Great Langdale Glamping

My honest review

The view from Lingmoor pod at Great langdale Glamping. Yhe image shows a dark green shrub lower left, some mature trees to the right, green fields open out across the valley floor, a craggy fell reaches the sky on the left, with the langdale pikes straight ahead, the sky looks dramatic with dark clouds breaking up the blue sky and a section of light shining down between the fells.

Lake district glamping at its finest

If you yearn to bask in the beauty of the Lake District; in comfort, enjoy epic walks from your front door, while escaping the crowds of tourists swarming the honeypot towns – Great Langdale Glamping provides all of this, and so much more.

We’ve stayed twice now, and honestly, I’m almost considering not writing this article for fear Great Langdale Glamping will be fully booked next time we want to stay. It’s one of those places that’s so perfect you want to tell the world, but also would prefer to keep it secret so you can enjoy it to yourself.

The best glamping pods in the Lakes?

Why do we love Great Langdale Glamping so much? Firstly, it’s the position. I’m yet to find an ugly spot in the Lakes, but Great Langdale is particularly beautiful. As we leave Ambleside and head further into the Langdale Valley the landscape becomes more rugged and dramatic, yet with a quaint and quiet feel. The pods are nestled in the valley, with an unrivalled view of the famous Langdale Pikes, including Harrison Stickle, Bowfell and Pavey Ark.

Although the area feels wonderfully remote, you’re not cut off. There are at least three pubs in walking distance. The valley footpath leads one way to Lanty Slee’s @ Stickle Barn in Great Langdale (our favourite for playing dominoes in the beer garden after a good hike) and New Dungeon Ghyll, or the other way to Wainwrights’ Inn at Chapel Stile. There are more if you’re happy to travel a little further toward Elterwater and Little Langdale. Chapel Stile has a small but well-stocked shop, Langdale Cooperative. And a trip to Langdale isn’t complete without a visit to Chester’s By The River at Skelwith Bridge. The cafe and gift shop have a small number of parking spots but if you have time we recommend the short (approx 1.5 mile) walk from the car park at Elterwater, it’s easy enough for small children and pretty enough to feel worth the added effort.

The stone and gravel footpath – Cumbria Way – running through the valley is flat but not smooth, it might possibly be suitable for a pushchair or wheelchair with sturdy, off-road tyres, although we haven’t tried this. Also, the pods have a step at the entrance, something to consider if accessibility is important.

Great Langdale Glamping is run by the lovely Nicola and her family. They live in Harry Place Farm, with the pods surrounding their traditional farmhouse. Each time we’ve stayed we’ve had a friendly welcome from Nicola, she’s always on hand to offer any help, show us how to work the hot tub and have a good natter. We love that it’s a working farm with a strong flock of Herdwicks too. We’ve spent evenings enjoying the sun setting from the wood-fired hot tub while watching sheep being gathered on the fellside and wondered how on earth farmers have the energy! 

We’ve enjoyed visits from hens, sheep and some cute and curious pygmy goats too.

A speckled brown hen stands proudly on the decked step of a wooden glamping pod, its refection is seen in the glass of the door directly behind it.
Herdwick sheep with a white face and legs and grey wool body looks at the camera stood on grey gravel with the backdrop of the Langdale Pike fells behind it and a cloudy sky.

What are Great Langdale Glamping pods like?

If you’ve ever googled ‘glamping pods’ you’ll have found that there’s a varying range of standards available. Some are very basic, providing only a carpeted floor and electric plug sockets, others might have the benefit of raised mattresses but the campsite toilets are still a midnight walk away. Great Langdale Glamping is definitely up there in the luxury camp. Luxury in the comfortable sense, the way everything you could want has been thought of, yet not ostentatious. 

If you’re considering ‘glamping’ or glamorous camping, it’s because you still want to feel close to nature, you still want the outdoorsy experience that a hotel or house can’t provide, you also want to feel comfortable and don’t necessarily fancy packing a tent up in the rain (been there, many times). Great Langdale Glamping achieves this beautifully. The pods are spacious, particularly if you’re travelling alone or as a couple. We find them large enough for us and our two children.

