Rules for wild camping in the Lake District
To my mind the best way to see the fells is by wild camping in them. The first advantage is that you virtually get them to yourself. Secondly you have the time to explore, something that few fellwalkers take time to do. And finally wild camping makes it much easier to take dawn and dusk photographs as all you have to do is fall out of your tent to see a great view. That’s the theory anyway although it doesn’t always work out that way!
So where to camp?
Before I list out wild camping spots I have used, a quick word about the legalities of wild camping in England. According to the letter of the law you should get the landowners permission before wild camping in the Lake District. However most people don’t as it is tolerated providing a few basic rules are followed. These are laid out on the LDNPA’s wild camping webpage and they are well worth a quick read.
I think the most important rule of wild camping is this:
Leave the campsite as you would want to find it.
LDPNA
Before leaving in the morning always make sure that the only visible sign that you were ever there is the flattened bit of grass on which your tent was pitched. Abide by that rule and all wild campers will be happy campers.
One final point: as I carry all my photography kit into the fells I need to keep it dry while experiencing the Lakeland weather. For this reason I use a small tent, not a bivvy bag which does limit my options somewhat but not by much. A lot of the photos resulting from these camping trips can be seen in my Lake District photo collection which I like to think justifies the extra effort.
Anyway this article is about places to camp so let’s crack on with it.
Where to wild camp in the Lake District
It would be nigh on impossible to rank the camping spots in order of preference as there are many other factors that contribute to how enjoyable a night in the fells is, e.g. the weather, the route taken to get there and my general state of mind! So to keep it simple I’ll stick to listing them in alphabetical order.
Table of Contents
Allen Crags
OS grid reference: NY 236 085
There is space to pitch a number of tents on the grassy area surrounding Allen Crag’s summit crag. The choice of location will probably be dictated by the direction of the prevailing wind. And if the wind is too strong its not far to descend to either Angle Tarn or Sprinkling Tarn from here.
Neighbouring Great Gable and Great End prevent a clear view of sunset from the summit. However longer distance views of sunrise are possible, the distant Helvellyn ridge being the nearest obstacle to the east.
My tent pitched a few yards east of Allen Crags summit with a view of Bow Fell and Esk Pike
I had a great night and slept very well when I went camping on Allen Crags.
Angle Tarn (Great Langdale)
OS grid reference: NY 244 076
There is more than one Angle Tarn in the Lakes. This Angle Tarn is the one overlooked by Bow Fell summit’s northern face at the head of Great Langdale. It is a well known and very popular wild camping spot. As a result there are often campers here, especially during the summer.
There are a number of places by the tarn where a tent can be pitched and more often than not there’s room for another. The following photo shows a busy evening at the tarn.
Tents pitched at Angle Tarn at the head of Angletarn Gill
However I have never camped on the tarn’s shores. The reason being whenever I have camped here its been after a spell of heavy rain when there are a number of cascades of water tumbling off Bow Fell’s crags into the tarn. And I know the sound of running water through the night will keep me awake.
Instead I camp away from the tarn. For example along the track leading behind Rossett Pike, where it is nice and quiet (weather permitting).
Pitch near Angle Tarn under a cloud covered Esk Pike.
Part of Bow Fell can be seen to the left and Angle Tarn is in the hollow in the middle distance.
Angle Tarn (Patterdale)
OS grid reference: NY 417 143
Another Angle Tarn: this one is the tarn overlooked by Angletarn Pikes above Patterdale. Alfred Wainright was a big fan saying that ‘in scenic values it ranks amongst the best of Lakeland Tarns.’ High praise indeed and well deserved.
The high plateau between the twin peaks of Angletarn Pikes and Brock Crags offers many places on which to pitch a tent. In summer you’ll rarely find the shores of the tarn free of tents, the below photo showing one of the more popular places to pitch a tent.
Tent on the shore of Angle Tarn
There are plenty of other options around the tarn too. I prefer a bit more space away from the crowds and wandering away from the tarn its possible to find some great spots to camp.
Sunset over Angle Tarn under Angletarn Pikes from Brock Crags
The above photo was taken after walking from Martindale to Angle Tarn to camp. There were too many tents by the tarn so I found a pitch under nearby Brock Crags instead.
