There are a handful of places in the UK that need no introduction, and the Lake District sits right at the top of that list. So it is with enormous pride that we announce the newest addition to the Lovat Parks family: Herdwick Croft, a small, friendly holiday park on the shores of Bassenthwaite Lake in the northern Lake District, just a short drive from Keswick.

If you’ve been searching for a holiday park near Keswick that offers peace, space and proper Lakeland views rather than arcades and entertainment complexes, we think you’re going to love this one. Here’s everything you need to know about our beautiful new park.

Where is Herdwick Croft?

Herdwick Croft sits in one of the quietest and most beautiful corners of the Lake District National Park, right beside Bassenthwaite Lake. It’s one of the largest lakes in Cumbria and, as locals will happily tell you, the only one officially called a ‘lake’ – all the others are meres and waters. The water’s edge is just a short stroll from the park.

Rising behind the park is Skiddaw, one of England’s highest mountains, and the views stretch out across the northern fells, taking in Binsey and the surrounding Lakeland countryside. The market town of Keswick, with its shops, cafés, restaurants and the shores of Derwentwater, is within easy reach. Cockermouth, the birthplace of William Wordsworth, is a short drive in the other direction, and even Carlisle is manageable for a day out.

In short: this is walking, paddling and exploring country. And when you’re done exploring, it’s a wonderful place to simply sit still.

What kind of Park is Herdwick Croft?

Herdwick Croft is deliberately not a large entertainment resort. It’s a relaxed, countryside holiday park with a small-scale, personal feel – and that’s exactly why we fell for it. It shares the same spirit as the rest of our collection across Cornwall, Norfolk, Wiltshire and the New Forest: beautiful places, looked after properly.

A stay for every kind of escape

The park offers a genuinely flexible range of places to stay:

• Luxury lodges with modern, open-plan living and private hot tubs, positioned to make the most of the fell views
• Holiday homes with patios and private hot tubs, ideal for couples, families or groups of friends
• Herdwick View, a beautifully refurbished four-bedroom holiday cottage with en-suite bedrooms throughout, sleeping up to eight
• Touring and caravan pitches for guests who prefer to bring their own home on wheels
• Herdwick Retreat, a luxury camping option that makes a perfect couples’ escape

There’s an on-site bar and bistro for evenings when the last thing you want to do after a day on the fells is cook, and the park is dog friendly – because a Lake District holiday without the dog is barely a holiday at all.

Why we chose the Lake District

Everything we do at Lovat Parks starts with a simple idea: beautiful places, looked after properly and shared generously. Our parks were all chosen because the location itself is the star, and Herdwick Croft fits that philosophy perfectly.

The northern Lake District is quieter than the honeypot spots further south. Bassenthwaite has a stillness to it that’s increasingly hard to find, ospreys have famously nested nearby, and the walking on this side of the national park is some of the finest in England without the crowds of Ambleside or Windermere. It’s the kind of place people return to year after year – and often, eventually, the kind of place people choose to own a holiday home.

We’re also committed to looking after the places we call home. As the first UK holiday park group to achieve B Corp certification, we take our responsibility to the landscapes around our parks seriously, and there are few landscapes in the world more worth looking after than this one. It’s all part of The Lovat Difference.

What will change at Herdwick Croft?

The honest answer: the things that make Herdwick Croft special aren’t changing. The warm welcome, the small-park feel and the setting are exactly why we wanted the park in the first place.

What guests will notice over time is investment. We’ll be steadily enhancing accommodation, facilities and the guest experience in the same way we have across our other parks – thoughtfully, and always in keeping with the surroundings. We’ll share news of improvements here on the blog as they happen.

If you have an existing booking, you don’t need to do anything. Your holiday is safe, your booking stands, and we can’t wait to welcome you.

Things to do near Herdwick Croft

One of the joys of this location is how much is on the doorstep:

• Bassenthwaite Lake – paddleboarding, kayaking, fishing and wild swimming, moments from the park. See our guide to the Bassenthwaite Lake for all the best things to do on and around the water.
• Skiddaw – a serious but achievable fell walk with astonishing summit views
• Keswick – market town charm, Derwentwater cruises and the Theatre by the Lake
• Whinlatter Forest – England’s only true mountain forest, with mountain biking trails and Go Ape
• The Lake District Wildlife Park – a brilliant family day out just minutes away
• The Lakes Distillery – award-winning whisky, gin and vodka tastings in a restored Victorian farmstead
• Cockermouth – Wordsworth House, independent shops and riverside walks

We’ll be covering all of these in much more detail here on the blog over the coming weeks, so do keep checking back.

Your Lake District escape starts here

Herdwick Croft is now part of the Lovat Parks collection, and we’d love to show you why we’re so excited about it. Whether you’re planning a couples’ break in a hot tub lodge, a family adventure with the dog in tow, or a touring trip through the northern fells, the park makes a perfect base – and booking direct on our website always gets you the best possible price.

The Lake District has been welcoming visitors for two hundred years. We’re honoured to be a small part of that story, and we can’t wait to welcome you to Herdwick Croft.