Lake District by Motorhome: What You Need to Know Before You Go

The Lake District is one of the most rewarding motorhome destinations in England, but it demands more planning than most. These Lake District motorhome tips will save you from the mistakes that catch first-timers out - narrow roads, fully booked campsites, and that sinking feeling when you realise you have committed a six-tonne vehicle to a single-track lane with a dry stone wall on each side. Done right, a motorhome holiday in the Lake District is outstanding. Done without preparation, it can be stressful. Here is what you actually need to know.

Lake District Motorhome Tips: Roads to Avoid

The elephant in the room with any Lake District motorhome trip is the roads. Some are simply not suitable for large vehicles, and your sat nav will not tell you this. Hardknott Pass and Wrynose Pass, connecting Eskdale to the Langdale Valley, are categorically not motorhome roads - we are talking about 30% gradients, hairpin bends, and passing places that would be tight in a Ford Fiesta. The Kirkstone Pass between Ambleside and Patterdale is steep but manageable in most motorhomes if you are confident. The Honister Pass from Buttermere to Borrowdale is similar - driveable but not relaxing.

The road along the western shore of Windermere between Newby Bridge and Ambleside is narrow in places, particularly around the Ferry Nab area. The eastern shore road via Bowness is wider and better suited to larger vehicles. The A591 from Kendal to Keswick is the main arterial route through the Lakes and handles motorhomes without issue - stick to this and the other A-roads where possible, and plan your diversions onto minor roads carefully using an Ordnance Survey map rather than Google Maps.

A general rule: if you are driving one of our larger motorhomes, treat any road classified as unclassified or minor with caution. Check satellite imagery before committing. And if a road sign says "unsuitable for long vehicles," it means it.

Where to Stay: Campsites That Actually Take Motorhomes

The Lake District has hundreds of campsites, but not all of them welcome motorhomes, and the ones that do fill up fast. For summer visits - July and August especially - you need to book three to six months ahead for the popular sites. Easter and bank holiday weekends are equally busy. Turning up and hoping for a pitch is a strategy that works in April and October, not in school holidays.

Here are campsites worth knowing about:

Park Cliffe, Windermere. A five-star, award-winning site set in twenty-five acres of countryside with views towards Lake Windermere and the surrounding fells. It has hardstanding pitches with electric hook-up, water and drainage, well-maintained facilities, and an on-site bar and food outlet. Note that motorhome pitches are available for vehicles up to seven or eight metres depending on pitch type - check with the site when booking if you are in a larger vehicle. It books up early but is one of the best-run sites in the Lakes for motorhomes.

Castlerigg Hall, Keswick. Stunning elevated location with panoramic views across Derwentwater, Bassenthwaite Lake and the surrounding fells. The access road is manageable for motorhomes and the pitches are terraced with good spacing. Keswick is about a mile and a half downhill - a pleasant thirty-to-forty-minute walk through woodland, or a five-minute drive. Bring a torch if you are walking back in the evening.

The Quiet Site, Ullswater. Located near Watermillock, this award-winning site overlooks Ullswater and sits directly on the Ullswater Way walking route. It has hardstanding pitches with electric hook-up and a historic bar dating from 1680 that serves local ales and wood-fired pizza - far from basic, but the atmosphere is relaxed and the setting is peaceful. Open all year.

Great Langdale Campsite (National Trust). In one of the most spectacular valleys in the Lakes, with the Langdale Pikes right above you. The National Trust runs this site with hardstanding pitches and electric hook-up, but motorhomes must be no longer than 6.5 metres. If your vehicle is larger, use one of the other recommended sites as a base and drive to Langdale for the day - the walking is worth the detour.

Skelwith Fold, Ambleside. A large, well-equipped five-star site with hardstanding pitches and optional electric hook-up, set in over a hundred and thirty acres of ancient woodland. Good facilities, and easy access to Ambleside and Grasmere. Large motorhomes can be accommodated but must be booked by phone rather than online so the team can allocate a suitable pitch.

