Graythwaite Adventure Bell Tent Camping

No availability at present on Pitchup.com 9.2 22 reviews

Bell tents (added by manager 09 Jul 2024)

Clay pigeon shooting experiences with one-on-one tuition

New

Off-grid bell tents on the western shore of Lake Windermere
A 10-minute drive from Hawkshead and 25 minutes from Ambleside
Watersports hub and land activities on site; basic but scenic tents

Overdue for a digital detox? Make your way to the western shores of Lake Windermere, where Graythwaite Adventure Bell Tent Camping has off-grid bell tents with what many might call a ‘million-dollar view’. The bell tents are at Grubbins Point on the 5,000-acre Graythwaite Estate in the Lake District National Park. This is not glamping, but rather a proper digital detox off the grid with stunning lake views. The tents only have fitted carpets and waterproof groundsheets. As they are unfurnished, guests must bring their own sleeping mat, sleeping bag, pillow and torch. The owners have experienced sleeping everywhere from five-star luxury to the back of vans, but they consider their canvas bell tents to be some of the cosiest, comfiest and most satisfying of them all. The bell tents are purposefully stripped back so that guests can get fully stuck into the watersports hub on site, where there are kayaks, paddleboards and canoes up for hire or lessons and RIB boat tours. Book onto other activities on the estate too, such as off-road driving, clay pigeon shooting, archery, axe-throwing and bushcraft experiences. The site makes for an excellent base for visiting lakeshore trails, local pubs and restaurants, breweries and pretty towns and villages like Hawkshead (10 minutes’ drive) and Ambleside (25 minutes). It's also a short drive from fells for walking and trails for mountain biking. Bring plenty of food and cooking equipment with you. Fires are permitted as long as they’re not directly on the grass (naked flames need to be kept well clear of the tents). Facilities on site include portable toilets and a communal group shelter, as well as wheelbarrows to help you move your kit from the car park to the tent. There are no showers or electricity, so you may also want to bring a power bank and personal hygiene products… and, of course, a sense of adventure. This is a leave-no-trace site where amplified music is banned and quiet hours are in action between 11pm and 8am.

Campground type

Please note

This campground/park has no on-site shower facilities.

Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
Facilities/activities including Watersports, 4x4 off-road driving, clay pigeon shooting, archery, axe throwing, bushcraft experiences are subject to extra charges payable on arrival.
Entertainment and activities are available between 14/07 and 02/09.
Twin axle vehicles are not permitted on site.
Guests under the age of 3 are not allowed on site.
No cars/motorbikes by the pitch/unit. All cars must be parked in the designated area.
Continental touring caravans (caravans built with the passenger door on the right-hand side) are not permitted.
Discount cards and gift vouchers cannot be applied to bookings made via Pitchup.com.
Guests must bring their own duvets, pillows, sheets and towels when staying in rental accommodation. You will not be allowed to stay if you do not bring these items.
This is a quiet campground/park: no music is allowed.
Guests are advised to bring a good quality torch with them as parts of the campground/park are unlit.
No naked flames are allowed inside the hired accommodation units.
There are no bins onsite: all rubbish will need to be taken home with you.
Please note that the toilet facilities are unisex.
Fires, barbecues and/or firepits will not be permitted in dry, windy and/or hot weather conditions.

Languages spoken

English

Pitch types & availability

No availability at present on Pitchup.com

Choose your dates and we'll email when available.

See nearby bookable parks

Bell tent

6 people maximum No dogs allowed

Dimensions: 5.0m width x 5.0m length (16.4ft width x 16.4ft length) Calculated area: 25.0m² (269.1ft²)

6 people maximum

No dogs allowed

Pre-erected 5m bell tents, with carpet, but you'll need to bring everything else to make your stay comfortable.

Bring all camping equipment minus the tent (linen, sleeping bags, pillows, cooking equipment, etc.)

Dimensions

5.0m width x 5.0m length (16.4ft width x 16.4ft length) Calculated area: 25.0m² (269.1ft²)

1 room

Open space 6 x Bring your own bed

No toilets in the unit: shared facilities available.

No showers on site.

Features

Car 1 included, 2 max.

Picnic table

Other restrictions

Bed linen not provided
No dogs allowed

Extras

Extra car (1 max)

GBP 10 (GBP 10) per night

You will be able to choose extras on the booking page.

