What The Quiet Site does

The Quiet Site is a privately held, family-owned sustainable glamping and holiday park located in Watermillock, Ullswater, in the English Lake District. Founded in 1963 and acquired by the Holder family in 1985, the company operates a single-site year-round park offering six accommodation types: energy-positive Gingerbread Houses (Ground Source Heat Pumps plus solar PV), underground Hobbit Holes/Glamping Burrows, sustainably heated Glamping Cabins, locally made Camping Pods, a self-catering Holiday Cottage, and all-weather Camping and Touring Pitches for tents, motorhomes, caravans, and campervans. Supporting infrastructure includes a district heat main system powered by solar thermal, a 100kW biomass boiler, ground source heat pumps, a reed-bed water treatment plant, and EV charging — together generating over 80% of the site's energy on-site and reducing water use by over 50% versus conventional setups.

The business serves individual leisure travellers — couples, small families, dog owners, outdoor enthusiasts, and eco-conscious visitors — through direct-to-consumer booking via its own website and on-site reception, with no third-party reseller channels. Auxiliary revenue is generated by The Quiet Bar (a Grade 2 listed bar dating from 1680), The Quiet Bite (off-grid wood-fired takeaway), The Quiet Shop (zero-waste retail), The Quiet Camper's Kitchen, a meeting room, caravan storage near M6 Junction 40, and bundled sustainable holiday products such as PodnPedal and Three Lakes Tour. Marketing is driven by word-of-mouth, with over 80% of bookings coming from repeat guests or referrals, supported by social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest) and strong review presence on TripAdvisor and Google.

The company is recognised as the only UK holiday park to hold both the Queen's Award for Enterprise (2020) and the King's Award for Enterprise (2024) for Sustainable Development, with VisitEngland Holiday Park of the Year (2023), AA Holiday Park of the Year (2024), and AA Sustainable Holiday Park of the Year (2026). The Quiet Site is a founding member of SITU (Sustainable Integrated Transport Ullswater), runs the Ullswater Hopper Bus, and maintains charity partnerships with Willow and Happy Days. Daniel Holder serves as Developer and Director; the company is incorporated as The Quiet Site Ltd in England and Wales with 5 employees.

Name

The Quiet Site

Legal name

The Quiet Site Ltd

Website

https://thequietsite.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Quiet Site is a family-owned, multi-award-winning sustainable glamping and holiday park on Ullswater in the Lake District, offering six accommodation types plus on-site bar, takeaway, and zero-waste shop to individual leisure travellers year-round.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Eco-Tourism Holiday Park

NAICS

RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Campgrounds (721211), Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Eco-Camps & Sustainable Camping Retreats (THAGAOAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Eco/Nature-Based Campgrounds (Sustainable/Off-Grid) (THAMAJAK), Off-Grid & Eco-Sustainable Stays (THAMADAI), Seasonal & Long-Term Campsites (Snowbirds, Extended RV Stays) (THAMAJAF)

Keywords

• Sustainable holiday park
• Glamping accommodation
• Eco holiday park
• Camping pitches
• Lake District tourism

Headquarters

HQ city

Watermillock, Ullswater

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Glamping Accommodation: Revenue from renting various glamping accommodations including Gingerbread Houses, Hobbit Holes, Glamping Cabins, and Camping Pods. Bookings available year-round with direct online booking system.
2. Camping & Touring Pitches: Revenue from touring pitches for tents, motorhomes, caravans, and campervans with electric hook-ups, water, and drainage facilities.
3. Holiday Cottage Rental: Revenue from self-catering holiday cottage accommodations.
4. The Quiet Bar: On-site bar serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks with live music events. One of Britain's finest bars dating from 1680, open every day of the year.
5. The Quiet Bite: Off-grid wood-fired takeaway serving pizzas and breakfast rolls. Uses no single-use packaging with reusable plates.
6. The Quiet Shop: Zero waste shop selling local, ethical products with no single-use plastic. Sells essentials like milk, bread, eggs and zero waste options.
7. Caravan Storage: Caravan and motorhome storage facility near Junction 40 of M6, allowing customers to leave vehicles on-site and arrive by public transport.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Quiet Site operates a sustainable glamping and holiday park on the shores of Ullswater in the Lake District, renting individually designed eco-friendly accommodations (Gingerbread Houses, Hobbit Holes, Glamping Cabins, Camping Pods, a Holiday Cottage and Camping & Touring Pitches) and operating ancillary on-site hospitality services (The Quiet Bar, The Quiet Bite takeaway and a zero-waste shop). It is a hospitality business whose product is short-stay accommodation and supporting facilities, delivered with a sustainability-first infrastructure that generates the large majority of its energy on-site.

