Peak District area is located in the northern part of Derbyshire. This area is famous for having one of the purest mineral water sources in the world. It’s also one of the first national parks of England and Wales. If you plan on camping in Peak District, keep on reading as we have made a simple guide for you.
Even though there are big nearby cities such as Manchester, Leeds, and Sheffield, it has still remained mostly agricultural throughout history and nowadays the area is mostly focused on tourism. There are plenty of old-style quaint cities with small narrow streets and half-timbered houses.
Peak District visitors can enjoy many different activities such as caving, rock climbing, cycling, etc. One of the most popular nature spots people love to visit is the show caves, and there are 7 in this area. Two of them carry a cool name, Robin Hood and Thor.
With plenty of different activities and things to see, Peak District is always a great choice for your next camping trip.
Weather in the Peak District
The weather in Peak District can be tricky and unpredictable as it’s always when camping in the UK. That being said, you’ll rarely experience extreme weather which means that you can go camping in this area year-round.
If you prefer hot summer months, then you should schedule your camping trip for July as it’s the hottest month of the year. On the other hand, if you prefer a colder climate, January is the coldest month to visit Peak District.
For those of you who plan on visiting in the next couple of days, your safest bet would be to check the weather forecast. You’ll be able to decide what type of clothes to bring based on the forecast, but it’s always a good idea to bring waterproof coats when camping in the Peak District or the UK in general.
Is it legal to camp in the Peak District?
If we are talking about wild camping, it’s not allowed. You can only camp in the official campsites or if you have a permit from the landowner. However, it’s tolerated and you’ll most likely be safe if you follow these tips:
- Do not start campfires, if you have to cook something, use a portable cooker. Moorland can easily catch fire, so do not use an open flame.
- Stay on the move, never remain in the same spot for a couple of days
- Do not camp near roads or hiking trails. Try to stay at least a couple of kilometers away from the nearest road.
- Avoid camping near fences as it’s most likely privately owned land.
- Do not leave trash behind you.
To conclude the question, you cannot camp in the wild without a permit from the landowner, but if you are following the tips we wrote above, you should generally be okay. If you want to see how your camping trip in the Peak District could be, you can take a look at this video:
Official campsites in the Peak District
There are a bunch of different campsites in the Peak District, and we have created a list of the best ones. When we went through the list of the available campsites, what we have taken into an account is next:
- Pricing
- Online booking
- Website
- Reviews
- Distance
- Number of camping spots
- Facilities
- Accommodation
Based on that, we have been able to create a list of the 5 best official campsites. You can see them on this map or down below:
1) Upper Booth Farm Campsite
Located in the western part of Edale, very close to the heart of Peak District. If you plan on exploring Hope Valley or the High Peak Moors, this is an ideal campsite location for you.
The campsite area is spread over two fields. If you are traveling in a car, you can park it next to the tent on the upper field. When all of the campsites on the upper field are taken, you can park your car in the nearby parking area instead.
There are 40 spots that you can pitch your tent on and if you have a dog buddy traveling with you, they can come as well.
The facilities included are:
- Showers
- Toilets
- Washing area
- BBQ
You can check the Upper Booth Farm prices here.
2) Pindale Farm Outdoor Centre
Probably the closest official campsite to the Peak District national park. Pindale Farm is here longer than Peak District was a national park. It used to be a farm that was converted to accommodation in 1988.
52 People can fit into the barn, and 8 more in the Engine House. You can find flat fields with electric hookups for your tents close to the Farm House. The prices are affordable and the facilities included are:
- Electric power
- WiFi
- Automatic Lighting
Pets are welcome!
You can check the prices here.
3) Eden Tree Caravan
Eden Tree Caravan Park is also one of the campsites near the heart of the Peak District national park. Plenty of tourist attractions can be found nearby, from cycle routes to Buxton Spa Town.
Very close to this campsite you can find many different shops, outdoor activities such as fishing and gliding. If you want to get a good night of sleep, you can book a caravan.
Facilities included on this campsite are:
- Electric hook-ups
- Free hot showers
- Toilet blocks
- Laundry room
You can check the prices here.
4) Bushey Heath Farm
Bushey Heath Farm has both a campsite and bunk barns that you may book. Bunk barn has that cool old building style that is rarely found anymore. It’s not rare to see this campsite completely booked, so make sure you book on time.
There are approximately 30 spots where you can pitch your tent. This campsite is meant to host large groups, so if you are not booking for sole use, you may be sharing it with other groups/campers. There are plenty of facilities available:
- Tap water
- Waste disposal
- Farm shop
- Toilet block
- Shower block
Please note, there are no electric hook-ups or washing facilities. Check out the prices here.
5) Derbyshire Hills
Derbyshire Hills Campsite is ideal for those of you who want to enjoy the beautiful nature surrounding Derbyshire Hills and Dales. If you are into hiking, there are plenty of challenging hill walks that you can find around this campsite.
There are plenty of interesting villages around such as Eyam, Foolow or Great Hucklow. Whether you plan on hiking, cycling, gliding, or taking a walk through nature, this is an ideal spot for you.
If you are a dog person, you’ll be happy when you hear that this campsite is pet-friendly. As a new camping lover who happens to have a dog, there are loads of pet-friendly tents to pick from. Be sure to put enough effort into finding the right one for you.
Facilities:
- Shower
- Toilets
- Electric hook-ups
You can check the prices here.
In case you are looking for more camping spots around Europe, we’ve got you covered. We’ve covered a few camping destinations including Dolomites, South Downs, North York Moors, Algarve, and Sardinia.