Other options include on Angletarn Pikes, on the western side of Buck Crags and on Cat Crag, all overlooking the tarn.
In my humble opinion the best pitches are by Angle Tarn itself though.
Blea Tarn (Eskdale)
OS grid reference: NY 166 010
The is plenty of land surrounding this Blea Tarn but finding a patch which is flat and comfortable enough to get a good night’s sleep is a challenge! On the flip side, this location is away from the more popular locations on this list so there’s a better chance of some solitude here.
Camping on near the shore of Blea Tarn
The tarn can be included as part of a seven mile walk which is described in my blog about a wild camping trip at Blea Tarn starting from Boot in Eskdale.
Blencathra
OS grid reference: NY 323 277
To enjoy a night’s wild camping near any fell summit requires a certain amount of good luck, primarily that the weather holds. Most of the time the forecast I’ve read before a night out is roughly right and I have fallen lucky. This was definitely the case when I wild camped on Blencathra.
The southern slopes of Blencathra are steep and obviously no place to pitch a tent, especially if you have a habit of rolling over in your sleep!
To the north though the slope’s gradient is more gentle and there are many choices of where to pitch.
And then there is the summit itself where the ground is very hard meaning its not the most comfortable night’s sleep. However the dawn views more than make up for this!
Just before dawn on Blencathra’s summit ridge
Boredale Hause
OS grid reference: NY 408 157
Boredale Hause is the high pass between Patterdale and Boredale, the low point in the ridge between Place Fell and Angletarn Pikes. This isn’t really a place I ever had in mind to camp, more as a place to walk by as the hause is a junction of many footpaths.
However in 2013 a group of friends thought it would be a good place to get some dark skies and watch the ‘spectacular’ Lyrid meteor shower. Sadly thanks to cloud cover the meteor shower was just that – a shower. On that particular night the short climb from Boredale Hause to the summit of Place Fell to watch dawn more than made up for that though!
Anyway, as a place to camp it was fine. The large grassy area of the hause offers plenty of room on which to put a tent. And as a bonus its only a short climb from Patterdale village.
Brim Fell
OS grid reference: NY 271 986
Brim Fell is the neighbouring Fell to the much better known Old Man of Coniston. Whereas options to wild camp on The Old Man are limited Brim Fell is the opposite: there is plenty of space on which to pitch a number of tents on the grassy, expansive area near the summit cairn. The largest such area is to the west of the main footpath over the fell.
Views are extensive on most sides, only Scafell limits views to the north. I guess this will cause issues on windy nights.
My tent pitched near to Brim Fell’s summit
Fortunately when I camped on Brim Fell it was very calm indeed.
Catbells
OS grid reference: NY 244 198
Catbells is a fell I have often climbed to watch dawn as its summit is relatively close to civilisation and easy to get to. As with any dawn trip it involves getting up damn early though!
In an effort to give myself a bit of a lie-in I did camp there once, just to the south of the summit on the grassy plateau of Mart Bield.
Dawn view from Catbells’ summit
It wasn’t a bad place to camp. On the downside it is a popular dawn vantage point so you run the risk of getting woken up early. I camped there in June and was getting up before dawn for sunrise so that wasn’t really an issue though.
The above photo was taken before 5am and hardly surprisingly there was no one else in sight.
Codale Tarn
OS grid reference: NY 297 088
Codale Tarn is a seldom visited tarn at the head of Easedale. Its rarely visited as its off the main path and a bit of a hike from anywhere.
On the night I ended up camping there I had actually planned to camp near Sergeant Man. However on the climb up, as I walked past the tents already pitched at Easedale Tarn, I saw some nasty looking clouds ahead over the Langdale Fells. Also the wind was picking up. In short this was no night to camp on the fell tops!
A quick look at my map and the plan soon changed: Codale Tarn was to be my target for the night.
There is plenty of ground east of the tarn under the crags of Slapestone Edge that will take a tent. And there’s no need to worry about anyone else being there. Very few ever visit Codale Tarn, even though it is only five minutes off the main path.
All in all not a bad place to camp, great if solitude is what you’re after.
