Camping in Keswick – Castlerigg Hall
Looking for a campsite in Keswick? If you’re after a campsite that ticks all the boxes – spotless facilities and some of the best walking in the Lake District right on your doorstep – Castlerigg Hall near Keswick is well worth a look. We spent three nights there in August on a midweek trip (Tuesday to Friday) and had a great time.
At a Glance
- Location: Just outside Keswick, close to Castlerigg Stone Circle
- Pitches: Grass, unallocated (you just need to be 4m from your neighbours)
- Electric hook-up: Not available for tents
- Parking: Nearby hardstanding areas but not directly next to your pitch, unallocated
- Facilities: Toilets, showers, shop, campers’ lounge and kitchen, laundry, gas exchange, EV car charging, wifi (in the kitchen), freezer for ice packs, small animal barn
- Good for: Walkers, families, anyone wanting a quiet-ish base with excellent facilities
Location and Getting There
Castlerigg Hall sits just outside Keswick, close enough that you can walk into town but far enough to feel like you’re properly out in the countryside. It’s also brilliantly placed for some of the best-known Lake District spots – Castlerigg Stone Circle is a short walk away, and Derwent Water and the surrounding fells are all within easy reach. The site has stunning views over Derwent Water.
The Pitches
Pitches here aren’t allocated, so you can choose your own spot as long as you stay 4m from other tents. This is great in theory, but if you’ve got a big tent like our Vango Spectre 600XL, it’s worth arriving with a bit of time to find a decent flat spot! We ended up on a slight slope as the flatter areas had already been snapped up, which meant I spent the whole trip rolling out of bed! I don’t think it helps that our SIM is on its last legs either.
If you’re bringing a larger tent, I’d recommend getting there earlier in the day to have the best pick. We pitched up near the bottom of the camping field, and if we could choose again I’d still go there but face the tent 90º round so we were more on the flatter bit.
Parking is close to the tent field but might not be right next to your pitch, and again it isn’t allocated, so bear that in mind if you’ve got a lot of kit to carry.
Facilities and Amenities
The toilets and showers were spotlessly clean throughout our stay, which makes a huge difference on a longer trip. The shop was well stocked for anything you might have forgotten or fancied picking up, stocking a range of local produce as well as camping essentials such as gas refills and air beds.
The real standout, though, was the campers’ lounge and kitchen. It’s a lovely space to retreat to, especially if the weather turns, with books and games available and a proper kitchen you can use to cook or make a brew. There’s wifi in the kitchen too, which was handy for checking routes and weather forecasts, and a freezer where you can refreeze ice packs, always a nice touch on a warm August trip. There are hair dryers in the shower block as well, but these are 50p to use.
A Note on Noise
Castlerigg Hall is meant to be a quiet site, and for the most part it was. My only negative from the whole stay was a group of loud campers who let their kids run about the tent field, kicking their ball and playing music loudly, which felt a bit out of step with the general vibe of the place. It didn’t ruin our trip at all, but if a peaceful atmosphere is a priority for you, it’s worth knowing that not everyone sticks to the spirit of the rules (especially in the school holidays).
What’s Nearby
We had a brilliant few days exploring from Castlerigg Hall as our base:
- Day one: A hike up Castle Crag, a lovely (and fairly compact) fell with fantastic views over Borrowdale.
- Day two: A wet weather day was forecast so we did some mini trips to Castlerigg Stone Circle and the Bowder Stone, followed by a trip into Keswick itself for the Pencil Museum and some lunch. There are lots of brilliant places to eat in Keswick!
- Day three (on the way home): High Tove and Armboth Fell from Thirlmere, a great way to round off the trip.
There’s no shortage of walking on your doorstep here, whether you want something short and scenic or a proper day out on the fells. The campsite has leaflets available with walks from the site itself.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Excellent, spotlessly clean facilities
- Fantastic campers’ lounge and kitchen with wifi
- Great location for walking and Keswick itself
- Freezer for ice packs is essential with no EHU
- Good for dog owners, with two dog exercise areas and a dog wash for muddy paws
Cons:
- No electric hook-up for tents
- Pitches aren’t allocated, so bigger tents may struggle to find flat ground
- Parking might not be right next to your pitch
- Despite being billed as a quiet site, not all campers respect this
Practical tips
- If you’ve got a large tent, try to arrive earlier in the day to bag a flatter pitch.
- Pack a good pair of walking boots (and layers, because it’s the Lakes) – you’re spoilt for choice with routes straight from the site.
- Make the most of the campers’ kitchen – it’s a great spot to charge devices and catch up on wifi.
- Check in was from 12 noon, and you have to be off the pitch by 11am on the morning you’re leaving.
How to Book
Castlerigg Hall is best booked through their website, where you can choose from a range of accommodation options including caravans, tents and glamping pods.
Castlerigg Hall is a brilliant choice if you want a well-run, well-equipped campsite within easy reach of Keswick and some superb Lake District walking. The facilities are some of the best we’ve come across, and the location can’t be beaten if you’re planning to explore the fells around Borrowdale and Thirlmere.
We’d happily stay again!
For more Lake District campsite inspiration you might like:
- Camping in Eskdale
- Kestrel Lodge Camping in Bassenthwaite
- Social District, Stock Park Lakeside Camping, Newby Bridge
