Irton House Farm

The valley holds its silence here, broken only by the occasional bleat of Herdwick sheep and the metallic clatter of a gate somewhere up the fell. Irton House Farm sits in proper western Lake District country, the kind of working farm setting where you pitch between ancient walls and wake to mist lifting off Muncaster Fell.

This is a spot for campers who want simplicity and space rather than bells and whistles — tents, campervans and caravans all welcome, with enough room to feel you've got your own patch of Cumbria. It's a good base for walkers tackling the western fells or families exploring Ravenglass and the coast, and the farm setting means there's usually livestock about, which children tend to love. Dog walkers will find plenty of footpaths threading through the surrounding farmland and into the quieter corners of the national park.

Facilities are straightforward — toilets and showers onsite — and the feel is uncomplicated, working-farm camping. Check about campfires when you arrive. Expect a peaceful night under big skies, the kind of place where you remember what camping's actually for.