The Old Post Office Campsite

View prices & book 9 337 reviews
River views
River views
Aerial view, you can see the proximity of the pub!
Taken at the bottom end of the site - hook-ups spread across the site
Tranquil views of the river irt right in the back garden
A quiet day in may
Pop over to the bridge inn, just across from the campsite
Young explorer enjoying a sunny day by the river irt
River days = the best days for little feet and big imaginations
1/81
Aerial view, you can see the proximity of the pub!
Taken at the bottom end of the site - hook-ups spread across the site
Tranquil views of the river irt right in the back garden

  • Quiet site on the western edge of the Lake District National Park
  • Bordered by the River Irt for swimming and salmon or trout fishing
  • Scenic picnic benches; dogs welcome; café 10 minutes' walk away
Established in 1951, The Old Post Office Campsite is in a royally fab location for anyone after a peaceful spot to explore the Lake District. Those looking for quiet stays can deliver themselves to this compact site, just on the western border of the Lake District National Park, to enjoy the very best of the area's spectacular setting. You can be at the little village of Santon Bridge in a jiffy (it's just a one-minute walk away) and with the River Irt bordering the site, you’ll likely agree The Old Post Office has got the whole package… Swim, paddle or just bask on the banks of the calm freshwater river that flows right along one side of the site, while avid anglers can scale the choice of catches to be had with salmon, sea and brown trout floundering from the waters. The site’s first-class facilities include modern toilets and showers, a laundry room with coin-operated machines, dishwashing sinks and wifi, with well-tended pathways all around the site and timber picnic benches to take in the mountains, river and countryside views. A gift shop and café are 10 minutes' walk away. Dogs are welcome too – and with all the walking opportunities in and around the Lakes, a holiday here should really deliver the goods for all…

Site type

Motorhome sites 10
Tent sites 7
Caravan sites 14
Open all year
Opens
Please note
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • The campground/park does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Dangerous Dog Act (i.e. Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro).
  • Group bookings of 2 or more units (e.g. tent, caravan, motorhome or accommodation hire) travelling together are not permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • Group bookings of 3 or more adults are not permitted (couples and immediate family members excepted).
  • Single-sex bookings of 3 or more people (couples and immediate family members excepted) are not permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • No hen/stag parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • Commercial vehicles (vehicles used for work-related purposes, carrying goods or fare-paying passengers) and sign-written vehicles are not permitted on site.
  • The campground/park caters for families (immediate members) and couples only - bookings from all other forms of groups are not accepted.
  • A cable measuring at least 10 metres is needed for the electric hook-ups.
  • Bookings must not consist of more than 2 different households.
  • Showers cost 50p for approximately 10 minutes.

Languages spoken

English

Pitch types & availability

Accommodation

Tent sitesCaravan sitesMotorhome sitesLodges, cabins, pods or hutsCaravans for hireRent a tent
Choose your dates
2 adults
0 children
Other pitch types

Reviews

9

Overall rating from 337 Pitchup.com customers

  • 63%
    10
  • 1%
    9
  • 24%
    8
  • 1%
    7
  • 4%
    6
  • 0%
    5
  • 2%
    4
  • 0%
    3
  • 2%
    2
  • 0%
    1
Location
 9
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 9
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 9
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 7
Peaceful

89% would recommend this site to a friend

87% would stay here again

What customers say

A friendly, peaceful, well-kept riverside camp, perfect for exploring Western Lakes. Spacious pitches, spotless loos/showers (a bit dated, 50p charge), helpful staff. Pub nearby. Wi-Fi/phone signal can be patchy but most keen to return.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews

Reviews page 1 of 34
Arrival date (latest first)

Lovely small site in a great location. Very clean.…

Overall

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

Powered concrete and grass motorhome site

Liked Lovely small site in a great location. Very clean.

Disliked Only two showers each so had to wait a couple of times. It’s probably enough out of season, but not in school holidays

Recommend to friends Visit again

Small quiet site. Pub and restaurant next door. Dog friendly. Clean facilities.…

Overall

7 out of 10
Location
 7
Value for money
 7
Accommodation
 7
Facilities / Activities
 4
Customer service
 7
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 3
Anonymous

Fully-serviced concrete and grass caravan site (super)

Liked Small quiet site.
Pub and restaurant next door.
Dog friendly.
Clean facilities.

Disliked Faulty electric connection upon arrival but was fixed quite promptly.

Quite remote.

Extra cost to use showers and hair dryer.

Wifi not great.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent site, clean and friendly

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
Anonymous

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked Friendly staff, small campsite so not too many people, well organised and clean, with all the facilities we needed.

Disliked Nothing to dislike or complain about, only improvement would be to pop a mop or squeegee in the showers so people can clean up after themselves.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Beautiful calm spot with a pub 2 min away

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 3
Beverley B.

Powered concrete and grass caravan site

Liked Beautiful spot and all the facilities you need

Disliked None

Recommend to friends Visit again

Quiet location, good walks and pub across the road

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 7
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 9
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 9
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 9
Christine '.

