Gill Head Farm

Gill Head Farm sits on a working hill farm in the village of Troutbeck, in the heart of the Lake District National Park. The outlook is the first thing you notice: Blencathra and the northern fells stretch across the horizon, and the views hold from both the camping pods and the tent pitches. This is the northern Lakes at its most open and dramatic.

The setup is unpretentious and well-thought-through. Tent pitches, hardstanding bays for caravans and motorhomes, and insulated timber camping pods give visitors options, while the communal indoor area with tables, sofas, fridge-freezer, microwave, and kettle is one of those quietly brilliant features that earns its keep the moment the weather turns. The facilities block is kept spotlessly clean, with showers, toilets, a make-up station with mirror and hairdryer, and a large sheltered washing-up area. Campfires are permitted, and there are picnic benches across the field.

The site is explicitly welcoming to families, with a children's play area on site, under-5s well catered for, and farm wildlife providing its own entertainment. Duke of Edinburgh groups and school parties are a regular fixture, so the social tempo leans communal rather than solitary. The reception doubles as a small shop, and the staff are consistently noted for helpfulness. A local pub is 10 minutes on foot, and Keswick, the nearest market town, is a short drive. Ullswater is 5 miles away; Grasmere, Ambleside, and Windermere are within easy reach for day trips.