Camping in Tebay

Wild camping without the landowner's permission is illegal in England, so anyone hoping to pitch up in the Howgill Fells around Tebay needs to seek permission first or, more straightforwardly, use one of the region's established campsites and caravan parks, several of which make the most of the valley's river frontage and fell views. The terrain here is a step apart from the rockier central Lake District, the Howgills' smooth, grass-covered slopes and steep-sided becks giving a different character to walking and wild landscapes, open and wind-exposed rather than crag-strewn, which makes for excellent ridge walking but also means shelter can be scarce on the tops.

The most comfortable camping window runs from late spring to early autumn, when the fells are driest underfoot and evenings are long enough for a walk up from the valley before dark; outside these months the exposed, high ground above Tebay can turn wet and blustery very quickly, and conditions should be treated with the same respect given to any open fell country. The Lune Valley itself, gentler and more sheltered than the tops, gives campers a good base regardless of season, with the river close by for an evening stroll and the M6 and rail line, though audible from some pitches, generally fading into background noise rather than dominating the setting.

For those who prefer a roof without giving up the outdoor feel, glamping options in the wider area range from shepherd's huts and static bell tents to converted farm buildings, many run by local farming families making use of barns and paddocks close to the fells. These tend to book up fastest in summer given the pull of both the Howgills and the neighbouring Yorkshire Dales, so early planning pays off for anyone set on a specific site or date, particularly around bank holidays when demand across this whole Lune-Eden corridor rises sharply.