The Best Camping in the Peak District
Camping in the Peak District provides a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the region. The park's extensive network of trails and cycle paths, combined with its rich cultural heritage and abundant wildlife, make it an ideal destination for those looking to reconnect with nature. From the dramatic cliffs of the Dark Peak to the rolling hills of the White Peak, the variety of camping spots ensures that there’s always something new to discover.
Our selection of the best campsites in the Peak District is based on personal experiences, online reviews, and recommendations from a network of seasoned travellers. Each campsite offers something unique, whether it’s unparalleled family amenities, adult-only tranquility, or eco-friendly accommodations. All information is accurate at the time of writing, ensuring you have the latest details to plan your perfect camping trip.
For families, campsites like Callow Top and Chatsworth Park Club Campsite provide an array of activities and facilities that keep everyone entertained. From swimming pools and fishing ponds to adventure playgrounds and easy access to local attractions, these sites offer endless fun for children and adults alike. The convenience of being close to charming towns like Ashbourne, Bakewell, and Matlock adds to their appeal, making them excellent bases for exploring the wider Peak District.
Couples seeking a more intimate and serene camping experience will find sites like Longnor Wood to be perfect retreats. These adult-only campsites offer peace and quiet, with amenities designed to enhance relaxation, such as hot tubs and saunas. The proximity to picturesque villages and beautiful walking routes makes them ideal for romantic getaways, allowing couples to enjoy the natural beauty of the Peak District without the hustle and bustle of family-oriented sites.
Solo travellers looking for a tranquil escape will appreciate the charm and simplicity of Fieldhead Campsite in Edale. This site, located in the heart of the Peak District, provides easy access to renowned hiking trails like the Pennine Way and iconic peaks such as Mam Tor. The friendly atmosphere and well-maintained facilities make it a top choice for those traveling alone, offering a perfect blend of solitude and community.
For those with a passion for sustainability, eco-friendly glamping sites like The Peak District Hideout and Hoe Grange Holidays offer luxurious accommodations with minimal environmental impact. These sites feature off-grid living, renewable energy sources, and locally sourced food, providing a guilt-free way to enjoy the natural surroundings. Whether you’re staying in a solar-powered lodge or a well-insulated camping pod, these eco-friendly options ensure a comfortable and sustainable camping experience.
Motorhome and campervan enthusiasts will find excellent facilities at sites like Beech Croft Farm and Hayfield Camping and Caravanning Club Site. These campsites cater specifically to the needs of motorhome travellers, offering hard-standing pitches, electric hook-ups, and convenient amenities. Their strategic locations provide easy access to some of the Peak District’s most stunning landscapes and hiking trails, making them perfect bases for exploring the area on wheels.
Campsites with spectacular views, such as Crowden Camping and Caravanning Club Site, offer breathtaking panoramas of the Peak District’s rugged terrain. Nestled in the Dark Peak region, these sites provide a perfect backdrop for outdoor activities like hiking, bird watching, and star gazing. The incredible vistas and serene environment make them ideal for those looking to soak in the natural beauty of the region.
Glamping enthusiasts will be delighted by the luxurious offerings at sites like The Gathering and Scaldersitch Farm. These sites take camping to the next level, with accommodations ranging from safari lodges and yurts to tipis and gypsy caravans. With amenities such as wood-fired hot tubs, yoga classes, and massage treatments, glamping in the Peak District combines the best of outdoor living with the comforts of a boutique hotel.
For avid cyclists, Become Wild offers a unique camping experience set at the foot of Mam Tor. With miles of cycling trails right on your doorstep, this site is a dream come true for those looking to explore the Peak District on two wheels. The luxury bell tents and stunning views of Mam Tor and Kinder Scout provide a perfect base for a cycling adventure, ensuring you’re well-rested and ready for the next day’s ride.
