Herdwick Croft

Our park (added by manager 16 May 2012)

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You don’t have to be Wordsworth to know that most Lake District views are going to be really rather spesh. But it’s not often you get to camp a mere 50 yards from one of its most scenic lakes… Pitches at small and secluded Herdwick Croft, eight miles from Keswick, are on the edge of beaut Bassenthwaite Lake, one of the biggest bodies of water in the Lake District. All you have to do is pack a book/picnic, bumble over the bridge and sink at the edge of the lake drinking in the views and soaking up the sun. (Soz, we get a bit lyrical when writing about the Lake District.) If you’re feeling more active, Bassenthwaite is also popular with windsurfers, canoeists and sailors; hire or launch a dinghy from Bassenthwaite Sailing Club a mile from Herdwick. Or remain in a contemplative mood and cast off for pike, roach, perch and eels from lakeside or boat. Too chilled out even for that? Herdwick Croft has a river running through it to cast off at too. Aside from the lake, the views at Herdwick are pretty heady, looking over the fells of Skiddaw, Binsey and glorious sunsets to the west, and Whinlatter Forest in front and to the east. The site is surrounded by woodland, countryside and local wildlife – look out for the ospreys and herons; flocks of both live nearby and the heronry is viewable from the park. Walks of all levels start from here too; we recommend starting off with one to award-winning pub The Pheasant, about 20 minutes’ stroll away. Although a small site, Herdwick Croft comes well equipped: facilities for guests include a launderette, electric hook-up, loos, showers and chemical/water waste disposal. Well-behaved children and dogs are welcome.

Site type

Tent pitches 15
Touring caravan pitches 20
Motorhome pitches 20

Languages spoken

English

Want to know more about camping in The Lake District and Cumbria?

Features

Leisure on site

Bar or club house

Cycle hire

Evening entertainment

Fishing

Fitness centre

Games room

Indoor swimming pool

Kids' club

On-site restaurant/cafe

Outdoor swimming pool

Play area

TV room

Take away

Tennis

Watersports

Amenities on site

Bath available

Car parking by pitch/unit

Composting toilet

Disabled facilities

Dog park

Drying room

Food shop

Free wifi

Ice pack freezing

Internet access

Launderette

Parent & baby washroom

Pick-up from public transport

Portable toilet

Pub toilets

Public telephone

Shower available

Toilet block

Washing-up area

Wifi

Groups welcome

D. of E. welcome

Family friendly

Motorcycle friendly

Rallies welcome

Single-sex groups welcome

Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided

Barbecues allowed

Campfires allowed

Commercial vehicles allowed

Dogs allowed

Dogs allowed all year

Camping 2.0

Jumbo tent pitches

Themes

Lake and/or mountain

Peaceful

Spectacular scenery

Utilities

Charging facilities

Chemical disposal

Electric car charging point(s)

Gas cylinders available

Recycling available

Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby

Dog walk nearby

Public transport nearby

Shop nearby

Type

Farm

Small (11-25 pitches)

Nearby leisure

Fishing nearby

Golf nearby

Leisure/theme park nearby

Mountain biking nearby

Sailing nearby

Watersports nearby

Touring and motorhomes

Drainage hook-up points for tourers

Seasonal pitches

Water hook-up points for tourers

Location

Herdwick Croft

Bassenthwaite Lake

Keswick

Cumbria

England

CA12 4RD

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London GMT (GMT+00:00)

GPS

54.67846°N
-3.24112°W

Route directions

From the M6 Turn off at Penrith (Junction 40), then head along the A66 towards Keswick. Go past the Keswick turn-off and continue along the A66 towards Cockermouth for about six miles. You will see Bassenthwaite Lake on your right and you will pass through a winding dual carriageway. On the exit of the dual carriageway after 1/2 mile there is a turning right towards Bothel. Follow the signs for The Castle Inn (right again) and when you reach the small bridge over the River Derwent, cross over and Herdwick Croft is immediately in front of you. From the South Lakes Drop down into Keswick but turn right when you see the signs for Penrith. Go up the hill then bear left following the signs for Cockermouth. Follow the A66 towards Cockermouth. After five miles you will see Bassenthwaite Lake on your right and you will pass through a winding dual carriageway. On the exit of the dual carriageway after 1/2 mile there is a turning right towards Bothel. Follow the signs for The Castle Inn (right again) and when you reach the small bridge over the River Derwent, cross over and Herdwick Croft is immediately in front of you.

