# Staveley Staycation Guide — Where to Stay & What to Do > Discover Staveley, Cumbria - gateway to the Kentmere valley, home to Wilf's Cafe, Wheelbase and some of the Lake District's best walking and cycling. Source: https://staycation.co.uk/staveley (Staycation.co.uk). Cite the source page, not this text version. Gateway to Kentmere, powered by good coffee and bike wheels Photo © tony johnson, Google Maps [Guide](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley) [🏨 Hotels](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/hotels) [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/cottages) [⛺ Camping](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/camping) [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/attractions) [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/restaurants) Staveley sits where the busy A591 gives way to something altogether calmer, tucked into the valley of the River Kent almost exactly halfway between Kendal and Windermere. It's a working Lakeland village rather than a picture-postcard one, built around a 19th-century bobbin mill that once turned out wooden bobbins for the Lancashire cotton trade. That industrial history is still visible in the stone mill buildings that line the riverbank, even though they now house cafes, workshops and one of the country's best-known bike shops instead of water wheels and machinery. What draws people here today is the setting rather than any single sight: Staveley is the natural gateway to the Kentmere valley, a long, quiet dale that runs south from the high fells of High Street and Ill Bell down to the village itself. Walkers heading out for the Kentmere Horseshoe, one of the classic high-level rounds in the Lake District, typically start from Staveley or the hamlet of Kentmere a couple of miles further up the valley. Cyclists know it just as well, for gentler reasons, the village has become something of an unofficial capital of Lake District mountain biking, with trails threading up into the Kentmere and Longsleddale valleys and a cluster of businesses built around two wheels rather than the road. ## Getting to Staveley Staveley has its own railway station on the Windermere branch line, with trains running from Oxenholme (on the West Coast Main Line) via Kendal, making it one of the easier Lake District villages to reach without a car - Windermere is a few minutes further up the line, Kendal a few minutes back the other way. By road, the village sits just off the A591, the main route between Kendal and Windermere, with Kendal around four miles to the south-east and Windermere a similar distance to the north-west. The M6 at Kendal (junction 36) puts Staveley within easy striking distance of the motorway network, while Manchester and Liverpool airports are both a little under two hours' drive away. ## Best time to visit Staveley Late spring and early summer bring the Kentmere valley into its best form, with the fells green underfoot and long daylight for tackling the Horseshoe or the higher mountain bike trails. Summer is busiest, particularly around Wilf's Cafe and the Mill Yard at weekends, but Staveley never feels as pressured as the honeypot villages further into the National Park. Autumn brings russet colour to the valley sides and good conditions for walking, while winter can turn the surrounding fells properly wintry - useful to know if the Kentmere Horseshoe is on your list, as the high ground here is serious mountain terrain whatever the season. ## Where to stay in Staveley(4) [All hotels in Staveley →](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/hotels) About staying in Staveley Staveley's own hotel and B&B choice is modest, in keeping with its size, but that is part of its appeal: it offers a quieter, more local alternative to staying in Windermere or Bowness while remaining only a few minutes away from both by train or car. Rooms here tend to come with village inns and small guesthouses rather than large hotels, many of them well used to the walkers and cyclists who pass through on their way to or from the Kentmere valley, and often within easy reach of Wilf's Cafe and the Mill Yard for an evening meal or a pint. For a wider range of hotels, from budget stays to country house options, Kendal and Windermere both sit within a few miles and a few minutes' drive or train ride, making it easy to base yourself in Staveley for the walking and cycling while still having a bigger choice of accommodation close at hand. Self-catering cottages and farmhouses around the village and up towards Kentmere suit those wanting more space or a longer stay, particularly groups planning to tackle the Kentmere Horseshoe or spend several days exploring the bike trails that fan out from the village. Booking ahead is worthwhile in summer, when the combination of walkers, cyclists and Lake District tourism more generally puts pressure on the limited number of rooms in and around the village. [Lile Hullets 3 Seed Howe Cottages 3 Seed Howe Cottages Seed Howe, Staveley](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/hotels/lile-hullets-3-seed-howe-cottages) [The Watermill Inn & Brewery School Lane, Staveley](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/hotels/the-watermill-inn-brewery) [🏨Guest Accommodation Old Rectory Guesthouse in Staveley 8 Church Street, Staveley](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/hotels/old-rectory-guesthouse-in-staveley) [🏨Guest Accommodation Riverside Cottage with secure bike storage 2 Gowan Terrace, Staveley](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/hotels/riverside-cottage-with-secure-bike-storage) ## Things to Do in Staveley [All attractions in Staveley →](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/attractions) Top things to do in Staveley Staveley punches well above its size for a village of a few thousand people, largely thanks to Staveley Mill Yard, the old bobbin mill complex that has been quietly reinvented over the past two decades. - **Staveley Mill Yard** - the former bobbin mill on the banks of the River