The Best Campervan Sites in the Peak District

The Peak District is the most accessible national park in England — an hour from Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds and Derby — which makes it the default weekend destination for huge numbers of campervanners. The result is superb infrastructure and crowded summer weekends in equal measure.

The best bases

• Castleton: the classic base for the caves — Blue John, Speedwell and the caverns — and for Mam Tor, with campsites right at the foot of the ridge.
• Bakewell: the busy, pretty market town, ideal for a first trip and with a great choice of family sites nearby.
• Edale: at the start of the Pennine Way, quieter and more walker-orientated, with basic sites and a superb valley setting.
• Buxton and the Dark Peak: higher, wilder and colder, with sites around the reservoirs and the gritstone edges.

What you will pay

Expect £20 to £35 a night in summer with electric hook-up, and less on farm pitches without it. Weekend-only bookings are common, and bank holiday weekends at the popular valley sites book out three to four weeks ahead. National Trust and the national park's own sites are dependable mid-price options.

Driving and parking

The Peak District has no wild camping rights, so use campsites or designated overnight parking. The roads are generally kind to motorhomes — the main A-roads are wide — and the scenic passes like Winnats Pass are a treat in a small van, but a long-wheelbase motorhome should treat the steep, narrow passes with caution. Village car parks fill by mid-morning at weekends; get there early.

The Mam Tor ridge at dawn, before the crowds, is the best free experience in the national park.

When to go

Autumn is the secret Peak District season: the heather is out, the light is low and golden, and the sites empty after the schools go back. Winter can be beautiful but brings icy side roads — check gritting before you set out. For more English touring ideas, our best routes through England is a good next read, and you can find a van on our search.