VanLifeFamily - Campervan travel & tips from the UK and Europe

Let me start by staying that one trip to the Peak District will never be enough. The Peak District is one of the UK's most visited national parks and it is not hard to see why. Spanning around 555 square miles, it offers endless opportunities for exploring and adventures. The Peak District is an upland area in England at the southern end of the Pennines. An area of great diversity, it is usually split into the Dark Peak, where most of the moorland is found and the geology is gritstone, and the White Peak which is a limestone area, known for its valleys and gorges which cut through the limestone plateau. The Dark Peak forms an arc along the north, east and west sides, while the White Peak makes up the central and southern extent of the area. The name Peak District does not allude to any mountain top – in fact, there are none at all. The Peak District apparently got its name from the Anglo-Saxon tribe Pecsaetan, believed to have settled in the area.

Day One

Heading from the East of England, we decided to break up our journey up slightly and stop to visit Bolsover Castle. As family members of the English Heritage, our entrance was free. With spectacular views over Derbyshire, the fairy-tale Stuart mansion, Bolsover Castle, was designed to entertain and impress. We enjoyed wandering through the lavish rooms of the Little Castle, exploring the romantic ruined terrace range, and breathing in the views from the wall walk. There is a beautiful play area for children, and a great cafe for the adults to grab those all important refreshments. Dogs are welcome in the grounds.

The picture-perfect Bakewell was our next stop. It is a small but thriving market town on the beautiful River Wye. There are plenty of small boutiques, convenient shops for essentials, cafes, old stone cottages, narrow lanes and a riverside walk, which makes it a popular Peak District destination. Don’t forget to try a traditional Bakewell Tart!

We stayed at Knotlow Farm campsite but click here for more family favourite Peak District campsite recommendations.

Day Two

We headed to Curbar and Froggats Edge. Curbar Edge looks rather dominating from below - a wall of boulders, rubble and cliff face - but it’s an easy footpath from Curbar Gap to the path on the top of the ridge. A walk along the edge can be a windy affair, so make sure you are prepared with appropriate footwear and clothing. There are lots of places to stop for a picnic. The 8 miles walking route we followed can be found here.

During our trip, we experienced a heatwave. After our long hike, we decided to head to Ashford-in-the-Water on the way back to our campsite. Picturesque Ashford in the Water's much-photographed medieval Sheepwash Bridge has been named by national tourist board VisitEngland as the best location in the country to play the popular family pursuit of Poohsticks! While we didn’t on this occasion play Poohsticks, the water did beckon us. The girls loved playing and cooling off in the beautiful River Wye. The charming village, full of character is an idyllic setting. Sheepwash Bridge, as its name suggests, was used by farmers to drive their flocks into the water to wash them and you can still spot the small walled enclosure used to pen sheep on the river's broad, grassy banks. With its lovely limestone cottages and beautifully-tended gardens, it's now hard to imagine that the village was once the centre of production for Ashford Black Marble, extracted from both quarries and mines in the area.

We returned to Knowlow Farm for an additional night. Other Peak District campsite recommendations can be found here.

Click for Peak District Google Map

Day Three

One of our earliest memories of freedom that vanlife gives you, was our drive through Winnats Pass on the way to Castleton. We were so blown away, that we had to drive the road several more times that day. Winnats Pass is a hill pass and limestone gorge. The name is a corruption of 'wind gates' due to the swirling winds through the pass.

Castleton has some of the best caverns in the country, and is home to Peak Cavern, Speedwell Cavern, Blue John Cavern and Treak Cliff Cavern. Set at the foot of Winnats Pass, high above the village of Castleton, Speedwell Cavern takes you on an incredible underground boat journey 450m under Castleton. Descend the 105 steps from the almost hidden cave entrance to the landing stage of an underground canal where you step on to your tour guides' boat. From here you glide quietly through the workings of a 200 year old lead mine. This is the most popular cavern in the Peak District, so avoid peak times or arrive early. Be warned, the temperature really drops underground, so make sure you have an additional layer to put on. Small dogs are welcome, providing they are okay to sit still on the floor of the boat.

Castleton is one of the most beautifully-situated villages in the White Peak. Whether you are there to drive Winnats Pass, explore the caverns, hike Mam Tor or simply wander the cobbled streets, then Castleton is some where you can’t miss on your Peak District tour.

Day Four

Castleton beckoned us back for a second day. It has so much to offer, that one day simply wasn’t enough.We returned and headed for Mam Tor. It’s one of the Peak District’s most popular locations and a must-see for anyone visiting the area. However, if you are planning a visit, go early, late or on a weekday because it does tend to attract the crowds. There is no surprise to this really, because it is in a great location and very accessible. You can either hike from Castleton or drive to a National Trust car park, which takes you a long way up the hill. The views from every angle are breathtaking, so much so that we decided to return for sunset. Seeing the sunset from Mam Tor is spectacular (don’t forget your coat though, as it does get windy).

If you are English Heritage members or keen historians, then don’t forget to visit Peveril Castle. With panoramic views of Hope Valley, the castle stands high above the village of Castleton. Peveril Castle is one of England's earliest Norman fortresses and the keep was built by Henry II in 1176.

We stayed at Greenacres Campsite. More information about the site can be found here.

Day Five

Our final day before heading home, so we fueled our tummies with a delicious omelette for breakfast (click here for more Camping Meal Favourites) and decided a trip to the Peak District would not be complete without a visit to Derwent and Ladybower Reservoirs.

Ladybower Reservoir is the largest and newest of the reservoirs, with Derwent and Howden being the more remote, but equally picturesque. The three reservoirs between them, cover almost 200 square kilometres and have a staggering combined capacity of 464 billion litres of water. There are lots of walking/cycling trails, as well as a Visitor Information Centre, café and bike hire facility. My girls, particularly enjoyed the woodland trail at Ladybower.