The side and roof of a brown timber glamping pod is on the left with a two people sitting on camping chairs in front of the pod. The wood-fired hot tub is on the right of the gravel area with smoke rising from the chimney. An old stone farm shed is opposite the pod with a white car parked next to it. The back drop is green and majestic fells stretching into the distance and a bright blue sky.

All have a double sofa, which can be converted into a bed if you have children. There is a separate double bed and all bedding is provided. We sleep very comfortably. The bathroom is petite but contains all the essentials: toilet, sink, electric shower, mirror and cupboard. The kitchenette is the best we’ve experienced while glamping: it has cupboard space, an electric hob, a small-but-big-enough fridge, a microwave, enough worktop space to prepare food on, a kettle, and all the crockery and cutlery you might need.

A really lovely touch is the hamper of goodies that await your arrival. It usually includes a couple of ales, some crisps, biscuits and two cute bags of haribo sweets.

One thing to mention is that there’s no signal or wifi at Great Langdale Glamping. Some would argue this adds to the appeal, some time away from contact with the outside world, no emails to respond to or social media to check in with. A chance to disconnect from technology and an opportunity to reconnect with nature and each other. The only time we struggle with this is when we want to check the weather for the following day, particularly important when setting out on a hike or climb. We’d get round this by using the wifi in the local pubs, we’d obviously need to have a drink while we hopped on their connection… such a shame.

We’ve only stayed during summer, so haven’t had the pleasure of using the wood-burning stove inside the pod, but we imagine this would be gorgeously cosy on a winter’s evening, snuggled up with a book. Definitely a reason for us to book another stay! Outdoors each pod has a wood-fired hot tub, an epic spot to watch the sun set over the Pikes, no matter the weather. There’s also a barbeque for the lighter evenings and a separate fire pit for toasting marshmallows as dusk falls. Nicola has honestly thought of everything that could make a stay at Great Langdale Glamping feel perfect! 

Views, glorious views!

We initially stayed in Harrison Stickle, one of the original four pods located on the hill above the family farmhouse. This elevated position provides a vast and captivating view. I’d try to read my book but would be so distracted by the sheer beauty surrounding us that I would eventually give in to the view. Sited in pairs, the pods are positioned in such a way that you don’t feel uncomfortably close to your neighbours, it feels as though the panorama is all yours to soak in.

An image of a dusk sky at sunset. Sky is a grey/blue colour with horizontal streaks of bright pinky orange clouds. The sun sets over the rugged silhouette of the Langdale Pikes with green trees closer. The foreground is a grey gravel area with a circular wooden wood-fired hot tub with black chimney and a wooden fence sround the area.

On our most recent visit we stayed in Lingmoor. This is the newest pod at Great Langdale Glamping and is slightly larger than the rest, with the addition of a small table and two chairs inside; handy if the Lake District does what it’s famous for and rains spectacularly. It’s across the road from the others, in a lower lying spot behind some of the farm’s outbuildings. It’s actually in a very secluded and private position. It has a larger outdoor area than the others too. You can drive your car down to unload and load, however it must be parked up at the farmhouse during your stay. We didn’t find this an issue as it’s only a very short walk, also once we’ve arrived we tend to leave the car and head out hiking. However, if you like to have access to your car at all times, I’d recommend choosing one of the other four pods: Harrison Stickle, Bowfell, Pavey Ark, Crinkle Crags.

The view from Lingmoor is unique. There are trees and shrubs framing the view and you’re closer to the green rolling fields. At first it felt less dramatic than the view from the upper pods, but as we sat with a glass of wine each evening, I fell more in love with the way the beauty rose and enveloped us. It felt like it drew me in and clasped me in a warm hug – yes, I’m a little OTT, I can’t help it. But genuinely, the more we looked, the more different elements would come into focus, especially as the light changed, all set to the chorus of bleating herdwicks in the field below (see title image).

Would I recommend Great Langdale Glamping?

Absolutely. No hesitation. If you’re in the market for ‘glamping’ in comfort, surrounded by spectacular views, this is the place for you. Prices are very reasonable considering the high standard and Lake District location, we certainly feel they’re worth it.

Whether you’d like to get away from it all and relax for a few days, or you’re a seasoned hiker eager to explore the surrounding valley and fells, Great Langdale Glamping is a booking you won’t regret. Enjoy!

Amy