7 Best Motorhome Campsites in the Peak District

December 28, 2020 in Destinations, Campsites & England

After such a trying year, we think that it's time to check out the outdoor escapes close at hand. If the Peak District is within driving distance, it will be time well spent. Though you might just set up camp at one of the Peak District’s motorhome sites for the tonic of scenic respite, you’ll find a world of adventure waiting in the spectacular limestone dales. It’s a walker’s paradise, with routes like the Pennine Way, the Limestone Way and the Monsal Trail easily reached from many of the Peak District’s campervan sites, tracking along stunning gorges, high peaks and sheer cliffs.

Of course, you can also take to bikes to explore the National Park, whether electric or mountain biking is your style, Blackwell Mill Cycle Hire can meet your needs. Other activities, such as mountaineering and climbing, horse trekking, fishing, canoeing and paddle-boarding, and caving all abound. And, if none of those are your thing, there are sweet rural villages, museums, local breweries, and stately homes to visit, too. More cosmopolitan attractions, sights, shopping, eating and entertainment options in Manchester, Liverpool and Sheffield are all less than an hour’s drive away. You really couldn’t ask for more.

The best campsites in the Peak District are all highly recommended for their hospitality, facilities, and scenery, with refreshingly unregimented green fields that don’t compromise on open space. In no particular order, they’re collected here for you to choose from. 

Goboony peak district camping h2 nature hills campsites

Winnat's Pass, Castleton

1. Farditch Farm Caravan Site

Farditch Farm Caravan Site is one of the best-located motorhome sites in the Peak District. It sits right on the edge of the National Park, in the village of Chelmorton. For those who want to get into the peaks, it has the benefit of being next to trails including Tissington, High Peak, and Monsal walking and cycle paths. But it also has the benefit of a nearby village pub for food and refreshment after a long day. The glorious Chatsworth house is a short drive away, and it is well worth strolling around the farm shop for local fare as well as the beautiful gardens. The market town of Bakewell and the spa town of Buxton are also close at hand.  

This quiet, uncrowded site has just 11 hardstanding pitches, which are landscaped for privacy. They’re roomy enough for caravans, awnings and cars, motorhomes, and twin-axle caravans. The site is so dog-friendly that it has been featured in the Good Dog Guide. It’s perfect if you want to relax in the picturesque landscape or gather your energy for long walks. The facilities offered with all pitches include electricity, water, free wifi, waste drainage, showers, and toilets. The site has a communal kitchen and lounge area and fully equipped disabled and family washrooms.

The Ditch, Chelmorton, Buxton SK17 9SG

2. Hayfield Camping and Caravanning Club Site

Hayfield Camping and Caravanning Club Site is ideal if you’ve come to the Peak District for camping and walking. Just below the Dark Peak area, it’s the perfect place to set off for challenging ascents or gentle rambles. It’s at the foot of the Kinder Massif, the southernmost point of the Pennine Chain and the location of a historical mass trespass in 1932, which enshrined the right to roam in UK law. You can set off for Lantern Pike or the Sett Valley Trail from here. Otherwise, a popular local attraction includes Freshfields Donkey Sanctuary. 

The array of awards this campsite has received is explained by its suite of facilities, including hardstanding pitches with waste/water and electric hookups, gas cylinder exchange or refill, showers, chemical waste disposal, dishwashing, laundry, and wifi. 

Kinder Road, Hayfield, High Peak, Derbyshire SK22 2LE. 

3. Crowden Camping and Caravanning Club Site

Crowden Camping and Caravanning Club Site is also in the heart of walking country. Waiting at the end of a particularly challenging stretch of the Pennine Way, it has incredible views of the National Park and is great for bird spotting. You might see falcons, red kites and eagles whilst taking the popular Longendale Trail on the old Woodhead railway line, which is suitable for wheelchairs, and pushchairs, and passes several scenic reservoirs. Other nearby places worth visiting include Holmfirth, where the BBC TV series Last of the Summer Wine was located, with its many tea rooms, as well as Castleton in the Hope Valley, where there are several caverns. 

Facilities include hardstanding pitches with electric hookups, chemical toilet disposal, dishwashing, washing and drying machines, gas cylinder exchange or refill, heated shower block, and hot water. All the public areas and facilities are wheelchair accessible, too. 

Woodhead Road, Crowden, Glossop, Derbyshire, SK13 1HZ

goboony cave caving peak district camping h2 campsites

4. Upper Hurst Farm

Upper Hurst Farm really takes the cake for motorhome sites in the Peak District. The owners have centred the interests of community, conservation, and inclusivity at the heart of all they do. Their nature-based approach boosts the biodiversity of the hedgerows and fields, and the majority of their energy is provided through sustainable practices. They have been awarded the Environmental Quality Mark award for their ongoing commitment to the environment, their staff, guests, and the local economy. Aside from easy reach to the Peak District, the site is also near Buxton’s Go Ape treetop adventure centre, the Peak District Mining Museum, Hassop Station cycle hire, café and shop, and the Heights of Abraham hilltop estate. 

