[cofe]

anyone got any knowledge on where to stay for st bees? not camping, obviously.

ta.

[Adam Lincoln]

I think there farm where you park has a bunk house in it. Not sure on details but its what i have been told. If its the St Bees south stuff your after, ie, the new stuff, you park elsewhere, or its a hell of a walk.

[cofe]

Ta Adam. I'll look into the farm.

[Mike Tyson]

If it is more of the new stuff your after it is best to stop in St. Bees itself. A mate of mine used to run the bar at this place:

http://www.seacote.com/Hotel/index.htm

It provides good food and ok ale. Its bang on the beach as well so good for non climbing others/children etc. St Bees village is a few minutes walk away as is the train station.

Edit: Try these as well in St Bees itself:

http://www.manorhousestbees.com/#

http://www.marstonspubs.co.uk/queenshotelcumbria/

Like Adam says if it is the more established area your best bet is to contact the farmer or try the following:

http://www.grovewoodhouse.com/index.html

http://www.tarnflattfarm.co.uk/

Let me know if you fancy meeting up when you visit.

[sjw]

This is the farm's barn  http://www.lakelandcampingbarns.co.uk/barnview.asp?ID=13 . It wasn't bad at all from what I remember.

[Charlie Small]

Where is there to camp near St Bees?

[Paul B]

Rather than start a new topic, is St Bees a van freindly kind of place? I was thinking of heading up that way over the Bank Holiday however I'm well aware that in Britain you're more likely to get van hassle than elsewhere in Europe.

[Fiend]

The bunkhouse is simple. Two rooms with two giant wood platforms in each, various karrimats to throw on those. One sleeps 5-ish, the other 7-ish, the larger one has a heater. Toilet, shower (50p), sink. It's pretty crude but easier than camping.

Paul, I think there are places you could find to sneak the van in. Not at the farm, but there are some quiet roads nearby, St Bees itself the carpark might be a bit obvious but I'd reckon you could find a quiet layby around. Have a look around on Googlemaps. Just stay away from Whitehaven, what a fucking hole that is.

[adam_NE5]

The farmer lets people camp in his field for £5 a night and my mates have never had any trouble parking their camper vans there, its a bit uneven mind so watch your sump!

[Paul B]

The farmer lets people camp in his field for £5 a night and my mates have never had any trouble parking their camper vans there, its a bit uneven mind so watch your sump!

6months of travelling and only 5 nights spent on campsites. I don't see the point of the van if you use it to stay on camp sites? 

[Nigel]

Put it this way, if you want to stay near the crag then you're as near as damn it in Whitehaven. Given that then £5 to stay in a field with sea views is a great deal compared to a layby in that dive (think a dilapidated Rhyl).

The obvious thing to do is stay somewhere in the Western Lakes, Eskdale area springs to mind although it will be rammed that weekend, so maybe somewhere further North like Ennerdale or Buttermere. Its not that far from any of them to St Bees.

[adam_NE5]

6months of travelling and only 5 nights spent on campsites. I don't see the point of the van if you use it to stay on camp sites?

I was thinking the convenience of being camped feet away from the path to the crag would be worthwhile, but if you want to go out of your way to adventure camp in your van then there is a lay-by just outside whitehaven where I slept in the car when my Girlfriend did the coast to coast, I didn't have any problems then!

[SA Chris]

6months of travelling and only 5 nights spent on campsites.

Fucking gypsy

[biscuit]

The obvious thing to do is stay somewhere in the Western Lakes, Eskdale area springs to mind although it will be rammed that weekend, so maybe somewhere further North like Ennerdale or Buttermere. Its not that far from any of them to St Bees.

If anyone wants any ideas for van camping spots round this area drop me a pm. Don't anywhere in Bees and wouldn't bother with w'haven but plenty Ennerdale/Buttermere way.