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The 11 BEST family campsites in the Peak District

The 11 BEST family campsites in the Peak District

Visiting the Peak District with kids is all about enjoying the great outdoors, and what better way to do this than camping! There are some fantastic family campsites in the Peak District; from basic ones by a river where you just rock up and pitch your tent in a field without prebooking, to more managed site that have shops, playgrounds and WiFi on site. 

Camping is a fantastic budget option for Peak District family accommodation! So grab your tent and sleeping bags, and check out the best family camping in the Peak District suggested by parents on our Peak District Kids Facebook Group, as well as campsites that members of the Peak District Kids team have personally stayed at. These also include some of the best Peak District camping near pubs!

Paid advertising may affect a campsite’s placement on this page

If you prefer a bit more comfort and luxury with your camping, check out our top Peak District glamping sites for families, or alternatively, have you considered staying at a Peak District YHA?

Now do be warned that the weather here can be unpredictable, so always pack layers, bring the wellies, and don’t expect campsites to be open in the winter months. But on a warm summers day, there is no better place in the world and camping is one of our favourite things to do in the Peak District.

Also note that during the months of April to September many campsites have a 2 night minimum stay at the weekends and 3 night minimum stay on the bank holiday weekends.

1. Upper Hurst Farm, Hulme End

Click here to read our review
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📅 OPEN YEAR ROUND

Upper Hurst Farm is a small, well-maintained campsite in the heart of the White Peak, close to the Manifold Way. The facilities are impeccable and families are very well catered for with a small play area, as well as ponies and chickens to meet.

Upper Hurst Farm camping review

From the moment you arrive at this peaceful campsite, it’s clear this is a well cared for place, and the surrounding rolling dales provide a stunning backdrop. Plus, firepits are allowed, so don’t forget to pack the marshmallows! Although if you do forget, you can purchase some from the small campsite shop. Dessert sorted.

Campervans and caravans are given plenty of space around the perimeter of the site, with a lush lawn area set aside for tents (with their own designated parking area). The hard-standing pitches are neat and tidy, giving you solid ground to park your vehicle on and a small grassy area to one side. You share a electric hook-up and water tap area with your neighbour but it’s otherwise quite private.

Walk across the fields to the Manifold Inn pub, which is 1.2km away (allow 30 mins each way), or visit nearby Thor’s Cave or Beresford Dale. You may also want to bring the bikes and enjoy a family cycle along the mostly-traffic-free Manifold Way.

2. Hayfield Camping and Caravanning Club, Hayfield

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📅 OPEN YEAR ROUND

If you’re planning on hiking up to the Kinder Plateau, this campsite is perfectly positioned. Pitch up at the far end, and you can even see the summit on a clear day.

Our Bongo at Hayfield Campsite (Camping and Caravanning Club)

Hayfield campsite is in a secluded location, just one kilometre from Hayfield village, with a stream running alongside and mostly surrounded by woodland. Split in two sections via a public footpath, one side has hard standing pitches, and the other has grass pitches. Electric hook ups are available both sides.

There is a playground, but there is a strict ‘no ball games’ rule. Dogs are very welcome.

The Sportsman (just a 3 minute walk from the campsite entrance) does excellent food, and there’s also a fab fish n chippy.

3. Bank House Farm Campsite, Hulme End

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📅 OPEN MARCH TO OCTOBER

Another campsite in Hulme End is Bank House Farm Campsite, which has excellent facilities. It’s very relaxed, has great washblock, a pub opposite, and there’s a stream running through the site where the kids can paddle/splash/get muddy!

It’s also only a few hundred metres from the start of the Manifold Way, a (mostly) traffic free Peak District cycle trail.

Bank House Farm Campsite

The site is gently undulating and two of the three fields are positioned adjacent to the River Manifold. The main area where you book in at reception has EHU pitches that are all marked out. There are nine hard standing pitches and a further 28 grass pitches all with 16 amp hook up. This is where the toilet and shower block is located.

Above this is the Top Field; a freestyle camping area with no EHU. The views here are stunning, but it can be tricky to find a flat section during busy times. You may want to bring your chocks if camping in this field.

Then there is the Meadow field, just over the bridge on the other side of the road. You can also pitch freestyle here and there is the River Manifold gently meandering through. There are fresh water taps in this field but no toilet or shower facilities; you need to make the 5-minute stroll back across to the main site near the reception area.

