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Campground✨ Glamping⛺ Tent Camping🐾 Dogs Welcome

Wasdale Campsite

Wasdale Head, Seascale CA20 1EX, UK

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Under Scafell Pike beside Wastwater, in the wildest valley in the Lake District

About Wasdale Campsite

Wasdale Campsite sits at the head of England's wildest valley, ringed by Scafell Pike, Great Gable and Kirk Fell, with Wastwater—the deepest lake in the country—a short walk away. Run by the National Trust, it serves primarily as a climbers' base, though anyone drawn to raw Lakeland drama will find the setting spectacular. Recent refurbishments have delivered heated showers, a drying room, washing-up areas and a small shop, alongside electric hook-ups and camping pods for those wanting shelter from the notoriously fierce valley winds.

The trade-off is remoteness: expect long single-track approaches, patchy mobile signal and genuinely changeable weather that can shake poorly-pegged tents overnight. Stock up before arrival. The Wasdale Head Inn, a mile up the road, has been pouring pints for climbers since the 1880s and remains the valley's social hub. This is emphatically not a manicured site—it's functional, exposed and unapologetically focused on the fells. But if you want to wake beneath England's highest peak with the screes plunging straight into Wastwater, nowhere else comes close.

Good to know

Parking

  • Free car park
  • Paid car park
  • Free street
  • Paid street

Accessibility

  • Accessible parking
  • Accessible entrance
  • Accessible toilet

Payment

  • Credit cards
  • Debit cards
  • Contactless

Details via Google — worth confirming with the site before you travel, especially for access needs.

Photos

Photos via Google

Visitors say this campsite offers excellent facilities, including clean, warm showers with good pressure, a drying room, and a well-stocked shop with essentials. They also highlight the stunning views and peaceful atmosphere, making it ideal for hiking and enjoying nature. Guests mention the friendly and helpful staff, who contribute to a welcoming experience.

Summary via Google

Can I bring...?

Tent pitches
⚡ Electric: not specified
🚐 Caravans welcome
🚌 Motorhomes welcome
Glamping available
🛖 Lodges & pods

Hook-up

Electric hook-up
🔌 EV charging

Facilities

🚿 Hot showers
📶 Free WiFi
🏊 Swimming pool
🛒 Onsite shop
🎠 Children's play area
🍖 BBQs allowed
🔥 Campfires allowed
🧺 Laundry
🎣 Fishing
🛁 Hot tub
Accessible facilities
🅿️ Hardstanding pitches
🍽️ Bar/restaurant on site
🧒 Good for children
🚻 Toilets on site

No takeaway delivery found for this location on Just Eat or Deliveroo — you'll likely need to bring or buy supplies before you arrive.

Nearest supermarkets

Handy if you're self-catering or need to stock up on arrival.

  • Co-op 9.7 miles
  • Morrisons, Whitehaven 14.3 miles
  • Asda, Whitehaven 14.4 miles
  • Aldi 14.5 miles
  • Tesco, Whitehaven 14.6 miles
  • Lidl, Cockermouth 14.7 miles
  • Sainsbury's, Cockermouth 14.8 miles

Straight-line distances — the drive will be longer. Store data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Location

Wasdale Head, Seascale CA20 1EX, UK Get directions

What visitors say

Matthew James Hemingway

A superbly positioned campsite at the top end of Wasdale Lake, surrounded by mountains and hills. Natural unspoiled scenery that makes England great! There are plenty of parking spots which are placed away from the tent and lodge areas, wheelbarrows are available to transfer your stuff from the car park to the pitch. There's a stream next to the site which is great for the kids to play in on a sunny day. The site is also situated at the base of the best hiking hills and mountains, perfect for the keen walker/hikers! Access to the site is through a intercom barrier, which provides a sense of security. There is a great range of facilities, including toilet/shower blocks, laundry with a drying room with racks & rails - ideal for drying your hiking kit if you're caught in the rain! There's also approximately 8 washing up sinks, 3 inside the laundry, 4 on the outer wall with cover. There's a site shop that sells food, drink and camping/hiking essentials. This is where you'll buy tokens and washing pods for the 10kg washing machine - £5 per wash, there aren't two large dryers in the laundry which cost £1 for 20 minutes (coins only). The lake itself is enormous, Wasdale Lake is extremely deep and long, the road running beside it is exceptional fun to drive on, with an unrivalled side view, can be tricky to navigate when busy so allow an extra 10 minutes. If you need to do some shopping your looking at either 40 minutes or 1 hour drive for the nearest supermarkets. This is a quiet campsite where the noise should be kept to a minimum, no noise allowed between 11pm & 7am. You press the intercom on arrival to access the reception/shop car park where you'll be given a tag to put on your tent, then a staff member will show you to your pitch, & advise you where to park. The staff are excellent & happy to help at all times. Highly recommended to all types & groups of people, kids and dogs welcome if they're not too noisy!

· via Google

Ed Leek

This campsite has one of the most unique locations in the area, attracting many outdoor enthusiasts who come to explore the surrounding mountains. The facilities are extensive, including options that make camping comfortable even on cold or rainy days. The campsite shop offers a good range of basic essentials, and the staff are friendly and welcoming. However, the sanitary facilities are not very clean. Despite being relatively new, they are not in top condition. The septic tank also produces unpleasant smells, so it’s best to choose a pitch a bit further away from the facilities building.

· via Google

Lisa Bettney

We stayed here in our motorhome 6.2 m They dont take over 6.5 due to the narrow wast water roads The campsite is in an amazing location with stunning views. The staff are very friendly and there is a small shop on site for essentials. The facilities were good although a little dirty at later times, maybe because the camping areas were busy. The dog shower was very good for us a lovely added bonus. The showers were hot and a timed button so u need to keep pressing Motorhomes stay in hedges, bays under trees And there is a small area for about 6 together but again under trees too. Note if its raining its loud on top of motorhome if under tree 🤣. The wasdale inn is 20 to 25 mins walk either road or from a gate over fields and rocky path down side of river 👌❤️ A lovely campsite we will be back ♥️

· via Google

Paul Atkins

Fantastic camp site, great location for walking, a fantastic little shop on site , certainly not a mini market, but has things you may have forgotten. Excellent shower and wash facilities, I however feel sorry for the cleaners, they don't have it we easy, as it amazed me how many people can't flush a toilet or even put toilet paper in the toilet, or even empty a sink when they have used it. I would definitely visit again.

· via Google

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