Harbour Lights Camping - Haverigg, South West Cumbria.

[brut33]

The forecast is good next week so I'm thinking of digging out my camping gear. I'd be grateful if anyone could offer information or past experience of this campsite.
I've done some reading about the place but there's nowt like personal experience.

Thanks in advance.

www.harbourlightscampsite.co.uk | Campsite & Holiday Park - South West Lake District

Harbour Lights Campsite & Holiday Park | Family orientated site, for Caravans, Motorhomes, Campervans & Tents, open 12 months of the year | Great walks & stunning views, along the coast of the Lake District, Cumbria | Static & Seasonal Pitches available | www.harbourlightscampsite.co.uk

www.harbourlightscampsite.co.uk

 

[Nin]

Dunno about the campsite, but don’t miss an ice cream from Mawsons!

https://www.mawsons.uk/

And the Silecroft beach cafe is excellent

Silecroft Beach Café - Silecroft

Designed by award-winning Scottish Architects, Silecroft Beach Café on Silecroft Beach offers an idyllic setting to relax, recharge and enjoy some…

www.visitlakedistrict.com

 

[Posh Pete]

Reviews on campsite UK look pretty good Stu ...

"Harbour Lights in Millom, Cumbria - book online now" https://www.campsites.co.uk/search/campsites-in-cumbria-and-the-lake-district/millom/harbour-lights

 

[brut33]

Thanks for the info Nin and Pete. Lot's of plus points for a few days away. Everything is nearby for guaranteed survival,
and it's on the edge of the Lake District for the odd excursion away from the site.

 

[AustinW]

I’ve never stayed on that specific campsite (more holiday park from memory) Stu but I have mooched about that general area more than a few times. There’s a huge flooded open cast iron ore pit there now used for water skiing and stuff. It makes for very pleasant walk. The beach at Haverigg and beyond is huge and wild. You can walk for miles on sand, stones and dunes. The tide goes out for miles too. There is or was a naturist site around there so be prepared.

Millom and Haverigg are both towns well past their best. Nice old buildings from when they had industry to support a town but that’s all gone so now bathe in economic gloom and faded glory. Not unpleasant but just past the best.

For a ride out…. Broughton in Furness has a cafe popular with bikers (cafe on the square ) and a great real ale pub - the Manor. Both on the square in the centre of the village with free parking everywhere. Corney Fell Road to the east of the main A595 has the most amazing views of the Duddon estuary and beyond. Pick it up just north of BinF and get back on the A595 near Waberthwaite. Where, you should visit Richard Woodall butchers for the best Cumberland sausage in the world. Then go and have a mooch about Ravenglass and a look at the start/end of La’l Ratty railway. Next pick up the road to Wasdale. It’s a long dead end but the ride up to Wasdale Head is worth it for the feeling of wilderness and remoteness, albeit there’s a pub at the end. From here go towards Eskdale and find the other end of the railway and carry on up and over Hardknott pass. At the bottom on the east side hang a right and follow the Duddon valley back to BinF. This is an excellent road often overlooked as everyone heads over Hardknott.

An alternative or second day would be out towards Ulverston. But be sure to take the fell road from Kirkby in Furness to Ulverston and stop and look back at the views over the Duddon estuary. Ulverston is good for a bit of look around lunch or whatever and some Stan Oliver (Oliver and hardy) memorabilia. Then take the coast road towards Barrow but go to Roa Island (Dave Myers lived here), park up and catch the little boat to Piel Island to look at the castle and visit the pub. I twice a led a group of 50+ bikers across the sands to camp here. It was mega. Return to Millom via Barrow - submarine stuff and museum to look at and the coast road.

It’s a nice area with that slightly wild, west coast feel to it.

 

[brut33]

Well what can I say Austin, brilliant. Loads of options there.
One of the roads you mention is the road to Wasdale. I haven't been along that since the mid eighties when we did the three peaks, it was our route to Scafell Pike. Thanks for the reminder and will revisit it again.

 

[Nin]

Hardknott pass is close by as well …

Hardknott Pass - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[brut33]

Hardknott pass is close by as well …

Hardknott Pass - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Thanks, but I may just avoid that one because I'll be on my Road King.
FWIW, the first time I rode that pass was many years ago on a RK. When we stopped at the Woolpack pub on the other side, I had a feeling of achievement and relief at the same time. As I supped my lager shandy I thought, maybe my choice of motorcycle could have been a tad lighter. Nice lager as well.

 

[rovert57]

Thanks, but I may just avoid that one because I'll be on my Road King.
FWIW, the first time I rode that pass was many years ago on a RK. When we stopped at the Woolpack pub on the other side, I had a feeling of achievement and relief at the same time. As I supped my lager shandy I thought, maybe my choice of motorcycle could have been a tad lighter. Nice lager as well.

Yes the wrynose and hardknott are well worth doing although I’m not in any rush to do them again

 

[brut33]

Yes the wrynose and hardknott are well worth doing although I’m not in any rush to do them again

The Hardknott is more technical than the Wrynose IMHO. It must have the tightest hairpins in the country combined with a 1 in 3 rise. They are both amidst some of the best scenery in the Lake District.

 

[King Rat]

The Hardknott is more technical than the Wrynose IMHO. It must have the tightest hairpins in the country combined with a 1 in 3 rise. They are both amidst some of the best scenery in the Lake District.

Yep, did them on an A10 chop years ago - with snow and ice in patches still. I have pictures somewhere.

 

[brut33]

A quick review.

Staff are very friendly and helpful.
Shower block and bogs are spotless.
Nice flat field for tents.
Beach is adjacent to the site and no sea views because of an embankment.
Bar is also adjacent to the site.
Fish and Chip shop nearby in Downtown Haverigg, five minute walk.
Pub in Haverigg is also a five minute walk, but haven't tried it yet.
I've been charged £15 per night for bike and tent.

There's also about sixty caravans, campervans and motorhomes on the main part of the site. No kids, because it's midweek. It also has a lake with kids inflatables in it which spoils the view a tad but not bad enough to sit outside the bar with a beer. I can imagine it's like a holiday park in the kids hols and weekends.

Already made friends with a neighbours (they're pitched about 100 yards away in a motorhome) dog which runs to my tent, looks at me then runs back when it's called. A free pet and I don't have to feed it. This site thinks of everything.
Weather excellent (pre-booked) and a nice pint of Estrella Damm.
Will be trying the Wainwright's Gold later.

 

[Posh Pete]

Result! Mind, they're missing a trick, not having a crabby besom cruising around in an ATV telling folk off for pitching their tents wrong!

 

[brut33]

Result! Mind, they're missing a trick, not having a crabby besom cruising around in an ATV telling folk off for pitching their tents wrong!

I heard an ATV this afternoon and dove behind a hedge. I still have PTSD from last years Dent.