Anywhere Campers Rental company category:Standard
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Anywhere Campers CarlisleCarlisleView map
Campervan hire in Carlisle puts you where three landscapes meet: the lakes and passes of the northern Lake District to the south, the salt marshes of the Solway estuary to the west, and the rolling valleys of southern Scotland, whose border is only about fifteen kilometres away. A stronghold fought over for centuries by the two kingdoms, the city keeps its medieval castle and lies on the line of Hadrian's Wall, close to its western end. Our partner company Anywhere Campers hands over its campervans, converted vans and motorhomes here.
The M6 motorway, which continues towards Glasgow as the A74(M), runs east of the city: both Keswick and Moffat are less than an hour away.
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Where to pick up your vehicle in Carlisle?
Road trip ideas
Road trips from Carlisle
1 Ullswater, Keswick and the Buttermere valley
- Carlisle
- Penrith
- Pooley Bridge
- Aira Force
- Glenridding
- Keswick
- Borrowdale
- Honister Pass
- Buttermere
- Cockermouth
- Carlisle
After the red sandstone ruins of Penrith Castle, the road follows Ullswater from Pooley Bridge to Glenridding, at the foot of Helvellyn, with a stop at the Aira Force waterfall. In Keswick, the Neolithic stone circle of Castlerigg stands facing the fells, above Derwentwater. You then head deep into Borrowdale, cross Honister Pass and its slate mine, and drop down to Buttermere before reaching Cockermouth, Wordsworth's birthplace.
- Distance
- about 160 km
- Recommended vehicle
- Campervan or camper van
2 The Solway Coast and West Cumbria
- Carlisle
- Burgh by Sands
- Bowness-on-Solway
- Silloth
- Maryport
- Whitehaven
- St Bees
- Ravenglass
- Wasdale
- Carlisle
At Burgh by Sands, a monument marks the spot where Edward I died in 1307 on his way to Scotland; further on, Hadrian's Wall comes to an end at Bowness-on-Solway. The sunsets of Silloth, the Roman museum in Maryport and the Georgian harbour of Whitehaven lead to the red cliffs of St Bees. Finally, Ravenglass, with Muncaster Castle and its little valley railway, opens the road to Wasdale and Wast Water, the deepest lake in England.
- Distance
- about 230 km
- Recommended vehicle
- All types of motorhomes
3 Gretna, Moffat and the Esk valleys
- Carlisle
- Gretna Green
- Ecclefechan
- Moffat
- Grey Mare's Tail
- St Mary's Loch
- Eskdalemuir
- Langholm
- Carlisle
Once across the border, Gretna Green and its blacksmith's shop recall the hasty weddings of eloping English couples. Ecclefechan, Thomas Carlyle's birthplace, leads to Moffat, a former spa town near the deep hollow of the Devil's Beef Tub. The A708 passes the Grey Mare's Tail waterfall and St Mary's Loch; a partly single-track road then crosses the Ettrick valley to the Tibetan monastery of Samye Ling, before the return via Langholm.
- Distance
- about 180 km
- Recommended vehicle
- Campervan or camper van
Weather and seasons
When to go in Carlisle?
Best time
April, May and June
April to June
highs 12 to 18 °C, lows 4 to 10 °C
The best time to leave from Carlisle: April and May get only about 60 to 70 mm of rain, compared with over 100 mm in almost every other month, and the sun shines nine to eleven hours a day. Daffodils bloom on the shores of Ullswater, the very ones that inspired Wordsworth, and June brings bright evenings until very late over the Solway estuary.
High season
July and August
July to August
highs 19 °C, lows 12 °C
The warmest months stay mild, with afternoons around 19 °C, but they are also among the wettest, with 110 to 120 mm of rain. Keswick, Glenridding and the shores of Derwentwater are very busy at this time; the Solway Coast, West Cumbria and the Scottish valleys of the Esk and Ettrick offer much quieter stops.
September and October
September to October
highs 13 to 16 °C, lows 8 to 10 °C
A damp late season, with about 107 mm of rain a month and days that shorten quickly, from seven to five hours of sunshine. In return, the russet bracken of Borrowdale, the red deer rut around Martindale, near Ullswater, and campsites that are easier to book reward those who accept the showers.