The Peak District offers a diverse array of camping options to suit every traveler’s needs. From family-friendly sites with endless activities to peaceful retreats for couples and solo travelers, the region’s campsites provide the perfect setting for an unforgettable outdoor experience. Whether you’re looking for eco-friendly glamping, motorhome facilities, or breathtaking views, the Peak District has it all. So pack your bags, pitch your tent, and get ready to explore one of England’s most beautiful natural landscapes.
Best Campsite for Families
Callow Top
Callow Top is a great spot for family camping in the Peak District for many reasons. This multi-award-winning campsite is a short walk from beautiful Ashbourne and close to bustling Bakewell, Matlock, and Buxton. With direct access to the Tissington Cycle Trail, you won’t be short of entertainment at this popular camping spot perfectly positioned for easy access to the Peak District’s southern climes. It’s much more than just a weekend camping spot. With Chatsworth House (35 minutes by car) and Alton Towers (20 minutes) nearby, as well as an on-site swimming pool and fishing pond, this is family camping at its best.
What we love the most: Pure variety and genuine fun for all the family. It sits just outside the National Park boundary but offers unrivaled facilities and access.
Chatsworth Park Club Campsite
Chatsworth Park Club Campsite is part of the Caravanning Club network of campsites, so you’re as good as guaranteed a trouble-free stay with fantastic facilities. Set in an old walled garden on the stunning Chatsworth Estate, this is a perfect family escape that boasts stunning scenery, fantastic walks, and access to brilliant pubs in Baslow and Bakewell. With a farmyard and adventure playground, there is no shortage of things to do for all the family.
What we love the most: Brilliantly accessible with disabled shower room and wheelchair facilities, and with great access to all that Chatsworth has to offer, including its marvelous farm shop at Pilsley.
Best Campsite for Couples
Longnor Wood
If you’re looking for a Peak District campsite without lots of tiny people running about, then Longnor Wood offers one of the Peak District’s few adult-only campsites. Situated in the southwest of the Peak District National Park, it caters to campers of all types with tent and caravan pitches, holiday lodges, and static pods. The site offers a myriad of long and short walks directly from the site. If you’re looking for good options away from the site itself, it is a short walk from Longnor village and is nestled neatly between Ashbourne, Buxton, and Leek, with popular Matlock and Wirksworth further to the east. On-site amenities include hot tubs, a shop, gym, sauna, and a games room.
What we love the most: It’s open all year round and caters brilliantly when the weather isn’t so great.
https://www.longnorwood.co.uk/
Best Campsite for Solo Travellers
Fieldhead Campsite
Fieldhead Campsite is a perfectly quiet spot in Edale for solo travelers. Conveniently set beside The Moorland Visitors Centre in the center of the village, it offers great access to The Pennine Way, Mam Tor, two friendly pubs, and the always popular Penny Pot Cafe. This is our top pick for camping in Edale due to its size (not too big and not too small) and history as a well-run, Peak District National Park-owned site.
What we love the most: What it lacks in size it makes up in charm. A little secret garden, magically set along Grinds Brook, is great for paddles and falling asleep to the sound of the water ambling by.
https://www.fieldheadcampsite.co.uk/
Best Campsite for Eco-Friendly Glampers
The Peak District Hideout
Plenty of campsites use the word ‘eco’ a little too loosely for our liking. We define eco camping as light-footed and low volume with appropriate amenities. For a rare find with great eco credentials, take a look at The Peak District Hideout. Situated on an organic farm, this single lodge setup offers off-grid, solar-powered luxury a short hop from some of the Peak District's most popular sites. It even boasts an organic milk and milkshake vending machine using milk from their happy herd of organic, free-range cows. The location is great too, tucked away between Hassop and Baslow, and a short drive or medium-sized walk to Chatsworth Farm Shop.
https://peakdistricthideout.com/
Hoe Grange Holidays
Situated in Matlock, Hoe Grange Holidays have the environment at the heart of their offering. With two (sleeps 2) sleek, well-insulated camping pods fitted with cutting-edge infrared heating powered by their extensive renewable energy source, as well as a gypsy caravan with a slide-out double bed (no heating). The site boasts ‘gold standard’ accessibility, eco-cleaning, wood-fired hot tubs, saunas and showers, renewable energy, farm-grown food, electric vehicle charging, electric bike hire, and on-site recycling.
