The Sun Inn
Penrith, Cumbria, CA10 2NN
Contact & location
- Address
- Penrith, Cumbria, CA10 2NN
- Phone
- +01768 486205
Camping tips for the Lake District
Rain is a genuine feature of the Lake District — annual rainfall in some western valleys exceeds 3,000 mm. A fully waterproof tent and groundsheet are essential; inner tents alone are not sufficient. Book sites early for bank holidays, school holidays, and the main summer weeks. The area around Windermere and Ambleside gets extremely busy in peak season; sites further north or west (Ennerdale, Loweswater) offer more tranquillity. Wild camping is permitted on the open fells above the intake walls, but not in the valley floors or near farmland. Adhere to Leave No Trace principles — the area has suffered badly from campfire damage.
About camping in the Lake District
Cumbria encompasses the Lake District National Park plus the Howgill Fells (shared with Yorkshire Dales National Park), the Eden Valley, the Solway Coast, and the Furness Peninsula. The region has been a tourist destination since the Romantic era made it fashionable in the late 18th century. Penrith, Carlisle, and Oxenholme are the main rail gateways; the Windermere branch line from Oxenholme brings visitors directly into the heart of the Lakes. Many campsites cluster around the popular A591 corridor; those seeking quiet can strike west to Eskdale or north to the Caldbeck Fells.