The 5 Best Campsites in the Peak District for Families

Trespass Boil Kettle

Family-Friendly Features

• Free hot showers and a washing-up area to make life easier after muddy adventures
  
• Fridge freezers and a microwave available with 24-hour access
• Baby change area on site for families with little ones
  
• Raised firepits allowed (you can rent one or bring your own)
  
• Village pub, tearoom, and local dairy selling fresh milk, eggs, and ice cream just down the road
  
• 4G signal and Wi-Fi available

 

Good to Know

• Check-in: Between 2pm–6pm
  
• Check-out: By 12 noon
  
• Season Dates: Usually open from late March to early November
  
• Dogs: Welcome, but please pick up after them
  
• Fires & BBQs: Raised firepits allowed (no ground fires)
  
• Lighting: This is a Dark Skies site, so it’s worth bringing a good torch or headlamp like the LedLenser MH5 Rechargeable Headlamp.
  

• Sat Nav Tip: Add “Monyash” as well as the postcode, as some systems will send you via Youlgreave, which isn’t right!
  

 

Close Peak District Walks

• Lathkill Dale: A beautiful, family-friendly walk right on the doorstep.
• Heights of Abraham: A bit further out, but worth the drive if you’re after a day out with added adventure.
  
  

Top Tip From Our Team

You’re surrounded by open countryside here, and it can turn chilly as soon as the sun drops. So it’s worth packing a comfy changing robe to wrap up in for the evenings. Even in summer, you’ll be glad of it when you’re sat out under those dark skies with a cup of tea in hand!

 

 

3. Hayfield Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Hayfield

• Location: Hayfield Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Kinder Road, Hayfield, High Peak, SK22 2LE
• Type of Pitch(es) Available: Grass only pitch (no electric), grass pitch with electric hook-up, and hardstanding with electric hook-up

Why We Love It

This Peak District campsite puts you right between village life and open hills.

You can walk into Hayfield village (which you might recognise as the backdrop from BBC’s The Village) for a pub lunch, head out onto Kinder Scout if the weather’s good, or just let the kids burn off some energy at the play area while you get a brew on.

Family-Friendly Features

• Children’s outdoor play area for younger campers
  
• Parent and baby room for added convenience
  
• Laundry and washing-up facilities for longer stays
  
• Flat, grassy layout with space to stretch out
  
• Short walk to shops, cafés, and pubs in Hayfield village

Good to Know

• Check-in: 1pm
  
• Check-out: By 12 noon
• Season Dates: Typically open April to October
• Dogs: Welcome, but please keep on leads and pick up after them
• Accessibility: Dedicated accessible facilities on-site
• Access Notes: The approach road is narrow and a bit tight for larger vehicles, so worth taking it steady

Close Peak District Walks

• Millennium Walkway: A flat, easy trail great for little ones on bikes or scooters.
• Lantern Pike: A rewarding climb with a 360-degree view across seven counties, so is perfect for older kids or a family challenge.
• Kinder Scout: For adventurous families, this is the famous Peak District hike! Expect unreal views and a real sense of achievement at the top.

Top Tip From Our Team

The Pack Horse pub is a local favourite for a hearty meal after a day of exploring. Hayfield’s just down the road from us, so we’re often there ourselves enjoying a pint and a plate of something warm, and we always spot a few happy campers doing the same!

 

4. Beech Croft Farm, Blackwell

• Location: Beech Croft Farm, Blackwell, Taddington SK17 9TQ
• Type of Pitch(es) Available: Grass pitches for tents, trailer tents, rooftop tents, and campervans, plus hardstanding caravan pitches

Why We Love It

We always say the Peak District is like one big playground, and when you camp at Beech Croft Farm, you get actual playgrounds too!

It’s a great spot if you’re planning to stay close to camp for a few days. The kids can run between the play areas and say hello to the goats, while you settle in with a coffee from Daisies.

Family-Friendly Features

• Direct access to the High Peak Trail for family bike rides.
• Two play areas: one for under 6s, and a ball game area with a zip wire and climbing frame for the over 7s.
• Dog exercise field for four-legged family members.
• Buxton is only a 10-minute drive if you fancy a day out. 
• If you’re here in spring, keep an eye out for lambs and calves in the nearby fields

Good to Know

• Check-in: 1pm
  
• Check-out: By 12 noon
  
• Season Dates: The site is open all year round for tourers on hardstanding, the tent camping fields are open from March until November
  
• Dogs: Welcome, but please keep on leads and pick up after them
  
• Fires & BBQs: Firepits allowed if raised and supervised. You can bring your own or hire one on-site (no ground fires)
  
• Food & Drink: Daisies Coffee Shop serves breakfasts, cakes, and runs popular pizza nights in summer
  
• Facilities: Pot washing area, laundry room with washing machine, tumble dryer, and iron
  
• Accessibility: Fully accessible facilities via RADAR key
  
• Other Notes: No commercial or sign-written vehicles, no continental caravans
  

 

Close Peak District Walks

• Chee Dale Stepping Stones: A fun, wobbly one for adventurous kids, and waterproof walking boots are highly recommended for everyone!
• Monsal Trail: Flat, scenic, and easy to navigate with tunnels and viaduct views

 

Top Tip From Our Team

You've got lots of outdoorsy activities to make the most of with this campsite, such as access to the bike trails and all the play areas. So this is one of the best campsites to choose if you're keen adventurers!