Product overview

The Quiet Site is a multi-award-winning, family-run sustainable glamping and holiday park offering a portfolio of accommodation types and on-site facilities. The core product portfolio includes six distinct accommodation types: Gingerbread Houses (energy-positive houses with ground source heat pumps and solar PV), Hobbit Holes/Glamping Burrows (underground eco-friendly burrows), Glamping Cabins (sustainably heated modern cabins), Camping Pods (locally made energy-efficient pods), Holiday Cottage (self-catering with renewable heating), and Camping & Touring Pitches (all-weather serviced pitches for tents, tourers, and motorhomes). These are complemented by on-site facilities including The Quiet Bar (historic 17th-century bar), The Quiet Bite (zero-waste takeaway), The Quiet Shop (zero waste retail), The Quiet Meeting Room (conference facilities), and The Quiet Camper's Kitchen (guest kitchen). Additional services include PodnPedal (sustainable cycling holidays), Three Lakes Tour (motorhome touring), caravan storage, gift vouchers, live webcam, and dark sky viewing experiences. The company has developed its own district heat main system connecting all accommodations to renewable energy sources including solar thermal, biomass boiler, and ground source heat pumps.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gingerbread Houses Eco-friendly holiday houses designed to generate more energy than they consume, heated by Ground Source Heat Pumps and roofed with solar PV panels. Sold as a premium, individually designed accommodation unit for guests seeking a high-spec sustainable stay.
• Hobbit Holes (Glamping Burrows) Underground eco glamping burrows that are less visible in the landscape and provide natural insulation through earth coverage, offering a unique subterranean accommodation experience for guests.
• Glamping Cabins Sustainably heated modern cabin accommodation with high thermal efficiency, part of the site's low-impact holiday offerings for guests wanting year-round comfort.
• Camping Pods Locally made camping pods providing comfortable, energy-efficient glamping accommodation for guests wanting an affordable, low-impact overnight stay.
• Holiday Cottage Self-catering cottage accommodation with sustainable heating via the park's district heat main from solar thermal, biomass and solar PV sources, aimed at families and small groups wanting a longer self-catering stay.
• Camping & Touring Pitches All-weather, fully serviced pitches for tents, tourers, motorhomes, VW campervans and roof tents, with electric hook-ups, water and drainage facilities.
• The Quiet Bar 17th-century Grade 2 listed bar (dating from 1680) serving local Tirril Brewery beer, other alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, live music events and stone-baked pizza, open every day of the year to staying guests and visitors.
• The Quiet Bite Off-grid, zero-waste wood-fired takeaway serving pizzas and breakfast rolls with no single-use packaging, operating 364 days a year for staying guests and visitors.
• The Quiet Shop Zero waste shop using gravity dispensers to fill paper bags or reusable containers, selling local and ethical essentials such as milk, bread and eggs with no single-use plastic.
• PodnPedal Sustainable Holiday Package Multi-park sustainable holiday package where guests arrive by train at Penrith, cycle between locally made camping pods at Ullswater, Keswick and Windermere, and return by train from Oxenholme, in partnership with other Cumbrian holiday parks.
• Three Lakes Tour Sustainable motorhome holiday touring parks at Ullswater, Keswick and Windermere, with motorhomes either hired at Penrith station or brought by guests.
• Caravan Storage Long-stay caravan and motorhome storage facility located 5 minutes from M6 Junction 40, allowing owners to leave vehicles on-site and arrive by public transport to reduce carbon-intensive towing.
• Gift Vouchers Prepaid vouchers for stays and on-site experiences, available for delivery by email or as luxury gift vouchers by post.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80% of bookings come from returning guests or recommendations
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SITU (Sustainable Integrated Transport Ullswater)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Founding member of SITU, a charity promoting Sustainable and Integrated Transport for the Ullswater valley. The group works to improve local transport options, reduce environmental impact, and increase road safety. SITU has created safe walking paths from Penrith station to Ullswater and established bus services linking accommodations with local attractions.
• Pod'n'Pedal (Other Lakeland Parks)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Collaboration with two other top Cumbrian holiday parks to promote fully sustainable holidays. Guests arrive by train at Penrith, cycle past stunning scenery at Ullswater, Keswick and Windermere while staying in locally made camping pods, and depart by train from Oxenholme. This model has been copied by parks in Europe.
• Ullswater SteamersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership to provide special holidays for people experiencing particularly challenging times in their lives. Ullswater Steamers has been running for over 150 years with some of the same boats.
• Lowther CastleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership to provide special holidays for people experiencing particularly challenging times in their lives. Lowther Castle features an imposing ruin with an enormous children's playground and garden restoration project.
• Willow (Charity)minorOthersNational charity partnership providing free of charge holidays for seriously ill young adults and their families.
• Happy Days (Charity)minorOthersNational charity partnership providing holidays for families with children that have disabilities.
• Lake District FoundationminorOthersPartnership with Lake District Foundation with voluntary giving box on online booking system. Thousands of pounds raised for local conservation projects.
• Tirril BreweryminorOthersLocal brewery supplying all beer sold in The Quiet Bar and shop. All beer is brewed within 10 miles supporting local businesses and minimising food miles.
• AW Jenkinson BiomassminorOthersWood chip supplier for biomass boiler, sourced from within 20 miles. Contract signed to ensure sustainable wood chip supply for heating and hot water.
• Cumbria MobilityminorOthersMobility equipment hire partner recommended for guests who need wheelchairs or mobility scooters during their stay.
• StagecoachminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStagecoach adopted the 509 bus service in 2025, linking Ullswater to Keswick and Penrith Station, allowing SITU to concentrate on the Ullswater Hopper bus.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Haven Holidays: Mass-market UK holiday park chain with coastal locations. Operates a comparable mix of touring pitches, static accommodation, and on-site facilities, but at a value-tier, high-volume model that contrasts with The Quiet Site's premium-sustainable niche.
• Center Parcs UK: UK's largest premium short-break holiday village operator with multiple forest locations. Operates in the same destination-accommodation category as The Quiet Site at substantially greater scale and broader amenity set; useful benchmark for unit economics and pricing.
• Sykes Holiday Cottages: UK's largest holiday cottage letting agency, including Lake District inventory. Comparable to The Quiet Site on the self-catering holiday-cottage product line and the broader UK regional short-break demand set.
• Parkdean Resorts: Largest UK holiday park operator, owning the Lake District parks that partner with The Quiet Site on the Pod'n'Pedal initiative. Direct regional competitive overlap and the natural benchmark for the Lake District holiday park segment.

