Thirlspot Farm Camping

Straight from your pitch, you can hike up Sticks Pass (an hour and 20 minutes’ walk) to see the waterfalls, circumnavigate Thirlmere reservoir (five minutes) on foot, or yomp up Helvellyn (an hour and 15 minutes). Blencathra (20 minutes’ drive) has all levels of trails, while Skiddaw (25 minutes) is better suited to families with young kids. If you prefer to explore on two wheels rather than two legs, mountain bikers might like to try out the challenging Thirlmere Dam Loop cycling route (five minutes). Whinlatter Forest Park (20 minutes) is another bikers’ hotspot with testing routes down steep woodland trails. For day trips by car, you’re equidistant from Grasmere – where the kids will probably press you for a visit to The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop – or Keswick (both 10 minutes’ drive) where you can walk along Derwentwater shores – and on a rainy day pop in to Derwent Pencil Museum to see one of the world’s largest… err… pencils.