Arrival days

No availability on our site

Reviews

would recommend this campground to a friend

would stay here again

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Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

Great location, more than what you need to enjoy lake windmere and…

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

Sophie S. Sept 2024

Bell tent

Liked: Great location, more than what you need to enjoy lake windmere and the surrounding beauty of the lake district

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Wonderful! Thank you very much for staying with us and for taking the time to review, and with 10/10 :). Great photos! Really pleased you enjoyed your visit. Best wishes, Sara

Fantastic stay

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

Sam S. Sept 2024

Bell tent

Liked: Absolutely brilliant site, lovely tents and great staff, very knowledgeable and friendly.

Disliked: None

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thank you SO much - we loved having you all around. Thanks again for booking with us. Best wishes, Sara :)

Excellent site

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

Sam S. Sept 2024

Bell tent

Liked: What a site, it's absolutely stunning, staff are so helpful and friendly, bell tents clean and comfortable. It's what it says on pitch up digital detox. You will need to take water and be happy to use the portoloo that are cleaned throughout the day. The lake to swim in is gorgeous, out door games for the kids or adults. Communal area.

Disliked: None

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thank you very much - for staying, being wonderful guests and reviewing. Great photos too. As a family, you embraced it perfectly and we loved seeing you all enjoy the space. Thanks again, from us all. Sara :)

Lovely site and cheap night away. Shame bell tent was on a slope.

Overall	6/10
Location	6
Value for money	6
Accommodation	4
Facilities / Activities	6
Customer service	8
Child friendliness	8
Cleanliness	4
Wifi	2

Sophie B. Aug 2024

Bell tent

Liked: The site was in a beautiful location and staff very friendly

Disliked: The bell rent was situated on a slope and we really struggled to sleep. I feel there needs to be hand washing facilities and more than just a portaloo on site

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Morning Sophie. Thanks again for staying with us ... sorry we couldn't have arranged better weather ... what a week, hey! Thanks also, for taking the time to review and your feedback - we'll take this on board. Pleased you enjoyed our space / team. Many thanks, Sara :)

Very nice camp site the Location is fantastic if you want isolation,…

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	8
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	6
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	8
Cleanliness	8
Wifi	2

peter l. Aug 2024

Bell tent

Liked: Very nice camp site the Location is fantastic if you want isolation, which we do. Camping right next to the lake is perfect. The drive in is an adventure in itself, make sure you don’t arrive in a lowered sports car! Staff were friendly and made sure we were happy at all times. The teepees were fantastic and very specious. Thankfully they also performed admirably at keeping us dry :) We are coming back when the weather is better. We can’t imagine a better or more picturesque place to camp. It’s 30 minutes drive to Windermere if you don’t take the ferry, so make sure you have everything you need.

Disliked: Would love showers!

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thanks so much for booking with us and reviewing! We're really pleased you had a good time and liked our setting. Sorry we couldn't have arranged blue sky days ... another reason to book for next year. :) Thanks again for your comments and enjoy the end of the summer. Best wishes, Sara

Large tents in a stunning location.

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

Alexandra W. Aug 2024

Bell tent

Liked: Stunning location and perfect place to wake up and paddle board. Basic facilities but exactly as advertised and location makes up for everything Tent clean and very spacious - 3 kids and 2 adults with plenty of space to set up beds and chairs Team at Graythwaite Adventures super friendly and helpful

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Marvellous! Thank you very much for choosing to stay with us and for taking the time to review. We're pleased you enjoyed your mini off-grid break. :) Thanks again, Sara

Loved our stay, hope this helps others decide to stay & enjoy as well.

Overall	8/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	8
Customer service	8
Child friendliness	8
Cleanliness	8
Wifi	8

Anonymous Aug 2024

Bell tent

Liked: Absolutely loved our stay at Graythwaite. A beautiful setting and right next to the lake. There is a communal tent with picnic benches and outdoor games. Also a communal fire pit with shelter for evening fire or cooking. Obviously no running water so be prepared with your own, and no electricity. However this adds to the off grid experience of the site. The bell tents were a good size and very clean. There is a water sports centre open 9-5 for those interested in hiring equipment. This is right next to the communal area. Tea and coffee and other drinks/ snacks available at the hut when open. Amazing place to visit on own or with friends. We will go back.

