Lucy Caille | Fri, Mar 18th, 2016
I would like to thank one of our lovely February half term customers for drafting our March ‘Trip of the Month’ in which they share plenty of fabulous ideas for a GlamperRV adventure in the stunning Peak District National Park.
Starting at the Southern end of the Peak District National Park we overnighted at the Bluebell Inn, 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 links to other Peak District bridleways and picturesque walking in Dovedale, allegedly the Peak District’s most visited valley.
We then headed north up the A515, turning off just before Buxton towards Tideswell, stopping to marvel the limestone gorges. Young would-be adventurers will love Chee Dale for the stepping stones in the river up against the steep side of the gorge. The area also has miles of level cycle tracks such as the Monsal Way and Pennines Bridleway both of which run along former train tracks used to transport quicklime to the steel industries and they still have the old kilns dotted along the way.
Heading further North into the village of Edale, the official start of the Pennine Way, 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.
After Edale we headed east towards Ladybower and Derwent Reservoirs for walking trails with panoramic views of the reservoirs.
Derwent Dam houses a small museum on its western side, a memorial to the Dambusters who trained here in preparation for their raid on the German dams during the 2nd world war and where the blockbuster, “The Dam Busters” was filmed. Ladybower Reservoir is home to a village flooded when the reservoir was formed and if you visit after a dry spell in the summer look out for the church spire which can still be seen above the water.
There are plenty of parking options nearby along the A57 Snake Pass with Brit Stops member, the Snake Pass Inn offering free stopovers to GlamperRV and also plenty of fine dining in nearby gastropubs, the Ladybower Inn and Yorkshire Bridge Inn.
A cycle ride from the Yorkshire Bridge Inn will take you past the attractive town of Hathersage with its fine choice of eateries and onto Grindleford, home of the Grindleford Station cafe, selling the best chips in the world and featured in the Cool Places Guide (but you heard it here first!).
For the price of a meal, we overnighted in the carpark of the Millstone Country Inn, a mile to the east of Hathersage with panoramic views across the Hope Valley. The historic hall and village of Eyam is nearby, renowned for taking the unprecedented decision to isolate themselves from the surrounding area when the plague struck the village.
Travelling south be sure not to miss the glorious Chatsworth House at Baslow and Haddon Hall at Bakewell (also famous for its tarts, and a ubiquitous pudding offered in the pubs and cafes of the area).
I very much hope that has whet your appetite for a GlamperRV adventure and here at HQ I know it is a region we look forward to visiting soon.
Suggested books and maps to accompany you on your Peak Adventure:
- The Peak District: great short walks for all the family. Crimson Short Walk Series published by Crimson Publishing
- Top 10 Walks Dales and Valleys (and others in the Top 10 Walks series) by Dennis Kensall published by Northern Eye Books
- The Walkers Map of the Central Peak District published by the AA (green cover) which shows a 1:25000 scale OS map of the whole area including car parks, camping and caravan sites and pubs.