https://www.hoegrangeholidays.co.uk/glamping-peak-district/
Best Campsite for Vans and Motorhomes
Beech Croft Farm and Caravan Site
Beech Croft Farm and Caravan Site is a genuine family-run farm campsite with modern facilities and recently renewed hard-standing hook-ups, as well as two children’s play areas and a dedicated dog exercise field. It has a food and drink cafe as well as a 24-hour hot drink vending machine. Unlike many Peak District camping sites, it also has a dedicated Duke of Edinburgh field, meaning large groups are kept separate from the rest of the camping community. Smart.
What we love the most: The vending machine. It sounds silly, but with so many campsite facilities shutting up after dark, it’s great to know you can get yourself a hot drink at all hours.
Hayfield Camping and Caravanning Club Site
At Hayfield Camping and Caravanning Club Site, you don’t need to be a member to book at this brilliantly run site in Hayfield. Perfect for those who, like us, enjoy the romance of following in the footsteps of the Mass Trespassers onto Kinder Scout. With Hayfield a beautiful 15-minute walk away, this is a peaceful and secluded campsite that is purpose-built for campers and caravans but great for tents and trailer tents too. Facilities include motorhome service points, a shop, washing and drying, accessible washrooms, a children’s play area, and the reassurance of being well-managed as part of the Camping and Caravanning Club network. Satisfaction guaranteed.
What we love the most: The best place to camp within spitting distance of Kinder Scout. A hiker’s paradise.
Best Campsite for Views
Crowden Camping and Caravanning Club Site
Less than an hour from Manchester, Liverpool, and Sheffield, Crowden Camping and Caravanning Club Site is the perfect site for walkers looking to explore the Dark Peak region of the Peak District National Park. Settled at the end of a challenging stretch of the Pennine Way and boasting incredible views, you’ll be joined by falcons, eagles, and red kites on your stay (if you’re lucky). The campsite is right by Torside Reservoir and beneath striking Holme Moss and Dog Rock, which boast world-beating views as well as the sought-after World War II B29 and Blenheim Mk1 plane crash sites.
Best Campsite for Glampers
The Gathering
The Gathering offers tented safari lodges set amongst dramatic hills and moorland, with riverside access and a private route to popular picnic spots on Grinds Brook and Kinder Scout beyond. Book well in advance (1 year) as limited availability means lodges get booked up quickly. One of our favorite stays in the whole of the Peak District because of its fantastic facilities, brilliant staff, and kind and welcoming owners.
Scaldersitch Farm
Scaldersitch Farm takes glamping to the next level. It isn’t just a bell tent in a field, it’s the whole experience! Take note: Yurts and Tipis, wood-fired hot tubs, featherdown duvets, USB charging, luxurious private washrooms, yoga, and massage treatments. Need we say more?
https://www.scaldersitchfarm.co.uk/
Best Campsite for Cyclists
Become Wild
Become Wild is a cyclist’s dream, set at the foot of Mam Tor and offering miles upon miles of unfettered road access and challenges for all levels. Couple that with luxury bell tents set in a field with fantastic views of both Mam Tor and Kinder Scout, hot tubs, meat reared by the owner on his nearby farm, as well as proper beds, and you’ll soon realise you’re in paradise. A perfect spot to while away a few days in the great outdoors cycling in the rolling hills of the Dark Peak. Again, book early to avoid disappointment.
Frequently Asked Questions about Camping in the Peak District
What is the best time of year to camp in the Peak District?
The best time to camp in the Peak District is from late spring to early autumn, typically from May to September. During these months, the weather is generally milder, and the longer daylight hours provide more time for outdoor activities. Summer offers the warmest conditions, making it ideal for camping and exploring. However, spring and autumn can also be pleasant, with fewer crowds and beautiful natural scenery. Always check the weather forecast before your trip, as conditions can change quickly in the Peak District.
