Sykeside Camping Park

View prices & book 9.2 281 reviews
Dove crag views
Dove crag views
Mountain views
Grass pitches
Outdoor feel
Pitches with views
Overlooking the mountains
Raised area of the campsite
Breathtaking surroundings
1/326
Mountain views
Grass pitches
Outdoor feel

  • Remote location but with easy access to the Lake District and Cumbria
  • In a walker's paradise in the Dovedale Valley
  • Modern facilities and well-stocked shop
The placing of this Penrith park is pretty perfect. Get ready for Lake District and Cumbrian valley walks in sublime surroundings, at this friendly site in a walker's paradise at the northern foot of the Kirkstone Pass. Although it's listed as in a remote location and is set deep and quietly in the Dovedale Valley, Sykeside Camping Park is easily accessible to the best of the Lake District and Cumbria, as it's just off the A592 and is no more than half an hour's drive from Ullswater, Patterdale, Glenridding, Ambleside, Coniston and Keswick. Cruising around Windermere is about 20 minutes away. Sykeside's Dovedale Valley locale has it surrounded by Dove Crag, Hart Crag and Fairfield, and with the town of Brotherswater nearby. Short strolls around Brotherswater are among the walky local options, or you could have a longer hike from the town's high street, where many walks start. (Or take the also most pleasant option of just staying in town and seeking out your holiday local the Brotherswater Inn for a pint or two of regional ale among the splendid regional scenery.) The Sykeside team has set the site out carefully to blend in with its surroundings and make the most of its natural settings, but have added modern amenities to keep guests comfy, like the shower and toilet facilities with shaving points and power points, and the laundry room with washing machine, tumble dryer and washing-up area. Feel free to set yourself up here to ignore the rest of the outside world: the well-stocked shop sells most of what you might need including fresh food, camping equipment, maps and guides; and because of the site's position right at the bottom of the valley, telly reception is pretty unreliable and you'll not get a single bar on your mobile – did someone mention digital detox…?

Site type

Tent sites 100
Travel trailer sites 5
RV sites 19
Lodges, cabins, pods or huts 3
Open all year
Opens
Please note

Admission

  • At least one of the party members must be aged 18 or over.
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.

Occupancy

  • Group bookings of 2 or more units travelling together are not permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • No bachelor/bachelorette parties permitted via Pitchup.com.

General

  • The grocery shop is open between 01/01 and 31/12.
  • Due to the position of the campsite at the bottom of the valley, television reception is extremely unreliable, and there is no mobile phone reception at all. Group bookings of 6 or more adults are not permitted.

Languages spoken

English

AA 3 pennants

No availability here for your search criteria

Reviews

9.2

Overall rating from 281 Pitchup.com customers

  • 67%
    10
  • 8%
    9
  • 16%
    8
  • 2%
    7
  • 1%
    6
  • 1%
    5
  • 0%
    4
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    3
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    2
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    1
Location
 10
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 9
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 8
Spectacular sceneryLake and/or mountainHikers’ paradise

96% would recommend this site to a friend

92% would stay here again

What customers say

Sykeside offers beautiful scenery and a great spot for outdoor fun. Guests love the friendly staff, well-stocked shop, and clean washrooms. The on-site pub is a hit! Some found the ground rocky and muddy after rain, and a few noted the showers are a bit old-fashioned, though kept clean.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews. Last updated 2026-09-01

Filter by topic

Reviews page 1 of 29
Arrival date (latest first)

Spacious and amazing scenery…

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 5
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 5
Wifi
 No rating
Anonymous

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked Spacious and amazing scenery

Disliked Litter when we arrived, facilities could do with a good clean

Recommend to friends Visit again

Would highly recommend.

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
James S. 1 review

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked Lovely Views. Great shop, well stocked and reasonably priced. Clean toilet & shower facilities. Staff enforced quiet time. Nice pub. Beautiful walks near campsite. Short drive to Windermere.

