Ashbeck Farm

The light here changes fast — one minute the fells are grey and close, the next they're lit copper and vast, and you realise you're in proper Cumbria.

Ashbeck Farm takes tents, campervans and caravans, so it suits most sorts of campers — families who like a bit of space, couples chasing the Lakes without the lakeside crowds, anyone who wants fell walking on the doorstep without the honeypot bustle. You're in the North West's high country here, the kind of place where the landscape does the talking and the villages still feel like themselves. It's a working farm site, so expect that particular mix of green fields, stone walls and the odd tractor rumbling past at dawn.

Facilities are straightforward — toilets and showers onsite, which covers the basics well enough. Campfires are worth checking when you arrive, as policies can vary depending on conditions. The vibe feels honest and unpretentious, the sort of spot where you pitch up, lace your boots and get out onto the hills.