Eskdale Campsite guide

• Eskdale Campsite is popular so please do book in advance online. Please don't travel to the campsite if you don't have a booking.

• In the booking system, choose your field and pitch size, reading the description carefully. On arrival, we'll help you choose your pitch from those available in the field as we don't allocate or reserve specific pitches. 

• When reading pitch descriptions, pay attention to whether the field is car free, as in the car-free meadow, you'll park your car away from your pitch.

• The maximum number of adults allowed in a group is four, whether you book together or separately. This is to help preserve the tranquility at the campsite, which isn't suited to larger gatherings. 

• If you would like to camp next to friends or family, we'll do our best to help when you arrive although we can't always guarantee adjacent pitches. If you are pitching next to friends or family, there should be no more than four adults in your combined group.

• Under-18s must be accompanied by an adult. 

• The minimum stay is two nights, and three nights on Bank Holiday weekends.

• We offer a car free discount if you arrive on foot, by bike or by public transport. Please retain any public transport tickets to claim the discount. Ask for details at reception when you arrive.

• We welcome organised groups like Duke of Edinburgh and Scouts. Please complete the group booking form at the bottom of the page and we'll get back to you.  

• If Eskdale Campsite is full, Low Wray Campsite it a great family-friendly alternative. Wasdale Campsite is prefectly placed for Wastwater and Scafell Pike.

• You don't have to be a member of the National Trust to camp and we are unable to offer member discounts due to the regulations we are governed by as a charity. If you'd like to be a member and support our work, please speak to the team at reception.

Directions will be provided in your booking confirmation. 

No buses service the site, however Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway runs between the village of Boot and the main trainline on the coast.

The site is at the foot of the infamous Hardknott Pass - the steepest road in England with a gradient of 1 in 3, tight switchbacks and tight passing places. Please take care that your sat nav or directions do not unwittingly lead you this way. Access is easier from the west taking the Birker pass or Corney Fell pass, or follow the coast on the main roads. The Hardknott Pass is not suitable for caravans, trailers, campervans or motorhomes. In winter it can be treacherous with ice and snow.

• Please check in at reception between 2pm and 7pm before pitching.

• If you'll arrive late, we'll leave your welcome pack at the late arrivals point outside reception with all the information you need.

• On your day of departure, please leave your pitch by 10am. If you'd like to extend your stay, please book and pay at reception by 10am.

• You'll choose your field when making your booking online. On arrival, we'll help you choose your pitch in that field. Tents and campervans share the main field and smaller field by the brook. The car-free meadow is for tents only. 

• If you would like to camp next to friends or family, we'll do our best to help when you arrive although we can't always guarantee adjacent pitches. If you are pitching next to friends or family, there should be no more than four adults in your combined group.

• In the booking system, read the pitch descriptions carefully to choose one that's the right size for your tent. Tent sizes are as follows:

Small (mountain tent) – up to 3 berth

​Medium – up to 5 berth

Larger (family tent) – 6 to 8 berth

• There are a limited number of electric hook-ups for tents, so be sure to choose a pitch with hook-up if you need one. Types of pitches:

Small (with or without electric hook-up)

Medium (with or without electric hook-up)

Large (with or without electric hook-up)

Small meadow (car free) adults only

Medium meadow (car free) adults only

• The campsite is suitable for campervans and motorhomes up to a maximum of 7m in length. Please let us know in your booking if you're close to that limit. Sorry, but we can't accept caravans of any length.

• When booking online, you can choose a pitch with or without electric hook-up in one of two fields. The car-free field is for tents only. Read the pitch descriptions in the booking system to help you make your choice.

• A chemical toilet disposal facility/Elsan is available. We don't have a drive-over grey waste disposal.

• Think of a pod as a replacement for a tent. You'll need to bring everything you would bring if you were camping in a tent, such as a sleeping bag, pots and pans, a stove and camping chairs. We provide mattresses, but some campers like to put their sleeping mat on top.