Codale Tarn from the main Easedale path
Dale Head
OS grid reference: NY 223 153
Dale Head at the head of the Newlands Valley is a very exposed peak, something that becomes very obvious when actually camping there. In my opinion a prerequisite of camping here is that there is little or no wind.
I found two places to camp both very close to the trig point on the summit. The first is virtually next to the summit itself where there is a patch of flat grass. There is also a patch of thicker grass a few yards to the west towards Hindscarth. I chose the latter of these options when I climbed Dale Head to camp here.
My tent with the summit of Dale Head in the background
In short, assuming that there is no wind and there is room (ideally no one else at all!) this is a great spot for a wild camp.
Easedale Tarn
OS grid reference: NY 308 088
Easedale Tarn is a very popular spot for wild camping, not very surprising really as its only an easy two mile walk from Grasmere with only one short climb to reach it. The walk can easily be done in less than an hour.
The obvious place to pitch a tent is on the grassy area next to the large boulder on the tarn’s southern shore. You might have to turn up early to reserve this spot though, especially at weekends in summer. If that pitch is taken there are other places to camp near the tarn but they’re not as good.
The only real drawback I’ve found to Easedale Tarn is the lack of any great long distance views. Due to its situation the sun sinks below the surrounding crags well before sunset and the Great Rigg ridge prevents a clear view of sunrise.
Even so, its one to tick off the list and is a sheltered, safe option.
Tent pitched near the big boulder on Easedale Tarn’s shore
Esk Hause
OS grid reference: NY 233 081
I once ended up camping at Esk Hause as the weather closed in on my way up to my planned destination on the Scafell ridge. Whereas Esk Hause is very exposed, its much less exposed than on the very top of England!
On the evening in question I did consider heading back down to Sprinkling Tarn but in the end I didn’t. My tent copes very well in wind so I wasn’t too worried.
I ended up sleeping near the foot of Esk Pike’s crags and it ended up being a reasonably comfy night, even though the ground was quite hard. No one else was there but even if there were others it wouldn’t have been an issue. Esk Hause is a broad mountain pass with plenty of space.
Sadly the weather didn’t play ball and a dawn climb to the summit of Esk Pike was rewarded with views of nothing but cloud. In fact it was only when I was part way down Grains Gill that I could see anything at all.
Despite this I want to camp up there again. With clear skies, camping at Esk Hause means you’re close to a number of great vantage points. All that is needed is some good weather!
The path on Esk Hause leading to Esk Pike
For now the above photo will have to suffice although this was taken on a later camping trip up Esk Pike (see below). The photo shows space on either side of the path that a tent can be pitched on.
Esk Pike
OS grid reference: NY 235 076
Esk Pike is a big, rocky fell with a very convenient patch of rock-free grass under the northern side of its summit crag. The patch in question is quite mossy too so its probably best after a dry spell.
My tent very conveniently close to the summit crag of Esk Pike
I didn’t spend much time on the Ore Gap side of Esk Pike but a brief reccy didn’t reveal anywhere free of rocks so I suspect pitching a tent on that side is impossible.
Sunset views in summer are limited from here due to the neighbouring and taller Scafell ridge but dawn looks more promising. I wouldn’t know for sure though as the fells were covered in cloud at dawn on my camping trip on Esk Pike. Despite the lack of a sunrise on my trip I rate this as somewhere to camp: a great lofty location well away from other sites.
Fleetwith Pike
OS grid reference: NY 205 141
On my way to camp at Innominate Tarn one evening I climbed Fleetwith Pike first. At the summit I noticed there was room for one small tent at the top.
After mulling over my options I decided to change plans and pitched my tent right next to the trig point.
That evening I sat outside my tent wondering if I had made the right choice. While watching a gorgeous sunset at the other end of the Buttermere Valley I realised I had.
View from the my tent on Fleetwith Pike
As a footnote the following morning I wandered over to Innominate Tarn to watch dawn and found three or four tents there. Haystacks is a great location (see below) and understandably popular but Fleetwith Pike was much the better option on that night.
Great End
OS grid reference: NY 226 084
The night I spent wild camping on Great End was unplanned to say the least. I was actually heading further along the Scafell ridge towards Scafell Pike’s summit when I thought I’d take a detour to Great End. It was only when there that I noticed a small grassy area on the summit that was just big enough for a single tent. That was me sorted for the night. And what a night!
