The Quiet Site is an award winning, carbon neutral holiday park set amongst the stunning fells that overlook Ullswater in the Lake District.
Easter was a lovely break and we enjoyed some time with friends, chilly walks and good food.
We even managed a couple of nights away in a cosy Hobbit Hole at The Quiet Site, near Ullswater in The Lake District. It was great to get out and just be somewhere different, particularly somewhere as picturesque and fun as this! We had some lovely spring weather too, which only enhanced a great stay.
We are experienced campers and have more recently enjoyed a bit of glamping, but this was our first time in a Hobbit Hole. The Quiet Site has 15 of these large underground dwellings burrowed deep into the side of a hill at the very top of the terraced site. Inside they are more spacious than a standard wooden pod and are empty apart from a large wooden sleeping platform and bench occupying one end, bedecked with mattresses to accommodate a full family sleepover. Or I can confirm that it makes an ideal space for the sport of “bed wrestling”. All the units have electric lighting, WiFi and plug/ USB sockets, plus a microwave, fridge and kettle. They are well insulated and have the luxury of underfloor heating, controlled by a thermostat on the wall; it had considerately been put on prior to our arrival and felt very snug. I liked he clever storage solutions under the bed and benches and the windows all had wooden shutters to keep out the early morning light (much appreciated if you have kids who are early risers at the best of times). The Hobbit Holes make a very practical yet fun space to stay.
Each Hobbit Hole also has a small bathroom with a flushing toilet and basin (toilet roll provided).
Outside is a small covered patio area, furnished with a couple of deckchairs and a picnic bench, overlooking Ullswater and the fells beyond, where you can cook/ BBQ. Fire pits and campfires are not allowed.
For a hot shower or even a bath (yes there are actual bath rooms on site) you have to head down to the facilities block, near the entrance to the site. During our visit, we were able to reserve a half hour time slot for the exclusive use of a self contained shower or bath room, which are cleaned after each use. We booked a shower one evening and had the whole of the gents shower room to ourselves – 4 showers, a toilet, basins and urinals. It worked perfectly and actually made shower time with kids much easier, importantly it felt very covid safe. Facilities are excellent; lots of free hot water, very clean, modern and practical with underfloor heating. There are also family specific shower/ bath rooms available, even outside covid.
It is a really sustainable, environmentally friendly site and they are very serious about their eco credentials. No fossil fuels are used – Solar, Biomass and Ground Source heat provide the energy – and there are good recycling facilities. The smart on site “zero waste” shop sells a good range of products; gravity dispensers are used for cereals, rice, nuts, dried fruit etc. (bring your own containers or paper bags are provided) and milk and juice are sold in returnable glass bottles. It is very contemporary and resembles an ethical health food shop that wouldn’t be out of place in trendy Notting Hill rather than your average campsite store. When we visited the shop was operational, but there was no entry and purchases were made through a serving hatch outside, via reception, which worked perfectly well.
Under normal circumstances, The Quiet Site also has a rustic and cosy bar in a converted barn, serving real ales, with a roaring open fire and kids’ games room. It wasn’t open during our stay but will be as soon as regulations allow and I can vouch for its greatness from a previous visit. The “Quiet Bite” – an on site eatery – is also due to open in May this year and will make a brilliant addition serving wood fired pizzas, pancakes and coffee.
There is a kids play area at the bottom of the site with lots of room for ball games etc. and our two enjoyed going to play there with other kids they met on site.
All you need to bring with you is your camping gear – minus the tent – and take advantage of all the great facilities on offer here. With no tent to erect or pack away it makes for an easy stay and we found it a great alternative to traditional camping, particularly outside the main camping season – we were certainly grateful for the cosy hobbit hole and inside toilet given the April overnight frosts.
So, what does it cost? One night in a Hobbit Hole will cost between £85 to £150 per night for up to 2 adults and up to 4 children. We paid £130 per night mid-week during the Easter school holidays, which I think is erring on the expensive side for a sparsely furnished wooden pod, however endearing.
It was the first day of reopening and the site was only around a third full, so it definitely felt very quiet!
You wouldn’t really believe The Quiet Site is located just 10 minutes from the M6 motorway. The site is in a really lovely, peaceful location with great views of the fells behind Ullswater. Despite its convenient position it is worth noting that access is via a narrow single track road – not a problem but be aware and take note of the passing places.
From where the Hobbit Holes are situated, in a prime position on the uppermost terrace of the site, we had great scenic views with glimpses of Ullswater and to the fells beyond. Although undoubtedly spectacular the views to the fells are punctuated with cars and other units on the lower terraces and although the site is clearly trying to ensure that it blends into the natural environment with the use of natural materials, hedging and grassed roofed cabins, it does impact the views.
I also have to say, I wasn’t keen on the big green statics and the large number of touring caravans at the bottom of the site; I thought they were reminiscent of the worst aspects of a ‘holiday park’ and intruded on the views and atmosphere a little bit. It is one of the bigger sites we have stayed at and is most definitely now a glamping rather than camping experience. In this respect it has changed quite a lot since our last visit in the tent in 2009, when it was mainly tents and tourers. The few tent pitches that are still available are on pea gravel, which I dislike, so we probably wouldn’t bring our tent. This sounds rather negative, but I don’t mean it to. Overall it is a really great family site with several options in terms of glamping accommodation, but has definitely moved away from no fills, basic tent camping.
There’s plenty to do in the immediate vicinity; there are lots of local walks from the site – from an eight-mile circular trek taking in Aira Force, through to a couple of miles around Little Mell Fell, which sits right behind the site. Maps and routes are available on the website. Alternatively the Ullswater Way passes nearby and giants such as Helvellyn and Blencathra are not far away. From previous trips, I can recommend the walks up Hallin Fell or Place Fell from Glenridding, returning via the lake path from Sandwick. There is boat & kayak hire on the lake, Aira Force Waterfalls (NT) and the Ullswater Steamer. Rheged is close by and good for food supplies or wet weather activities (deli, cafe/ restaurant, cinema, soft play, shops, adventure playground, exhibitions). Lowther Castle is also well worth a visit and their adventure playground is epic. The nearest pub is the Brackenrigg Inn at Watermillock, which serves nice food and real ale, but it was still closed during our visit.
We chose to drive the short distance to Aira Force (parking is free for NT members) and spent a day exploring the waterfalls, which we extended to include a circular walk up to the summit of Gowbarrow, a very picturesque route which afforded some fabulous views of Ullswater and the surrounding fells.
The Memorial Seat, overlooking Ullswater 
Ullswater 
Aira Force 
Summit of Gowbarrow
We also highly recommend the fish and chips from the Angel Lane Chippie in nearby Penrith.
Before heading home, we visited Grasmere where we feasted on Grasmere gingerbread on top of Helm Crag. It was such a lovely day and you can read more about our walk here.
We really loved our brief stay at The Quiet Site – the kids grumbled that we should’ve stayed longer, which must be a resounding endorsement. It is somewhere we will definitely return to and can recommend it to anyone simply looking for time away from the world for a while, to relax and a base from which to have some adventures. It is a very family friendly and fun glamping site, with a fantastic environmental ethos.
The Quiet Site
Cumbria
CA11 0LS
