Holmescales Campsite

View prices & book 9 246 reviews
Around the site
Around the site
Aerial view of the site
View of the site
Pitches and toilet block
Around the site
Around the site
Around the site
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Aerial view of the site
View of the site
Pitches and toilet block

  • Small site in the Cumbria countryside, 15 minutes’ drive from Kendal
  • Sizergh Castle 15 minutes’ drive; Windermere half an hour
  • Archery, quad biking and axe throwing; toilet and shower block
The gently undulating hills of the Cumbria countryside surround Holmescales Campsite, a small, friendly site a five-minute drive from the hamlet of Old Hutton, with its pretty stone cottages, and 15 minutes from the market town of Kendal. This is a handy spot for getting out into the fresh air and exploring the spectacular landscape, since the site sits between the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales national parks. Not only that: being a mere three miles from the M6 and four miles from Oxenholme railway station makes Holmescales a nifty stopover point for those heading to and from Scotland. Life on site is pretty peaceful: each pitch has a view of the Lakeland fells, and you’ll often spot farm animals and wildlife in the surroundings, too. Amenities include shower and toilet blocks and a washing-up station, plus chemical disposal. Couples, families and well-behaved dogs on leads are all welcome to stay here, and barbecues and campfires are permitted to enhance those rural evenings on site – although there are several excellent pubs and restaurants within a few minutes’ drive, too. If it all sounds a tad too laidback, fear not: the folks here run a good set of on-site activities, so you can challenge yourself and have a go at archery, air rifles, crossbows and axe throwing, or spend days quad biking or clay-pigeon shooting. Please note: these activities incur an extra cost, and they’re pretty popular, so you’ll need to book ahead.

Site type

Tent pitches 18
Touring caravan pitches 18
Motorhome pitches 18
Open all year
Opens
Please note
  • 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. Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro).
  • Group bookings of 2 or more units (e.g. tent, touring caravan, motorhome or accommodation hire) travelling together are not permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • No hen/stag parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • The site caters for families (immediate members) and couples only - bookings from all other forms of groups are not accepted.
  • This is a quiet site: no music is allowed.
  • Please note that the toilet/shower facilities are unisex.

Languages spoken

English

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

Reviews

9

Overall rating from 246 Pitchup.com customers

  • 60%
    10
  • 3%
    9
  • 27%
    8
  • 2%
    7
  • 4%
    6
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    5
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    1
Location
 9
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 9
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 9
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 5
Peaceful

93% would recommend this site to a friend

91% would stay here again

What customers say

This is a well-maintained, peaceful campsite offering stunning rural views. Visitors consistently praise the clean, basic facilities including hot showers and a washing-up area. Pitches are generally spacious, and the "pick your own pitch" policy is appreciated. While some mention occasional M6 noise and challenging access roads, the overall experience is highly positive, with many recommending it for its value and tranquility.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews

Reviews page 1 of 25
Arrival date (latest first)

Not a lot - long grass,…

Overall

3 out of 10
Location
 3
Value for money
 3
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 5
Customer service
 2
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 3
Wifi
 No rating
Anthony M.

Electric grass and gravel touring pitch

Liked Not a lot - long grass, muddy, potholes - the campsite feels secondary to the activity centre.
No contact or interest from operators who obviously live off site.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great campsite highly recommend

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 7
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 5
Customer service
 3
Child friendliness
 8
Cleanliness
 7
Wifi
 1
James S.

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked The toilets are very clean. The views around are unspoilt. No real noise. Very peaceful. Waking up to the sound of the stream next to it. The sheep being released by the farmer was above what we expected great potential. And a fulfilled camping trip. Id defo come backs

Disliked Needs a metal bin for hot ashes (I couldn’t find one)

Recommend to friends Visit again

The campsite was quiet surrounded by…

Overall

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

Electric grass and gravel touring pitch

Liked The campsite was quiet surrounded by beautiful scenery and lovely walks from the site.

Disliked We missed the small sign for the campsite but a kind farmer redirected us.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely, well maintained, peaceful site. Great…

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 8
Value for money
 7
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 7
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 8
Wifi
 No rating
Anonymous

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked Lovely, well maintained, peaceful site. Great views and good facilities. The check in process was seamless.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely friendly site. Bit difficult…

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 7
Value for money
 No rating
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 7
Customer service
 No rating
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 No rating
Wifi
 8
TANYA B.

Electric grass and gravel touring pitch

Liked Lovely friendly site. Bit difficult to get on site with caravan

Recommend to friends Visit again

How quiet it is .. and…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 8
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 8
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Anthony M.

Electric grass and gravel touring pitch

Liked How quiet it is .. and i was there two nights i couldnt here the m6 .. really
Its a farm so the roads are going to be narrow and facing large farm equipement ..
The shower was mmm shall we say very inventive .. tbh i did laugh .. very clean and a lovely hot shower

Disliked Tbh i cant say anything .. very isolated ie shops not close by but thats exactly what i wanted ... i had my food and water with me

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely site with all you need!