Are there any dog-friendly campsites in the Peak District?
Yes, there are many dog-friendly campsites in the Peak District. Sites such as Callow Top, Beech Croft Farm, and Hayfield Camping and Caravanning Club Site welcome dogs and offer facilities to accommodate them. These campsites often provide designated dog exercise areas, waste disposal facilities, and even dog-friendly amenities like water bowls and treats. It’s always a good idea to check the specific campsite’s pet policy before booking to ensure it meets your needs and to make sure your furry friend is welcome.
Can I camp anywhere in the Peak District?
Wild camping is generally not permitted in the Peak District without the landowner’s permission. However, there are many designated campsites throughout the region that offer a range of facilities and beautiful locations. These campsites provide a safe and legal way to enjoy the natural beauty of the Peak District. If you are interested in wild camping, it's essential to seek permission from the landowner and follow Leave No Trace principles to minimise your impact on the environment.
What facilities can I expect at campsites in the Peak District?
Facilities at campsites in the Peak District vary widely but can include amenities such as clean toilets, hot showers, electric hook-ups, laundry facilities, and washing-up areas. Many campsites also offer additional features like on-site cafes, shops, children’s play areas, and recreational activities such as fishing ponds or swimming pools. Some sites cater specifically to certain types of campers, such as eco-friendly amenities, adult-only areas, or facilities for motorhomes and caravans. It’s best to check the specific campsite’s website for detailed information about their facilities.
Are there any eco-friendly campsites in the Peak District?
Yes, there are several eco-friendly campsites in the Peak District. Sites like The Peak District Hideout and Hoe Grange Holidays prioritise sustainability and offer eco-friendly accommodations. These sites often use renewable energy sources, practice waste reduction and recycling, and provide eco-friendly amenities such as solar-powered showers and composting toilets. Staying at an eco-friendly campsite allows you to enjoy the beauty of the Peak District while minimising your environmental impact.
What are the best family-friendly campsites in the Peak District?
Some of the best family-friendly campsites in the Peak District include Callow Top and Chatsworth Park Club Campsite. These sites offer a range of facilities and activities designed for families, such as swimming pools, adventure playgrounds, fishing ponds, and easy access to nearby attractions. The campsites are also well-equipped with amenities like clean toilets, hot showers, and on-site shops, making them convenient and comfortable for families with children.
Can I find campsites in the Peak District that are open year-round?
Yes, some campsites in the Peak District are open year-round. Longnor Wood is one example of a campsite that caters to visitors throughout the year. These sites often offer well-insulated accommodations and facilities to ensure comfort during colder months. Year-round campsites provide the opportunity to enjoy the Peak District’s beauty in all seasons, from the blooming wildflowers of spring to the snowy landscapes of winter.
What should I pack for a camping trip in the Peak District?
When camping in the Peak District, it’s essential to pack appropriately for the weather and activities you plan to do. Key items include a quality tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, cooking equipment, and food supplies. Clothing should include layers to adjust to changing temperatures, waterproofs, and sturdy walking boots. Don’t forget essentials like a first aid kit, map, compass, flashlight, and toiletries. If staying at a campsite with amenities, check their website to see what is provided and what you need to bring.
Are there any adult-only campsites in the Peak District?
Yes, there are adult-only campsites in the Peak District, such as Longnor Wood. These campsites cater exclusively to adults, offering a peaceful and relaxing environment without the presence of children. Adult-only sites often provide amenities such as hot tubs, saunas, and quiet communal areas, making them ideal for couples or solo travelers looking for a tranquil escape.
Can I rent camping equipment in the Peak District?
While there are a few outdoor shops and camping stores in the Peak District that may offer rental services for camping equipment, it is less common compared to other regions. It’s a good idea to bring your own equipment or check with specific campsites, as some may offer gear rental or have partnerships with local providers. For those traveling light or trying camping for the first time, glamping options with furnished accommodations may be a convenient alternative.