Winter
November to March
November to March
highs 6 to 9 °C, lows 2 to 4 °C
Winter is cool, rainy and short on daylight, with three to seven hours of sunshine a day. Tens of thousands of barnacle geese from the Arctic spend the winter on the Solway marshes, a unique sight. Snow, on the other hand, can close Honister or Kirkstone Pass, and many Lake District campsites only reopen at Easter.
Climate in Carlisle, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6 °C | 2 °C | 101 mm | 3 h/day |
| Feb | 8 °C | 2 °C | 101 mm | 5 h/day |
| Mar | 9 °C | 3 °C | 85 mm | 7 h/day |
| Apr | 12 °C | 4 °C | 59 mm | 9 h/day |
| May | 16 °C | 7 °C | 69 mm | 11 h/day |
| Jun | 18 °C | 10 °C | 101 mm | 11 h/day |
| Jul | 19 °C | 12 °C | 118 mm | 10 h/day |
| Aug | 19 °C | 12 °C | 112 mm | 9 h/day |
| Sep | 16 °C | 10 °C | 107 mm | 7 h/day |
| Oct | 13 °C | 8 °C | 107 mm | 5 h/day |
| Nov | 9 °C | 4 °C | 101 mm | 4 h/day |
| Dec | 7 °C | 3 °C | 112 mm | 3 h/day |
Averages 2016–2025 computed from Open-Meteo data (ERA5 reanalysis).
Practical tips
Everything to know before hitting the road
The M6 becomes the A74(M) towards Scotland
North of Carlisle, the M6 motorway ends at the border and continues without a break as the A74(M), then the M74, all the way to Glasgow. To the east, the A69 follows the Tyne valley to Newcastle; to the west, the A595 serves the Cumbrian coast, and the A66, from Penrith, leads to Keswick. None of these roads is tolled.
Avoid Hardknott and Wrynose
Hardknott and Wrynose passes, which link Eskdale to Ambleside, are among the steepest roads in England, with tight bends and a single lane. They are to be avoided in a motorhome. Honister, which is shorter, remains passable in a campervan, with care and in dry weather; for Wasdale or Eskdale, go via the coast and the A595.
Solway spring tides
Between Burgh by Sands and Bowness-on-Solway, the narrow coast road crosses salt marshes that spring tides can flood. Signs and water depth markers show this: do not drive on when the water is rising, and check the tide times before heading to the end of Hadrian's Wall.
Plan for walkers' car parks
At the start of Lake District trails, such as Glenridding or Wasdale Head, car parks are small, run by the National Trust or the national park, and fill up quickly in summer. Arrive early, check for height barriers and leave the motorhome in the car parks at the entrance to villages rather than on the verges of narrow roads.
What travellers ask
Your questions about a road trip in Carlisle
Where can I pick up a campervan in Carlisle?
Anywhere Campers, our partner company, hands over its vehicles in Carlisle; your confirmation gives the exact place and the time for collecting the keys. Carlisle station is a rail hub, served by trains from London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Manchester: arriving without a car is easy, then a taxi completes the journey. Let the company know your arrival time.
How much does it cost to hire a campervan in Carlisle?
The price varies mainly with the season, summer and the Easter holidays being the busiest periods in the Lake District, then with the number of days, the model chosen and the return location. Enter your dates in the search: each offer shows its real price, mandatory fees included, and can be booked straight away.
Can I drive into Scotland with the campervan?
Yes, England and Scotland are part of the same country: there are no checks at the border, which you cross at Gretna in a few minutes. Do bear in mind, however, the low emission zones in the centres of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen, and ask the company to confirm that your vehicle is allowed in if you plan to drive into them.
Can I return the campervan in another city?
Several departure cities of our partners are less than 130 km away as the crow flies: Kendal, Lancaster and Preston to the south, Newcastle to the east, Edinburgh to the north. Choose that city as your return location when you search: you will only see compatible offers, with the one-way fee built into the price.
How can I explore Hadrian's Wall from Carlisle?
East of the city, the Roman fort of Birdoswald preserves one of the longest continuous stretches of the wall, and nearby Lanercost Priory was partly built with its stones. To the west, the Hadrian's Wall Path, about 135 km long from Wallsend, ends at Bowness-on-Solway. Tullie House museum, in the city, presents the Roman frontier.
