This was one of my first times camping, and I can say it was a very enjoyable experience, and I will definitely be going again! I have shared the location of where we stayed, what I brought and local activities to enjoy.
Location
We stayed in a lovely campsite called Kestrel Lodge, which was located in Bassenthwaite, Keswick. Fun fact: Bassenthwaite is known as the only lake in the Lake District. This is because other bodies of water, like Windermere are considered a mere, just meaning that it is shallow in relation to its size.
Facilities of the campsite included:
A small reception/ shop, which sold items such as, wood for the fire, eggs, marshmallows, toiletries etc.
Parking for each pitch
Toilet/ shower block with a hairdryer
Washing machine/ taps to hose down muddy boots
3 dish washing facilities
The family who ran the site, were super friendly and welcoming, and assisted with any needs and suggestions. My favourite part about the campsite, was the fire pits placed in front of each tent. This gave the evenings an extra cosy feel, and of course toasting marshmallows was a no brainer. I also liked that we was able to park the car near our pitch, so all non essential items could be kept away, and did not clutter the tent.
Packing
As I mentioned, we are still getting to grips with everything relating to camping. It's definitely a trial and error process, when it comes to packing, so here are the essential/ not so essential items I brought.
Tent Items
Tent; 2 man
Tarp
Inflatable mattress and pump
Sleeping bag and pillows
2 camping chairs
Mini stove and gas canister
2 Mess Tins/ cutlery and plastic mugs
Cool box
Torch/ lanterns
Fairy lights for decoration (unnecessary)
Food and Drink
Clothing
Honister Slate Mine
This was definitely my favourite experience whilst in the Lake District. Honister Slate Mine is located in Keswick, and was about a 40 minute drive from the campsite. Honister is a family run business, and has been since 1997. It is the last working slate mine in England, offering tours and adventures to the public.
The experience we took part in, was called 'Climb The Mine', which is an indoor climbing experience, following the original mining routes. The obstacles include, steel ladder climbs, zip wire, wooden bridge crossings and a Tarzan swing. The cost was around £55pp, and is 100% worth it for an amazing experience.
Local towns and walks
One of the closest towns to the campsite is Ambleside, which was about a 50 minute drive. We took a walk around the town, which has lots of food choices, shops, museums and activities including water sports, boat and bike hire.
A 10 minute drive from the campsite is a Forestry England woodland area called Dodd Wood, with many trails to follow, overlooking views of the northern Lake District. Another local area, close to the campsite is Whinlatter Forest, with views across Bassenthwaite, Derwentwater and Keswick, as well as having one of the longest mountain bike trails in the national park.
Things for next time
So the two man tent was a bit snug at times. I would like to invest in a tent with a bigger porch, in case next time we do not have such easy access to the car. More tinned food would also be beneficial; with lots of walking (especially in the cold), we definitely needed more fuel!
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