Cycling UK Forum

Apologies if this should be posted elsewhere, or if answered already elsewhere, but I plan on doing C2C in late May, starting from Whitehaven.

For the first stage I have tried to book three Caravanning and Camping Club sites, in Keswick, in late May, only to be told that a 3 to 5 day minimum day is required. Does anybody have a list of all campsites along this route that will take a single tent pitch? (not bothered about the affiliation to C&CC as I'm not a member).

Thanks.

I think you’d best prepare for stealth camping.
Along the route there is Troutbeck. https://troutbeckcaravanpark.co.uk/
Looking at their web site they no longer take campers

then there is ThackLea at Penrith , https://thackaleacaravanpark.webs.com/
looking at their web site they no longer take campers.

Cycle.travel lists them near to route https://cycle.travel/map/journey/75 click on 'hotels and campsites' near route.

Many thanks for the information Paulatic.

Looks like I will have to improvise!

When I did it camping a few years ago, maybe five, we had no problem getting on In Keswick, unbooked and in the summer, mid August. Lightweights are pitched down by the water, there was plenty of space and several looked to be single nighters. Maybe it's a newer policy, or maybe you can't book those pitches? While we were in the office several car campers were turned away. We were in two tents and not members.
Second night we camped in Alston, it's in a scrapyard, I wouldn't camp there again, not only is it dirty and smelly, there's zero security. I like Alston and if there are no other sites I could probably find somewhere nearby to stealth camp.
The last night was on a campsite near Lanchester, a little off route, I can't find it on the map and don't have any memory of it good or bad. I do remember it was a really wet day and once pitched we couldn't be bothered to go out again, even though there is a pub nearby.

Thanks for the heads up PH. I get the sense that 5 star accommodation is not available en route

I can see quite a few campsites around the Lanchester area - I will take a look.

As PH says you shouldn’t really be turned away at the Keswick site and backpackers get prime position down by the lake.
In normal times I think it’s a great route for hosteling. I’d stop at Penrith& Rookhope. hostels.

Ok. Thanks - what is the reason for this reticence to take single pitch tents?

Do you think it is covid?

I think it’s because anticipated demand is huge if anything like last year is to go by. The Lake District is allowing pop up camp sites this year. Fields with portaloos to help try and meet demand.

Ok, thanks - there are a couple of others on the Touring section of this site (currently discussing this) - under viewtopic.php?f=16&t=144471 who believe that the no tent policy could be a trend. One site in Rutland banned tents to stop sharing with other campsite users - vans/caravans etc, which was a covid measure. But he says that has been continued. Not sure if profit is a motive here.