JAM VANS REVIEWS - Skelwith Fold Caravan Park (Ambleside)
We always try and make our customers trips the most enjoyable experience possible. Whether that is filling the van with the equipment they need for a week kayaking in Scotland or providing local advice and insights. With this in mind, we have started up our JAM VANS REVIEWS. Updating our community of jam campers with the honest reviews of the sites, wild camping and villages we visit.
First up…..is a biggy……Skelwith Fold Caravan Park.
We will be judging our reviews on 4 key factors
The Site
The Entertainment
The Value for money
The Location
Giving our our all important rating at the end (in pots of jam of course)
Let’s start with the overview:
Self proclaimed as one of “the best campsites in the lake district” Skelwith Fold is MASSIVE. With everything from 5 star lodges to safari tents, touring caravans and glamping pods you are spoilt for choice at this site. The site itself if set over 130 acres and it is impressive the moment you enter, with a winding road taking you up to the site through the trees.
The Site:
We opted for one of the premium hard pitches, mainly so we could be close to facilities (which where immaculate - hot showers, clean toilets, dishwashing, laundrette and more). The site itself was perfectly level, so no need for that 20 mins trying to get your levelling plates just right. Although we were surrounded by massive touring caravans who where doing a great job of putting the premium stamp on this part of the site.
Once parked up (you get to pick whichever slot if available when you arrive so no pre planning), we set about getting the van ready for the night. Everything was super easy, hookup for each van and picnic table alongside. Our only negative, and is our own fault, is that the shingle pitches are a nightmare to put pegs into, so make sure you have the right equipment for your awnings.
Other points to note is wifi throughout the site, although it is not the best, and a shop at reception.
The Entertainment:
If you want to ramble for days on end, this is the spot for you. Walkers are everywhere! Kids can roam free on site and there is a play area and even a library. However, we timed our stay with England playing the Rugby World Cup Semi-Final and so went in search of a pub in walking distance. We found said pub, and the average age was circa 70+ and the only entertainment on hand was an old radio that needed dusting off.
So we chose to jump in a cab the Ambleside instead, this was super easy, they pick you up at reception and run throughout the night. Pub found, we spent the evening drinking and watching England slowly get dumped out the world cup. The town is a great tourist hotspot for a reason, loads of places to eat and drink whether you want to get hammered till the early hours or have a meal with friends.
The Value For Money
As you might expect with a site boasting so many facilities the price matches. At a touch over £53 per night this site is on the expensive side of camping. If you have kids and dont plan on leaving the site too much, other than to go walking and seeing the local area than this price may seem fair. But for us it was a bit too steep. The nice to haves where good but we really didn’t need things like a library, and laundrette. So we will judge this on our trip alone, but it really does depend on what you place value on.
The Location:
If you are after the perfect lake district stay then you can’t go too wrong with a site on Lake Windermere’s doorstep. However, for us the site being so large it had to be away from major towns and villages so you were either in the van or getting a taxi to head back out. But if you are looking for a site where you can be away from it all, but still have access to hot water and toilets this is a great option
OUR RATING:
Perfect for families, a huge site with so many options, but if you want to head into the town without the hassle of driving or packing the van up maybe this one isn’t for you.