From the experience I can say that Great End is a fantastic place to camp when the skies are clear and the wind is non-existent. Had the wind picked up I suspect I’d have beaten a hasty retreat down to Esk Hause during the night. Fortunately I didn’t have to.
Looking north-east from Great End at dawn
The views for both sunset and sunrise are superb from this vantage point: no great surprise as its one of the highest peaks in The Lakes.
Great Knott
OS grid reference: NY 259 043
Great Knott is on the ridge overlooking Oxendale between Pike of Blisco and Crinkle Crags in the Langdale Fells.
On the evening I pitched my tent there I was intending to camp higher up but strong winds scotched that plan. Having retreated back downhill at dusk I found an area next to the grassy trod leading to the summit of Great Knott that proved to be a good alternative.
My tent pitched next to the path leading to Great Knott’s summit crag (with silhouetted sheep)
After a comfortable night’s sleep it was only a short walk from my tent to the summit to watch dawn. And it turns out that the dawn view of Crinkle Crags and Bow Fell from Great Knott is superb.
Haystacks (Innominate Tarn)
OS grid reference: NY 198 129
What to say of Haystacks? Suffice it to say that it is the place I have wild camped more than any other. However there’s probably a lot of people can say that too as it is very popular!
I have been lucky enough to have the entire place to myself in the past but that is rare. During summer weekends it can get pretty crowded so don’t expect to be alone and don’t turn up just before sunset as you may struggle to get a decent pitch.
Tents on the shore of Innominate Tarn at dawn in summer
There are numerous places amongst the crags on the summit plateau where a tent can be pitched, most within spitting distance of Innominate Tarn. The spongy ground around the tarn can get very wet after rain plus there can be plenty of midges if the wind is low. However there are other pitches further away should either of those be the case.
My best advice is to steer clear during summer weekends though. Try camping there midweek outside the summer months and you may be lucky enough to have the place to yourself as I did on a stormy night on Haystacks.
A view of the Wasdale fells from Innominate Tarn at sunset
The High Street ridge
OS grid reference: NY 441 110
In short High Street ridge has plenty of space for plenty of tents. From The Knott in the north down to Thornthwaite Beacon at the ridge’s southern end, the wild camper is spoilt for choice on where to pitch a tent.
As a result I have camped on High Street a number of times but never in the same spot twice.
The ridge’s high point is marked by a trig point on the Mardale side of the main path. There is a small patch of flat ground very close to the it which makes a great camping location. The following photograph was the best dawn photo I took after that night out!
Wild camp close to the trig point on High Street’s summit
On another occasion I camped at the southern end of the ridge, close to Thornthwaite Crag which overlooks the head of the Troutbeck valley. I was a bit luckier with the weather this time and took this photo looking towards Mardale Ill Bell overlooking the Kentmere Valley.
Mardale Ill Bell from Thornthwaite Beacon on High Street at dawn
And then there was the time I camped further north on Rampsgill Head overlooking Martindale. I wasn’t laughing when, having pitched my tent, I realised I’d forgotten my sleeping mat. Suffice it to say I had a very uncomfortable night with very little sleep. Fortunately I was compensated with a wonderful dawn!
The summit of the high street ridge from Rampsgill Head
I’m sure I’ll camp on High Street again but probably in another new spot.
Lingmoor Fell
OS grid reference: NY 302 046
Lingmoor Fell is just about the best viewpoint for the Langdale Pikes in my humble opinion, especially in August when the heather is in flower. Plus it has room for a couple of very small tents under the summit crag.
My camping experiences on Lingmoor Fell have been very contrasting. One night has to go down as the wettest night’s camping I have ever experienced. I found it hard to sleep due to the noise of the water thundering down Stickle Ghyll on the other side of Great Langdale. And that was over 1.5 miles away! Fortunately my tent did its job and I managed to stay dry. I think I got some sleep too but not much.
A more recent camping trip saw me pitch my tent very late one summer’s evening near to the summit. Waking up to this view more than made up for any previous soakings.