Campfires are allowed if they’re in a firepit and dogs are very welcome (on a lead). Fishing is available by arrangement. A fridge/freezer and tumble dryer are available and they can even also store bikes during your stay. They really have thought of everything, including a pile of board games you can borrow for a rainy day!

Great local walks and a pub at the end of the drive. Pizza and fish and chip van there over the weekends. The children loved the new tuck shop – really reasonably priced. Great field for kids and dogs to play on.

Lynsey, member of the Peak District Kids FB group.

4. Pomeroy Caravan & Camping Park, near Buxton

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📅 OPEN APRIL TO OCTOBER

This is a small, family-run camping and caravan site ideally located just off the A515 and the High Peak Trail, and is often one the favourite sites for members in the Peak District Kids Facebook Group.

All touring caravans, motor homes, trailer and family tents are welcome to Pomeroy Caravan Park. There are well maintained EHU Grassland pitches for touring caravans and tents, and an open plan area for tents without EHU. The shower and toilet facilities are spotless, and there are also washing and drying facilities.

Pomeroy Ice Cream

You MUST try the homemade ice-cream on site, it’s delicious! There’s also a vending machine for raw milk, and little ones will love meeting the onsite goats full of character.

Make sure you bring your bikes, as there is direct access to the High Peak Trail; this is a traffic-free path and also suitable for prams and pushchairs. The Victorian spa town of Buxton is only a ten minute drive away (check out our guide to visiting Buxton with kids), and nearby walks include our Longnor walk and Lathkill Dale walk.

We love Pomeroy Caravan Park! Large pitches, lots of space for kids to play with a separate ball field and also a dog walking field. Excellent facilities and the best part was the ice cream made on site. There is also a little farm bit at the front now with goats and alpacas 🦙 direct access to the high peak trail meant an easy walk to the Royal Oak at Hurdlow for dinner 👍🏻.

Angela, member of the Peak District Kids FB group.

5. Newfold Farm, Edale

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📅 OPEN YEAR ROUND

Sandwiched between Great Ridge and Kinder Scout in the Peak District, with a direct train from Manchester and Sheffield, the village of Edale is a fantastic base for hikers, and a popular campsite for families here is Newfold Farm.

The views of Great Ridge are incredible! Plus, campfires are allowed here (as long as they’re 30cm off the ground – we recommend and use this foldable fire pit); which is just what you need to warm up after a long hike in the hills.

There’s no playground here, but with so much wide open space on your doorstep and other kids to play with, that’s really not a problem. And here’s hoping that a hike up Kinder or Mam Tor will have knackered them out anyway 😉. Plus, ball games and kite flying is allowed; just make sure that the kids (and adults) be respectful and keep their distance from people’s pitches.

New Fold Farm camping

The views from the tent are fabulous. You can see most of the ridge. You can say to the kids “Let’s go up there,” and show them and then usually at some point on the ridge you can spot the tent. You can have campfires, the owners are so friendly and there’s woodfired pizza on certain evenings. It’s really family friendly and not noisy after 10pm.

Louise, member of the Peak District Kids FB group.

6. Lathkill Dale Campsite, Monyash

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📅 OPEN APRIL TO NOVEMBER

The lovely family campsite just outside the village of Monyash has great facilities (hot showers), nice big spaces for groups and individual places for families. A big bonus is that it’s just a three minute walk to the The Bulls Head, which has a large beer garden overlooking a fantastic playground. There’s also a tea shop next door selling ice-creams.

Arrival times are currently between 1pm and 6pm, although arrival is possible outside of these times by arrangement. Check out is 12pm.

BBQs are allowed, as well as fire baskets (these must be off the ground). Electric hook-ups are available, and there’s also a fridge and freezer available on site.

There is a lovely walk from the campsite down into Lathkill Dale, past caves, along the River Lathkill to the waterfall, and back again across the fields above the dale. Check out our Lathkill Dale walk from Monyash. Alternatively, our Magpie Mine walk or Over Haddon walk is nearby.

7. Knotlow Farm, Flagg

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📅 OPEN APRIL TO OCTOBER

Located just outside the hamlet of Flagg, this family-friendly campsite is in a traditional Peak District farmyard setting. Expect to see Aberdeen Angus cattle, and pedigree Dorper sheep grazing in the fields during the warmer months. The Limestone Way also cuts through the land, which is a great path for a walk or family bike ride.

