h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Sykes Farm really is a lovely campsite - not so much for the small quiet site, but for its location - smack bang in the middle of the most beautiful valley in (allegedly) the most beautiful part of England. From your tent door you can see Buttermere and Crummock Water, Sour Milk Gill, Red Pike, High Stile, Haystacks, and many other lovely mountains. 30(ish) minutes walk from the campsite brings you to Scale Force (120ft waterfall) or Bleaberry tarn on the slopes of Red Pike(absolutely beautiful, clear and still and silent when encountered in hill fog). The tiny village of Buttermere is surrounded by lush pasture and wildflower meadows, and many small birds and even red squirrels are everywhere.

The site itself is populated by a small flock of sheep (mostly herdwicks) who provide entertainment by grazing right outside your tent door then legging it in comedy sheep fashion when you stick your head out. There is a small, clean, toilet and shower block - only 20p for a 10 minute shower which is pretty much the cheapest shower in the lakes unless you actually live there. The site costs £4.00 per person per night (although we negotiated a discount as we didn't have a car). If you're the private sort then you can easily find a small rise to put your tent behind so you don't even have to look at any other campers.

Right next door to the campsite (across a small stream) are two inns serving absolutely enormous portions of excellent food at very reasonable prices, and - the only downside of this wonderful hamlet) a small tacky cafe next to the bus stop which during the daytime in summer is populated by sticky children covered in ice-cream, mars bars and vomit. However, they can easily be avoided as they never get further than the start of the lake path before whining so much that their parents give in and drive them back to the bright lights of Keswick.

And the farmer (Mr Syke presumably) is dead friendly too.

Oops - forgot to say - contact details, directions etc for the campsite (and most others in the National Park) can be got from any Tourist Information Centre in the area.

I've stayed at Lymefit Park in Bowness and that's pretty nice although it's in the most touristy area of the Lakes. At least its easy to find.