Nearest transport

Coach
5.2 mi Gallowbarrow
5.2 mi Fairfield Junior School
6.6 mi Bus Station
Rail
6.6 mi Aspatria Rail Station
10.4 mi Maryport Rail Station
10.9 mi Wigton Rail Station
Ferry
6.7 mi Nichol End (Derwentwater) Ferry Landing
7 mi Keswick Ferry Landing
7.5 mi Hawes End Derwentwater 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

No need to travel far to access fathoms of Lake District things to see and do from Herdwick Croft: climbing Skiddaw and many varied walks for all abilities of the Northern Fells (three miles); Wordsworth’s birth town Cockermouth (five miles), and Keswick on Derwentwater (eight miles). Even closer to home, a fitness centre with indoor pool is a mere mile away and Cockermouth Golf Course within two miles. The mountain bike trails of Whinlatter Forest, the longest purpose-built trails in the Lake District, are five miles away and have a cycle shop at the trail head with bike maintenance and bike hire. You can also hire a helmet cam to film and later upload to YouTube your entire wobbly journey; we think that sounds like a hoot. Nearby Grizedale Forest is probably better for younger or less experienced mountain riders, or stick to two feet at Whinlatter and take one of the many waymarked trails to spot red squirrels, eye up Bassenthwaite Lake again or orienteer towards Revelin Moss (the Revelin Moss paths are wheelchair and pushchair accessible). Bassenthwaite Lake ospreys can be peeked at from here too via the Whinlatter Forest CCTV. The area around Herdwick Croft is filled with family attractions: Lakeland Wildlife Oasis mixes wildlife and interactive displays to cover 300 million years of beastly history; there's a working farm at Lakeland Maze and Farm Park, and quacking about at Ducky's Park Farm with giant indoor play area. Further afield but still within easy driving distance are the many widths and depths of Lake District highlights: scaling Scafell Pike, steaming along by boat or train, museums, Ice Age caverns, Roman forts, crashing waterfalls, old villages, historic houses... If it’s difficult to fathom just how to spend your time, start off at Windermere’s impressive Lake District Visitor Centre, where you can read your newly acquired info in the café overlooking the lake, put the kids on ponies, visit the award-winning gardens, or swing around among the trees.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020 2019 2018 2017
Allonby 9.9 mi Sea N/A Good Good Good
St Bees 19.7 mi Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Southerness 19.7 mi Sea N/A Good Good Excellent
Seascale 22 mi Sea N/A Good Good Good
Sandyhills 23.7 mi Sea N/A N/A Poor Poor

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Mirehouse Historic House and Gardens 3.2 mi

Whinlatter Forest & Visitor Centre 5.2 mi

Castlerigg Stone Circle 7.7 mi

Ullswater Steamers 15.1 mi

Dalemain Historic House & Gardens 17.3 mi

National Trust

Wordsworth House and Garden 5.2 mi

Buttermere and Ennerdale 15.4 mi

Wasdale, Eskdale and Duddon 18.1 mi

Grasmere and Great Langdale 18.8 mi

Coniston and Tarn Hows 22.2 mi

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

Ullock Pike - Longside Edge - Skiddaw 2.7 mi

Bassenthwaite Osprey Walk 3.3 mi

Dodd Wood under Ullock Pike 3.3 mi

Cockermouth - River Cocker 4.9 mi

Braithwaite, Stair and Newlands Beck 5.6 mi

Local events

  • Kendal Calling (Thursday 1 August 2024 – Thursday 1 August 2024)

    Penrith, Cumbria 21.6 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.

Reviews

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  • Does Herdwick Croft have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Herdwick Croft dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Herdwick Croft? No need to travel far to access fathoms of Lake District things to see and do from Herdwick Croft: climbing Skiddaw and many varied walks for all abilities of the Northern Fells … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Herdwick Croft?

    From 12.30pm

    Read more