 

A few camping essentials we always make room for!

 

 

5. Barn Farm Campsite, Matlock

• Location: Barn Farm Campsite, Birchover, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 2BL
  
• Type of Pitch(es) Available: Non-electric grass pitches for tents, hardstanding and grass pitches with electric for caravans, motorhomes, and campervans

 

Why We Love It

Barn Farm is an award-winning Peak District campsite that keeps everyone happy: fields to roam, games to play, and alpacas to say hello to!

It’s got that sweet spot of being close to the big names (Chatsworth, Heights of Abraham, Gulliver’s Kingdom) without feeling too busy or commercial. The Limestone Way runs right by, and the village pubs are just down the road, making it a brilliant all-rounder for families who want fresh air and a decent tea.

 

Family-Friendly Features

• Dedicated tent field just for families, with room to spread out and play
  
• Adventure park nearby and a wooden play area on-site
  
• Games room with TV, pool table, and arcade machines
  
• Family-friendly events on selected weekends: fireworks, food vans, and live music
  
• On-site shop for essentials and those mid-camp snack runs
  
• Free Wi-Fi near reception and good 4G site-wide
• Meet the resident alpacas and spot the peacocks strutting about
  

 

Good to Know

• Check-in: From 12 noon (until 8pm on Friday)
• Check-out: By 11am
• Season Dates:

  • Family field: May–September

  • Electric grass pitches: May–August

  • Other areas: Easter–end of October

• Dogs: Up to two allowed per pitch
  
• Fires & BBQs: BBQs allowed if raised off the ground (no campfires)
• Facilities: Baby changing, pot washing, and laundry facilities. Shared fridge/freezer and plug sockets in the games room
• Site Rules: Quiet time after 10.30pm and before 7am
  

 

Close Peak District Walks

• The Limestone Way: Passes right by, so perfect for a pre-breakfast stroll or a full-day wander
  
• Stanton Moor & Nine Ladies Stone Circle: Easy loop with a dose of ancient history
• Robin Hood’s Stride & Catcliffe Rocks: For adventurous families into scrambling or climbing
  
  

Top Tip From Our Team

If you’re there on an event weekend, you can grab some tea from one of the food vans, and settle in for live music. Pick up a few comfy camping chairs to really relax!

Regatta Serene XL Camping Chair

 

Trespass Glenesk Sun Lounger

 

 

FAQ: Peak District Campsites

 

Which walks should be on our Peak District bucket list?

The Peak District has some of the best walking in the country, and there really is something for every age and ability. From gentle strolls to more challenging hill walks with jaw-dropping views, you're spoilt for choice!

We've put together a guide to the top Peak District walks for families to help you plan your days out on the trails.

 

What else should we add to our Peak District itinerary when we're camping?

Camping in the Peaks is just the start! The area is packed with brilliant days out, from historic houses and show caverns to market towns and family attractions. Whether you're after adventure or something a little more relaxed, there's always something to fill the day. 

Take a look at our guide to the best things to do in the Peak District for some inspiration.

 

We love the idea of camping in the UK! Where else should we explore?

The UK is full of incredible spots for a family camping trip. 

If you fancy swapping the hills for something a little closer to the coast, we've rounded up the best beach family campsites in Wales and the best family campsites in Anglesey: both well worth adding to your camping wishlist!

 

Which Peak District Campsite is For You?

All five of these sites are great, and they each have their own appeal.

This quick guide below sums up our top choices, so you can pick the one that suits your family’s kind of holiday.

 

Time to Book Your Peak District Campsite?

There’s a reason so many families keep coming back to the Peaks: the walks are brilliant, the views are better, and you've got plenty of great places to set up camp!

And if you’re sorting your kit list for the season ahead, our full Camping collection is packed with family-friendly gear, from your tents and sleeping bags to cooking equipment, warm fleeces and changing robes, and much more. You’ll find everything you need to make the trip easy, comfortable, and one to remember.

Happy camping in the Peaks! 

 

 

About the Author

A dad to two energetic boys, James spends his weekends juggling football matches, skate parks, and Sunday afternoons at Disley’s very own Lyme Park. While he might not get to hit the golf course as often as he used to, he’s all in for family adventures in the great outdoors - coffee in hand and his favourite Ecco walking shoes on his feet. On the Avenue 85 blog, James loves to help other families make the most of their time outside by sharing his tried and tested tips, whether it’s finding the best waterproof jacket for a rainy day or discovering the best local walks that are perfect for little legs to explore!