Derwentwater Camping and Caravanning Club Site the Oval

The first light over Derwentwater catches the fells in soft gold, and from your pitch you can hear the lake lapping at the shore just beyond the trees.

This is a proper year-round Lakeland base for anyone serious about getting out into the fells — walkers tackling Catbells or Skiddaw, families wanting days on the water, couples escaping for a winter weekend under canvas. Tent pitchers, campervans and caravans are all welcome, and being in the heart of the Lake District means Keswick's cafés and outdoor shops are close by, while the high ridges and quiet valleys stretch out in every direction. It's the kind of site that works in February rain as well as August sunshine.

Facilities are straightforward — hot showers and proper toilets — and the overall feel is unfussy and outdoorsy rather than polished. Campfires need checking on arrival, so ask at reception when you get there. A solid, no-nonsense site that puts you right where you want to be.