All motorhome pitches include their own direct water tap, grey waste disposal, and 16A electric hookup in the price. Other facilities include hot water showers and a toilet block with underfloor heating (heated by an on-site biomass boiler), an electric hair dryer, pot washing basins (as well as a further basin suitable for people with restricted mobility), a coin-based washing machine and dryer as well as iron and ironing board on request. There’s also a small freezer for freezer packs, barbecues and fire pits if required. 

Upper Hurst Farm, Hulme End, Hartington, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 0HH

5. Dale Farm

For a more rugged and rural Peak District camping experience, head to Dale Farm. Strictly a quiet, peaceful campsite, this is where respectful and outdoorsy types come to rest up. The farm has pitches for tents, campervans, motorhomes, trailer tents and small or medium-sized caravans. They also offer bell-tent camping. There’s a farm shop, where you can sample beef, hogget and pork raised on-site, to barbecue later on fire-pits available to rent (you can also buy firewood, charcoal and firelighters on-site).  If more supplies are needed, there’s a village shop in Great Longstone. The farm itself is less than a mile from several access points to the Monsal Trail. There are a few dog-friendly pubs that serve great beer, cider and food within easy walking distance, and the popular beauty spot of Monsal Head is a mile away, which also has some nice bars and cafés for the famished walker. 

Despite having a more earthy appeal than the other Peak District campervan sites, Dale Farm has great facilities. A brand new, purpose-built wash block has 8 toilets, 7 showers and 4 pot-washing sinks, all with hot water. There’s wifi, and a toilet emptying point (although they can only accept eco-fluid, as they are on a septic tank). Dogs are allowed but must be well-behaved and kept on leads so as not to disturb the farm animals living nearby. 

Dale Farm, Moor Road, Great Longstone, Derbyshire, DE45 1UA  

<-- Premium blog lead generator CTA replacement block -->

6. Beech Croft Farm

In terms of reviews, Beech Croft Farm outshines all the other Peak District campervan sites. Most campers come away very impressed with how organised, well-managed and maintained the site is by friendly, helpful staff, which is always reassuring when cleanliness takes on more importance than ever. As well as the tonic of spacious, well-facilitated pitches, the site is super accessible, just a short drive from Buxton along the A6. It has the bonus of a few friendly goats on-site and a pizza oven. Of course, it also boasts many great walks from the door and even more a short drive away. Whilst avid hikers can easily navigate their way through the peaks, the folks at Beech Croft have thoughtfully plotted out a selection of ‘walks from the door’ for those who are not dab-handed map readers, which you can print at home or purchase from the farm shop for a small fee. It’s the extra thought that the owners put into your stay that makes this one of the best campsites in the Peak District. 

The toilet and shower facilities are separated into Ladies, Gents and Unisex, and there are disabled facilities as well as a washing up room, dog exercise area, and two separate children’s play areas. There’s a minimum of two-night stays at weekends during the high season and a three-night minimum on bank holidays. The caravan pitches are all hard standings with 16amp hookups, water taps and TV aerial sockets. All prices also include hot water, showers and wifi. 

Blackwell in the Peak, Taddington, Near Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 9TQ

goboony nature peak district sunset h2 camping campsites

The Roaches

7. Laneside Caravan Park

Like the rest of the Peak District motorhome sites, you could stay a month at Laneside Caravan Park without exhausting the footpaths accessible from your camper. You can walk half an hour to Castleton, or take on as much of the Pennine Way as you can. Making your way up to Mam Tor definitely deserves a spot on your bucket list if you stay at this site, too. More world-famous crags and cliffs ring the site, such as Stanage or Froggatt Edge, so it’s a top spot for climbers of all levels. For those who like caving, there are numerous caves nearby at Castleton and outdoor adventure companies to guide you beneath the landscape. To meet your appetite after all that excitement, there’s a great Indian restaurant called the Curry Cabin just a 5-minute walk away. Even sitting at your pitch for dinner and watching the sunset on Lose Hill is a real treat. 

Facilities include highly recommended toilet and shower blocks with free hot power showers and large accessible rooms for wheelchair users and families. There’s a laundry block, sheltered pot-washing area, wifi available across the site, a well-stocked site shop with camping supplies, outdoor recreation areas, gas exchange and free ice-pack refreeze. For motorhomes, you can pitch up on fully-service hard standings (with electric, water and grey waste), hard standings with electric, or grass with electric. The quality of these facilities makes this one of the best campsites in the Peak District, but this is reflected in the price!

Laneside Caravan Park, Hope, Hope Valley, S33 6RR. 

Goboony motorhome peak district campervan h2 nature

The Peak District truly is unique in that it is so compact and accessible, yet offers an incredible wealth of things to see and do, no matter what your taste is. Luckily, the array of first-class options for accommodation in the Peak District’s motorhome sites does the national park justice. With a Goboony camper, you can get right into the heart of the country and explore the unlimited opportunities for adventure in this special National Park. Hire a motorhome in Derbyshire and prepare to hit the road.

Are you visiting the Peak District for your first motorhome holiday? Be sure to check out our comprehensive campervan packing list!

Plan your unforgettable road trip with our exclusive travel guide
Check out our comprehensive travel guide and find out which campervan fits your plans, and which spots you shouldn't skip.