Travel back in time
Nestled above Derwentwater, Castlerigg Hall Caravan, Camping & Glamping Park is more than just a holiday retreat, it’s a living piece of Lake District history. For generations, this region of Keswick has witnessed ancient rituals, homestead farming, and the dawn of British camping culture. Today, under the warm stewardship of the Jackson family, Castlerigg Hall welcomes thousands of visitors to share in its story. With a nostalgic charm and panoramic fells all around, this place isn’t just run by a family – it feels like home.
In this blog post, we’ll wander through the history of Castlerigg Hall and meet the people who have lovingly called it home since 1938. From medieval castles and stone circles to canvas tents in 1909 and electric hook-ups in 1992, each chapter of Castlerigg’s past adds a new layer of character. So grab a cuppa, settle in, and let’s journey back in time on this special patch of Lakeland earth – a land of ancient stones, adventurous holiday-makers, and a family of custodians.
An Ancient Land with Stories to Tell
Long before caravans and campfires, Castlerigg held its own mystique. Over 5,000 years ago, people raised a ring of stones on a nearby rise – today known as Castlerigg Stone Circle, one of Britain’s earliest and most visually stunning prehistoric monuments. Standing within this Neolithic circle, with the fells of Skiddaw and Blencathra looming in the distance, you can’t help but feel the magic that archaeologists have noted here. It’s a place that captures the imagination, especially at dawn or dusk when shadows dance between the stones. Every year, countless visitors make the short walk from Castlerigg Hall to this mysterious circle, drawn in the same way as the ancient settlers.
Fast-forward to the 14th century: local folklore tells us a castle or manor house once stood at Castlerigg – perhaps a fortified home of a medieval lord. Though time erased all visible trace of this manor its legacy lives on in an unusual way. The story goes that when this old hall was demolished, its stones were carted down to Derwentwater’s Lord’s Island to build a grand house for the Earls of Derwentwater. Then, in 1695, those very same stones were reused again – this time to construct Keswick’s iconic Moot Hall in the town square. The walls that perhaps encircled a medieval family at Castlerigg now greet tourists and market-goers in Keswick as the charming Moot Hall. Few caravan sites can claim a connection to a 700-year-old castle, a noble’s island residence, and the town’s most famous building!
But that’s not all, the history of the local landscape continues… When the Jacobite uprising of 1715 failed, legend says the Countess of Derwentwater made a dramatic escape from Lord’s Island, fleeing with family jewels and scrambling up a steep cleft in Walla Crag to evade capture. The story goes that she lost the treasure along the way, and the route has been known ever since as Lady’s Rake. Lady’s Rake is a striking natural gully on Walla Crag, visible from above and below but not part of any marked trail. It’s a steep and precarious scramble, not recommended for walkers. Safer routes to Walla Crag are accessible from Great Wood or from our very own site at Castlerigg Hall, offering stunning views over Derwentwater — with a side of local legend in the air.
These ancient echoes set the stage for Castlerigg Hall. This corner of the Lake District has always been special, a fact recognised in modern times when the area was designated as part of the Lake District National Park in 1951.
England’s First Holiday Camp (Circa 1909)
As tourists started discovering the Lake District’s charm, Castlerigg quietly made national history. In 1909, an enterprising man named William Pattie purchased a field (known as Little Field) from Castlerigg Hall and opened the Derwent Holiday Camp! Advertised in newspapers across the country, this might well have been England’s first permanent holiday camp – a precursor to the entire British holiday park tradition.
What was it like? Picture rows of sturdy canvas bell tents pitched on the fellside, awaiting those seeking fresh air. There was a pavilion for dining and recreation, where guests could enjoy meals and evening games. It was camping with comforts – a novelty in an age when most people’s idea of a holiday involved seaside boarding houses. Derwent Camp gave ordinary people a chance to sleep under canvas beneath the stars, with the comforts of toilets and cooked meals on site. A plunge pool was in use by 1911 and in 1937 there are records showing a gymnastic display by the Derwent Camp Troupe at the Keswick Pavillion! There are also records from a notable diviner, Mr Lincoln Tootill of Harwood Bolton, showing testament to successful dowsing including one from The Derwent Holiday Camp. But it wasn’t all fun and games, in July 1916 a tragedy occurred when a guest of the Derwent Camp camp was killed by a landslide near Scale Force Buttermere.
The camp thrived and as years passed, Derwent Holiday Camp continued to innovate and this early holiday camp operated successfully for many years, bringing visitors to the Lake District.
From Farm to Park: The Jackson Family Takes Root
1938: The Jackson family arrives at Castlerigg Hall. In the late 1930s, William and Laura Jackson became the tenant farmers of Castlerigg Hall Farm. Back then, this fellside farm was a place of sheep and cattle, herds grazing with views of the lake below. William and his family worked the land through the tumult of World War II and beyond.
William’s son John Jackson grew up amid this landscape, no doubt developing a deep love for Castlerigg’s fields and crags. John married Betty who was from Lincolnshire, and after the war the young couple saw an opportunity: the Lake District’s beauty was drawing more and more visitors, especially after becoming a National Park in 1951. Why not share their special farm with those eager travellers?
1958: John and Betty’s Vision – A Caravan & Camping Park is Born
The year 1958 was a turning point. John and Betty Jackson officially purchased Castlerigg Hall Farm from its owner and set out to create a new kind of business on their land. While still tending to farm duties, they turned toward hospitality, opening up their picturesque land to campers. At first, it was a humble affair: flat grassy patches for tents, and a corner of the farmhouse offered as a simple bed-and-breakfast for those who preferred a roof.