Direct peers

• Wigwam Holidays: UK-based network of glamping pod sites offering similar low-impact, year-round self-catering accommodation. Wigwam's product line, scale, and direct-booking model closely mirror The Quiet Site's camping pod offering.
• Forest Holidays: UK operator of eco-focused cabin retreats in Forestry England woodlands. Highly comparable on the premium eco-cabin / sustainable-accommodation value proposition, though at larger scale and forest locations rather than lakeside.
• Canopy & Stars: Curated collection of unique UK glamping and boutique stays (treehouses, yurts, cabins). Directly comparable on the boutique, character-led, sustainable-accommodation positioning that The Quiet Site pursues with its Gingerbread Houses and Hobbit Holes.
• Featherdown Farms: Luxury glamping operator offering canvas lodges and cabins on UK working farms. Shares The Quiet Site's positioning around unique, sustainable, family-oriented glamping with strong direct-booking economics.
• Kelling Heath Holiday Park: Norfolk-based eco holiday park similarly combining touring pitches, lodge-style accommodation, and a strong sustainability / nature-tourism positioning. Closest direct peer in terms of park-versus-pure-hotel operating model and ESG-led marketing.

Regional players

• YHA (England & Wales): Charity-run network of budget hostels concentrated in UK national parks and natural areas. Tangential competitor in the Lake District for outdoor and budget-conscious travellers, and a useful reference for non-profit sustainable tourism positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TheQuietSite
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCf1t9OS45fS6rscALRZbfQA
• Facebookfacebook.com/thequietsite
• Instagraminstagram.com/thequietsite
• Pinterestuk.pinterest.com/thequietsite
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-quiet-site

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Quiet Site