East Lakes campsite recommendations

Brotherswater?

Yep, Sykeside at Brotherswater will tick all your boxes.

My initial thoughts on seeing "east lakes" was Patterdale, but that would be a nightmare to get anywhere else, so no.

We stayed at Waterside House near Pooley Bridge at August Bank Holiday a few years ago and it was great as we could ride/ steamer from the tent and didn't need to drive.

Having said which that 8km drive from Penrith on the minor roads would get you 14km along the A66 so there's some sites dotted around Blencathra which might be just as convenient for the Dales ( and also closer to The Bludgeon ?)

lowey's suggestion is a good one - easy access to Patterdale Fells

@spin - which crags are you planning on going to?  Do you need to be within walking distance of them or happy to drive a bit?

Dufton has a nice site and there's  very decent pub and cafe in the town (quieter than the Lakes). It's on the Pennine Way and near High Cup Nick so can be a little busy but never really that overcrowded.

https://duftoncaravanpark.co.uk/camping-2/

Waterside on Ullswater is nice, if a little busy (but I suspect few sites in the Lakes are quiet...)
A few years since I was there, but cracking spot really.
Owned by an old school friend's family.

I've stayed at the Grizedale Campsite a few times and never had a bad experience. Nice little site on a farm but not too far from good roads to get you elsewhere.

which crags are you planning on going to? Do you need to be within walking distance of them or happy to drive a bit?

Happy to drive a bit. We'd need to set dates and rough are rather than being flexible like I normally would so I was looking for a nice site that had closeish climbing but that meant we could go east for a few day trips if the Lakes was clagged in.

Rydal Hall is a good location and about 1m walk into Ambleside (you can use a back track rather than the road). The big shower block with under floor heating is particularly good.

@spin -  if you want basic facilities in a good location near a pub, then Whinfell Hall Farm Campsite near Low Lorton is another good one. It's a little off the beaten track and close to the A66 so you can easily zoom around the north end of the lakes. Very handy for access to the W and NW Fells.

Another possible one is the Caldbeck Campsite - quiet town, several pubs and cafes and easy to head East if you need to. You'd have to drive to the crags though

https://edenvalleycaravansite.co.uk

A 20 minute drive into The Lakes, but also only a 20 minute drive into The Pennines.  Campsite in Kirkoswald in the Eden Valley. Two pubs within short walking distance, village shop and an outdoor pool just across the river.

Brilliant location.

Caldbeck area is lovely, I cycled keswick to penrith and got a bit lost.  Caldbeck common and surrounding villages are really peaceful and stunning scenery, I would deffo go back.

Not stayed there, but Moss Howe Farm near Witherslack would be quieter than Lakes and give good road access to Coniston, Langdale and east into Yorkshire. There's some really nice seaside nearby ( Grange, Humphrey Head, Arnside) and the limestone of Chapel Head.

Likewise Gibraltar Farm near Arnside

Cheers folks, a few options there.