Recommend to friends Visit again

The views and scenery are beyond gorgeous.

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 5
 Demi R. 1 review

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked Such a beautiful location and really easy experience.

Disliked Nothing.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent location and value for money…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 7
Wifi
 No rating
Ben L. 1 review

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked Excellent location and value for money

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely site, very friendly staff, views…

Overall

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

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked Lovely site, very friendly staff, views are spectacular, clean and tidy facilities and close to pitches. The upkeep of the site is fantastic. We even got the chance to see military planes flying overhead. Will definitely return here. Thanks so much sykeside.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great campsite with beautiful scenery and a nice break

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 8
Facilities / Activities
 7
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 7
Wifi
 No rating
Lewis H. 3 reviews

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked Beautiful location, great pub (only had drinks)

Disliked Facilities where a little dated but well maintained.

The rocks at the corners of the hard standing pitches :( bumped into one as they where on every corner

Recommend to friends Visit again

Loved it! Thank you. We’ll definitely be back

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 7
Facilities / Activities
 7
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 7
Wifi
 8
 mark w. 1 review

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked Excellet location, very accommodating staff. Great facilities, well
Stocked shop and not stupidly priced.
Even though campsite was at capacity it didn't feel overly crowded which is important so thanks for not being too greedy and cramming more of us in

Disliked Showers sometimes not that hot
Pub beer wasnt as good as other local pubs. We couldnt book for food in the pub but every time we went in there there were several empty tables with reserved signs on them which was frustrating.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Absolutely beautiful location, can easily walk…

Overall

7 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 6
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 8
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 6
Wifi
 No rating
Ella W. 2 reviews

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked Absolutely beautiful location, can easily walk to Brothers Water and only a short drive to Ullswater

Disliked The showers felt dirty, both me and my partner commented on how whilst in the shower we avoided touching the walls as it just didnt feel like it has had a good deep clean in months, also the shower was usually luke warm or edging on cold, unsure if this was due to a busy weekend maybe. Feels very expensive compared to other campsites, I'd say it gives more holiday park vibes than a camping site.

Recommend to friends Visit again

The view was great…

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 8
Facilities / Activities
 7
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 7
Anonymous

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked The view was great

Recommend to friends Visit again

Really good place to camp 100% coming back.

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 5
Wifi
 No rating
tom w. 1 review

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked Excellent location and the staff are really nice and helpful

Disliked Toilets/showers could do with a facelift.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Features

Dogs allowed

Campfires 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

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

Hikers’ paradise Lake and/or mountain Remote location Spectacular scenery

Utilities

Charging facilities Dump station Electric car charging point(s) Propane/gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Convenience store nearby Dog walk nearby

Type

Large (51-200 sites)

Accessibility

Bathrooms: Step-free access Uneven terrain; gravel or loose mud

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Cycle hire nearby Fishing nearby Golf nearby Horseback riding nearby Mountain biking nearby Restaurant nearby Sailing nearby Watersports nearby

Location

Sykeside Camping Park

Hartsop

Penrith

Cumbria

England

CA11 0NZ

Directions

Timezone

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

GPS

54.49861°N
2.92474°W

Nearest transport

Coach
7.8 km Lakeside House for Dove Cottage
7.8 km Daffodil Hotel for Dove Cottage
8 km Kelsick Road opposite Library
Rail
13.3 km Windermere Rail Station
15.3 km Staveley Rail Station
19 km Burneside (Cumbria) Rail Station
Ferry
5.2 km Glenridding Ullswater Ferry Landing
9 km Howtown Ullswater Ferry Landing
9.1 km Ambleside Waterhead 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

Sykeside Camping Park's central location in the Lakes means it has loads of activities within easy reach by foot or car and on land or water. For watery days within 20 minutes of the site, join one of the most popular pastimes in the Lake District with a cruise on Windermere, or get serious about the water and hire a boat or learn to sail with Glenridding Sailing Centre on Ullswater. Boat trips are also available from Coniston Water and Keswick. By land and also within 20 minutes are the crashing hike around Aira Force waterfall, and the medieval manor and greenery of Dalemain Mansion & Historic Gardens as well as the heritage and cinema of the The Rheged Centre at Penrith. Within half an hour, spy ospreys at Bassenthwaite near Keswick, have a ride on the 3.2 miles of the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway, and wander around the The Rheged Centreancientness of the Castlerigg stone circle, the most visited in Cumbria.

