Wasdale Lakeside Campsite

View prices & book 9.4 156 reviews
Aerial view of the camping field
Aerial view of the camping field
Wasdale valley
Campsite entrance
Wasdale valley
Looking up wasdale to yewbarrow
View above the campsite
Aerial view of the camping field and wastwater
Lambing time
1/236
Wasdale valley
Campsite entrance
Wasdale valley

  • Basic and remote campsite five minutes’ walk from Wastwater in Cumbria
  • Wastwater Alpaca Trekking 25 minutes’ drive; Ravenglass 20 minutes
  • Pop-up pitches on a Lakeland fell farm; access to Scafell Pike
If you’re after a spectacular wild camping spot to lay down your head, you’ll certainly find it at Wasdale Lakeside Campsite. Set on a working Lakeland farm, this Cumbria pop-up site is big on views, looking up Wasdale to Yewbarrow, and right down to the shores of Wastwater. Well-behaved dogs are welcome to join your Lakeland jaunt, but must be kept on a lead at all times as there are always sheep about. You’ll all get lots of exercise, as there are numerous walks into the scenic Wasdale Valley from the camping field. Talking of the camping field, pitch numbers are limited so your wild camping experience can stay a private, peaceful one. Simple amenities run to portable toilets, on-site water in a container, cold running water a short walk from the pitches, recycling and washing lines for drying clothes and wetsuits. Small barbecues are allowed, but please place them on the slates provided. Pick up any vital supplies in Eskdale Stores (15 minutes’ drive), or order takeaways from the Lion and Lamb pub in Gosforth (they’ll deliver to your tent). If you fancy a change of scenery, hotfoot it down to the pubs in Nether Wasdale (10 minutes or half an hour’s walk). Please note there are no showers and no electrical hook-up points at this campsite. As this is a remote area, there is limited phone signal and data coverage; some networks have better coverage than others.

Site type

Tent sites 47
RV sites 3
Open now
Opens July 17
Please note
  • This park has no on-site shower facilities.
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • The park does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Breed-specific legislation (i.e. Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro).
  • Discount cards and gift vouchers cannot be applied to bookings made via Pitchup.com.
  • Guests are advised to bring a good quality flashlight with them as parts of the park are unlit.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Thu, Jul 17 to

Reviews

9.4

Overall rating from 156 Pitchup.com customers

  • 80%
    10
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    9
  • 14%
    8
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    1
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 9
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 9
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 4
Lake and/or mountainPeacefulSpectacular scenery

96% would recommend this site to a friend

96% would stay here again

What customers say

Great spot by Wastwater lake for hikers & water sports. Friendly owners! Facilities are basic (portaloos), but peaceful with amazing stargazing. Farm track access.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews

Reviews page 1 of 16
Arrival date (latest first)

Loved the area, was easy to drive too from Scafell pike. Cafe…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 10
Anonymous

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked Loved the area, was easy to drive too from Scafell pike. Cafe Justin front and the lake just behind. Plenty of space to park up and pitch and the kids had loads of room to play too. Everyone was so lovely!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Beautiful lakeside site, spacious camping area, friendly host.

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
Kaylee W.

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked The site is beautiful and the lake is only a 5 minute walk. The camping area is extensive, there were several groups on the field with us and we never felt like it was busy. The farmer was very welcoming and made sure we didn't need anything. There were plenty of portaloos available and all fairly clean.
I would absolutely stay here again.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Everything just perfect! Our third time here. Amazing place, friendly owner!…

Overall

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

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked Everything just perfect! Our third time here. Amazing place, friendly owner!

Disliked Nothing to dislike

Recommend to friends Visit again

A perfect camping site that fully deserves the score it has received.

Overall

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

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked Views
Campsite
Restrooms are generally clean
Close proximity to a magnificent lake
Near a stunning stream

Disliked There is a stone road for the last 5 minutes to reach the campsite.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Overall clean facilities with great views & good pitches.

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 8
Value for money
 7
Accommodation
 7
Facilities / Activities
 1
Customer service
 1
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 No rating
Wifi
 No rating
Anonymous

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked The views & space across the site.

Disliked The road leading to the site.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Highly recommend, I plan to return

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 6
Customer service
 No rating
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 No rating
Richard M.

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked I'm a wild camper, and prefer to camp somewhere near the summit generally. I picked this site to bring my nephew camping and hiking. I wanted a basic site in the heart of the hills, Wasdale Lakeside Campsite was perfect, views are stunning. Farm shop at the entrance does great food.
I've seen a few reviews on here grumbling about the portaloos, all I can say is that they appear to be cleaned frequently (I never went in an unclean one)

Disliked Stunning site, river runs by natural sound of water to relax too. I was disappointed that the inconsiderate group at the other side of the site were playing music until 11pm ish. Not obscenely loud, but loud enough to disturb from the opposite side of the field.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Amazing scenery, great remotes location, close to lake, wildness.…

Overall

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

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked Amazing scenery, great remotes location, close to lake, wildness.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Clean large pitches, loads of space and stunning views

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 8
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 9
Facilities / Activities
 7
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 1
George P.

