Cross Dormont

The dawn mist rolls down off the Cumbrian fells and settles in the valley here, lifting slowly as the first kettle whistles across the quiet pitches.

Cross Dormont welcomes tents, campervans and caravans, making it a solid choice for families after a flexible base or couples touring the Lake District with a tourer in tow. You're properly in the North West lakes and fells country here — the kind of Cumbria where dry-stone walls pattern the hillsides and walking routes start from the gate. It's the sort of spot that suits anyone who wants to be among the mountains without the elbow-to-elbow buzz of the honeypot sites.

Facilities are straightforward — toilets and showers onsite, everything you need without fuss. The campfire policy varies, so worth checking when you arrive if you're keen on an evening by the flames. It's a peaceful, unpretentious site with that proper fell-country feel, the kind of place where you wake to sheep calls and spend evenings watching the light change on the ridges.