Castle Howard Lakeside Holiday Park Review – Beautiful Views, Bird Bombs & Freezing Toes! 🏕️😂

Stayed: Wednesday 6th May – Sunday 10th May 2026

Pitch: ET26 – Hardstanding with Electric Hook-Up (EHU)

Party: TentTokers (2 adults, 3 teenagers) alongside our good friends from Autism Adventures (2 adults and 1 young autistic child)

When we booked Castle Howard Lakeside Holiday Park, we were looking forward to a peaceful few days away with friends, stunning scenery and a chance to explore a part of Yorkshire we'd never properly visited before. The site sits within the Castle Howard Estate and is surrounded by beautiful countryside, lakes and woodland, making it a genuinely attractive place to camp. The touring and camping area offers spacious pitches, with hardstanding pitches featuring electric hook-up and a dedicated tent area on grass pitches. The facilities include heated showers, toilets, laundry facilities, dishwashing areas and hair dryers. [castlehowa...omes.co.uk]

Arrival

One thing we really liked straight away was the arrival and departure times. Check-in is from 12 noon and departure is 12 noon, which gives you a full day at either end of your trip and doesn't leave you rushing around trying to pack up at the crack of dawn. [castlehowa...omes.co.uk]

We were allocated Pitch ET26, a hardstanding pitch with electric hook-up. The pitch itself was a great size and easily accommodated us without feeling cramped. In fact, one thing we couldn't fault throughout the stay was the size of the pitches. Everyone had plenty of room.

The Good, The Bad and The Very Feathered

Let's talk about the elephant... or rather the crow... in the room.

Unfortunately, ET26 sits directly beneath a large tree.

Now normally a bit of shade is lovely.

However, this particular tree appeared to be occupied by what felt like the entire cast of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds.

Every. Single. Day.

Bird muck.

Everywhere.

On the tent. On the guy lines. On the camping chairs. On anything left outside for more than twenty-seven seconds.

Cleaning it became a daily chore and, honestly, quite an annoying one. To be fair, I know this is nature doing what nature does and it's not something the site can control, but I always promise to give an honest review.

If you find yourself under the same avian bombardment we experienced, the best way to clean bird droppings off a tent is to soak the affected area first, allow the residue to soften, and then gently lift it away with a soft cloth or sponge rather than scrubbing it dry. This helps avoid damaging the tent fabric.

As if that wasn't enough, there was also a large colony of crows living in the surrounding trees.

Their working hours seemed to be approximately:

5am – 11pm

With overtime.

The constant cawing suggested nesting season was in full swing and some mornings felt less like a peaceful Yorkshire retreat and more like we'd pitched up inside a crow convention.

Again, not the site's fault, but definitely something worth knowing if you're considering pitches close to the trees.

The Site Itself

During the week the campsite was lovely and peaceful.

You could hear birdsong, enjoy a wander around the lake and generally relax.

Then Friday arrived.

And apparently everyone in Yorkshire decided to go camping.

By the weekend the site was absolutely full. Every hardstanding pitch seemed occupied and it became really noticeable that the site is geared far more towards caravans and motorhomes than tents.

Interestingly, there were only two tents in the hardstanding area during our stay.

There is also a non-electric grass camping area which actually appeared to have more tents on it than the hardstanding section. Some areas looked a little uneven, but if we returned we'd probably choose a grass pitch and try to get one further away from the trees.

Facilities – Absolutely Spot On

The shower and toilet block was excellent.

Clean.

Tidy.

Well lit.

No nasty surprises.

The showers were consistently good and the free hair dryers were a nice touch. The amenity block includes warm showers, toilets, sinks, laundry facilities and hair dryers. [castlehowa...omes.co.uk]

There was also a pot washing area, freezers, washers and dryers.

In fact, during the particularly cold May temperatures, it became the warmest place on site and may have accidentally become our unofficial social club a few times. 😂

Is It Family Friendly?

This is where we felt a little conflicted.

The campsite itself doesn't have a playground, entertainment or many activities within the camping area itself.

For younger children, especially during colder weather, there isn't a huge amount to do directly on-site. However, Castle Howard's Skelf Island Adventure Playground is nearby and accessible as part of Castle Howard grounds admission. [castlehowa...omes.co.uk], [castlehoward.co.uk]

For us, early May was simply colder than expected.

By the end of the trip I think both adults and children agreed that perhaps we'd all been a little optimistic about Yorkshire sunshine in May.

Visiting Castle Howard

One of the biggest draws of the area is, of course, Castle Howard.

The campsite has a footpath leading towards the estate which takes around 25-30 minutes on foot. Holiday park guests also qualify for 2-for-1 admission to the Grounds and Gardens. [castlehowa...omes.co.uk], [castlehoward.co.uk]

We had intended to visit but ultimately felt the ticket prices for our group were a little steep, especially with a larger family.

That's obviously a personal decision and plenty of people will think it's well worth it, but for us it wasn't something we could justify on this particular trip.

Coneysthorpe – A Hidden Gem

One of our favourite discoveries was the tiny village of Coneysthorpe, located just a short walk from the site.

Honestly, it felt like stepping back in time.

It's picturesque, peaceful and absolutely oozes Yorkshire charm.

There isn't loads there, but that's half its appeal.

We found a lovely little bakery and, on a couple of mornings, a local lady brought freshly baked goods directly onto the campsite which were absolutely delicious.

Fun fact for any Netflix fans: Coneysthorpe has connections to Bridgerton, adding a little extra interest to the village's already charming character.

Days Out

We spent time driving out to both Scarborough and Malton, which are easy enough to reach from the campsite.

The standout day trip for us though was Eden Camp.

What an incredible place.

Set on the site of an original World War Two prisoner of war camp, Eden Camp brings wartime Britain to life through immersive exhibits spread across the original huts. [edencamp.co.uk]

We would highly recommend a visit if you're staying in the area.

The Lake

One of the site's biggest strengths is the beautiful lake.

It's stunning.

Whether you're walking around it with a coffee in hand or simply sitting and admiring the view, it's a genuinely relaxing setting.

Fishing is permitted with a permit available from reception, although that's not really our thing so we can't comment on the fishing itself. [castlehowa...omes.co.uk]

Shop & Staff

The owners seemed friendly enough during our stay.

The little on-site shop was okay.

Nothing amazing.

Nothing terrible.

Just okay.

It stocked the basics and a few treats, which is handy if you've forgotten milk or fancy something different for tea. [castlehowa...omes.co.uk]

Final Verdict

Would we return?

Yes.

Would we rush back?

Probably not.

Castle Howard Lakeside Holiday Park has lots going for it:

✅ Beautiful surroundings

✅ Large pitches

✅ Excellent facilities

✅ Peaceful midweek atmosphere

✅ Lovely lakeside walks

✅ Great location for exploring Yorkshir

But there were also negatives for us:

❌ Bird muck central on ET26

❌ Very noisy crow population

❌ Limited activities directly on-site

❌ More geared towards caravans and motorhomes than tents

❌ Early May was absolutely freezing!

Overall, we'd give Castle Howard Lakeside Holiday Park a solid 7/10.

If we came back we'd definitely book a grass pitch away from the trees, pack even warmer clothes, and maybe invest in anti-crow diplomacy.

Thanks again to our amazing camping companions from Autism Adventures for another brilliant trip full of laughs, cold nights and great memories.

And if the crows are reading this...

We forgive you.

Mostly. 🐦💩😂

TentTokers Rating: 7/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