farm with Herdwick and Swaledale flocks. The barn (which once featured on a ‘Top Gear’ episode) has covered picnic tables for rainy spells. Raised firepits and small, raised barbecues are welcome; logs are for sale on site. There are no showers or electricity here, but simple facilities extend to unisex portable toilets, a water source (not for drinking water) and rubbish bins. Please note that there is no public access to the lake, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest owned by the National Trust.

Site type

Motorhome pitches 50
Tent pitches 50
Open now
Opens 3 April
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).
  • Discount cards and gift vouchers cannot be applied to bookings made via Pitchup.com.
  • Please note that the toilet facilities are unisex.
  • Swimming in the lake is not allowed.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Fri 3 Apr to

No availability here for your search criteria

Pitch types & availability

Accommodation

Tent pitchesTouring caravan pitchesMotorhome pitchesLodges, cabins, pods or hutsCaravans for hireRent a tent
Choose your dates
2 adults
0 children
0 dogs

Reviews

9.2

Overall rating from 118 Pitchup.com customers

  • 68%
    10
  • 11%
    9
  • 11%
    8
  • 3%
    7
  • 2%
    6
  • 0%
    5
  • 1%
    4
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    3
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    2
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    1
Location
 9
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 9
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 9
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 3
Lake and/or mountainPeaceful

93% would recommend this site to a friend

89% would stay here again

What customers say

This "back to basics" campsite offers a peaceful escape with spacious pitches and beautiful lake and fell views. Visitors frequently praise the friendly and accommodating owners, clean portaloos, and useful barn area. While some note the lack of showers and drinking water, this is generally understood given the "wild camping" ethos. Access roads can be narrow. The site is highly recommended for its natural beauty and relaxed atmosphere.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews. Last updated 23/06/2026

Filter by topic

Reviews page 1 of 12
Arrival date (latest first)

Very nice calm welcoming site, would stay again.

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 7
Value for money
 9
Facilities / Activities
 6
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
A C. 1 review

Non-electric grass campervan pitch

Liked Very big open space with free reign to camp where you please. Basic amenities onsite (toilets and water) just as advertised. Owner was friendly and welcoming. Good place if you're looking for a quiet chill camp and located right next to a tarn.

Disliked Was very windy haha I know that's not the campsites fault but located in a very large open space so just something to take into mind.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great place for a wild camping feeling!

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 7
Facilities / Activities
 2
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 1
Anonymous

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Location. Amazingly scenic, right next to a nice lake. It’s just a big field on a hill, you can camp anywhere on the field you like but 70% of it will be at a varying angle.
There are toilets in a shelter and a bun. Pretty much sums it up.

Very nice owner checking up on everyone once or twice a day and offered kids for fire.

Dog friendly but there is livestock a field over nearby.

Disliked No drinking water but it is stated in details so you know what to expect. You can contact owner for water and was offered if needed.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Beautiful. The camp owners where lovely…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 2
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 1
 Brooke L. 1 review

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Beautiful. The camp owners where lovely and took time to chat to me and my son and make sure I had everything I needed for a peaceful stay

Disliked Nothing everything was great

Recommend to friends Visit again

Would recommend

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
Lisa B. 1 review

Non-electric grass campervan pitch

Liked Nice peaceful campsite. Lovely location for walking. Highly recommend.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great communication with the owner, beautiful…

Overall

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

Non-electric grass campervan pitch

Liked Great communication with the owner, beautiful surroundings, would go to this spot again no danger! Thanks

Recommend to friends Visit again

Really nice and quiet, a lot…

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 7
Value for money
 9
Facilities / Activities
 6
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Christopher H. 1 review

Non-electric grass campervan pitch

Liked Really nice and quiet, a lot of space, overlooking the lake. Basic but effective.

Disliked Could do with showers, but understand the difficulty.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great site but basic.

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 6
Facilities / Activities
 4
Customer service
 6
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 8
Wifi
 1
 Mike R. 1 review

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Lovely site and great location. Lots of space so it's easy to camp away from others. The barn area is useful for bad weather and has a few benches and picnic table in. The portaloos were clean and suitable and there were several so if it got busy there should be enough. Nice big field and the grass was cut so it looks like it is well cared for. Nice and clean site and no rubbish about. Ideal location for getting onto the Northern fells back O' Skiddaw. Basic but very nice site.

Disliked There is no sink or wash area. Also no water available so make sure you bring some bottles of water. They do say that if someone needs water they can come out and bring some and there is a number to call. Also, prices start at £25 for 2 people so quite expensive for 1 person.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovley owners and site but cost vs amenities is a put off.