Kent, now home to independent shops, workshops and cafes housed in the original stone mill buildings. - **Wilf's Cafe** - a Staveley institution since 1997, set inside the mill with decking over the river, popular with walkers and cyclists refuelling before or after a day on the fells. - **Wheelbase** - one of the largest bike shops in the country, with hundreds of bikes on display, professional fitting and hire, reflecting the village's status as a mountain biking hub. - **Kentmere Valley** - the quiet dale running south from the high fells, reached on foot or by bike directly from the village, with classic walks radiating out in every direction. - **Kentmere Hall** - a fortified 14th-century pele tower a couple of miles up the valley, built with walls several feet thick to withstand cross-border raids in more turbulent centuries. - **The Kentmere Horseshoe** - one of the longest and most remote ridge walks in the Lake District, taking in High Street, Ill Bell and Yoke, usually approached from Staveley or Kentmere village. - **River Kent** - the river that gives Kendal its name flows straight through Staveley, with riverside paths and spots to sit and watch it below the old mill. [Crags Adventures ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/attractions/crags-adventures) [KendalWall Indoor Climbing Centre ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/attractions/kendalwall-indoor-climbing-centre) [The World of Beatrix Potter ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/attractions/the-world-of-beatrix-potter) [Lakeland Climbing Centre ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/attractions/lakeland-climbing-centre) [Windermere Jetty Museum ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/attractions/windermere-jetty-museum) [Critter Creek Adventure Golf ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/attractions/critter-creek-adventure-golf) [Outside in Cumbria ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/attractions/outside-in-cumbria) [Windermere Lake Cruises ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/attractions/windermere-lake-cruises) ## Where to Eat in Staveley(3) [All restaurants in Staveley →](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/restaurants) Food and drink in Staveley Wilf's Cafe is the village's best-known address, serving food made on the premises from a converted mill building overlooking the River Kent, and it draws walkers and cyclists in roughly equal measure. Hawkshead Brewery set up its main production site in the Mill Yard in 2006, having outgrown its original home in Hawkshead village, and remains a well-known name in Lakeland brewing even as its beer hall here has since closed. The Eagle & Child and the Duke William Hotel are among the village's traditional pubs, serving as reliable spots for a pint and a meal after a day on the Kentmere fells, while the wider village has a handful of smaller cafes catering to the steady flow of walkers and cyclists passing through. [Nook Kitchen ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/restaurants/nook-kitchen) [Lakeland Farm Visitor Centre ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/restaurants/lakeland-farm-visitor-centre) [Pret a Manger ⭐ 3.8](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/restaurants/pret-a-manger) [Watermill Inn ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/restaurants/watermill-inn) [James Cropper plc ⭐ 4.0](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/restaurants/james-cropper-plc) [The Gateway Hotel ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/restaurants/the-gateway-hotel) [The Wild Boar ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/restaurants/the-wild-boar) [Gilpin Lodge Hotel ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/restaurants/gilpin-lodge-hotel) ## Attractions Near Staveley [All attractions in Staveley →](https://staycation.co.uk/attractions) Worth the trip — within 50 miles of Staveley. [4 mi Crags Adventures Windermere · ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/windermere/attractions/crags-adventures) [4 mi KendalWall Indoor Climbing Centre Kendal · ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/kendal/attractions/kendalwall-indoor-climbing-centre) [4 mi The World of Beatrix Potter Bowness-on-Windermere · ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/bowness-on-windermere/attractions/the-world-of-beatrix-potter) [4 mi Lakeland Climbing Centre Kendal · ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/kendal/attractions/lakeland-climbing-centre) [4 mi Windermere Jetty Museum Bowness-on-Windermere · ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/bowness-on-windermere/attractions/windermere-jetty-museum) [4 mi Critter Creek Adventure Golf Windermere · ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/windermere/attractions/critter-creek-adventure-golf) [4 mi Outside in Cumbria Burton in Kendal · ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/burton-in-kendal/attractions/outside-in-cumbria) [4 mi Windermere Lake Cruises Bowness · ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/bowness/attractions/windermere-lake-cruises) ## Camping in Staveley [All campsites in Staveley →](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/camping) About camping in Staveley Camping around Staveley means camping in serious hill country: the village sits at the foot of the Kentmere valley, with the high ground of High Street, Ill Bell and Yoke rising to the south and east, so most sites here are geared towards walkers and cyclists rather than families looking for a beach holiday. Wild camping is not automatically legal in England, and unlike parts of Scotland there is no general right to pitch a tent on open land without the landowner's permission - even on fell and common land around Kentmere, so stick to recognised campsites, farm pitches or glamping sites unless you have express permission from whoever owns the ground. Established sites tend to be small and farm-based rather than large holiday