Planning to travel outside the national park boundaries? Check out our complete guide to the 10 Best Motorhome Pub Stopovers in Cumbria for even more coastal and countryside options.
The Lake District is easy to fall for and surprisingly awkward to tour in a motorhome. Roads narrow just as the view opens up, popular car parks fill early, and an overnight plan that looked simple on a map can unravel by teatime. A welcoming pub stopover can make the whole trip feel easier: you have somewhere agreed for the night, a meal or pint within reach, and a useful base for the next day’s exploring.
We pulled these ten highly-rated spots directly from the Motorhome Stopover Club database by mapping the most accessible routes across the central, southern, and northern Lakes. Every place included is a pub, inn or hotel with a public bar—not a campsite, club or general car park.
Please check before setting off: a directory entry is not automatic permission to stay. Pubs change hands, parking arrangements change and busy dates may be unavailable. Contact the venue directly, say that you are travelling in a motorhome, give your vehicle size, and confirm the current terms and arrival instructions. The Lake District National Park also makes clear that landowner permission is needed for an overnight stay.
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Lake District motorhome pub stopovers at a glance
| Pub stopover | Area | A good base for |
|---|---|---|
| The Sun Inn | Crook, near Windermere and Kendal | A quieter approach to the South Lakes |
| The Masons Arms | Strawberry Bank, Cartmel Fell | Winster Valley and the southern fells |
| The Gateway Inn | Kendal | Breaking a journey before entering the Lakes |
| Kirkstone Pass Inn | Kirkstone Pass | Ambleside, Ullswater and high-pass scenery |
| Horse & Farrier | Threlkeld, near Keswick | Blencathra and the northern Lakes |
| Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel | Great Langdale | Classic Langdale walking country |
| Lanty Slee’s at Stickle Barn | Great Langdale | Stickle Ghyll and the Langdale Pikes |
| Manor House | Oxen Park | Quiet lanes, Grizedale and Coniston country |
| Gilpin Bridge Inn | Levens | The south-eastern Lake District |
| Duke of Cumberland | Kendal | Supplies, services and an easy gateway stop |
10 unmissable motorhome pub stopovers in the Lake District
1. The Sun Inn, Crook
Close enough to Windermere for an easy start the next morning, but tucked away from the busiest lakeside roads, The Sun Inn at Crook is the sort of stop that makes sense after a long drive north. Its location between Kendal and Bowness gives you choices: head towards the lake, spend time in Kendal, or take a slower route through the surrounding countryside.
This is one of the strongest options in the list because the pub’s own website says that campervans are welcome to stay overnight in its large car park when visiting for a drink or something to eat. Arrangements can still change, particularly during events and busy periods, so contact the team before arrival rather than assuming there will be space.
2. The Masons Arms, Strawberry Bank
The Masons Arms sits at Strawberry Bank on Cartmel Fell, above the quieter Winster Valley. It feels distinctly Lakeland without placing you in the middle of Windermere’s traffic. This is a tempting base if your ideal day involves minor roads, wooded valleys and views rather than a dash between the best-known attractions.
The inn is well placed for exploring the southern side of the national park, with Newby Bridge, the eastern shore of Windermere and the Cartmel area all within reach. Motorhome Stopover Club currently lists it in the pub-stopover category. Ask the pub to confirm where it wants motorhomes parked, whether a table booking or minimum spend applies, and whether your vehicle length is suitable for the approach.
3. The Gateway Inn, Kendal
The name is fitting: The Gateway Inn is on the Windermere side of Kendal, making it a practical pause before you commit to the narrower roads and busier villages further into the Lake District. If you arrive late in the day, a Kendal stop can also be less stressful than trying to thread a larger motorhome through the tourist hotspots as the light fades.
Kendal is useful for fuel, food shopping and those easily forgotten bits of touring kit, while Windermere and Bowness are a natural next move. The inn remains open as a hotel, bar and restaurant, and MSC lists it as a pub stopover. Overnight terms are not clearly advertised on the venue’s public website, so direct confirmation is essential.