Lingmoor Fell wild camping spot
I guess this is why I love wild camping so much. If the weather was predictable and I only ever went camping when the forecast was good I would take these experiences for granted. It a sort of ‘pleasure and the pain’ thing – you can’t have one without the other. Anyway, I digress. Next!
Maiden Moor
OS grid reference: NY 236 182
Maiden Moor is Catbell’s loftier neighbour on the Newlands Horseshoe ridge. Being a bit further away from civilisation it has less passing traffic than Catbells which is a plus.
Whereas there is only a small area right next to the rocky summit on which to pitch a tent its unlikely anyone else will be camping here.
It is easy to get to too, especially from Little Town in the Newlands Valley.
The view from Maiden Moor just after sunrise
Sergeant Man
OS grid reference: NY 286 089
Sergeant Man located above Langdale’s Stickle Tarn is a superb location. It is possible to pitch a tent on the flat area of grass between the summit crag and an unnamed tarn to its north. The area is very exposed though so its best to pick a still night if any sleep is wanted. I was lucky enough to pick such a night in June 2018 and had a fantastic wild camp on Sergeant Man.
The flat area of grass under the summit crag of Sergeant Man
Small Water Tarn
OS grid reference: NY 455 100
Small Water under Harter Fell at the head of Mardale is a popular spot to camp, even though it is on the edge of the National Park away from the busier valleys. Actually, this is probably why so many people camp here.
If climbing from Mardale Head, there is an area of grass on the left side of the tarn that has its own little personal ‘beach’. There is also a larger area to the right as well, amongst the rough ground north of the tarn.
Tent pitched on the shore of Small Water Tarn
One advantage of camping here is that the sun rises at the far end of Mardale in the summer months. A short walk back down along Small Water Beck can give great sunrise views.
Dawn over Haweswater near Small Water Tarn
However there have been occasions when I’ve intended to camp here but found it full, normally at weekends in summer. On such occasions I carry on up Nan Bield Pass and camp on the High Street ridge. Its always good to have a backup plan.
Sprinkling Tarn
OS grid reference: NY 228 091
Sprinkling Tarn on Seathwaite Fell below Great End crag is a very well known and popular place to wild camp in the Lake District. Its rare you’ll have the place to yourself, the most popular pitches being close to the tarn’s shore. However there are plenty of nearby nooks and crannies so you can always find some peace and quiet. And its a gorgeous tarn with plenty of crags to explore.
My tent overlooking the tarn
I took the above photo on a night spent camping at Sprinkling Tarn.
Stickle Tarn
OS grid reference: NY 288 076
Stickle Tarn above Langdale is another popular wild camping spot in the Lakes. This is not really surprising given that its in one of the most popular areas for walking and its less than an hour’s walk from the valley. As a result of this you’ll rarely have the place to yourself, especially during the summer.
I managed to avoid the crowds when I last camped there by picking a night when a storm was travelling through the area. The trade-off was that I barely got a wink of sleep!
Wild camping at Stickle Tarn
The pitch in the photo is very close to the path leading round the tarn to the foot of Jake’s Rake. Numerous alternatives are available, notably near where Stickle Tarn feeds Stickle Ghyll.
Styhead Tarn
OS grid reference: NY 222 099
Like nearby Sprinkling Tarn, Styhead Tarn is a popular wild camping spot. The tarn might have less room for camping and occupy a less dramatic situation but I’ve had some good times here. It’s popular for a reason.
There is room for a tent or two at the northern end of the tarn, just off the main path leading down into Borrowdale. The following photo was taken from this end of the tarn.
Tents at Styhead Tarn
However there is more space is at the southern, far end nearest to Wasdale. Some partly submerged stepping stones lead through a marshy area to a couple of grassy areas that are perfect for wild camping. If you look closely some tents can be seen on this area.
The weather isn’t always as good up here as I know all to well after an interesting night camping at Styhead Tarn!
Tongue Head
OS grid reference: NY 242 081
A fantastic little spot to camp made all the better by the location: overlooked on two sides by Allen Crags and Esk Pike but long distance views to the north and east with nothing but wilderness in sight.
Looking down the Langstrath Valley from Tongue Head at sunset
However there are not many comfortable pitches for tents here, maybe three or four at the most. I was lucky when I camped on Tongue Head and had the place to myself which is by far and away the best way.