Food and drink

  • Barn End Bar Pub 0.06 km
  • Brotherswater Inn Pub 0.1 km
  • White Lion Inn Pub 4 km
  • Patterdale Hotel Pub 4.1 km
  • Travellers Rest Pub 5.4 km
  • Badger Bar & Restaurant Pub 6.9 km
  • The Yan at Broadrayne Restaurant 7.1 km
  • The Travellers Rest Inn Pub 7.2 km
  • The Garden Room Restaurant 7.6 km
  • Golden Rule Pub 7.7 km

Groceries

  • Beer Ambleside 8 km

Parks and play

  • King George V Playing Field park 4.3 km
  • Formal Garden park 6.6 km
  • University of Cumbria Park 7.4 km
  • Aira Force park 8.6 km
  • Borrans Park 9 km
  • Troutbeck Play Area Playground 9.1 km

Family days out

  • Kirk Stone 3.2 km
  • Ice house 6.5 km
  • The Grot 6.6 km
  • Rydal Mount 6.7 km
  • Dora's Field 6.8 km
  • Stock Ghyll Force Waterfall 7.5 km
  • Bridge House 7.7 km
  • Rydal Cave 7.7 km
  • Wordsworth Daffodil Garden 7.8 km
  • William Wordsworth's Grave 7.8 km

Public transport

  • Brotherswater Inn (N bound) 0.1 km
  • Brotherswater Inn (S bound) 0.1 km
  • Hartsop Hall Campsite 0.3 km
  • Hartsop Hall camp site 0.3 km
  • Windy Corner 0.6 km
  • Road End 1.4 km
  • Cow Bridge car park 1.5 km
  • Cow Bridge 1.5 km
  • Bridge End Phone Box 2.5 km
  • Bridgend 2.5 km

What’s nearby

  • Market Cross Shopping centre 7.8 km
  • Waterhead Marine Marina 9.3 km

Local services

  • Glenridding Health Centre Doctors 5.4 km
  • Ambleside Health Centre Doctors 7.6 km
  • Grasmere Pharmacy 7.7 km
  • Boots Pharmacy 7.8 km
  • Thomas Bell Chemist Pharmacy 7.9 km
  • Hill's Fuel station 8.2 km

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Must see

Ullswater Steamers 5.2 km

Rydal Mount and Gardens 6.8 km

Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth Museum 7.8 km

Brockhole - Lake District Visitor Centre 10.8 km

Beatrix Potter Gallery 14.6 km

National Trust

Grasmere and Great Langdale 9.2 km

Townend 9.9 km

Windermere and Troutbeck 12.2 km

Beatrix Potter Gallery 14.6 km

Coniston and Tarn Hows 16 km

Cycle routes

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

Other

Kirkstone Pass - Caudale Moor - Stony Cove Pike 3.8 km

Helvellyn - Nethermost Pike - High Crag - Dollywaggon Pike 4.3 km

Glenridding - Helvellyn - Grisedale Brow - Glenridding 5.3 km

Caudale Moor and Troutbeck Tongue 5.3 km

Glenridding and Greenside Mine 5.3 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.

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

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Sykeside Camping Park have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Sykeside Camping Park dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Sykeside Camping Park? Sykeside Camping Park's central location in the Lakes means it has loads of activities within easy reach by foot or car and on land or water. For watery days within 20 minutes … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Sykeside Camping Park?
    RV, travel trailer and tent sites
    Arrive:  1 p.m. –  8 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Sykeside Camping Park? From $44.51 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.