Disliked: There are 3 portaloos available which are cleaned every day - however they are still portaloos so expect odour.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Aw, thank you! So pleased you enjoyed your stay. This is a really helpful review both for us and for future guests. Thanks again for choosing to spend some time with us. Best wishes, Sara :)

Beautiful place. Really enjoyed our stay with swimming and canoeing. Collected our…

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	10
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	10

Uthpala W. Aug 2024

Bell tent

Liked: Beautiful place. Really enjoyed our stay with swimming and canoeing. Collected our own wood and had few barbecues. Very clean and quiet place. Kids loved the lake. Definitely going back.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thank you! It was a pleasure to meet the four of you - thank you again for choosing to stay with us. We'll miss the mouth-watering BBQ smells. :) Enjoy the rest of the summer and hopefully we'll see you again sometime. Best wishes, Sara :)

Stunning retreat back to nature

Overall	8/10
Location	10
Value for money	8
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	6
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	No rating

Natalie G. Aug 2024

Bell tent

Liked: The location of the site is absolutely stunning. Right by Lake Windermere. It doesn’t get any better than waking up to the sound of the water. The tents are spacious and comfortable. The staff here are all so lovely. We hired a canoe and I was a little nervous but Sara was very informative and knowledgable. All the staff acknowledge you and care about this beautiful site.

Disliked: There are no showers or rubbish bins but I knew this before I arrived so was prepared. It’s well documented on pitch up. I would book for longer if it had these amenities but I know they are trying to keep this site off grid for a purpose. We will be back again one day :-)

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: What a lovely read, Natalie. Thank you again for choosing to spend time with us. We're absolutely loving sharing the space with bell tent guests ... waking up to Windermere sets the scene for the day perfectly, doesn't it. :) Thanks again, pleased you got out on the water, and enjoy the rest of the summer. Best, Sara :)

A brilliant place to stay.

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	10
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	10

Brian P. Aug 2024

Bell tent

Liked: The location was perfect, just a few metres from the lake shore. No electricity or water. Pure camping. The quietness of the site, having only a few tents. Having no WiFi, so truly off grid. The customer service from the site owners and the information they sent about the site.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Wonderful! Thank you for taking the time to review; we're delighted you enjoyed your stay and truly appreciated our offering. Thank you for including us in your travels. Best wishes, Sara :)

Features

No dogs allowed

Portable toilet

Pop-up campground

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 Wild swimming

Amenities on site

Bath available Car parking by site/unit Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Laundry Parent & baby washroom Pick-up from public transport Picnic table Portable toilet Pub toilets Public telephone Shower available Tents for hire 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 No dogs allowed

Themes

Budget/backpacker Lake and/or mountain Peaceful Remote location Spectacular scenery Walkers' paradise Wild camping Wildlife haven

Utilities

Charging facilities Dump point 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 Convenience store nearby Dog walk nearby

Type

Pop-up campground Tiny (1-10 sites)

Accessibility

Disabled facilities

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Climbing nearby Cycle hire nearby Cycling nearby Fishing nearby Golf nearby Horse riding nearby Mountain biking nearby Restaurant nearby Sailing nearby Watersports nearby

Location

Graythwaite Adventure Bell Tent Camping

Grubbins Point

Graythwaite Estate

Hawkshead

Cumbria

England

LA12 8BA

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London +0100 (GMT+01:00)

GPS

54.31213°N
-2.9662°W

Route directions

Please follow Google Maps which takes you to the watersports (and bell tents) entrance. Alternatively, use the What3words location cracking.loom.dangerously. Please do not follow a basic Google search for Graythwaite or use the postcode, as the estate spans over 5,000 acres. Look out for the 'watersports' signs at the entrance, the stone pillars on either side and the postbox in the wall, opposite the southern gate of Graythwaite Hall. Once through the watersports entrance, bear right and follow the track (rough in places) down to the lake.

Nearest transport

Coach

8.6 km Rail Station

8.6 km Tourist Information Centre

13.1 km Kelsick Road opposite Library

Rail

8.5 km Windermere Rail Station

11.9 km Staveley Rail Station

13.6 km Grange-over-Sands Rail Station

Ferry

3.9 km Lakeside Windermere Ferry Landing

4 km Fell Foot Country Park Ferry Landing

4.9 km Far Sawrey Windermere Ferry Terminal

Airport

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

Attractions and activities nearby include: - National Trust - Hill Top Beatrix Potter House: 10 minutes’ drive - National Trust - Fell Foot (country park at the south of Windermere): 15 minutes - Claife Heights (hiking): 15 minutes - National Trust – Wray (Victorian neo-gothic building): 20 minutes - Windermere Jetty Museum: 25 minutes - Coniston Water: 25 minutes - Rydal Cave: half an hour.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name	Distance	Type	2020	2019	2018	2017
Haverigg	25 km	Sea	Poor	N/A	N/A	N/A
Morecambe North	27 km	Estuary	Good	N/A	Good	Good
Silecroft	27.1 km	Sea	N/A	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
Morecambe South	27.2 km	Sea	N/A	N/A	Good	Good
Walney West Shore	29.1 km	Sea	N/A	Good	Good	N/A

