Lucy Caille | Thu, Apr 27th, 2017
As yet another fundraising request lands in my inbox, this time a nephew raising money for an admirable cause by enduring some terribly arduous physical adventure I think back to my younger years when the idea of climbing mountains through the night, all in the spirit of team building, was a great way to spend a weekend.
It got me thinking that a GlamperRV three peaks adventure would be a jolly good way of spending a break. Why rush it all into 24 hours when you could spend a week or two cruising through three of the UK’s most stunning national parks, enjoying leisurely walks, challenging cycle rides and most importantly doing so in style and comfort!
If that sounds appealing, then read on as I highlight some of the best GlamperRV stopover locations for our very own GlamperRV Three Peaks Challenge, substituting Kinder Scout in the Peak District for Ben Nevis as the trip to Scotland opens another whole adventure!
From our Buckinghamshire base at Orchard View Farm and stocked up with plenty of delicious food from the farm shop you’ll have ample time to get used to driving GlamperRV as you head north to the Peak District National Park and your warm up walk up the 636 metres of Kinder Scout.
If you are looking to stop off at the southern end of the park, the Bluebell Inn comes recommended, it is close to the historic market town of Ashbourne and just outside the charming village of Tissington. Very close to the pub is Tissington Hall and the Tissington trail, a level cycling/walking track that offers picturesque walking in Dovedale, allegedly the Peak District’s most visited valley
Our next stop takes us north to the village of Edale, the official start of the Pennine Way and the landscape changes from limestone gorges to rugged gritstone moors and with it more challenging walking conditions on the wild peat moorland of Kinder Scout, accessed via Jacob’s ladder. Edale has a couple of good pubs with The Ramblers Inn welcoming our muddy boots and small children, and the Nags Head reputed to be a cosy traditional inn with ample parking. If you’re looking for a more traditional stopover location, within walking distance of both pubs, you could try Coopers Campsite where water and hooks ups are available.
Heading north from the Peak District up to the Lakes could only take you a few hours however we recommend a slow drive through the Yorkshire Dales before arriving in the Lake District National Park. In this part of the country you will not struggle to find stunning locations to park up overnight – there are farm shops and pubs in Brit Stops and numerous campsites dotted around.
If you’re looking to climb Scafell Pike then our recommendation would be to stay at Wasdale Head National Trust Campsite, a handy base for Scafell Pike, being the start of one of the shorter but steeper ascents on the rock-strewn summit. Scafell Pike has inspired writers from Wordsworth, Coleridge, Baines and Wainwright and on a clear day, you can see Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and the Isle of Man! Definitely one to enjoy but of course prepare carefully and watch the weather.
From the rugged peaks of the Lake District the region of North Wales makes a very good stopping place as you meander back down south and for many a climb up Snowdon, with paths leading to the summit for a range of experience it is certainly something to tick off.
One customer stayed at the newly opened Llanberis Touring Park and came back raving. Not only were they were impressed by the facilities on offer but more importantly by the location – they could walk from their base up Wales’ highest peak and into the pretty local village for a well-earned brew after their climb. For those who prefer a Brit Stops location there is an adventure park a mile outside Betws y Coed, offering a variety of outdoor adventures including high ropes courses, where you can park GlamperRV for the night.
Whilst the mountain scenery is spectacular and we visited in October when the colours were simply breath-taking, North Wales is also renown for some of the country’s most stunning, secluded beaches with Cardigan Bay and inlets around Abersoch, Anglesey and Port Merion heading the list but to be honest it is pretty endless as a quick look at Google earth will show.
If you are looking for a beach with plenty of good walking then Cool Camping’s recommendation of Nant y Big looks like a good bet. You will be parked up a mere 10-15 walk from the beach, perched on a cliff-top and located slap bang on the Wales Coastal Path with exquisite views and masses of open space for children to play.
The autumn is a stunning time of year to embark on a GlamperRV adventure, the summer crowds have disappeared, the changing of season makes for even more dramatic scenery and in recent years it has seen some of our best ‘summer’ weather. For our latest availability please visit www.GlamperRV.co.uk/hire-me.
