Lowside Farm Glamping

HOTEL OVERVIEW

You know what hit me first about Lowside Farm Glamping? The absolute silence. I mean, you’re literally in the middle of Troutbeck valley – and if you’ve never been, it’s this gorgeous stretch between Windermere and Ullswater that most people just drive through on their way to somewhere else. Their loss, honestly.

The setup here is pretty brilliant actually. They’ve taken this working farm and scattered these luxury tents across the fields in a way that feels totally natural, not like some corporate glamping operation dropped from Mars. Each tent sits on its own little wooden platform, and you get proper beds (none of that air mattress nonsense), wood-burning stoves, and – this was a pleasant surprise – really good bedding. Like, hotel-quality stuff that doesn’t feel damp or smell like canvas. The bathrooms are separate little cabins, which sounds annoying but actually works fine, and the hot water was consistently good even when I was there in October and half expected everything to be freezing.

What I love about this place is how the owners actually get what people want from a Lake District experience. You’re surrounded by fells on all sides – Wansfell Pike is right there if you fancy a morning hike, and the Garburn Pass walk starts basically from their front gate. But here’s the thing locals know that tourists don’t: Troutbeck village itself is worth exploring. There’s the Queen’s Head pub (proper country pub, not touristy) about a ten-minute walk down the lane, and honestly some of the best Sunday roast I’ve had in years. Plus you’re close enough to pop into Windermere town when you need supplies, but far enough out that you won’t hear traffic or deal with the summer crowds that make Bowness feel like a theme park.

The farm itself is still working, so you’ll wake up to sheep bleating and maybe catch sight of the owners moving cattle around – it’s charming rather than disruptive, though city people might find it louder than expected. Parking’s right by your tent, which is clutch when you’re unloading all your Lake District gear (because let’s be honest, you’ll overpack). Check-in was refreshingly straightforward – they just met us at the tent, showed us how the stove worked, and left us to it. No lengthy presentations about amenities you’ll never use.

I’d say the sweet spot for visiting is late spring through early autumn. Winter glamping sounds romantic until you’re actually dealing with a wood stove at 6 AM, and while they provide firewood, keeping the tent warm requires more effort than some people bargain for. The 9.1 rating makes total sense though – this isn’t trying to be luxury accommodation with room service and spas. It’s about sleeping under canvas in one of England’s most beautiful valleys, but with actual comfort and thoughtful touches that show someone cares about the experience. If you want to feel like you’re properly in the Lakes without roughing it completely, and you don’t mind being fifteen minutes from the nearest Costa Coffee, Lowside Farm nails it.