OMO: Recommend a campsite in the Lake District

[Kenzie]

So, the wife and I want to go camping in the Lake District at the end of July. Can anyone recommend a good camp site? Looking to do some mountain biking, hiking and may even take the telescope for some star gazing as well as photography.

[SvNewbie]

Might be worth a look:

http://www.pitchup.com/tents/-/cycling-nearby/?redirect=1&within=30&q=lake+district&lat=&lng=

That's the company I work for BTW.

[timwilky]

Sykeside, end of.

[ClunkintheUK]

I wondered how long it would take fro you to get that up Newbie. Though I was about to put it up for you if you hadn't already.

[Bluepete]

Sykeside, end of.

Agreed. Good site with a pub right there!

Pete ;)

[Kenzie]

Liking the look of Sykeside. Good spot between two lakes. Looks like a winner!

[Bluepete]

Get up early for the dawn light on the surrounding peaks.

[yorkie_chris]

Buy an OS map and pick one!

[Kenzie]

Sykeside booked for mid August. Now to find some trails!

[dirtyred619]

You've booked it now but Scotdale in Braithwaite is a nice site, fairly small but immaculate toilet, shower block but more importantly 2 pubs very close by. The campsite on the farm in Buttermere is basic but fine and in a beautiful part of the Lakes, and again it's got 2 pubs. The National Trust site in Great Langdale is another good one and they've got rid of the barrier access now and you can hire camping pods and yurts there too. Oh and there's 3 pubs to choose from including the Old Dundeon Gyhll. There's loads of decent ones NT site in Wasdale (1 pub) and even Coniston Hall site in Coniston is ok but can get busy and noisy (about 5 or 6 pubs though)

[Kenzie]

Only a month to go now. Found loads of trails and have loaded them into the gps. Have found a mountain bike centre at Grizedale Forest and we are also looking to do some Kayaking a Glaramara.

[Kenzie]

We go on Sunday and I haven't chosen a route yet. I can do A14/M6 or A14/A1/A66. Not really travelled further north than Bolton so any advise welcome. I know the M6 can be crappy at times.

[JamesMio]

Haven't ridden Grizedale, but if you're in that area the MTB trail centre at Whinlatter is fantastic fun.

The 2 x red routes are well worth doing, the South side is a fairly long climb, followed by an absolute hoot of a descent all the way back down to the car park.

[maviczap]

We go on Sunday and I haven't chosen a route yet. I can do A14/M6 or A14/A1/A66. Not really travelled further north than Bolton so any advise welcome. I know the M6 can be crappy at times.

As a seasoned traveler of that route, there aren't any great routes to get where you're going.

I go to Liverpool at least twice a year, I always take the M6 toll road, as it's good to have some quiet roads and avoids the worst bit around Birmingham.

For some reason it's gets busy north of the toll road, whatever time of day you hit it.

M6 gets quieter above Liverpool.

You can go A14 - M1 - A50 - M6, the A50 is quite a good road and avoids the Birmingham section of the M6

[timwilky]

I agree, use the A50 over from the M1, but stick to it. By that, once you get to the A500 D road round Stoke, use that, then back onto the A50 up through knutsford to join the M6 at Jct 20. Once you get past Preston, pull off up the A6, to Bay Horse, over Quernmore to Caton. then drop down to Devils bridge (Kirby Lonsdale) for a bikers brew via Arkholme.

From Devils, you can either go the long scenic route or short scenic, either way make sure you get the A6 from Kendal over Shap, turn left at the traffic lights at Earmont bridge and skirt the side of Ullsewater as you go through Patterdale and onto the Kirkstone. Your camp site being 5 miles up the pass. (there was a nice tea room on the right just outside Patterdale)

Whilst you are there, if the weather is fine, turn left out of your site and head back to Earmont Bridge and turn left upto Penrith and take the A686. Over Hartside. Stop for a brew at the cafe on top. then drop down to Alston, down to Middleton in Teesdale, and then head through town to the right heading for Brough, from where the A66 takes you back to where you started at Penrith.