4. Kirkstone Pass Inn
Few pub locations feel more unmistakably Lakeland than Kirkstone Pass. The road links the Ambleside and Windermere side of the fells with Ullswater, and the surrounding landscape has all the drama you would expect from one of the Lake District’s best-known mountain passes.
The inn reopened in spring 2026 under new ownership, so older reviews and opening details may no longer be reliable. MSC currently includes it among the pub-stopover results around The Lake District, but this is a high, exposed location reached by steep and winding roads. Ask about current overnight permission, weather, access and vehicle-size limits before choosing it—especially in poor conditions or outside summer.
5. Horse & Farrier, Threlkeld
At the foot of Blencathra and a few miles east of Keswick, the Horse & Farrier is a fine northern-Lakes option. Threlkeld has a village feel, yet you are close to the A66 and within easy reach of Keswick, Derwentwater and the walking routes around Blencathra.
The pub’s website describes ample parking, and MSC lists the venue as a motorhome pub stopover. That does not mean every part of the car park is available for overnight use, so ask for the designated area and current conditions. If you are travelling at a busy weekend, an early call is sensible.
6. Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel, Great Langdale
For walkers, Great Langdale needs little introduction. The Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel is deep in the valley, with the famous Climbers’ Bar and access to some of the Lake District’s most memorable fell country. The valley itself is the attraction here: arrive, slow down and let the scale of the landscape do the work.
MSC lists the Old Dungeon Ghyll car park in its pub-stopover category. Parking in Great Langdale is tightly managed, however, and public pay-and-display arrangements should never be confused with permission to sleep overnight. Contact the hotel before travelling and get a clear yes, along with instructions about the correct parking area, payment and arrival time.
7. Lanty Slee’s at Stickle Barn, Great Langdale
Many regular Lake District visitors still know this place as Sticklebarn. It reopened as Lanty Slee’s at Stickle Barn, beside the Stickle Ghyll parking area in Great Langdale. Its position is superb for the Langdale Pikes, Stickle Tarn and a gentler day spent simply enjoying the valley.
The older MSC entry is still titled Sticklebarn and appears in the pub-stopover search. Because the venue name and operating arrangements have changed, this is one to verify particularly carefully. The adjacent parking is managed separately, and paying to park during the day does not by itself allow an overnight stay. Speak to the venue and confirm the current arrangement before relying on it.
View the Sticklebarn/Lanty Slee’s motorhome pub stopover listing.
8. Manor House, Oxen Park
Oxen Park is a peaceful little South Lakes village away from the main Windermere corridor. The Manor House suits travellers who enjoy the quieter side of the national park: woodland, small lanes and unhurried access towards Grizedale, Coniston Water and the Rusland Valley.
Current pub information shows the Manor House is open, and CAMRA’s listing says overnight campervan parking has been offered. A separate stopover directory has carried conflicting status information, which is exactly why a phone call matters. Confirm that motorhomes are still accepted, whether facilities or hook-up are available, and which route the pub recommends for a larger vehicle.
9. Gilpin Bridge Inn, Levens
Gilpin Bridge Inn sits near Levens at the south-eastern approach to the Lake District. It is a handy choice when you want to break the journey before heading towards Windermere, Cartmel or the central Lakes, and its location avoids the need to push deep into the national park at the end of a travelling day.
The inn is currently trading and MSC lists it in the pub-stopover category under the alternative name The Gateway. Public information does not set out guaranteed overnight terms, so contact the inn directly. Ask whether it is taking motorhomes on your date, whether food or drink custom is expected, and where to park on arrival.
10. Duke of Cumberland, Kendal
The Duke of Cumberland offers a different kind of stop from the remote valley pubs. It is in Kendal, which makes it useful when practical jobs are high on the list: topping up supplies, planning the next leg or stopping before the roads become more demanding.
