Park life!

Lee Davey sets off for Windermere to check out the Club’s new Affiliated Site

Park Cliffe Windermere sits to the east of the famous lake

Once thought of as an untamed wilderness, the Lake District began its transformation into a tourist destination in the late 18th century, thanks in part to the groundbreaking A Guide to the Lakes by Thomas West, a Jesuit priest. From that point on it fast became the fashionable destination for lovers of beautiful scenery and the great outdoors. Fast forward to the  Victorian era, and people were arriving by train and taking to the water on steamers, visiting for much the same reasons as they do now: space, scenery and a break from everyday life. Windermere became the focal point of the southern Lakes, with jetties, hotels and viewpoints developing around it to meet demand. Travel there now and you can see why its popularity persists. Windermere is still one of the most visited parts of the Lake District, and for many people it’s the obvious starting point on a Cumbrian tour.

New to the Club’s UK network is Park Cliffe Windermere Camping and Caravan Park – an Affiliated Site which is conveniently situated on the south-eastern side of England’s most famous lake. Much of my touring in the UK to date has been in the south of England, with Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire the most northerly destination on my touring tick list. So with a personal best to beat, I hitched up the caravan and settled in for a long, steady drive from Dorset.

Park Cliffe is a spacious, well-kept campsite

It was more than worth the drive. With Gummer’s How, a lower fell, keeping watch over Park Cliffe Windermere, the geography makes for a wonderfully attractive, gently sloping campsite. An impressive rocky plinth sits in the middle, and gravelled pitches spread outward from it towards the hill. Our caravan only required minimal levelling, and the pitch benefitted from its own water supply.

The campsite facilities are modern, clean, and consistently well maintained, and everything is exactly where you expect it to be. There’s also an on-site bar, which gives you the chance to enjoy a drink and a chat in a relaxed setting without the need to drive. The takeaway outlet to the right of the bar is another bonus. Serving cooked breakfasts first thing and snacks in the evening, it wasn’t open every day during our stay, but we were admittedly there during a quieter period.

We were touring with the caravan, but the site caters for a wide mix of visitors. There’s a large camping field, as well as a choice of pods, static caravans and even a shepherd’s hut – so there are plenty of options for friends and family who may wish to join you.

Staying local

Windermere remains a favourite with holidaymakers

Most of our time was spent off-site exploring the local area. One of the advantages of being based near the southern end of the lake is that there’s enough within a short distance to fill a day without the need to drive too far.

Fell Foot was our first stop. Just three miles from the campsite, this lovely park offers easy access to the lake without having to deal with the busier towns. You simply park, walk down to the water and admire the sensational scenery (if you’re lucky, you might spot the military jets that use the area to train).

Paddleboarders were heading out, small boats moved steadily across the water, and people were spread out enough that it never felt crowded. The car park costs £7 for two hours and is free for National Trust members.

Nor did we stray far the following day. First, we visited the Lakeside Motor Museum, which became one of the highlights of the trip. An unashamed petrolhead, I loved the huge variety of cars and bikes on display. Café Ambio next door is great for a bite to eat and, as with the Motor Museum, prices were incredibly reasonable for such a tourist-rich environment.

The Lakes Aquarium is only two miles from the Motor Museum and easy to fit into a morning or afternoon. Even if your interest in aquatic life is fleeting, the displays and layout really make it work, especially the ‘underwater’ tunnel. Again, the entrance fee was more than reasonable, at £9.50 for an advance adult ticket.

By the end of the third day, we’d started to get a feel for the wider area. The eastern side of Windermere, particularly around Bowness-on-Windermere, can be busy, but the western side feels noticeably quieter – and getting across is simple. The Windermere ferry runs regularly, carrying cars, cyclists and foot passengers, across within a few minutes.

We left the car at the National Trust’s Harrowslack site (free for members; non-member prices start at £5.50 for two hours), from which Clive, our boxer/bulldog cross, thoroughly enjoyed our quiet walk along the lakeside.

We did end up spending some time in Bowness and the town of Windermere itself. I’d heard that the former can be very busy indeed during peak periods, but it turned out to be relatively quiet the week after Easter. We had plenty of parking spaces to choose from, and the same applied to benches overlooking the harbour as we sat down to enjoy our ‘chippy tea’. Windermere is a little more relaxed and spread out, and would serve as a handy alternative destination should the crowds descend.

One for all

Clive enjoyed the Lake District

Back at Park Cliffe Windermere we enjoyed the quiet ambience, but it’s also clearly a site that works well for families thanks to a play area and an indoor games room, and there’s more than enough space in which to unwind. Should the youngsters need tiring out before bedtime, a picnic at the top of Gummer’s How will do the trick.

You can see how folks tend to use the site, spending the day out around Windermere, then coming back and either switching off completely or heading straight back out again. With so many places to visit nearby, it’s incredibly easy to pick an attraction or destination on a whim and hop in the car.

However, many visitors will no doubt leave their cars on their pitches throughout their stays – there’s convenient access from the site to local paths offering outstanding views.

By the time we had left, Park Cliffe had done exactly what we needed it to do. We’d had the chance to unwind amid spectacular scenery and done our fair share of exploring – and I’d managed to record that new northern personal best.