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Windermere Lake Cruises, Lakeside 3.8 km

Hill Top 4.4 km

Blackwell, The Arts & Craft House 4.7 km

Lakeland Motor Museum 6 km

Windermere Lake Cruises, Bowness 6.2 km

National Trust

Fell Foot Park 4.2 km

Hill Top 4.4 km

Beatrix Potter Gallery 7.4 km

Gondola' 8.8 km

Coniston and Tarn Hows 9.1 km

Cycle routes

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

Other

Near Sawrey and Lake Windermere 4.4 km

BLACKWELL 4.5 km

Claife Heights and Lake Windermere 4.5 km

Winster circular 4.9 km

BELLE ISLE 5.9 km

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.

Policies

Booking terms and conditions

Admission

Admission is only permitted after registering at reception.
All guests spending the night at the park must present their ID at the reception desk and sign registration forms.

Safety

Barbecues are permitted but must be raised off the ground and attended by an adult at all times.

General

Bookings are nominative and non-transferable.

Changes to your holiday

Bookings cannot be amended within 5 day(s) of arrival.

Vehicles

Continental touring caravans (caravans built with the passenger door on the right-hand side) are not permitted.

General

Discount cards and gift vouchers cannot be applied to bookings made via Pitchup.com.
Entertainment and activities are available between 14/07 and 02/09.

Extras

Facilities/activities including Watersports, 4x4 off-road driving, clay pigeon shooting, archery, axe throwing, bushcraft experiences are subject to extra charges payable on arrival.

Safety

Firearms are not permitted.
Fires, barbecues and/or firepits will not be permitted in dry, windy and/or hot weather conditions.
Guests are advised to bring a good quality torch with them as parts of the campground/park are unlit.

Hired accommodation

Guests must bring their own duvets, pillows, sheets and towels when staying in rental accommodation. You will not be allowed to stay if you do not bring these items.

Admission

Guests under the age of 3 are not allowed on site.

General

In the event of a complaint, please speak to reception immediately. Complaints which are not brought to the management's attention during your stay cannot be dealt with once you have left the site.

Arrivals and departures

Late arrivals must notify the park as soon as possible. Your booking will be held for 24 hours. After this period the management reserves the right to relet your unit.

Extras

Motorbike(s) can be brought instead of the car(s) included.

Vehicles

No cars/motorbikes by the pitch/unit. All cars must be parked in the designated area.

Hired accommodation

No naked flames are allowed inside the hired accommodation units.

Arrivals and departures

No refunds/discounts for inclement weather, late arrivals or early departures.

Vehicles

No vehicle movement between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m..

General

Please note that the toilet facilities are unisex.
Quiet hours must be respected between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m..
Radio, music and TV players must be kept at a low volume. Car doors and boots must be closed quietly.

Reception

Reception is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. between 14/07 and 02/09.

Safety

Swimming in the lake is allowed.

General

The campground/park is not liable for any refund in the event of force majeure.

Arrivals and departures

The campground/park will send you further check-in information 7 day(s) before your arrival.

General

The management reserves the right to deny access or terminate the stay of those guests whose behaviour is deemed unsuitable. No refunds will be offered.
There are no bins onsite: all rubbish will need to be taken home with you.

Taxes

This area is not subject to city tax.

General

This campground/park has no on-site shower facilities.
This is a quiet campground/park: no music is allowed.

Vehicles

Twin axle vehicles are not permitted on site.

Admission

Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.

Arrivals and departures

Units will be allocated on arrival.

Visitors

Visitors are not permitted on site.

General

You'll need an Environment Agency rod licence (you'll need to apply for this beforehand).

Payment terms

Nearest campgrounds

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable sites.

Frequently asked questions

Does Graythwaite Adventure Bell Tent Camping have a swimming pool? No View all features
Is Graythwaite Adventure Bell Tent Camping dog friendly? No View all features
What attractions are near Graythwaite Adventure Bell Tent Camping? Attractions and activities nearby include: - National Trust - Hill Top Beatrix Potter House: 10 minutes’ drive - National Trust - Fell Foot (country park at the south of Windermere): 15 minutes … Read more