Motorhome parking in the Lake District

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amarch

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Has any found parking in the various main towns in the Lake District a problem. We went up to Keswick last year for a few nights in the area and found two things. First, there don't seem to be any special parking areas for Motorhomes longer than an average car bay. This was a major problem in Keswick as all 6 car parks were nearly full and trying to park our 7m home in any of them was impossible. We ended up parking on a quiet walkers road some distance out of town. Secondly touring to the main high elevation scenic areas was impossible because of the 6'6" width restriction placed on the roads. Very disappointed. I feel I should be writing to the Council to ask why, in a major tourist town, there is no help for the owners of Motorhomes to park somewhere legally. It seems to be a common problem in England - motorhomes are just seen by councils as a plague on peaceful rural towns rather than a boost to the economy and an ever increasing form of travelling. Ever tried to park near the south coast beach towns of Shoreham or Littlehampton - all barriered, so you have to park on residential roads.
 
Agree with all the above. Spent most of this winter in south Lakes and even with a Navara pick-up, the parking is a P.I.T.A!!! It's all tightly packed in, all expensive and even the dirt laybyes out in the sticks are all P&D ! Grabbing sods!
Bottom line (IMHO) is that modern society just doesn't want to see motorhomes & caravans in their areas. They want your money but they don't want you! They want you to come off the motorway, drive STRAIGHT to site and then use feet or public transport.
Cynical? Yes..........but I wasn't born like that.
 
Did you try the Rugby Club?

We have just had a few days in the lakes, parked on a campsite and either walked or took the scooter out for the day, I would not want to take the van for a day out touring as the roads are just too narrow and too busy in the summer for it to be enjoyable, and as you suggest there is next to nowhere to park.

This is what I found with a google search.

As well as car parks run by Allerdale Borough Council there are also locally operated car parks run by Fitz Park Trust, Keswick Football Club and Keswick Rugby Club.

  • Keswick Rugby Club Car Park, Crow Park Road (what3words ///gilding.rarely.hairspray) - £4 all day and includes overnight parking* to 9am CA12 5EG *No overnight parking for campervans/mobile homes
  • Crosthwaite Road Car Park, (what3words ///forgiving.wedge.price) capacity 80, (access on foot into town via Fitz Park), no overnight stays - £3 all day for cars, £6 for camper vans CA12 5PP
 
It was hard enough for us to park our vw T25 so i can sympathise with anything bigger.
I can wholy understand width restrictions on some ofvthe roads up there though.
Many pass through narrow gates walls trees etc

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Hopefully things will change when (if) the new laws are passed. Lots of restrictions have been out into place to stop those who cannot then be removed easily, once it becomes easier to remove 'unwanted persons and their abodes' I think we will see restrictions easing after a settling in period.

There is a recent you tube video of a family overnighting at one the lakes, Coniston I think? Might be worth a look.
 
I am afraid you will not be able to get the roads or the car park spaces widened or lengthened as the National Park authority, who is in overall command want to ban Motor vehicles from many areas within the Lakes, Most roads in the lakes were built for horse and cart, not MHs change the roads and you change the feel and look of the lakes. 😉
 
Sound a bit like the Peak District .
I dont think they realise the majority of people visiting get there in vehicles and the trade they bring into the area is crucial for their existence.
 
We have taken our van to the Lakes on several occasions and not had too many problems although it is a 6m panel van conversion. The car park at Booths supermarket in Keswick has a few parking places for larger vehicles, and is fine for spending a couple of hours in town.
The car park at Glenridding has ample room for coachbuilt or A class vans, and from there you can walk to the top of Helvellyn, or along and up to High Street etc. Just get there early as it fills up quickly.
 
dazandandrea said:
Sound a bit like the Peak District .
I dont think they realise the majority of people visiting get there in vehicles and the trade they bring into the area is crucial for their existence.
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I expect that many of the people who visit in their vehicles don't even think of the fact that many of the villages weren't even built with mechanised transport in mind, much less parking.
The problem is finding a balance between enabling visitors to stop and spoiling what they go to see in the first place. Glossop, where I was born, is a prime example of places in the area becoming overwhelmed by built development.
 
I have no trouble parking an 8M motorhome overnight in Kendal 😉.
 
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NT are allowing motorhomes to stay on some of there sites. loads of NT sites in lakes. Perhaps see if they are allowing mh's in some of there carparks. We are regulars in the lakes, but do not stay in the area overnight. Pooley Bridge has a car park that I have seen vans and mh's staying on. Its 2 fields, not the tarmac carparks.
 
I don't think you should be driving a large motorhome along the small lanes of the lakes.

Leave it in a campsite and use the bus. The bus service is excellent in The Lakes and if you are over a 'certain age' it's free :)

In Keswick there is a service road near the footbridge to Portinscale which is used by motorhomes. It's 10 mins walk back into Keswick.
 
Leeve your van and use a bus ? If its ok for a bus surely a mh/van will fit or am i missing something 🤔
 
dazandandrea said:
Leeve your van and use a bus ? If its ok for a bus surely a mh/van will fit or am i missing something 🤔
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Most bus drivers aren't too worried about a few scratches down the side and they aren't looking for a place to park, and of course the bus might be going the opposite way to you.
 
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dazandandrea said:
Leeve your van and use a bus ? If its ok for a bus surely a mh/van will fit or am i missing something 🤔
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I knew someone would raise this
  1. The bus driver goes up and down the same route several times a day and knows it like the back of his hand
  2. The bus is usually full so saves a lot of vehicles on the road
  3. There are dedicated stopping places and turning areas
  4. The bus does not need to park up for extended periods while the passengers go sightseeing / fell walking etc
 
Keswick carpark by the theatre on the lake car bays but park your overhang over the grass verge ( not on the grass) no problem for 7.5 m done it several times

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