The camping site caters for both tents and caravan campers, with electric hook-ups, pot washing facilities, toilets and hot showers (20 pence for two minutes). There is a small shop onsite, where you can get basic groceries and sweets, and they even run a home-made pizza service every evening! You can also hire fire baskets to bring that extra bit of ambience! And if glamping is more your thing, there are glamping pods available.

Whilst there isn’t much to do in the hamlet of Flagg itself, the fabulous preschool garden is kindly open for play out of school hours. It’s also a lovely walk down to the pub and playground at Monyash.

If you’ve had enough of camping, maybe try out the camping pods (each complete with its own hot tub) or book a traditional Mongolian yurt experience at Knotlow Farm. It’s one of the best Peak District glamping sites.

8. The Royal Oak, Hurdlow

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📅 OPEN ALL YEAR ROUND

Set behind the traditional Royal Oak pub in Hurdlow, is a lovely open and grassy camping ground. There are 20 pitches on two levels, with direct access to the Tissington and High Peak Trail (which are great for a family bike ride). Plus the food in the pub is amazing, so you don’t really have to pack the camping stove.

The Royal Oak pub
credit: The Royal Oak pub

The campsite has separate male and female toilets each with hot showers (shared with the Bunk Barn accommodation) and there are also outside washing up facilities. However, there is no electric hook up available, so make sure you bring some power packs with you, or perhaps just switch off for the weekend.

There are designated pitches which are marked out so that you know you have a specific space for both your tent and car. A standard pitch is 6 metres x 8 metres and a large pitch is 8 metres x 10 metres. You can also upgrade to a super pitch which is 8 metres x 12 metres and includes a picnic bench and fire pit for your private use. 

The Royal Oak campsite does not allow motorhomes and only accepts small campervans. Nothing larger than a VW camper will be admitted on to the site as they cannot guarantee access due to weather conditions.

9. Beech Croft Farm, Taddington 

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📅 OPEN ALL YEAR ROUND

With two fantastic children’s play areas, this Peak District campsite is a winner for families. One play area is for under 6s, and then a separate one for the over 7s with a ball games area, zip wire and climbing frame. There’s also a separate exercise field for four-legged family members.

There are 30 hardstanding caravan pitches which all include 16 amp electric hook ups, water tap and TV socket providing a digital signal. For visitors with tents, there are three camping areas where you can choose where to pitch. There are 10 amp electric hookups available which can be used by purchasing a prepayment card.

Beech Croft Farm camping

The park offers excellent facilities including toilet and shower block with underfloor heating, and there is a shop on site offering basic provisions that also sells Calor and Camping Gaz.

Our Chee Dale walk is nearby. Or you may want to bring your bikes for cycle on the Monsal Trail.

10. Hulme End Campsite, Hulme End

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📅 OPEN APRIL TO OCTOBER

Situated in the beautiful Manifold Valley, just behind the Manifold Inn. Hulme End Campsite, not to be mistaken with Bank House Farm Campsite across the road, is in a large field behind the pub and facilities are basic. There isn’t much besides a portacabin with a loo and a cold tap (soap and toilet paper are provided), and an outside washing up area with a cold tap over a plastic trough to use as a sink and a wooden surface to set your things on.

Fires are allowed providing they are up off the ground and metal drums are provided to put your fires in/on. There are no showers, no hot water and no electrical hookups.

The main advantage of this place though it that it’s cheap! There is no reception. Just pitch up (no later than 9 pm) and the warden will come around later in the day to collect the money.

11. Chatsworth Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite

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📅 OPEN ALL YEAR ROUND

Set in the beautiful location of an old walled garden on the picturesque Chatsworth Estate, the Chatsworth Park Club Site in Bakewell offers nostalgic views of the sheep-cropped rolling countryside, with some lovely walks – try our Baslow to Chatsworth walk, and perhaps extend it to include our Chatsworth Hunting Tower and Aqueduct walk.

The washblocks onsite are spotless, and there’s also a kids playground.


You may also like to read:
Top things to do in the Peak District with kids
Best family walks in the Peak District
Best cafes and pubs in the Peak District with a playground