This was camping in its infancy – remember, the UK’s first holiday park was only a few decades old. In those early days, the park had only basic amenities, but what it did have was the unbeatable setting: views across Derwentwater and the incredible Lakeland fells.
Castlerigg Hall’s venture into tourism coincided with a blossoming era for the Lake District. The post-war boom saw families buying their first cars and travelling for leisure. The Jacksons’ timing was perfect and John and Betty’s early guests often became repeat visitors, enchanted not only by the scenery but by the homely, welcoming feel of the place.
1962: The Little Shop in a Stable – First Amenities
By the early 1960s, word of this lovely farm-campsite had spread. More campers were arriving each summer, tents in tow; a few intrepid adventurers even came with the new craze of touring caravans, bumping up the track behind noisy engines. John and Betty realised their rustic setup needed a tiny upgrade. And so, in 1962, they built the park’s very first shop and reception area – repurposing an old stone horse stable.
A surviving photo from 1962 captures this stable-turned-shop and that former barn still serves guests to this day. A reminder of Castlerigg Hall’s agricultural roots.
With a proper reception and shop in place, Castlerigg Hall Caravan & Camping Park (as it was now being called) really began to flourish. By the late 1960s, the Lake District was on the tourist map like never before – hikers, climbers, and families all seeking countryside to enjoy.
In 1967, John and Betty purchased the Derwent Camp land for £7800 from Miss Marjorie J Barnes when it came up for sale. Reuniting Little Field with Castlerigg Hall’s grounds!
1987: Passing the Torch – A New Generation
As the decades rolled on, John and Betty’s children and relatives would help on the park, doing a myriad of jobs, including the toilet cleaning, site maintenance to serving in the shop and checking in guests. By the late 1980s, their son David Jackson and his wife Jill were deeply involved in the family business. David had grown up at Castlerigg, witnessing first-hand its evolution from farm to camping park, and Jill had fallen in love with the landscape. In 1987, the time was right for the next generation to take the reins. Through the 90’s David and Jill took over much of the operational management of Castlerigg Hall, with Betty still very much around as the ever-smiling advisor-in-chief.
David and Jill brought new ideas, while upholding the park’s heritage. Under their guidance, improvements continued steadily. By now, the era of rough-it camping was giving way to more comfortable expectations, and the Jacksons were keen to balance modern comforts with traditional camping ethos. It was during this period that discussions of adding electric hook-ups and other facilities gained momentum.
1992: Modern Comforts – First Electric Hook-Ups Arrive
If you asked long-time campers what the biggest game-changer was at Castlerigg Hall, many will point to 1992 – the year modern convenience officially got wired in.
But here’s the inside scoop: before all the “careful planning,” caravanners were plugging in the old-school way — quite literally passing their electric leads through the barn window, where the Jacksons would plug them in manually.
It didn’t take long to realise it was time to electrify the park properly. And yes, the trenching work? All done by hand (and digger) by David Jackson himself, using the trusty old Ford 550.
A proper DIY upgrade that changed Castlerigg forever.
This was a significant upgrade, marking Castlerigg Hall’s transformation from a rustic campsite into a fully equipped holiday park. Yet, importantly, it was done with restraint. Only certain pitches got hook-ups at first, maintaining options. David, with his farming background, insisted that any trenching for cables be done carefully to avoid undue harm to tree roots. The installation was a success, and return guests were thrilled at the added comfort.
From that point onward, Castlerigg Hall steadily enhanced its facilities in thoughtful ways. Water and sewage were dug in by David to most pitches. Modern shower blocks were built. Over time, the reception and shop – first born in that tiny stable in 1962 – expanded into a larger building with a mini-market stocked with local goods (Cumberland sausages and fresh bread for your breakfast, anyone?). Jill and David also developed the Hungry Hiker breakfast room where they would be cooking and serving breakfast to campers. This was then moved to a new onsite restaurant Food at Jiggers which they created. This was closed down in 2018 and became the Camper’s lounge. Castlerigg Hall now has an on-site Gallery Café, where visitors could enjoy a ‘brew with a view’ and homemade cake alongside David landscape photography and take in the breathtaking terrace views of Catbells.
Through all these upgrades, stewardship of the land remained a guiding principle. The park never lost sight of its roots. Hedges, wildflowers, and dry-stone walls were preserved and planted to keep a natural feel. The Jacksons’ farming know-how proved invaluable in managing the land sustainably. They’ve earned awards like the David Bellamy Conservation Award multiple times. And the park still has resident owls, bees and red squirrels!.
Castlerigg Hall Today
Today, Castlerigg Hall Caravan, Camping & Glamping Park stands as one of the Lake District’s most highly regarded holiday parks. And one of the few to hold a 115 year holiday history!
In recent years, glamping has found a home at Castlerigg Hall – with a selection of unique pods offering comfy beds and heating for those who want a little more luxury.
Visitors often remark on a certain feeling at Castlerigg Hall – some say it’s the views; others say it’s the friendly atmosphere. We like to think it’s the harmony of the two, tended by a family who truly cares. “Coming to Castlerigg feels like coming home – albeit a home with the best backyard in the world!”
If you’d like to find out more, the Jackson family has lovingly compiled these stories into a timeline for visitors to explore.
