Waterside House Camp Site

Perched on the northern shores of Ullswater below Barton Fell, Waterside House undulates along the lake bank providing spectacular views from almost any vantage point. The site bustles as a busy family run site based on a working farm, home to a flock of Swaledale ewes. Even relaxing by the tent offers glimpses of more wildlife than your average pitch, with deer roaming the woodland, swans gliding past and even the occasional otter spotted hunting for fish. Glampers will fill their Instagram accounts to bursting with shots of the beautiful tipis that perch right on the lake bank, nestled in their own private corner of the site.

Mountain bikes, row boats, canoes and sea cycles can be hired, and for those who prefer to ride under somebody else's steam a berth on the Ullswater Steamer can be bought from the site office. The facilities are a real highlight, among the cleanest you'll find, with underfloor heating that campers rave about. The one honest caveat is that on a busy weekend there simply aren't enough toilets to go round, so expect a queue at peak times. This is a genuinely working farm too, so take the tractor traffic, the odd loose farm dog and the farmyard smells as part of the deal rather than a surprise.

Pooley Bridge is one mile down the road with cafes, shops and pubs, though be warned the lane in is narrow with a tight turn into the site. Further afield is Penrith with its castle and major town shops. Dalemain Historic House and Gardens is a couple of miles away, and if it's a rainy day the nearby Rheged Centre has films and cultural events.