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked A well signposted stunning location easy to find and as advertised. Perfect compromise between close to wild camping but having clean toilet facilities and a tap. Extremely friendly owner too

Recommend to friends Visit again

Nice quiet and almost wild camping!! We will come back again…

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 7
Accommodation
 6
Facilities / Activities
 1
Customer service
 8
Child friendliness
 1
Cleanliness
 8
Wifi
 7
Santiago D.

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked Nice quiet and almost wild camping!! We will come back again

Disliked The toilet is not nice

Recommend to friends Visit again

Fantastic location for water access.

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 6
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Cole A.

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked The site location is perfect for access to Wastwater. Loved swimming in the lake in the late evening and early mornings. The views are stunning and the sunset well worth watching. Chemical toilet cubicles welcomed addition. 20 min walk to a great cafe for breakfast or lunches. Great for those that like simple close to wild camping. Enjoyed getting the kayak on the lake. Very friendly host.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Features

Portable toilet

Pop-up campground

Dogs allowed

Leisure on park

Bar or club house Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Indoor swimming pool Kids' club On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Playground Recreation room/arcade TV room Takeout Tennis Watersports Wild swimming

Amenities on park

Bath available Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Free wifi Grocery store Ice pack freezing Internet access Laundromat Parent & baby washroom Payphone Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Restrooms Shower available Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Scouts welcome Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue grills allowed Barbecue provided Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all year

Themes

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

Utilities

Charging facilities Dump station Electric car charging point(s) No hot water Propane/gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby

Type

Farm Medium (26-50 sites) Pop-up campground

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Climbing nearby Cycling nearby Fishing nearby Golf nearby Mountain biking nearby Restaurant nearby

Location

Wasdale Lakeside Campsite

Easthwaite Farm

Nether Wasdale

Cumbria

England

CA20 1ET

Directions

Timezone

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

GPS

54.42191°N
3.32446°W

Route directions

On arrival, please follow the sign to the campsite. Do not cross the farmyard, but drive through the double gates on your left. Drive carefully as there are sheep in the fields. What3words: goats.spotted.named. Please note that it is a farm track, not a tarmac road, so please drive carefully.

Nearest transport

Coach
20.3 km Lakeside House for Dove Cottage
20.3 km Daffodil Hotel for Dove Cottage
22.3 km Tangier Street
Rail
9.2 km Ravenglass Rail Station
9.2 km Drigg Rail Station
10.8 km Seascale Rail Station
Ferry
18 km Coniston Ferry Landing
18.1 km Waterhead Hotel (Coniston) Ferry Landing
18.2 km Torver (Coniston) 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

Just five minutes’ stroll from the camping field, Wastwater is a hub for wild swimmers, scuba divers, paddleboarders and kayakers – you can hire gear from the rental shop 10 minutes’ drive away. The lake is also fertile ground for anglers, who can fish for Arctic char, trout and salmon (in season). Hardened hikers have access to ventures up Scafell Pike (three hours) from the site. If you’re thinking of less strenuous days out, play a round at Eskdale Golf Course (25 minutes), or take the weight off your feet completely with a train tour of the West Lakes fell and mountain scenery on Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, locally known as ‘La’al Ratty’ (15 minutes). Local kid-friendly options include trotting through the fells with alpacas at Wastwater Alpaca Trekking (25 minutes), or a gentle scramble up Wasdale (an hour and a half’s walk from the site) to the Fairy Pools. The sand-and-shingle beaches at Seascale (25 minutes) and Ravenglass (20 minutes) are both dog-friendly, with lots of rook pools for splashing around in.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Seascale 11.1 km Sea N/AGoodGoodGood
St Bees 19.9 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Silecroft 22.6 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Haverigg 26 km Sea PoorN/AN/AN/A
Walney West Shore 33.7 km Sea N/AGoodGoodN/A

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway 9.1 km

Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth Museum 20.1 km

Beatrix Potter Gallery 21.6 km

Whinlatter Forest & Visitor Centre 22 km

Rydal Mount and Gardens 22.2 km

National Trust

Wasdale, Eskdale and Duddon 1.7 km

Buttermere and Ennerdale 17.3 km

Gondola' 17.8 km

Coniston and Tarn Hows 18.2 km

Grasmere and Great Langdale 19.6 km

Cycle routes

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

Other

Eskdale Green - Muncaster Fell - Muncaster Head - Eskdale Green 3.6 km

MUNCASTER CASTLE 8.5 km

High Gillerthwaite - Red Pike Ridge Traverse - High Gillerthwaite 10.4 km

Seathwaite - Scafell Pike - Seathwaite 12.6 km

The Gables from Honister Pass 12.7 km

Local events

  • Kendal Calling (Thursday, July 31, 2025 – Thursday, July 31, 2025)

    Penrith, England 44.2 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.

Nearest sites

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable sites.

Want to know more about camping in The Lake District and Cumbria?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Wasdale Lakeside Campsite have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Wasdale Lakeside Campsite dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Wasdale Lakeside Campsite? Just five minutes’ stroll from the camping field, Wastwater is a hub for wild swimmers, scuba divers, paddleboarders and kayakers – you can hire gear from the rental shop 10 minutes’ drive … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Wasdale Lakeside Campsite?
    RV, travel trailer and tent sites
    Arrive:  noon –  9 p.m.
    Depart by:  noon
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Wasdale Lakeside Campsite? From $36.57 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.