The pub reopened in 2026 after a substantial refurbishment, so older descriptions may be out of date. MSC currently categorises it as a motorhome pub stopover, but the venue’s own website does not publish overnight motorhome terms. Treat it as a lead to confirm rather than a guaranteed space, and ask the team about current permission and the most suitable part of the car park.
How to use Lake District pub stopovers responsibly
Pub stopovers work because hosts and motorhome visitors both get something worthwhile from the arrangement. A few simple habits help keep that welcome alive:
- Call before every stay. Confirm availability, vehicle size, arrival time, cost or spending expectation, and whether dogs are welcome.
- Follow the host’s parking instructions. Do not spread into extra bays or block deliveries, fire access, staff vehicles or early-morning departures.
- Support the business. Unless the venue tells you otherwise, plan to buy a meal or drinks rather than treating its car park as free accommodation.
- Keep the stop discreet. Avoid awnings, outdoor furniture, generators and anything that turns a one-night stop into a campsite.
- Leave no trace. Take rubbish away unless invited to use a bin, and never empty waste or water without an explicitly approved facility.
- Have a backup. Weather, private functions, staffing and parking restrictions can all change a pub’s availability at short notice.
Planning a Lake District motorhome route
Trying to cover the whole Lake District from one base usually means more driving than exploring. These stops make more sense when grouped into smaller areas:
- Windermere and the southern Lakes: The Sun Inn, The Masons Arms, The Gateway Inn and Gilpin Bridge Inn.
- Central fells and high passes: Kirkstone Pass Inn, Old Dungeon Ghyll and Lanty Slee’s at Stickle Barn.
- Coniston and the quiet south-west: Manor House at Oxen Park.
- Keswick and the northern Lakes: Horse & Farrier at Threlkeld.
- A practical Kendal stop: Duke of Cumberland.
If you are building a longer trip, explore the wider motorhome stopovers in Cumbria, read the guide to motorhome pub stopovers, or use the UK motorhome stopover route planner. The Lake District’s minor roads can be steep, narrow and busy, so compare the route with your vehicle dimensions instead of relying blindly on the shortest sat-nav option.
Frequently asked questions
Are there free motorhome pub stopovers in the Lake District?
Some pubs allow an overnight stay without a separate parking charge, usually with the expectation that guests eat or drink in the pub. Others may charge a fee, require a booking or restrict stays to certain nights. There is no single rule, so ask the host what applies on your date.
Can I sleep overnight in any Lake District pub car park?
No. A car park being open, or appearing on a map, does not give permission to sleep there. You need the landowner or operator’s agreement and must follow any local restrictions. Always contact the pub before arrival.
Should I book a motorhome pub stopover in advance?
Yes, especially at weekends, during school holidays and in smaller car parks. Calling ahead also lets the pub warn you about functions, road access or a change in its motorhome policy.
Which pub stopovers are in The Lake District?
The Sun Inn at Crook, The Masons Arms at Strawberry Bank and The Gateway Inn near Kendal are useful options around the Windermere side of the Lakes. Kirkstone Pass Inn is further into the fells on the route towards Ullswater. Journey times vary greatly with traffic and vehicle size.
Are these stopovers suitable for large motorhomes?
Not automatically. Some Lake District approaches involve narrow lanes, steep gradients, tight turns or stone walls. Give the pub your vehicle length, width and height when you call, and ask for its recommended approach rather than assuming the sat-nav route will be suitable.
What is the difference between Lake District and Cumbria stopovers?
Cumbria is the wider county, while the Lake District is the national park within it. A Cumbria stopover may be ideal for the coast, Eden Valley or a motorway break without being inside the Lake District. This guide concentrates on pubs that work as bases for exploring the Lakes and their gateway towns.
Venue and trading status checked on 20 July 2026. Overnight policies can change without notice; always confirm directly with the host before travelling.
Want to unlock every hidden pub and farm stopover in The Lake District?
Join the Motorhome Stopover Club today for just £14.99 using code HOME50 to reveal exact addresses, contact details, and route coordinates for all Lake District locations.
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