Lake District

The Lake District National Park draws more visitors than anywhere else in England, and navigating that popularity is perhaps the main practical challenge of a van trip to the area. The most congested valleys – Borrowdale, Langdale, the roads around Windermere and Ambleside – can be extraordinarily busy in summer, while the northern and eastern fells around Ullswater, Caldbeck, Haweswater and the Eden Valley see far fewer people while offering comparable quality of scenery and walking.

Wast Water in the west of the park is the deepest lake in England and consistently quieter than the central Lakes – the road along the lakeshore is narrow and the atmosphere at the head of the valley, with the Screes rising directly from the water, is as dramatic as anything in the national park. The Duddon Valley to the south is another good option for those wanting the Lake District landscape without the crowds.

Overnight options require more planning here than anywhere else in England. The most popular campsites book up months in advance for summer weekends, and the number of available spots in the central Lakes is genuinely limited. Arriving mid-week, staying outside the peak July and August period, and looking at sites in the quieter northern and western parts of the park all make a significant difference.

The driving in the Lake District is reward in itself – the Kirkstone Pass, Honister Pass and Hardknott Pass are all spectacular, and the last of these is genuinely challenging in a larger van. The Hardknott road is narrow, steep and has tight hairpins that require care, and checking conditions before attempting it in winter is essential. The reward at the top is a Roman fort with some of the best views in England.