Relying on an old favourite, Gillside Farm, Glenridding

I am not usually one to write negative reviews, however we booked a three-night stay at the holiday park in Wigton, just outside the Lake District. We had hoped to relax by the beach and let the children enjoy the onsite pool, but sadly after only fourteen hours on site we decided to leave because of the poor hygiene and overall state of the facilities. It’s good to try new places, but in the end we packed up and rang an old favourite, Gillside Farm in Glenridding, near Penrith.

Gillside Farm is located at the foot of Helvellyn, a short drive from the shores of Ullswater below. The site includes a bunkhouse (which we have used many times in the past, including for Steve’s stag doo), a selection of luxury holiday homes and a touring field. They offer electric hardstanding pitches, but we camped on the touring field which has access to the gill. The large field does not have electric hookups, but luckily we had the jetboil in the back of the van for emergencies! There is also a Breakfast Van open on Saturday and Sunday mornings from 7.30am to 10.30am. The farm sells fresh milk and eggs, and nearby Glenridding provides a good selection of general food and gift shops, a National Park information centre, cafés, restaurants and pubs, an outdoor gear shop and a garage.

It was wonderful to drive into the Lake District after a rough experience. The sun was shining as we arrived, and we pulled up on Ullswater feeling instantly relieved and ready for some fun on the lake. We took the paddleboards out and the boys trained for the Great North Swim. We spent most of the day paddling and exploring. There is nothing better than finishing with a relaxed picnic—just cheese and saucisson—sitting in the warm sun with our feet in the water.

We headed back to the campsite for a relaxed birthday barbecue for Steve, followed by a lemon drizzle cake to sing Happy birthday. The kids splashed and played in the Gill while we lounged in the sun and enjoyed the scenery. Sam took great pleasure playing bar man for the evening, and Esme organised the games and activities.

After one last splash in the Gill, we headed up to the toilet block. The showers may not have changed in years, but they are always kept spotlessly clean and well maintained. They take 20p coins for a timed burst of hot water — officially 3 minutes, though it often feels closer to 5 — and the flow is reliably hot and powerful. There’s enough space in the cubicle to accommodate an adult and child comfortably, and a handy socket near the sink area for hair dryers.