What is there to see in Carlisle before setting off?
The castle, where Mary, Queen of Scots was held prisoner in 1568, also houses Cumbria's museum of military life. The cathedral, one of the smallest in England, keeps a starry ceiling and a great Gothic east window. Between the two, Tullie House brings together Roman collections and the history of the Border Reivers, the raiding clans of the frontier.
Verified customer reviews
They rented in Carlisle with CoolDrive Nomad
4.3
818 reviews
Functional and easy-to-use application that meets expectations.
N.
United Kingdom · Jul 2025
Trustpilot
1. The motorhome had neither a reversing alarm nor a rear camera. Essential for this type of vehicle. 2. There was no option to purchase insurance without a deductible. The options were either to take out an external one or to reduce it with Indie Campers. Additionally, in the case of the one rented in Scotland, we were informed at the last moment that no insurance covered the upper and lower parts of the sides... Incredible! We could crash it but not scratch it... 3. Regarding the rental in Dublin: a) The location is very far from the airport and much further from the city.
J.
United Kingdom · Jun 2024
Trustpilot
Available team and very good service
Nicolas E.
United Kingdom · Jun 2024
Avis Vérifiés
Frequently asked questions
FAQ — Campervan and motorhome hire in Carlisle
What licence do I need to drive a motorhome in England and Scotland?
A valid category B licence lets you drive vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes, a weight that most rental campervans and motorhomes stay within. For a tourist stay, foreign licences are generally accepted, but some issuing countries require an international driving permit. The company sets the minimum age and the number of years of driving required in its conditions.
Which airport should I choose for a departure from Carlisle?
Newcastle is the nearest airport: Metro to Central Station, then the Tyne Valley train, allow about two hours in all. Glasgow and Edinburgh are also well placed, with direct trains of about an hour and a quarter from their central stations. Manchester Airport also has direct trains, but the journey takes about two hours.
Where can I spend the night in a motorhome around Carlisle?
In England, sleeping outside a campsite requires the landowner's permission, and most car parks in the Lake District National Park forbid overnight stays. There are, however, plenty of campsites around Keswick, Ullswater and on the coast, notably at Silloth. On the Scottish side, Moffat and the Esk valley have a few, quieter ones.
How do I get used to driving on the left?
Make the most of your first miles on the A74(M) or the A69, which are wide and lightly used, rather than crossing the centre of Carlisle. At roundabouts, you go clockwise and give way to vehicles coming from the right, and speeds and distances are shown in miles. On a narrow road, the passenger has a better view of the left edge: let them guide you.
Are there any tolls when leaving from Carlisle?
Not on the region's main roads: the M6, A74(M), A69, A66 and A595 are free, as are all roads in Scotland. The only tolled section of the M6 is the M6 Toll, a bypass of Birmingham, far to the south. Closer by, the Tyne Tunnel in Newcastle is paid online after you pass through.
What weather should I expect in north Cumbria?
A mild and changeable oceanic climate: highs range from 6 °C in January to 19 °C in July and August, and rainfall exceeds 100 mm in most months. The Lake District fells get considerably more rain than Carlisle and the coast. Bring waterproof clothing, walking boots and a back-up plan.
When should I book a campervan in Carlisle?
The partner company has a limited number of vehicles in the city: for July, August or Easter, book several months ahead. In April, May or September, a few weeks are often enough. If no vehicle is free on your dates, also look at departures from Kendal or Newcastle, other departure cities close by.
About us
Why start a motorhome trip from Carlisle
Carlisle is the border city par excellence: Romans, the kings of England and Scotland, then the Reiver clans in turn fortified, besieged or plundered it, from Antiquity until the 17th century. Today it opens onto three entirely different trips, all within an hour: the lakes and passes of the northern Lake District, the wild coast of the Solway and West Cumbria, or the quiet valleys of southern Scotland, from Moffat to Langholm.
Anywhere Campers, our partner company on site, hands over its vehicles in the city, and several nearby departure cities, Kendal, Newcastle, Lancaster or Edinburgh, let you end your trip elsewhere. Allow half a day for the castle and the cathedral, aim for April or May for the driest weather, and always keep a rain jacket within reach.
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