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 No rating
Value for money
 No rating
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 No rating
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 No rating
Wifi
 No rating
Vicky S.

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked Simple, clean facilities. Nice hot water in the showers and good changing space in there. Views were excellent and the host was helpful and communicative when we arrived.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Expensive for facilities

Overall

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

Electric grass and gravel touring pitch

Liked View

Disliked Expensive for facilities. Toilets were an old port-a-cabin. Shower was an individual shower port-a-cabin with outside changing

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: HI Thank you for your review, we are sorry the site was not for you but we are glad you enjoyed our spectacular views. we would just like to clarify the showers (which can be seen in the description photos) have an individual changing area which is fully covered and secure.

We had a pleasant one night…

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 9
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 No rating
Daniel S.

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked We had a pleasant one night stay here. Lovely views and quiet. Very reasonable price.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Clean and nice views. Never saw any staff so can't comment

Overall

6 out of 10
Location
 6
Value for money
 8
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 4
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 5
Wifi
 5
Elizabeth Anne H.

Electric grass and gravel touring pitch

Liked Beautiful setting and views. Very rustic and wild.

Disliked Showers were a bit cold unable to adjust temperature as was the water for hand washing in ladies toilet. As it was semi wild camping the showers, which were open to the elements, were really cold when the wind was blowing.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Features

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

Themes

Peaceful Remote location Spectacular scenery Wild camping Wildlife haven

Utilities

Charging facilities Chemical disposal Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby Shop nearby

Type

Farm Small (11-25 pitches)

Nearby leisure

Climbing nearby Cycling nearby Horse riding nearby Mountain biking nearby Restaurant nearby

Location

Holmescales Campsite

Holmescales Farm

Old Hutton

Cumbria

England

LA8 0NB

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London GMT (GMT+00:00)

GPS

54.27493°N
2.68536°W

Nearest transport

Coach
4.5 mi Bus Station
4.5 mi Bus Station
4.5 mi Bus Station
Rail
2.5 mi Oxenholme Lake District Rail Station
4.5 mi Kendal Rail Station
6.4 mi Burneside (Cumbria) Rail Station
Ferry
10.8 mi Fell Foot Country Park Ferry Landing
10.9 mi Lakeside Windermere Ferry Landing
11.3 mi Bowness Ferry Nab 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 vast grounds at Sizergh Castle (15 minutes’ drive) include woodlands, wetlands, orchards and a rock garden with a collection of lush ferns. The 14th-century mansion at the heart of it all has displays of Elizabethan furniture, paintings and armour; it is also home to the Inlaid Chamber, with its exquisite oak panelling. Petrolheads will appreciate a day at the Lakeland Motor Museum (25 minutes), where vintage cars and motorcycles are presented within the social context of their respective eras – for example, a 1940s tractor is part of a display on the Women’s Land Army (or Land Girls). There are also exhibits on pedal cars and caravans. There are rowing, sailing and racing boats on display at the Jetty Museum in Windermere (half an hour), where you can also take long strolls on the banks of the lake of the same name. Just a little further south, in Bowness-on-Windermere, children can meet Peter Rabbit, Squirrel Nutkin and other beloved fictional characters at The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Morecambe North 15.4 mi Estuary GoodN/AGoodGood
Morecambe South 16 mi Sea N/AN/AGoodGood
Haverigg 25.1 mi Sea PoorN/AN/AN/A
Walney West Shore 26 mi Sea N/AGoodGoodN/A
Walney Sandy Gap 26.2 mi Sea N/AGoodGoodN/A

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Sizergh Castle and Garden 3.6 mi

Levens Hall & Gardens 3.9 mi

Blackwell, The Arts & Craft House 10.7 mi

Windermere Lake Cruises, Lakeside 11 mi

The World of Beatrix Potter 11.3 mi

National Trust

Sizergh Castle and Garden 3.6 mi

Fell Foot Park 10.8 mi

Cartmel Priory Gatehouse 12 mi

Windermere and Troutbeck 12.2 mi

Hill Top 12.7 mi

Cycle routes

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

Other

LEVENS HALL 3.4 mi

SIZERGH CASTLE 3.4 mi

The River Kent and Kendal 3.7 mi

Levens Hall and the River Kent 3.8 mi

Levens Hall and Sizergh Castle 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?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Holmescales Campsite have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Holmescales Campsite dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Holmescales Campsite? The vast grounds at Sizergh Castle (15 minutes’ drive) include woodlands, wetlands, orchards and a rock garden with a collection of lush ferns. The 14th-century mansion at the heart of it all … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Holmescales Campsite?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  1:30 p.m. –  5 p.m.
    Depart by:  12:30 p.m.

    Please call or text when you are close to arriving.

    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Holmescales Campsite? From £26 (for 1 night, 4 people) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.