Sykeside Camping Park

View prices & book 9.5 356 reviews
Dove crag views (added by manager 08 Aug 2022)
Mountain views
Grass pitches
Pitches with views

  • 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…?

Campground type

Tent sites 100
Camper sites 5
RV sites 19
Lodges, cabins, pods or huts 3
Open all year
Opens
Please note
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • Group bookings of 2 or more units (e.g. tent, caravan, RV or accommodation hire) traveling together are not permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • No bachelor/bachelorette parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • The grocery shop is open between 01/01 and 12/31.
  • Bookings must not be for more than 28 consecutive nights.
  • At least one of the party members must be aged 18 or over.
  • Minimum spacing of 2 metres between pitches.
  • Guests are advised to bring a good quality flashlight with them as parts of the park are unlit.
  • 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

Reviews

97%

would recommend this campground to a friend

96%

would stay here again

  • 80%
    10
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    1

Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

Felt very safe as a solo female traveller, clean facilities and a…

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
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked: Felt very safe as a solo female traveller, clean facilities and a well stocked shop

Recommend to friends Visit again

This was my 1st time at Sykeside and I can't wait to…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 10
Wifi No rating
Derek P. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked: This was my 1st time at Sykeside and I can't wait to go back. The site staff were incredibly friendly and made sure I had everything I needed. The facilities are great, showers and toilets clean and warm. I had a wonderful couple of days

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent facility’s with stunning 360 degree views of the hills. Nice

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 10
Christian K. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked: The setting was stunning

Disliked: N/a

Recommend to friends Visit again

100% will be staying again, can't recommend more!

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 2
Ryan M. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked: Brilliant location, allowed fire pits!

Disliked: Noisy neighbours

Recommend to friends Visit again

Well resourced site with a well stocked shop, showers, laundry dryers and…

Overall 8/10
Location 10
Value for money 6
Accommodation 8
Facilities / Activities 6
Customer service 6
Child friendliness 4
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 4
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked: Well resourced site with a well stocked shop, showers, laundry dryers and a pub all right on the hillside.

Disliked: Only allowed into the pub if had booked a table for food in advance- just drinkers were relegated to the beer garden.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent facilities, great shop, and fantastic Inn.…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 10
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked: Excellent facilities, great shop, and fantastic Inn.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent campsite facility with showers, toilets, dog friendly

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 10
Wifi No rating
Andy J. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked: Cleanliness of the site Staff were friendly A good stash of supplies in the shop Pub nearby Walks nearby

Disliked: Ground wasn’t the easiest to get pegs into

Recommend to friends Visit again

Woow!

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 10
Wifi No rating
Rudy R. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked: I loved absolutely everything about Sykeside! The sanitary facilities were top-notch and spotless, the option to rent a fire pit was fantastic, and the breathtaking views were simply stunning. I also have to give a special shout-out to the young gentleman at reception – his professionalism and demeanor were more fitting for a high-class hotel than a campsite in the middle of nowhere. Wow! His service really added to the overall experience. I'll definitely be back!

Recommend to friends Visit again

An excellent, clean and friendly site in the heart of the lakes

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 8
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 10
Paul C. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked: The views The Location The Facilities The Shop The showers The pub adjoining

Disliked: Groups of young runners making noise well after the 11pm noise curfew

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great shop and good facilities, and a pub 3 minutes from tent…

Overall 8/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 8
Rob W. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked: Great shop and good facilities, and a pub 3 minutes from tent

Disliked: Stoney hard ground, but it is the lakes so to be expected 😂

Recommend to friends Visit again


Features

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 Car parking by site/unit 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

Disabled facilities

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 GMT (GMT+00:00)

GPS

54.49861°N
-2.92474°W

Nearest transport

Bus
4.8 mi Lakeside House for Dove Cottage
4.8 mi Daffodil Hotel for Dove Cottage
5 mi Kelsick Road opposite Library
Rail
8.3 mi Windermere Rail Station
9.5 mi Staveley Rail Station
11.8 mi Burneside (Cumbria) Rail Station
Ferry
3.2 mi Glenridding Ullswater Ferry Landing
5.6 mi Howtown Ullswater Ferry Landing
5.7 mi 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.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020 2019 2018 2017
Seascale 23.8 mi Sea N/A Good Good Good
Silecroft 25.8 mi Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Haverigg 25.9 mi Sea Poor N/A N/A N/A
St Bees 27.4 mi Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Allonby 27.6 mi Sea N/A Good Good Good

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Ullswater Steamers 3.2 mi

Rydal Mount and Gardens 4.2 mi

Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth Museum 4.8 mi

Brockhole - Lake District Visitor Centre 6.7 mi

Beatrix Potter Gallery 9.1 mi

National Trust

Grasmere and Great Langdale 5.7 mi

Townend 6.1 mi

Windermere and Troutbeck 7.6 mi

Beatrix Potter Gallery 9.1 mi

Coniston and Tarn Hows 10 mi

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 2.4 mi

Helvellyn - Nethermost Pike - High Crag - Dollywaggon Pike 2.7 mi

Glenridding - Helvellyn - Grisedale Brow - Glenridding 3.3 mi

Caudale Moor and Troutbeck Tongue 3.3 mi

Glenridding and Greenside Mine 3.3 mi

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 campgrounds

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable campgrounds.

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 $28.22 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.