Let me say from the outset that I am an experienced tower, we have an 8ft wide caravan on a single axle towed by a large 4x4 so we are quite a long combination therefore my review will not apply to everyone. Before arriving we carefully read all the information about how to approach the site and followed it to the letter. It did not prepare us for what we encountered. The road to Keswich from the A1 is brilliant, it all went downhill from there. The road from Keswich to the site is approx 5 miles, 4 miles along the east side of Derwentwater with spectacular scenery. However the road is very narrow in places with high walls, overhanging trees and in one place a hugh rock jutting out into the road so care is needed. Pulling over as far as possible to avoid the oncoming bus (which took no prisoners) I caught my nearside towing mirror which I subsequently lost, never to be seen again, there is nowhere to pull in and the road is busy with traffic. You then need to turn right over a double humped backed bridge with very low side walls which says it is only 6ft 6ins wide but we did get across albeit with inches to spare, make sure nothing is coming before you start to cross. You then proceed to a sharp blind left hand turn through two houses and a sharp right passing the local tea shops which were busy with walkers and cars parked everywhere, thank goodness we encountered no oncoming traffic. The road slightly widens from there until narrowing again, you keep going thinking you have missed the turning but never fear you are on the right track even when you go through what looks like someones drive as you go through 2 gate posts at Manesty. At this point we were convinced we had gone wrong but a couple of hundred yards on and we saw the club sign. What a relief, but it wasn't finished yet. The turn into the site is 180 degree and we missed the gatepost by an inch. By the time we had arrived on our pitch we were mentally exhausted and needed a stiff drink. And then we discovered that we had also caught and lost the nearside topline indicator on the caravan as well. The presentation of the site is first class. The wardens could not have been nicer, so helpful and the shop was a definate plus. Because the site is not a circular route, lots of dead ends the wardens very helpfully marked all the available pitches for us, brilliant idea, wish all sites did the same. The scenery around the site is truly spectacular, minutes from the lake and beautiful walks everywhere. We would definately go back to the Borrowdale Valley but I dont think my nerves would survive another trip down the approach roads. There is a video on YouTube done by someone if you are interested or concerned but they are not towing a caravan. There is also another one by someone who did not read the approach instructions who came the wrong way around the lake towing a caravan!! very interesting viewing. Warning: The lake contained blue/green algea so be careful with dogs.
Jeff66
Reviewed on 03/10/2020 08:26