Other places to wild camp in the Lakes
This list is by no means complete, it is a list based on my personal experiences. As time goes on I’ll add new locations to keep it up to date.
Should you, the reader, have any recommendations for other Lake District wild camping locations then please leave a comment below.
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What a great list, thank you Gavin
High Street is a favourite of mine also.
Simon
Its a pleasure. I’m always happy to hear from another wild camper.
Hi Gavin, I’m really glad to have stumbled upon your excellent blog. Your “Where to wild camp in the Lake District” section is a brilliant resource – I’ve previously camped at a couple of the locations, those I haven’t will certainly be on my list to visit soon!
Thanks for taking the time,
Glyn
Pleasure – I’m glad its of use and thanks for the kind words.
Just getting into wild camping so finding this is going to be invaluable for planning routes. Thank you for the time and effort you have put in to help newbies like me – appreciated. Only suggestion would make (and something would welcome) is including where able to park a car overnight for a start / finish
Thanks for your comment, Richard. I can see where you’re coming from and I’ll bear it in mind. However a lot of the locations I mention can be approached from a number of different directions so it may be a lengthy list. For example, High Raise can be climbed from Great Langdale, Easedale, Stonethwaite or Wythburn, all of which have places its possible to park.
Great list of places to explore, am a new solo wild camper, will certainly be working my way through your suggestions until am more confident to venture to the summits.
Thanks again
Nicky
Hi Nicky. Glad to hear the list has been of use. Enjoy your camping adventures and feel free to report back with any new suggestions.
Great list! I would have loved it if you’d made a map with them all marked on. The only reason is so I could see which spots are closest to where I intend on walking that day. Regardless, the suggestions are excellent and I’m working my way through them. Easedale has been my favourite so far but it was mega busy (7 tents) which I assume was due to coming out of lockdown.
Thanks, Daniel. The map is a good idea so I’ll look into that. Meanwhile as a compromise, I have added grid references to each of the locationx.
Enjoy working your way through the list. Rest assured not all sites are as busy as Easedale Tarn, although it sounds as if you turned up on a particularly busy evening!
I have really enjoyed reading all your wild camp experiences. I am 50 years of age , walked all these routes can you believe never wild camped , shocked I know Why Why I hear you ask ! . Anyway since turning 50 last May I have decided to wild camp this may , my question is in your experience which to do as my first time , I really as everyone want to see the sunset and sunrise solo on a mountain with no other campers . So my question is which is the best option to avoid people I know there is no guarantee on my day not to have to share the site but I am hopeful. Should mention I have camped just not wild camping ! Would be grateful for any surgestion also what about the 3 highest peaks or are they not so good to wild camp ? ? Any help would be much appreciated, again loved your photos and summary etc regards Richy
Hi Richy,
Obviously it depends on the weather on the day in question and often I end up having to improvise as the weather changes.
Places like Innominate Tarn, Sprinkling Tarn and Angle Tarn are good as they offer some shelter as well as a good source of water, so they’re safe options. Even though they’re not summits they have some great views too.
I’d only camp on a summit if the wind was virtually non-existant. My Great End wild camp was one such night and I was lucky it stayed that way till dawn. Even if the wind had picked up I know I could have retreated back to Esk Hause or further down to Sprinkling Tarn. There are other places on the Scafell ridge to pitch a tent so that would possibly be my suggestion. Plus the other big fells in the Lakes don’t have quite the variety of terrain that the Scafell Ridge has.
Having said that, I would aim a bit lower for my first wild camp. Maybe try out one of the aforementioned tarns?
Let me know how you get on. Oh, and thanks for the kind words.
Gavin
Hi Gavin thank you for a quick reply , I think I will take your advice and probably stay at one of the tarns as I know these very well , as you said does not take much for weather to change quickly . I will certainly let you know how my first wild camp goes ,also I will take a few pics but I only use my phone camera so be not scratch on your photos ? Cannot wait to get on the hills missed a lot last year as torn my Achilles’ tendon 100% now but I do go a little slower these days more psychological I think . Anyway thanks again all the very best for 2019 take care keep safe regards Richy ?