Five good things #4
Remembering that first week of the dry spell spring holiday at Eskdale National Trust Campsite, the best campsite in the Lake District, according to our taste.
Our recent van trip to Eskdale was still fresh in my head and deserved a little write-up for future me before I continued on my Japan post.
We have been having the best weather for quite a bit in Windermere, and the main reason why we moved to the Lakes is to drop everything and venture into nature when we are on a streak with the weather. So, for the last two weeks, we have been given sunshine. It may be a little windy someday, but as long as it is sunny and dry for the next consecutive days, we must go to nature as a family. Don't get me wrong, we go out in all weather, but after the wet summer we had last year, we as human beings, or British, emphasise a lot when the weather is AWESOME.
Eskdale Campsite is the best for last-minute bookings, and we always have a spot, especially during school holidays (don't quote me on this; maybe we are lucky with the dates). The toilets and showers are always clean, and their shop is well-stocked. It's a super lovely place to be. The campsite was empty, considering it was during a sunny Easter term break. Also, a proper playground is an 8-minute walk to Dalegarth railway station. (We haven't been on the steam train yet; we are waiting for our friends with kids or our little cousins to come camping so we can share the love with them)
We wanted an easy night without cooking or cleaning, so we booked dinners at three restaurants nearby. There is Woolpack Inn, which was only a 20-minute walk. The other two are only 5 minutes away: Brook House Inn and The Boot Inn.
It's an easy uphill walk to Eel Tarn, less than 30 minutes from the campsite. It's toddler-friendly. Atlas hiked the first part of the walk, and then we carried her to the tarn. It wasn't boggy when we were there (I think we got lucky), and Atlas had a good time roaming around. We spent a couple of hours on a picnic, admiring the view and enjoying the silence in the vast nature.
Wild swimming just outside the campsite. Eskdale is known for its many pools for wild swimming. We love our Wild Guide Lakes and Dales (we bought EVERYTHING from them, and we are the biggest fans) as we can often go to places that are so remote. We found a wild swim spot that is 5 minutes from the campsite. Atlas and Henry enjoyed paddling and jumping in the deep water while the weather was so hot. This is the second time Atlas has enjoyed the British water in the wild. It took me years to get comfortable in the cold water; I'm so proud of her!
Here are my five good things about our recent trip to Eskdale. We have stayed at this campsite a few times and ventured far when Atlas was a baby. This time, we decided to take it easy and chill around our campsite—a holiday we needed after a few hectic months this year. Henry did have a run to Scafell one morning, but no resting for him, though, as he is going on a first ascent expedition with his climbing partner soon. However, I spent that morning painting with A and her campsite friend. :)
I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I love sharing them.
Love, Azzy x