“Drab”, “Wonderful”, “Overpriced”, “Haunted”… …
The Lake District, and particularly the towns in close proximity to Scafell Pike, has a host of hotels, inns, B and Bs, farms and “yurts” (fashionable name for big tents) in which you can stay prior to, or after, your Scafell Pike walk. There are plenty of web sites in hyperspace willing to recommend these establishments on the basis of a lucrative kickback, and therefore the best place to start looking for Scafell Pike accommodation is TripAdvisor.com – where you will find genuine reviews from travellers who have stayed in many of the “recommended” lodgings.
If you are willing to try something a little different, you could seek shelter at one of these unique venues (recommended with no kickbacks at all!)
Muncaster Castle
Around 20 miles to the south-west of Scafell Pike is Muncaster Castle – allegedly the most haunted castle in the United Kingdom. Amongst its non-paying residents are “Tom Fool” – a seventeenth century castle jester who used to direct travellers asking for directions into a quicksand bog – and “Mary Bragg” , a Muncaster housemaid who was murdered in a love triangle and her body dumped into the River Esk.
A headless carpenter – killed by Tom Fool – and Henry IV are also claimed to roam the corridors of Muncaster Castle, and visitors sleeping in the Tapestry Room have reported clearly hearing the weeping of a young child and dark figures entering and leaving the room – without using the door!
Bed and Breakfast or self-catering packages are available at this haunted habitation – details of which can be found on www.muncaster.co.uk
The Bridge Inn
The Bridge Inn is situated at Stanton Bridge in Wasdale, and is famous for hosting “The Biggest Liar in the World” competition each November. The competition is held in honour of a former landlord (Will Ritson, 1808-1890) who claimed that Scafell Pike had been created by large moles and eels and contained turnips that were so big that the dalesfolk quarried into them for their Sunday lunch and then used the shells as sheds for their sheep.
Politicians and lawyers are barred from entering to keep the competition fair (this is not a lie!), and the event attracts people from all over the world and all walks of life, with one of the most recent winners being the Bishop of Carlisle (this is not a lie either!).
Further details of the event and the accommodation are available on www.santonbridgeinn.com
Scafell Pike Campsites
For those on a budget, or those who believe a good Scafell Pike walk should be rewarded by a freezing night under canvas, there are a number of well organised and inexpensive Scafell Pike campsites.
Most of them do not have web sites, so we have listed them below with their telephone numbers, as it is advisable to ring in advance to book you place – particularly on bank holiday weekends, the spring and autumn equinox and Midsummer’s Night.
The most popular Scafell Pike campsite is Wasdale Campsite, located on the National Trust land at Wasdale Head (019467 26220). This campsite does have a web site, and Googling those listed below could return results where other Scafell Pike campsites have published pages of their own.
Wastwater Area
Barn Door Campsite, Wasdale head, Wastwater, 019467 26384
Church Stile Farm Holiday Park, Nether Wasdale, Wastwater, 01946 726252
The Old Post Office, Santon Bridge, Holmrook, 019467 26286
Walls Caravan & Camping Park, Ravenglass, Nether Wasdale, 01229 717250
Eskdale Area
Fisherground Campsite, Eskdale, 019467 23349
Hollins Farm, Boot, Eskdale, Holmrook, 019467 23253
Saltcoats Caravan Site, Holmrook, 01229 717241
Seven Acres Caravan Park, Gosforth, 019467 25480