The bell tents at Stone Raise Farm provide a handy way to go camping in Cumbria’s Eden Valley. If you’re not sure where that is, you’re not the only one. “I don’t think people realise how nice it is around here,” says host Emma. But the name might give you the first clue. It’s England’s Eden: a green and pleasant land of countryside around the river, which sits between the Lake District and the Pennines. Stone Raise Farm is towards its northern extremes, not far from Carlisle and Hadrian’s Wall.
There are just five bell tents, pitched up in a field that’s big enough for many more. That’s part of the appeal of the place: there’s space and plenty of it. And views for miles. This isn't "glamping" though. These are bell tents on a working farm. They might make camping easy but it’s still a simple set up, with tractors sometimes rumbling by. There’s no electricity on site and you need to bring your own bedding and cooking kit if you want more than a campfire dinner. Camp beds are provided in the tent, though, along with a raised firepit outside.
Out of camping season, the field is grazed by sheep so everything is moveable. That means facilities are simple: a portable loo and a portacabin where you’ll find a hot shower, a washing-up sink and a mini shop. Here, Emma shares produce from the farm when it’s available and a bit of local info. There’s a woodland next door that’s great for walks and the river bank is another option. If you like a hike, you can reach al pub in 40 minutes. But, of course, it’s less than that in the car if you want to visit the better-known places nearby: Carlisle, Hadrian’s Wall, the northern Lakes, the Solway Coast—and even Gretna Green.