Description: You simply can't fault Side Farm for location: hard up against Place Fell on one side, down to the very shore of Ullswater on the other, with several of Lakeland's finest walks - Helvellyn, St Sunday Crag and High Street - within striking distance, and the flat, three hour long Howtown to Patterdale route ending by its gates.
If Side Farm suffers from anything it is over-popularity, especially on those rare occasions when the sun comes out. As the owners don't accept advance bookings you'll need to get here early to find a good pitch. The camping ground is stony and slopes quite sharply down to the edge of the lake, where a tiny beach looks across to Glenridding. There's a toilet and shower block next to the entance with stone floors, breezeblock walls and spider webs on the ceiling. The facilities are adequate, no more, acceptably clean and just about sufficient for the number of people using the site. Below the toilet block there's a small room for washing dishes and drying clothes. At the farm itself a tea room is open during the day. For more substantial meals, the White Lion and Patterdale Hotel are a ten minute walk away.
While the campsite didn't quite live up to its reputation (regularly making top ten lists of Britain's greatest campsites in the UK national press), if you don't mind crowds it's a convenient and scenic place to spend a couple of nights. From fell walking to Ullswater boat trips there's plenty to do in the surrounding area and the atmosphere, while a little boisterous at night, is very family friendly.
Camping costs £5 per person per night. If you're coming by car (£2 extra charge per night), the site is signposted just after the church in Patterdale.
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