The Basecamp Lakeside Cabins

The Basecamp Lakeside Cabins are eco-led cabins set on our working farm and wetland reserve, overlooking a private lake with open views of Mell Fell and Blencathra Mountains.

There will be seven cabins in total, carefully positioned to sit quietly within the landscape, while being in easy reach of our award-winning farm shop and cafe.

Bookings open July 2026.

We are located alongside the A66 between Penrith and Keswick, within the Lake District National Park World Heritage Site.

Basecamp is where adventures begin.

With easy access to the whole of the Northern Lakes, this is an excellent location to begin your adventures across the district. Central, well connected, and surrounded by walking, water, wildlife and activity opportunities.

The Cabins

Each cabin measures 8.5 metres by 4 metres and is designed as a compact, carefully planned retreat for two people or small families.

Each cabin includes:

• A comfortable living area with a wood burning stove.

• A mini kitchen with hob, oven, sink, fully equipped.

• An en-suite with walk in shower.

• One double bedroom and one double sofa bed.

• Outside, there is a freestanding bath positioned to face the lake, allowing you to soak while looking directly across the water and fells.

• Unlimited wifi.

• Eco-friendly soaps and toiletries from local makers.

On site you have access to:

• Farmshop and cafe open 9am to 5pm everyday.

• Shared sauna. One free session is included free of charge!

• Activities with Alpacaly Ever After, separate booking is essential.

Our Approach

Everything at Basecamp is land-led, low impact, and purposeful.

The cabins are designed to sit lightly within the landscape. Scale, spacing, and materials are chosen to respect the land and support how it is used, not to overwhelm it.

Basecamp is not a holiday park.

It is a real place, doing real, positive work. 

Take some time to privately enjoy our Community Garden, Forest School, wetland trail, and bird habitats, or tag in with events and volunteering opportunities throughout the year.

A Working Farm

Basecamp is a working farm and camelid rescue home, and that shapes the experience in a calm, grounded way.

Alpacas and llamas live in the surrounding fields and move around the site as part of daily life.

You may see staff feeding animals, managing land, or carrying out routine farm work.

Nothing is staged.

Nothing is paused for guests.

It’s peaceful, but it’s real.

Selection of beef and pork cuts on display at Basecamp North Lakes butcher counter
Built for households who want quality and control

Food, Provisions, and Getting Started

Basecamp is designed so you arrive and want for nothing.

Guests have direct access to our award-winning farm shop and cafe, making this an ideal base to prepare for days out across the Lake District.

You can find everything you need for your stay, including:

• Locally sourced food from our butchery, bakery and kitchen

• Breakfast supplies

• Packed lunches for walks and adventures

• Local produce chosen for quality and flavour

There is no need to plan ahead or drive elsewhere. Provisions are all on site.

Our staff are always on hand to offer local advice, route suggestions, and help if needed.

Alpacaly Ever After

Alpacas and the Woolly Army

Staying at Basecamp gives you access to our alpacas and llamas.

This experience has been voted the number one activity in the Lake District, Cumbria, for the past eight years on Tripadvisor.

Guests have the opportunity to:

•Meet and feed the alpacas and llamas

•Spend time with them on the farm

•Book onto a guided alpaca walk, where available

•Take part in husbandry days, spending an afternoon helping care for the animals alongside our team.

The alpacas and llamas are part of the world-famous Woolly Army at Alpacaly Ever After, our rescue and care project at the heart of the farm.

The animals are not props. They are here because this is their home.

Check them out

Your Lakeside Sauna

Basecamp Sauna

Your stay includes one free session in our wood-fired lakeside sauna. Known on site as The Sweat Box, it is small, simple, and peaceful.

Guests often use it after a day on the fells or before settling in for the evening. Heat up. Step into cold water. Sit quietly and reset.

Each session is limited to four people.

Basecamp & Beyond

Basecamp sits in a dark sky area, away from town light.

On clear nights, the sky opens up. Stars sharpen and the Milky Way becomes visible above the lake.

Step outside your cabin. Let your eyes adjust and look up.

Just darkness, distance, and perspective.

Dark skies info

Wildlife and Environmental Work

The land and lake at Basecamp are actively managed to support wildlife and biodiversity.

We have worked very hard to bring life back to what was a severely disadvantaged and historically neglected location. This includes habitat creation, water management, and land practices designed to allow wildlife to thrive alongside farming.

Depending on season and conditions, guests may see:

•Otters using the beck and banks

•Waterfowl on the lake and ponds

•Badgers and foxes moving through fields and hedgerows

•Hares and rabbits across open ground

•Newts, frogs, toads and dragonflies thrive in our wetlands

•A wide range of wild birds throughout the year

Fire Pit and Evenings Outdoors

Guests have access to a communal shelter and fire pit set within our wooded area.

You can light your own log fire for a quiet evening or join others when group fires are taking place.

Firewood is available on site. Fires are managed carefully to protect the woodland, wildlife, and surrounding land.

Dogs and Other Pets

Unfortunately, dogs are not permitted to stay in the cabins.

The cabins are surrounded by fields where alpacas and llamas live year-round. Even well-behaved dogs can cause stress to livestock simply by being present.

Animal welfare comes first. For this reason, we are unable to accommodate dogs or other pets.

If you are travelling with a dog, we are happy to recommend alternative accommodation nearby.

Practical Information

•Parking is available on site, close to the cabins.

•Wifi available, mobile signal and connectivity can be variable due to the rural location.

•The site is naturally quiet. Guests are asked to respect this, especially in the evenings to be mindful of our wildlife and The Woolly Army.

•Outdoor experiences, wildlife sightings, fires, sauna use, and activities are seasonal and weather dependent.

Be the First to Know, Be the First to Stay