Whether it be, a tent, motorhome, campervan, caravan or some other exquisite designed mobile home, your abode is your gateway to a fantastic adventure.
Our holiday home of choice is a 2006 VW Transporter T5. It’s basically a builder’s van inside; in fact it looks more like a builder’s van, than it did when it was a builder’s!
My hubby and his best bud made a double bed frame in the van, my youngest sleeps on a parcel shelf at the back of the van and the older one sleeps across the front seats. Duracell dog has to sleep where he can, usually on our bed which makes for a lovely uncomfortable night’s sleep- doggy paws in the face, no duvet and very little in the way of room on the bed.
We have a cheap awning that we bought off Ebay which can be attached to the van. We can then un-attach it if we want to go out for the day and it free stands like a tent.
We never go to campsites where we are charged for the campervan, the awning, the dog, the kids, the electric, the air we breath and the individual pieces of grass you camp on- it’s just ridiculous. The campsites we go to are always cheap, cheerful and serviceable. All you need to do is your research in the area and make your own entertainment.
My first cut price camping trip to share with you was a beautiful weekend in the Lake District in the UK. Our chosen site was High Bridge End Farm just south of Keswick at the tip of Lake Thirlmere. The campsite is basic but has all the essentials needed for a comfy stay. There are clean warm showers, toilets, fridges, freezers and a washing up area, plus the use of a microwave. The campsite is situated along the A6 road to Workington and has a bus stop in both directions just at the end of the track leading to the campsite. This makes it even more accessible for the more lightweight travellers that may be finding inspiration from these posts. The campsite is split into three sections; non electric has a big field to make yourself at home in, whilst the electric hook area is a little more bijoux. The third section, if you fancy the challenge, requires you to lug your equipment up a hill and camp overlooking the campsite and farm which rewards you with the view of the majestic surrounding mountains. This option is only an option if you are a tent user or you have had spinach for breakfast!
This site is an absolute pleasure on the bank balance. For campervans, trailer tents or caravans plus the awning, electric and 4 people it is just a mere £15.00 a night. In the middle of the Lake District, this is an incredible price and the best bit is, it’s this price all year round.
Now moving on to the entertainment...
While visiting the Lake District, we always like to climb a few fells. We (mainly me) are challenging ourselves to climb all 214 Wainwrights (fells in the Lakes walked and named by the author Alfred Wainwright). So there is usually a fell, or two or three (if I can get away with it) included in the itinerary. On this particular weekend we decided to climb Gowbarrow. This fell has the added bonus of being situated close to the beautiful waterfall Aira Force approximately 16 miles from the campsite on the edge of Lake Ullswater. Aira Force is National Trust owned, so if you are a National Trust member it is free to park. There are a few laybys dotted around as well, so if you’re not a member, I would recommend getting there early to make use of these.
There are plenty of adventures to be had, kids can have fun climbing the rocks and exploring the ancient woodland trails as well as taking in the sight and sound of the heavenly waterfall. It's a perfect place for kids to have fun in a beautiful natural setting.
There is a cafe/tearoom at the site, however because we like pennies in our own pockets, I would recommend a picnic as there are plenty of scenic spots to admire the waterfall and the surrounding scenery.
Moving on, Keswick is one of the larger towns situated in the Lake District, it is a busy bustling town positioned on the shores of Derwent Water. There is plenty to do to spend an afternoon here, with cafes, interesting shops and it's an outdoor enthusiasts idea of heaven with so many adventure/outdoorsy stores to get your supplies in. Keswick is roughly 6 miles from the campsite and takes about 10 minutes in the car. It can also be easily reached by bus and bike from the campsite, although I wouldn’t recommend cycling those hills with children in terms of weight and safety on the road.
We took a trip here to have a mooch around for the afternoon, but as I had already previously researched the place I knew there was a unique little attraction that kids (and the bigger kids) would love. This little wallet friendly find is called the Puzzling Place. It’s a building brimming with optical illusions, holograms and puzzles and is great value for money. You can spend a couple of hours here happily trying to figure it all out. For a family of four it is an amazing £13.00. My kids loved it and, even better, we were also allowed to take Oscar (our dog) with us too.
Keswick is also home to The Theatre by the Lake and although I haven’t visited yet, I do know that tickets are reasonably priced.
There are lots of amazing cafes and pubs to eat in, around Keswick but a particular favourite of ours in terms of cost and quirkiness is the pub; The Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. As the name would suggest, the pub is in a renovated magistrates court and police station, which still has the police cells, witness stands, judges bench and prisoner stand (you can find more information on the history of this building on the Wetherspoons website). So whenever you fancy eating, whether it be breakfast, lunch or dinner, you know it will be reasonable priced for the budget, leaving you with more money for ice cream!
On our final day we visited Brockhole Visitor Centre situated on the shores of Lake Windermere. Brockhole is a large activity centre where you pay for the activities you want to do with the activities ranging from tree trail adventures to crazy golf; there is also a very good free adventure playground for the little ones to burn some energy. We decided to opt for a game of crazy golf which cost us £10.00 for a family ticket; this took us at least an hour to play.
On a nice day, along with a picnic, you could easily spend half a day to a full day here, depending on how much you want to spend. There is also an indoor soft play area which is free and activity trails that can be purchased for a few pounds.
This just leaves a couple of hours for me to squeeze in another fell, be it a small one!
Right next door to the campsite is a little fell called Great Howe. This can be accessed by walking towards the main road and taking a track to the right, which winds up and around the fell (always use a map). The view from the top is very satisfying, overlooking Lake Thirlmere and you’re a little closer to the top of some of the highest fells in the Lake District. This would be a great place to catch a stunning sunset if your legs can make it back down before dark.
Evening entertainment for us usually revolves around food (we are foodies) and campfires. There is always the traditional marshmallow toasting whenever we camp, along with other campfire inspired food. The kids love getting involved with this, making stuffed apples or chocolate filled damper bread. We also have a games box full of travel sized games that we leave in our van to keep us entertained if the weather is bad or should we be marooned on a desert island-you just never know! The kids usually find a friend of two to play a game of football with, to burn those last few ounces of energy after their action packed days.
Last time we were in the Lakes the sky was beautifully clear and the Milky Way was visible so pack a telescope if you have one.
So after a hopefully action packed budget friendly day, kick back, unwind with your chosen drink, put on your smug-I’ve pulled off a nice weekend on a great budget-face and enjoy the glow from a satisfying day.
Memories made in the mountains stay in our hearts forever.
This reminds me of the camping trips we had when the children were small. Having an exciting time doesn't need to cost a fortune. We really must visit the lake district again soon.