Cairn Meadow Pods

Cairn Meadow’s four cosy, well-equipped glamping pods are huddled around a natural pond in the Cumbrian countryside, providing a peaceful getaway that serves as the perfect base to explore north-west England. Within a 20-minute drive you can get to the Great Border City of Carlisle, the beautiful Geltsdale Nature Reserve, or historic Hadrian’s Wall, while a little further will take you to the Lake District. And yet the site itself feels miles away. A real hidden preserve, with views out onto the Pennines. 

This family-run campsite teams an ideal location with robust amenities. The self-contained pods feature everything you need – an en-suite bathroom, TV, and a kitchenette – along with a number of luxuries – underfloor heating, a firepit, and a hireable barbecue for rustling up some food with your loved ones. Each pod sleeps up to four between their comfortable double bed and pull-out sofa bed, and two of the pods are pet-friendly, so you can bring your dog along for the trip.

The campsite is tucked away in a quiet part of the idyllic Eden Valley, with Cairn Beck flowing alongside. Admire your surroundings from the picnic benches, located in their own wide patch of grass next to the pods, where there's also a firepit. The abundance of water here means you’ll see plenty of wildlife, with the pods themselves – from Moorhen to Oyster Catcher – appropriately named after wading birds. 

Carlisle is great for days out. There's the castle at its heart (home to Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life) and the city's grand cathedral, while the market town of Brampton is a top spot for pubs and cafes. It's 30 minutes, meanwhile, to the edge of the Lake District, where the likes of Skiddaw, Blencathra, High Pike and Great Sca Fell are the nearest peaks to climb. Start and finish somewhere like Keswick for good foodie options after or make your way back to Cairn Meadow for something closer to home... If you fancy a tipple without the drive, The Pheasant is a 20-minute walk away, a good old-fashioned country pub with a real sun trap of a beer garden.