Windermere vs the Quieter Lakes

Most first-time visitors head straight for Windermere and Bowness, which is understandable - it is the largest lake, the most famous, and the most accessible. But it is also the busiest by a considerable margin. Traffic around Bowness on a summer Saturday is genuinely unpleasant in a motorhome, and parking is limited and expensive.

Consider the alternatives. Ullswater, often described as the most beautiful of the lakes, has a fraction of Windermere's crowds. The Ullswater Steamers service from Glenridding to Pooley Bridge runs regularly and offers one of the finest lake journeys in England. Coniston Water is quieter still, with the Ruskin Museum in Coniston village and the gorgeous walk up to Tarn Hows nearby. Buttermere, surrounded by some of the finest fells in the Lakes, has a circular lakeside walk of about four and a half miles that is accessible to most fitness levels and offers views that justify the journey alone.

For families with children, Derwentwater near Keswick is an excellent choice. The lake has launch services to various landing stages around its shores, the Theatre by the Lake puts on family productions, and Whinlatter Forest - England's only true mountain forest - has a Go Ape course and mountain bike trails.

Motorhome Parking and Day Stops

Parking a motorhome for day visits in the Lake District requires forethought. The National Trust operates several car parks that accommodate motorhomes, including at Great Langdale, Buttermere, and Borrowdale. These are pay-and-display and can fill up by mid-morning in summer - arrive before 10am. Keswick has a large pay-and-display car park near the leisure centre that takes motorhomes. Ambleside has limited options, with the Rydal Road car park being the most realistic for larger vehicles.

The Lake District National Park has a code of conduct for motorhome and campervan visitors: park in approved locations, avoid narrow passes and single-track roads where possible, clear up litter, and be considerate to residents. Wild camping traditions in the Lakes do not extend to motorhomes - you need a proper campsite or a Brit Stop.

Avoid the temptation to park in village centres or on narrow roadsides. It blocks traffic, irritates locals, and risks damage to your vehicle from passing farm machinery. If you cannot find a suitable parking spot, drive on to the next option rather than squeezing into something marginal. For more general parking advice, see our full guide.

Best Time to Visit

The Lake District is at its busiest from mid-July to early September. If you have flexibility on dates, the shoulder seasons are significantly more enjoyable for motorhome travel. Late April to mid-June offers longer days, quieter roads, and bluebells in the woods. September and early October bring the start of autumn colour and noticeably fewer visitors. The fells look their best in autumn light, and the pubs are less crowded.

Winter is beautiful but challenging. Some campsites close from November to March, passes can be closed by snow, and daylight hours are short. If you do visit in winter, stick to the valley bottoms and lower-level walks, and make sure your motorhome's heating system is in good working order.

Getting There from Pontefract

The Lake District is approximately two to two and a half hours from our Pontefract depot, depending on which part you are heading for. The M62 west and then the M6 north is the most straightforward route. Exit at Junction 36 for the southern lakes (Windermere, Coniston, Ambleside) or Junction 40 for Keswick and the northern lakes (Ullswater, Derwentwater, Buttermere). The A66 from Penrith to Keswick is a good dual carriageway that handles motorhomes easily.

Factor in fuel stops. The motorways have plenty of service stations, but once you are in the Lakes, fuel stations are less frequent and more expensive. Fill up before you leave the M6.

Final Practical Notes

Bring waterproofs regardless of the forecast - the Lake District gets over 2,000mm of rainfall a year in the central fells. Midges can be fierce near standing water in summer evenings, so pack insect repellent. Mobile signal is patchy to non-existent in many valleys, so download maps offline before you set off. And finally, bring good walking boots. The Lakes are made for walking, and the views from even modest summits like Catbells, Loughrigg Fell, or Helm Crag will stay with you far longer than anything you see from the road.

If you are new to motorhome travel, do not let the Lakes intimidate you. With a bit of planning - the right campsite booked ahead, the right roads on your route, and a willingness to explore beyond Windermere - this is one of the finest motorhome destinations in the country. For more route ideas, see our guide to the best motorhome routes in the UK. Browse our fleet and start planning.