www.nwcampers.co.uk

Our stay at Lanefoot Farm had an ominous start. I had booked not weeks but months beforehand and had specified that we wanted to camp on the Meadow Field. I had reiterated this several times through email correspondence and each time received confirmation. However, on our arrival we were directed to the Main Field. We weren’t happy and no pitch was suitable. So we strolled over to the Meadow Field and spotted a space that was much more to our liking and asked to pitch there. There was an awkward few moments as Gareth was clearly reluctant to let us pitch there (he wanted to save it for an EHU customer) but we emphasised that we had booked such a pitch since February and he eventually relented. Later, Gareth admitted that they had overbooked (he put it down to the fact that they are still learning the ropes) and, indeed, the site was far too full over the spring bank holiday and following half term week.

Anyway, on with the review!

As I understand things there was a campsite at Lanefoot Farm for many years until the previous owner died a few years ago. Gareth and Helen took over less than three years ago and started up the campsite again. There are two main camping areas: the Meadow Field and the Main Field. The Main Field is a quite large, open field with a few hard standings around part of the perimeter. With the exception of the hard standings there are no marked pitches and it seems to be very much a case of “go and find a pitch”. Not all the field is equally useable as some areas are not level and, when we were there, some areas were very soft. The Main Field does, however, have the best, clearest views of the valley including Dodd and Skiddaw. There is more landscaping in the Meadow Field which is natural and mature with plenty of wildlife (including a Mistle Thrush that nested in a tree above our tent and we enjoyed watching its young fledge). There is a stream that runs through the field which attracted the children but check it before allowing your children play in it as there is some glass and rusty metal in there.

Compared to some of the campsites I have stayed at the facilities are somewhat rustic. I counted two toilets, one urinal and one shower for men and, in so far as I could tell, there were similar facilities for women (though minus the urinal, I assume). The shower is in a room without any real ventilation and so gets very steamy. However, it is free to use, has a strong flow and, since it is a power shower, the hot water is available 24/7. There were also two sinks, at a back-achingly low level, for washing up. The shower and washing up facilities proved inadequate for the number of campers, with queues forming at the usual times. I believe that there are plans for new facilities.

As others have mentioned, one positive feature of the site is that campfires are allowed. For £4 you get a simple brazier (an old car wheel to keep the fire off the grass) and a bundle of wood and kindle. Gareth would go around on his tractor and trailer, carting the wood for the fires, and he would be followed by excited groups of children, Pied Piper-esque.

There is a small but well-stocked shop that provides many essentials as well as sausages, eggs and black pudding for breakfast and packets of marsh-mellows to toast over the campfire in the evening. There is a bell just outside the shop which you ring for service if no one is on duty in the shop.

As always I asked our children what they liked and disliked about the campsite. They appreciated the scenic location and the fact that we didn’t have to travel very far to find lots of things to do and see off-site. For most of them the facilities were not an issue. But one thing that they did mention was that, compared to other campsites we’ve been to, there was not enough space (even on the Main Field) to play games such as football, catch, etc. without getting under the feet of other campers. I don’t know what it is like at other times but while we were there the site was far too full. The EHU campers that arrived shortly after us had to squeeze in their tent; a bedroom pod of their Diablo was less than a couple of metres from our tent – but at least they were a really pleasant family. Campsites that cram in the punters can and should lose good will and, eventually, custom.

Despite the downsides I found myself really liking Lanefoot Farm, as did our children. A big part of this was Helen and Gareth; they have a genuinely warm, friendly and laid-back attitude to running their campsite. The views across the valley towards Skiddaw are beautiful and there is so much to do and see in the Lakes. During our camp we went over the other side of the valley to Dodd twice, once to get views of the ospreys nesting (people from the R.S.P.B. were there with information, telescopes, etc.) and the second time to hike up to Dodd Summit (including our seven-year-old) which rewarded us with wonderfully commanding views of Keswick, Derwent Water and Basenthwaite. We also went to Tarn Hows, Grizedale and Great Langdale; beautiful locations all within a forty minute or so drive of the campsite.

In some ways Lanefoot Farm is a work in progress and there is still some work that needs to be done. If you like your creature comforts and commercial sites with playgrounds for the kids and a bar for the grown-ups then this site is not for you. But if it did have those things then it would not be for me. I spoke to people who have returned to this site several times and I would also go again, though I would either avoid the busiest times of the season or check future reviews to see whether the over-booking was a one-off.

http://www.stayinthornthwaite.co.uk/