With over 10 million visitors every year, you'd think that the Peak District National Park would seem pretty tight-packed. Thankfully, though, there is still plenty of peace and tranquility to be enjoyed in the sizeable pockets of wilderness afforded by the 555 square miles of Park and plenty to see and do in the surrounding Peak District area. Since it received recognition as the UK's first National Park in 1951, the Peak District has served to inspire and exhilarate, to cleanse and to heal. No wonder thousands of UK campers cast the spell of camping in the Peak District each year!
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Walking Holidays in the Peak District
If rambling through farmland, scaling fells and breathing in the freshest air from the summits of princely pinnacles is an idea that sets you ticking, then campsites in the Peak District make fabulous bases.
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With over 1600 rights of way cross-crossing moorland and farmland, connecting bustling market towns and pretty villages, the Peak District is a walker's paradise. And it's not all wild, bog walking either! 64 miles of rights of way across the region have disabled access .
Stay at Upper Booth, and plan a foray up Kinder Scout, the highest point in the Peak District at 636 metres. Situated on a working farm on the National Trust's High Peak estate, this campsite is nestled near Crowden Brook as it tumbles down from the Kinder plateau above. It's a tents only site, ideal for those who are looking for 'wilder' campsites in the Peak District.
Or make one of these Campsites near Mam Tor, Peak District your base and enjoy the stunning 360 degree panorama from this favourite viewpoint.
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Upper Booth Campsite, Derbyshire
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Peak District Independent Towns
The protection afforded by the status of the national park has, of course maintained traditions and helped to preserve the character of the Peak District, not only the expanses of open space but also the architecture of towns and villages and the nature of the communities that live in them.
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Doesn't it feel like such a breath of fresh air to enter a high street that feels genuinely different from any other? Visit the Peak District and visit any number of villages and towns that celebrate their roots, heritage and local culture and which look the picture, too, wearing local pride on their sleeve.
Stay at one of these Buxton Campsites, and explore the rich history of the region's prestigious spa town.
Or make one of these Castleton Campsites your base and enjoy a warm welcome in one of the local pubs before delving into the history of the area, dating back to the 11th century.
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Beech Croft Farm, near Buxton
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Indulge in Nostalgia on Peak Rail
We know that many of you out there are steam enthusiasts and more of us, still, have indulged in a steam train journey along one of the UK's proudly preserved heritage lines. And no wonder - steam provides a method of experiencing local landscapes and probing the more recent history of an area.
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Peak Rail, running from Rowsley South to Matlock, attracts thousands of visitors each year, keen to indulge in a nostalgic journey past restored Victorian stations, through the beauty of the Peak District.
Stay at one of these Campsites near Peak Rail and you'll base yourself within easy reach of a great day out on this heritage railway.
Originally built in the 1860s, there are a number of original and restored features to this line; enthusiasts will enjoy the Rowsley South Station turntable, lovingly restored by the volunteers who 'rescued' the line and enabled it to be reopened to the public.
Whoosh! Wheesh!
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Campsites near Peak Rail
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Spot of Peak District Wild Swimming, anyone?
Some of you may be thinking brrrrrrrr but there will be a fair few out there saying, "ahhhh!" and perhaps even "aha!"
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Swimming on the River Trent may not be a wild swimmer's most obvious choice of swim safari, however the pastoral stretches of The Trent around Ingleby are well known among circles of open water enthusiasts, largely because of the somewhat unusual 'sightseeing' there is to enjoy during the swim.
Many come for the extraordinary caves of Anchor Church, a mile upstream from Ingleby, where the river has carved out a series of rock grottos that have, over the centuries, provided solace and shelter to religious figures and hermits.
Stay at one of these campsites in Peak District nearby the wild swimming to be done on the River Trent and don a wetsuit for your plunge. You won't be far from the vital statistics of the Peak District National Park here either.
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Donington Park Farmhouse Hotel Camp Site
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If you're planning on heading to one of these Peak District campsites, don't forget to use our 'things to do' tab on each site's listing to help you plan your stay; with thousands of pubs, restaurants, shops and other local attractions listed in the vicinity of each site, planning ahead is easy!
Oh, and don't forget to upload your great pictures to a Campsite Chatter Pinboard - you can do it remotely or on your return!
By Bekah Mardall, Campsite Chatter.
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