so do you think we can just turn up to a Lake District campsite next week and get in?

[Cappuccino]

and if so, where?

we like smaller sites; couldn't give a feck about facilities

we don't need anything more than a tap tbh

If that's the case you might try MIL's trick of knocking on a farmers door and asking to use a field. Apparently they struck gold many times with friendly people, fresh bread and eggs and the odd cooked meal.

really?

ooh

I wonder if we are that brave

it is only our second outing; I do fancy it tho

dh doesn't really do other people

We rarely book and don't have problems finding space on sites.

I love Wasdale Head campsite with children. it has streams to damn and trees to climb. or we go to Coniston Hall - big but with a lovely beach for children to play on, and no other facilities, but that can get booked up.

Side farm at Patterdale is small and by the lake and tends not to be booked up.

Gibraltor farm, Silverdale near Arnside

Is not in the Lake District, but no need to book. Right on the (rocky) beach, gorgeous views over the bay, lovely unspoilt countryside, undiscovered (and unspoilt) corner of the world

I've turned up at Side Farm in Patterdale on Bank Hol weekends and always got in - but you might not get a great pitch unless you are early.

Oh yes Ormiran. I've done that in Yorkshire, also in Scotland (then later realised you can camp anywhere you like in the highlands, doh)

oh fennel those sound nice; beach particularly

we don't want play facilities because dd1 is disabled; in fact we want smaller sites because of that, so there aren't big packs of kids playing and her getting left out

will def look at the Patterdale one, sounds nice too

we did Gibraltar Farm in June for our first camping trip - near enough to go home in the middle of the night if we hated it

lol cappucino, I know what you mean

If you did try for Side Farm and couldn't get in, you could then try others v close - Gillside in Glenridding, or the one at the bottom of Kirkstone Pass by Brother's Water - entrance by the pub by Brother's Water.

We've stayed at the Brotherswater one too, again, it has no particular facilities, though if you walk for about 1km from it you get to streams to play in and a little lake.

I think Side farm sometimes has an extra field they open up when they get busy.

All these names are making me nostalgic. Haven't stayed in the Lakes since I was a child. Isn't it horrendously crowded in the summer ?

Brotherswater is very wet at the moment..
as is Side farm.
Would second the 'farmer' option if you want to get away from other people in August, actually I can recomend a field with a tap..! Bennet Head Farm, Watermillock Ullswater. If you feel the need of a shower we live next door! CAT me if you want Telephone number.

that one at Hawkhead is ok, the one just over the hill as you are going to Tarn hows.
tis just a field with loos and a tap.
we have stayed there a couple of times.

gonna be muddy as its done nowt but rain for weeks!