• Pods are insulated and have heat, light and sockets. There's a maximum capacity of 10amps, so please bring small/travel or low-wattage electrical items, particularly kettles.

• There are 10 pods in two social circles at Eskdale Campsite, a mix of Standard Pods, Family Pods and Plus pods.

• Standard Pods are suitable for either two adults and one child, or a maximum of two adults. They are dog friendly.

• Family pods are suitable for two adults and two children, or a maximum of two adults. They are dog friendly.

• Plus pods are suitable for two adults and two children, or a maximum of three adults. They aren't dog friendly. The Plus Pods have a front section with two single beds and mattresses, designed to be used as seating during the day. There is storage space below. The back section has mattresses for another two people, which can be folded up to provide two more seats. There are hooks for hanging rucksacks and jackets. Outside, there’s a small deck.

• There are some shared picnic tables by the pods.

• Your car will be parked in the car park.

What’s inside the bell tent?

The bell tent has 4 tri-fold material mattresses, a woodburner and a packet of starter logs. The floor area has a carpet and rugs. There is a light, and a plug socket. Outside on the decking there's a table with four chairs. You'll find a full inventory below.

What do we need to bring?

Think of the bell tent as a replacement for your tent. You'll need to bring everything you would bring if you were camping in your tent, including bedding, towels, pots and pans and a  stove. We recommend you bring extra lighting - a wind-up lantern or extra torch would be ideal. We also recommend extra blankets, as it can be chilly at night.

How many people can sleep inside?

The bell tent is suitable for up to three adults, or two adults and two children.

Bell tent inventory

• 4 x material fold-out mattresses (no bedding

• 1 x small lamp

• Plug sockets 

• Table and four chairs on the decking area

• 1 x woodburner (not for cooking)

• 1 x fireguard

• 1 x set of fire tools

• 1 x ash bucket

• 1 x fire glove

• 1 x fire extinguisher and fire blanket

• 1 x carbon monoxide detector

• 1 x starter pack eco-logs including matches and kindling (more available to purchase in shop)

The reception and shop opens in the morning to answer questions about the local area. It is closed 11am - 2pm for cleaning and maintenace and then reopens, selling supplies like milk, cheese and bread as well as some camping staples like beans and pasta, and a range of camping supplies. We close at 7pm on Fridays, 6pm on Saturdays and at 5pm the rest of the week. Winter hours vary and are posted at reception. At weekends and in very high season we offer freshly-baked croissants and pains au chocolat in the morning.

Showers and toilets: The facilities block has showers and toilets. Hot showers are free of charge. 

Washing-up area: There's plenty of hot water at the washing-up station in the facilities area. Please give the area a wipe down after you've used it, so it's ready for the next person.

Laundry and drying rooms: There are clothes lines opposite the laundry room door. The drying room is available in wet weather or by request.

Waste: We have general waste, recycling and composting facilities.

Chemical waste: We have chemical toilet disposal facility/Elsan near the facilities block. We don't have a drive-over facility for grey waste.

Freeze packs: There's a freezer in the washing-up room for freezing your own ice blocks.

Gas cylinders: We exchange gas cylinders.

Electric Vehicle charging: Sorry, there's no electric vehicle charging at Eskdale.

Parking: You can park your car on your pitch unless you're camping in the car-free meadow. Parking for the car-free meadow is just over the bridge.

Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi is available in and around at reception. Please note the Wi-Fi should not be relied upon and is slower during busy periods.

Mobile phone signal: There is no mobile phone signal at the campsite, but you may find signal when you are out and about during the day.

Telephone: There's a public telephone in the washing-up area. 

Local information: There's a local information point in the washing-up area, and the team is very happy to answer questions and give more information about the local area.

