Pooley Bridge

14-17 June 2026

A week off work for J, so a Sunday start to a site we haven't been to for a few years - Hillcroft Park, Pooley Bridge.

This was already a huge site but they have crammed in more pitches in the part of the site we usually go to, turning a view of a green field into a view of cramped, hard standing pitches.  We definitely dont't approve, so paid extra for a super pitch in another part of the site with better views.

Not sure we approve of this addition either...

We would never come here in high season, but midweek or mid winter we have always found it pretty quiet.

Sunday

The pitch turned out to be just about perfect, with no immediate neighbours and nobody in front of us.

Pooley Bridge is only a short walk away and that is where we headed after setting everything up.  We are not huge fans of Pooley Bridge, it is a bit like a theme park with only chain pubs (Robinsons, Thwaites and Jennings).

There is also the Secret Garden, which has a range of bottled beers but nothing nice on tap.  We had a drink sitting outside.  Curiously, a young DJ was just finishing his set.  Loud dance type music which would have been great elsewhere, but not in a lakeland village.  Then we went to the Crown (Thwaites), which is probably the pick of the pubs with excellent outside seating.

Then it was back to the caravan or the first of two very successful barbecues.

After dinner we walked back down to the village to get a few pics but didn't go into any of the pubs.

Monday

A pretty strenuous walk today, taking in three Wainwrights - The Knott, Rest Dodd and Brock Crags.

Mostly grey cloud and hazy sunshine, so not a great day for pics.

Back at site we had another barbecue and a night in and around the caravan.

Tuesday

We got up late and in the afternoon got a bus into Penrith for a look around the shops and dinner.  There isn't really much to do in Penrith, it is not a tourist town.  We had a drink sitting outside Dockray Hall, which apparently has just re-opened after being closed for a while.  It was ok until the resident (huge) dog decided to relieve itself right by out table!  The barmaid was very apologetic.

Then we headed to the Fell Bar, which we really liked.  A game of cards, a couple of games of backgammon and then a pork and mixed gyro from the nearby Greek takeaway.  Food and drink for £12 each.

We got an earlyish bus back to Pooley Bridge and thought about popping into one of the pubs but didn't.  Instead another night in and around the caravan, when we noticed this in a barn behind our pitch...

Wednesday

No problems getting home.

All in all a pretty good trip, without spending too much money for a change.

Coming soon...

That's it for June, we will go somewhere early in July but not sure where yet.