Ambleside, Low Wray Campsite

In my view Low Wray Campsite is by far the poorest of the National Trust Campsites in The Lakes. Problems include: a very small number of old showers with lukewarm water with push button switches that give only 5 seconds of water before needing re-pushing. A chaotic booking system now in place that meant I had to move three times in three days. Weekday office opening, even in high season, is 2.00 pm with a barrier gate preventing earlier access to the site so there is a lot of waiting and frustration if people arrive earlier. Then an hour's wait while they deal with the rush. The staff are lovely, kind and helpful, but clearly at their wits end and exhausted by a large site over a huge area with a system of booking that is now unweildy and upsetting just about everyone. A poorly stocked shop and a hour's walk to the nearest shops in Ambleside, (a walk with busy road stretches.). Pitches were mainly at such an angle it was impossible to sleep without sliding to one end of the tent all night long. Flat area sites were charged at premium rate and backpackers get the worst deal on the most sloping sites. The prices have now gone up to £10.50 per night making it one of the most expensive sites in the whole Lake District. In Langdale NT site then at least the showers are clean and new power showers and very hot and wonderful and the shop well stocked which offsets the recent price hike to a degree.

Low Wray National trust Campsite was not the best campsite I've ever been to by a long way. This site seemed to be intended to be very basic, it compared to camping in a field very well. Thankfully didn't pay the extra to use the premium site situated next to the lake as the ground was uneven and the views were not great. There was no hand drying facilities in the washrooms. There was also no lighting at night apart from the light on the toilet that didn't light up much. This site is a long way from nearby towns and pubs.