The Best Campervan Sites in the Lake District

The Lake District packs more scenery into 885 square miles than almost anywhere else in England — and more traffic in summer. It is also one of the best-served national parks for campsites, with everything from huge family parks at the southern end to tiny fellside CLs. The key is matching the site to the size of your van.

The classic bases

• Keswick is the most campervan-friendly town: plenty of parking, a good range of campsites and the northern fells on your doorstep.
• Ambleside and Windermere are busier and pricier but central for the southern valleys.
• Coniston is quieter and smaller, with a lakeside road that suits vans up to about 7 metres.
• Wasdale and Ennerdale are wilder, with basic sites, no hook-ups and proper fell country.

Types of site to look for

Full caravan parks around the lakes charge £30 to £45 a night in high season with electric, showers and often a pub or café attached. Certificated Locations (CLs) — small sites licensed for five vans — are the insider choice: £15 to £25, basic facilities and usually spectacular views, but book ahead because they are tiny. National Trust and Forestry England sites are reliable, well-run mid-price options.

Van-size and road warnings

Hardknott and Wrynose Passes are a genuine challenge in a big van and are best avoided by anything over 6 metres. The lanes around Little Langdale reward a smaller campervan. Check weight and height restrictions before you set off — several lake roads carry limits that rule out larger motorhomes.

On a rainy Lake District day, the value of a site with a drying room and a decent café is impossible to overstate.

Booking tips

School holidays and bank holiday weekends book out months in advance, and many fellside sites are family-run and only list on their own websites — book direct rather than through aggregators. If your dates are flexible, May, late September and October are superb: fewer cars, crisp light and cheaper pitches. Find your next van on our search, or compare the national park with our Peak District sites guide.