Overall

7 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 3
Facilities / Activities
 3
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 5
 Robert W. 1 review

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Lovley area, clean flat pitches, owners were nice when they came round.

Disliked I think £25 for one night when there is no shower, fresh water and porter loos is expensive.

Recommend to friends Visit again

The owners are lovely people and…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 7
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 No rating
Wifi
 1
 William R. 1 review

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked The owners are lovely people and made sure we had everything we needed. Fire pit, water etc
Views from the campsite are lovely and you can have a lot of space to spread out and enjoy yourself.
Toilet facilities although basic was clean and well maintained.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great location with easy access, plenty…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 No rating
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Anonymous

Non-electric grass tent or trailer tent pitch

Liked Great location with easy access, plenty of space to pitch and relaxed check in time. Highly recommended.

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 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

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

Camping 2.0

Jumbo tent pitches

Themes

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

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 Medium (26-50 pitches) Pop-up campsite

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Climbing nearby Cycle hire nearby Cycling nearby Golf nearby Indoor pool nearby Leisure/theme park nearby Mountain biking nearby Restaurant nearby

Location

Orthwaite Pop-up Campsite

Orthwaite Hall

Uldale

Wigton

Cumbria

England

CA7 1HL

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London BST (GMT+01:00)

GPS

54.704°N
3.15687°W

Route directions

What3words: ///spires.craziest.sedative

Nearest transport

Coach
7.1 mi Bus Station
8.9 mi Gallowbarrow
8.9 mi Fairfield Junior School
Rail
8 mi Aspatria Rail Station
8.7 mi Wigton Rail Station
11.9 mi Dalston (Cumbria) Rail Station
Ferry
7.5 mi Nichol End (Derwentwater) Ferry Landing
7.6 mi Keswick Ferry Landing
8.5 mi Hawes End 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

The area around Bassenthwaite Lake National Nature Reserve (10 minutes’ drive) includes Dodd Wood, whose forests are home to red squirrels, and Lake District Wildlife Park, with birds of prey, primates and farmyard animals. At the Lakes Distillery, you can take a tour of the facilities – complete with a whisky tasting, of course. In the lively market town of Keswick (20 minutes), the riverside Derwent Pencil Museum displays a huge pencil (almost eight metres long) and has a colourful shop stocked with quality art supplies. The town is also the gateway to island-dotted Derwentwater, with its splendid lakeside trails and assorted watery attractions. After visiting the ruins of the 14th-century castle in Penrith (40 minutes), linger a while in the surrounding park, where there’s a playground with a miniature adventure course for the kids. On the outskirts of town are a public pool and several golf courses, plus the Thacka Beck Nature Reserve, where you might spot birds and dragonflies.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Allonby 11.9 mi Sea N/AGoodGoodGood
Southerness 21.2 mi Sea N/AGoodGoodExcellent
St Bees 23.4 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Seascale 25.1 mi Sea N/AGoodGoodGood
Sandyhills 25.6 mi Sea N/AN/APoorPoor

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Mirehouse Historic House and Gardens 4.4 mi

Whinlatter Forest & Visitor Centre 7 mi

Castlerigg Stone Circle 7.4 mi

Ullswater Steamers 14 mi

Dalemain Historic House & Gardens 14.5 mi

National Trust

Wordsworth House and Garden 8.9 mi

Buttermere and Ennerdale 19.1 mi

Grasmere and Great Langdale 19.2 mi

Wasdale, Eskdale and Duddon 20.8 mi

Townend 22.5 mi

Cycle routes

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

Other

High Pike, Fellside 3.4 mi

Ullock Pike - Longside Edge - Skiddaw 3.6 mi

Dodd Wood under Ullock Pike 4.4 mi

Bassenthwaite Osprey Walk 4.4 mi

Latrigg, Blease and Lonscale 6.2 mi

Local events

  • Kendal Calling (Thursday, 30 July 2026 – Thursday, 30 July 2026)

    Penrith, Cumbria 18.9 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 Orthwaite Pop-up Campsite have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Orthwaite Pop-up Campsite dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Orthwaite Pop-up Campsite? The area around Bassenthwaite Lake National Nature Reserve (10 minutes’ drive) includes Dodd Wood, whose forests are home to red squirrels, and Lake District Wildlife Park, with birds of prey, primates and … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Orthwaite Pop-up Campsite?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  Anytime –  Anytime
    Depart by:  Anytime
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Orthwaite Pop-up Campsite? From £25 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.