parks, reflecting the character of the valley, with pitches for tents and camper vans scattered between Staveley and the hamlet of Kentmere itself. Many are aimed squarely at the walking and mountain biking crowd who use Staveley as a springboard onto the fells, offering secure bike storage, drying rooms and early breakfasts rather than swimming pools and entertainment programmes. Glamping has taken hold in the valley too, with wooden pods and shepherd's huts offering a warmer alternative to canvas for visitors who still want to wake up looking at the fells rather than a housing estate. The best camping weather runs from late spring through early autumn, when the valley is at its greenest and the high routes like the Kentmere Horseshoe are in reasonable condition underfoot, though conditions on the fells above can change quickly at any time of year and campers heading up onto open ground should always come prepared for wind, rain and sudden drops in temperature. Outside the main season, several sites close altogether or reduce to a handful of hardy pitches, so it's worth checking directly before turning up between October and March. Whatever the time of year, Staveley's position right at the valley mouth means a short walk or pedal from your pitch gets you straight onto quiet Lakeland paths, without the crowds that build up around the bigger honeypot villages elsewhere in the National Park. [Windermere Camping and Caravanning Club Site ⭐ 4.6 · from £24/night](https://staycation.co.uk/kendal/camping/windermere-camping-and-caravanning-club-site) [Gowan Bank Farm ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/windermere/camping/gowan-bank-farm) [Ings Mill Park ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/cumbria/camping/ings-mill-park) [Kentmere Farm Pods ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/kendal/camping/kentmere-farm-pods) [Ratherheath Lane Caravan Park](https://staycation.co.uk/cumbria/camping/ratherheath-lane-caravan-park) [Pound Farm Park ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/cumbria/camping/pound-farm-park) [Allan Tarn Escapes ⭐ 4.9 · from £30/night](https://staycation.co.uk/ulverston/camping/allan-tarn-escapes) [⛺Campsite Bulman Strands Caravan Park ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/cumbria/camping/bulman-strands-caravan-park) ## Self-Catering Cottages in Staveley [All cottages in Staveley →](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/cottages) [Mulberry Cottage 2 bed · sleeps 3 · from £413](https://staycation.co.uk/westmorland-and-furness/cottages/mulberry-cottage-syk1041402) [Meadow Cottage 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £450](https://staycation.co.uk/westmorland-and-furness/cottages/meadow-cottage-syk1126995) [Jakanori 3 bed · sleeps 6 · from £432](https://staycation.co.uk/westmorland-and-furness/cottages/jakanori-syk956372) [🏡Cottage Hugill Cottage 3 bed · sleeps 6 · from £647](https://staycation.co.uk/westmorland-and-furness/cottages/hugill-cottage-syk1072088) [🏡Cottage Jessie's Cottage 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £429](https://staycation.co.uk/westmorland-and-furness/cottages/jessies-cottage-syk1140583) [🏡Cottage Two The Chapel - Staveley 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £427](https://staycation.co.uk/westmorland-and-furness/cottages/two-the-chapel-staveley-syk1046000) [🏡Cottage Holy Waters 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £327](https://staycation.co.uk/westmorland-and-furness/cottages/holy-waters-cc129260) [A River Runs By 2 bed · sleeps 3 · from £366](https://staycation.co.uk/westmorland-and-furness/cottages/a-river-runs-by-syk1041398) ## Common questions about Staveley Where can I stay in Staveley? We list 4 hotels, B&Bs and guest houses in and around Staveley. Where can I eat in Staveley? We list 3 restaurants, pubs and cafes in and around Staveley. ### 🏨 Find Hotels in Staveley Search hotels, B&Bs and self-catering on Booking.com. [Search Accommodation →](https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-101762279-15734754?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fsearchresults.en-gb.html%3Fss%3DStaveley%252C%2BUnited%2BKingdom) Affiliate link ### Explore Staveley - [🏨 Hotels & B&Bs](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/hotels) - [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/cottages) - [⛺ Campsites & glamping](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/camping) - [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/attractions) - [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/staveley/restaurants) - [🗺️ More in Cumbria](https://staycation.co.uk/cumbria) - [🧭 All of the North West](https://staycation.co.uk/regions/north-west) ## Staycation ideas for Staveley [All staycation ideas →](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas) [The Best Last-Minute UK Staycations Six well-connected UK towns and cities worth booking at short notice, chosen for easy travel and a decent spread of accommodation once the school-holiday crowds have thinned.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-last-minute-staycations) [Rainy Day Staycations: Best UK Breaks for Bad Weather When the forecast turns grim, these UK cities and spa towns keep their appeal indoors, with museums, galleries and grand architecture to fill a wet weekend.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/rainy-day-staycations-uk) [The Best Dog-Friendly Staycations in Britain From Cornish coast paths to Lake District fells, these six British destinations offer the open beaches, moors and forests that make a staycation genuinely enjoyable for dogs and their owners alike.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/dog-friendly-staycations) [The Best UK Staycations for Families with Young Kids From New Forest ponies to Cornish rock pools, these six UK destinations combine easy logistics, safe beaches and family-friendly attractions for a stress-free break with young children.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-staycations-for-families)