We welcome dogs free of charge, two per pitch. Let us know when you book. Please choose a dog-friendly pod if you need one - Standard/Family Pods are dog friendly (two per pod) but Plus Pods are not. When at the campsite, please keep your dog on a lead at all times and exercise them away from other campers. Please pick up after your dog right away and use the waste bins provided. Dogs are not allowed in the facilities block.

Sorry, campfires are not allowed at Eskdale Campsite. 

Charcoal barbecues are allowed when raised from the ground. Please bring your own as we don't provide any onsite. 

Caravans and trailer tents: Sorry, we can't accept caravans. We can usually accommodate trailer tents, please let us know when you book. 

Quiet time: Please think of your neighbours and help us protect the peace and tranquility at Eskdale Campsite at all times. No noise 10pm - 7am please.

Cooking safety: Cooking inside tents or pods is not permitted and can be lethal due to carbon monoxide poisoning.

No smoking please.

No audible devices please including radios, stereos or other sound systems please.

Group bookings: The maximum number of adults allowed in any party is four, whether you book together or separately, unless you are with an official group. Official groups, like Duke of Edinburgh, are very welcome at National Trust campsites. Please complete the booking form at the bottom of this page. 

Lost property: If you leave any of your possessions behind at the campsite, please contact us as soon as possible.

We reserve the right to charge you for any storage and delivery costs that we incur in relation to your lost property. We charge a lost property charge of £10 to cover our administrative costs and standard Royal Mail delivery up to 2kgs in the UK to return your items to you. If a request to return your items deviates from these conditions, then we reserve the right to charge you any additional costs.

Where possible, we’ll hold lost property for three months after which it’ll be disposed of. Perishables will be disposed of immediately and are therefore unreturnable. In addition, we will only be able to return items permissible by Royal Mail.

Problem or complaint: Every reasonable care will be taken to ensure that the camping pitch, pod or bothy and also site amenities are presented to a high standard. Should you find any cause for complaint, please immediately contact one of the campsite staff, so that reasonable steps can then be taken to rectify the problem. National Trust will not normally make any refunds in respect of complaints made after the Visitor’s departure from the campsite if the Visitor did not make the problem or complaint known to staff during the Visitor’s stay. If you supplied an email address at the time of booking, a survey will be emailed to you for your comments after your stay. Alternatively, a comment form may be completed and left at the campsite reception. All complaints made after the Visitor’s departure should be made in writing by post or email to:

Guest Relations Manager

National Trust Holidays, Heelis, Kemble Drive, Swindon, SN2 2NA

Email: guestrelations@nationaltrust.org.uk.

Small print: In addition to the site rules in this campsite guide, there are terms and conditions that apply to your booking. You can also read them on the campsite notice board.

You can hire bikes from West Lakes Adventure - www.westlakesadventure.co.uk - near the Woolpack Inn, a couple of miles away.

Eskdale Golf course is off the A595 at CA18 1RL. Fishing is available on a stretch of the River Esk through Eskdale Golf course (info@eskdalegolf.co.uk).

For up-to-date weather information, visit the Lake District weatherline. The mountain weather forecast is displayed daily at the reception.

Read up on climbing Scafell Pike, and how to stay safe at our places.

Cash machines are available in Gosforth (8 miles away), Seascale (10 miles away), Broughton-In-Furness (13 miles away) and Egremont (16 miles away). The nearest fuel station is 6.8 miles away on the A595 at Holmrook.The nearest town is Egremont (16 miles away). Local stores are available at Eskdale Green, Gosforth, Egremont.

The nearest village is Boot and it takes just a couple of minutes to walk. There are popular, family-friendly pubs in Boot which also welcome dogs. Guests will often research and make reservations for meals before their holiday as local pubs and restaurants can get busy. 

There's a café at Dalegarth Station, also a short walk from the campsite.

The nearest lake is Wastwater (9.7 miles away). 

You can enjoy the coast at Drigg and Seascale (10 miles away), for dunes, miles of sand, fish and chips and ice cream. Silecroft (17 miles away) and the St Bees heritage coast (22 miles away).