Fully-serviced concrete and grass caravan site (super)

Liked Brilliant location, lovely place to relax. Easy and wasn't bothered

Disliked The river was fast moving not shallow like I thought it would be.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Amazing location Low key site Not too many rules that can sometimes be…

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
Ross T.

Powered concrete and grass caravan site

Liked Amazing location
Low key site
Not too many rules that can sometimes be off putting.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent location and facilities

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 9
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 9
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 3
Chris F.

Powered concrete and grass caravan site

Liked Lovely location, easy check in and good shower facilities.

Disliked Campsite could do more to monitor dogs off lead, we had a long line for ours but other people’s dogs were coming over into our pitch. WiFi at our pitch was poor.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great site with clean facilities and access to the best spots

Overall

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

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked Location, weather and facilities

Recommend to friends Visit again

I would come here again.

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 9
Facilities / Activities
 6
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 10
Scott K.

Powered concrete and grass caravan site

Liked The small site with a level pitch.

Disliked Having to pay additional money to have a shower.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent site with clean facilities and level pitches

Overall

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

Powered concrete and grass caravan site

Liked Lovely site with pitches right on the river. Good clean toilet & showers. Nice friendly hosts.

Disliked Having to pay 50p for the showers!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Features

Dogs 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 Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Laundry Parent & baby washroom Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Public telephone Shower available Toilet block Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

D. of E. welcome Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Rallies welcome Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

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

Camping 2.0

Jumbo tent sites

Themes

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

Utilities

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

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Convenience store nearby Dog walk nearby Public transport nearby

Type

Medium (26-50 sites)

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 Tennis nearby

Touring and motorhomes

Caravan storage facilities Drainage hook-up points for caravans Motorhome service point Water hook-up points for caravans

Location

The Old Post Office Campsite

Santon Bridge

Wasdale

Holmrook

Cumbria

England

CA19 1UY

Directions

Timezone

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

GPS

54.4021°N
3.371°W

Route directions

Please note - some satellite navigation systems suggest a route via Wrynose Pass and Hardknott Pass. These high level routes are not recommended in the dark, or in adverse weather conditions.

Nearest transport

Coach
21.7 km Tangier Street
23.7 km Lakeside House for Dove Cottage
23.7 km Daffodil Hotel for Dove Cottage
Rail
5.5 km Drigg Rail Station
5.7 km Ravenglass Rail Station
7.4 km Seascale Rail Station
Ferry
20.1 km Torver (Coniston) Ferry Landing
20.2 km Coniston Ferry Landing
20.4 km Sunny Bank (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

Pull on your comfiest boots and walk yourself to merriment around these Cumbrian parts: just over five miles away in Wasdale is one of Britain’s tiniest churches, St Olafs, with its timber beams thought to have been made from Viking ships. Hikers, hotstep to the mighty heights of Scafell Pike and Great Gable (both about seven miles away) and Red Pike (approximately 20 miles north of the site). At the Wasdale Valley, as well as nurturing peaks aplenty, canoeists, kayakers and windsurfers alike will rapidly make their way to Wast Water, just five minutes from the site, the deepest lake in the UK. Cycling and walking routes around the lakes and mountains are plentiful, as are the chances for boating and fishing, but if you really want to go off-piste, you could try abseiling, climbing, a high ropes course, or even flying: hot air balloon and paragliding experiences are available for those who want to soar even higher than Scafell.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Seascale 7.7 km Sea N/AGoodGoodGood
St Bees 18.2 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Silecroft 20.4 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Haverigg 24.3 km Sea PoorN/AN/AN/A
Walney West Shore 31.9 km Sea N/AGoodGoodN/A

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway 5.6 km

Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth Museum 23.6 km

Beatrix Potter Gallery 24.2 km

Whinlatter Forest & Visitor Centre 25.2 km

Rydal Mount and Gardens 25.6 km

National Trust

Wasdale, Eskdale and Duddon 2.8 km

Buttermere and Ennerdale 16.9 km

Gondola' 20.1 km

Coniston and Tarn Hows 20.7 km

Grasmere and Great Langdale 22.9 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 3.3 km

MUNCASTER CASTLE 5.4 km

High Gillerthwaite - Red Pike Ridge Traverse - High Gillerthwaite 12.9 km

Seathwaite - Scafell Pike - Seathwaite 16.3 km

The Gables from Honister Pass 16.3 km

Local events

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

    Penrith, England 47.9 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.

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 The Old Post Office Campsite have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is The Old Post Office Campsite dog friendly? No View all features
  • What attractions are near The Old Post Office Campsite? Pull on your comfiest boots and walk yourself to merriment around these Cumbrian parts: just over five miles away in Wasdale is one of Britain’s tiniest churches, St Olafs, with its timber … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of The Old Post Office Campsite?
    Camping and caravan
    Arrive:  1 p.m. –  6:30 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at The Old Post Office Campsite? From $156.22 (for 2 nights, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.