A Relaxing March Camping Trip to Gillside Farm, Glenridding

Last month, we escaped for a peaceful weekend to Gillside Camping and Caravan Park in Glenridding, right on the edge of Ullswater in the Lake District. Gillside is a brilliant base for anyone wanting easy access to incredible walks, beautiful lake views, and a laid-back village atmosphere — and it’s really dog-friendly too, which made it even better for us!

Glenridding itself is such a lovely little village. It’s small but has everything you need: a couple of cosy pubs with great food, nice local beers, and a genuinely welcoming feel (dogs are very welcome too, which is a huge bonus when you’ve got muddy paws in tow!). We had some great meals at the Traveler’s Rest and The Ullswater Inn – both spots had roaring fires, hearty dishes, and a great selection of ales. Perfect after a long day exploring.

Walking Adventures from the Campsite

One of the best things about Gillside Farm is how close it is to some fantastic walks. Straight from our camper, we set off up Sheffield Pike. It was bright at the start and turned into a pretty windy day, and at times it felt like the wind was trying to blow us right off the fell! But the views were so worth it — sweeping vistas over Ullswater and the surrounding peaks. Sheffield Pike is a great option if you want a proper "mountain feel" without committing to a full-day hike.

For the more adventurous, Helvellyn is also easily accessible from the campsite. A few years ago, we tackled Helvellyn with the kids via the Glenridding route, and it’s still one of our favourite family hiking memories — although a good weather day is definitely a must!

Lake Fun: Kayaking and Cove Adventures

Aside from walking, Ullswater has so much to offer. Glenridding is home to a great sailing club, and if you're not into sailing, you can hire small motor boats or rowing boats right from the village. We decided to take our kayak and explore a little further afield.

We found a lovely private cove tucked away along the lake shore — totally sheltered and so peaceful. We pulled up, got out our little camping stove, and made a brew and some hot dogs and the kids played by the water and paddled. We all enjoyed a tranquil paddle in the kayak, so peaceful and picturesque on the water. It was honestly one of the most relaxing parts of the whole trip. There’s something about sitting by the lake, brew in hand, completely surrounded by nature that just hits the reset button.

Tips for Camping and Hiking with Kids

Travelling with kids always needs a bit of planning to keep everyone happy, especially on longer walks. A few tips that worked really well for us:

Snacks, snacks, and more snacks: Keeping energy levels up is key! Little treats along the walk really helped keep the kids motivated.

Imagination games: We made up games about spotting mythical creatures in the hills and coming up with stories about the mountains.

Pub games: We packed a few travel-sized games like Dobble and 5-Up for pub visits (thanks to amazon-link below) — perfect for keeping them entertained while waiting for food.

All in all, our weekend at Gillside Campsite was just what we needed — fresh air, beautiful scenery, good food, and that wonderful feeling of being at one with nature. Glenridding and the Ullswater area have a real magic about them, and we can't wait to head back for another adventure soon.

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(5up- https://amzn.to/4iBrs2q)

(Dobble- https://amzn.to/44c6R13)