Camping in the Peak District

Bike, Hike, Camp – How we went camping without a gruelling hike or being miles from civilisation.

Off to a flat start

We decided to meet at Bamford Station. Oliver was coming over from Sheffield, and I was coming from Hyde. As soon as I gained signal on my phone in Bamford, I received four missed calls from Oliver. He’d got a puncture, and of course, he’d forgotten both a tube and a pump to fix it.

A quick visit to Bike Garage in Bamford saved us from having to call the camp off.

Pint and Pie

We set off from the petrol station for a long, gruelling two miles to the pub. Barely breaking a sweat, we arrived, ordered a couple of pints and the pie of the day.

As we finished our last pint and chatted with some locals about the old Ladybower village, we considered calling it a night and getting a room at the hotel. Unfortunately, common sense gave way to adventure, and we reluctantly left the pub for our camp spot.

Battling a tent in the dark

I underestimated just how far we’d have to push our bikes up the slippery, steep bridleway.

I’d taken a sleeping bag rated to -9°C, so I wasn’t too worried about being cold in the unusually mild winter we were having. However, it did leave me in a funny predicament: zipped up was too warm, unzipped was too cold. I soon regretted my choice.

I also brought along a tent I hadn’t pitched before, which led to a 15-minute battle with ripstop fabric as I desperately tried to set it up correctly. When I woke up, I was pleasantly surprised by how well I’d done, possibly beginner’s luck.

Morning looking over the Valley

We had camped in the perfect spot, with views stretching out across Ladybower and the Hope Valley. As we’d pitched in the dark, we hadn’t realised just how spectacular the view would be.

As Oliver made some questionable porridge, I took in the silence and the vastness of the valley.

The great thing about taking bikes is that everything is quicker and much more fun. Skidding and wobbling down the grassy bridleway, we soon made it back to the road around the reservoir. Dodging walkers and other cyclists, we flew the main road to Hathersage, grabbed a coffee, and hopped on the train.

Why winter camping can be fun and enjoyable

At no point was the night difficult or unpleasant. Choosing a camp spot close to a pub or café means you can stay comfortable while still experiencing the wild side of the Peak District.

For anyone thinking about trying winter camping, invest in a good tent, sleeping mat and sleeping bag to stay comfortable. It’s especially important to bring layers: an insulating jacket, warm gloves, a hat and thick socks can make all the difference.

Finally, stay relatively close to civilisation, just in case anything goes wrong, and most importantly, leave no trace.