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Alder Carr Farm

100%

· Ashbourne, England

10 acres hosted by Amy H.

1 tent site

Best in East Anglia / East of England: Finalist

Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2023.

All to yourself

100% of recent Hipcampers say the pitch is private.

Amy is a Star Host

Star Hosts are highly rated, responsive, and committed to providing incredible experiences.

A perfectly simple, riverside Hipcamp on the edge of the Peak District

Book to stay at Alder Carr Farm and you’ll get an idyllic riverside camping spot that you don’t have to share with anyone – except, perhaps, the resident rare breed sheep. And, if you count them, the otters in the river and the buzzards, ospreys, and red kites in the sky. What we’re trying to tell you is that this place is full of wildlife and very much part of the farm – but there are no other campers here. This is a solo-hire Hipcamp. Book it and you have staked your claim on a patch of grass and a stretch of river for a few days of getting back to basics in Derbyshire.

That setting plus access to a tap for your water, a compost loo, and a fire pit is all you get for your pitch fee so don’t come expecting showers, hot water, or WiFi. It’s almost wild camping so it won’t be for everybody – but if that’s the kind of camping you like, we think you’re going to love it here. How could you not? Even wannabe wild campers should feel at home here as although it feels pretty wild, it also has incredibly welcoming hosts (not to mention a couple of pubs within a half-hour walk). Amy and Alex will meet you and settle you into your pitch, showing you where everything is on their 25-acre smallholding. That means pointing out the water tap by their veg patch, the coop, where you can collect fresh eggs in the morning, and the site of their Saturday-morning farm shop.

Life at Alder Carr Farm can feel like the good life indeed. So much so, in fact, that many people don’t venture far from their secluded pitch on the farm with its wild swimming, wildlife watching and crackling campfire. Should you wish to explore further though, there’s lots to see and plenty to do. Your idyllic riverside pitch is just three miles from the historic market town of Ashbourne and a similar distance from Dovedale – the southernmost part of the Peak District National Park.

At Alder Carr Farm, we offer a quiet and exclusive pitch away from the hustle and bustle of modern life. Feel free to come and chat to us about the farm if you're interested, or spend your stay relaxing and listening to nature. You will be tucked away with perfect view of the sunset and easy access to the river dove. There are many walks locally to enjoy, great authentic country pubs and as many eggs as you care to collect available!We charge £15 per person per night. We prefer to have couples and families however please contact us to discuss group bookings.

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100%

25 ratings · 21 reviews

Julie W.recommends

October 2, 2023

Riverside Camping Pitch

Super duper

Amy and Alex are lovely. Excellent communication throughout, and they went above and beyond to help and make sure everything was as we needed. The site is beautiful, a whimsical arrival of farm animals frolicking together in a field. The pitch is in a secluded spot between hedgerows and a river. If you are after a wild camping experience with the security that you are in safe hands - then this is the site for you. Myself and my partner, rocked up in the evening. Sat by the river watching the sky melt into darkness. We had a fire, with the flickers of light highlighting only our faces. The stars came out and made for a rather fantastical escape from the hustle and bustle of day to day life. Curious animals about made the morning pack up really rather quite delightful. This wonderful little camping spot is perfect for those who need very little to no necessities and is as close to wild camping as you can get, without actually doing so. We will definitely be back in the van and perhaps early summer when we can dip out toes in the river. Thank you again!

Rachel G.recommends

September 10, 2023

Riverside Camping Pitch

Wild camping in the Peak District

This is a very special and unique campsite. It is a very wild camping experience in a secluded and super location. The pitch is near a river (which is swimmable) and has a fire/bbq pit. If you want a real country/wild camping experience this is perfect. The meat from the farm is also superb. We will definitely be back!

Matt P.recommends

September 5, 2023

Riverside Camping Pitch

Beautiful site. Totally secluded and private (apart from you share with some friendly sheep and chickens - which really added to the experience!). Right next to a stream where you can go swimming (warning - its cold!) or just admire the scenery and the wildlife. Very useful fire pit - which you can build fire inside and has a grill - so if you bring some firewood and cooking equipment you can have a bbq. Eggs available from the chickens - water tap and a decent toilet (very clean). Supermarket located in nearby town about 5mins drive away. Noise - only downside for us is that there is a church within 1km of the site which rings its bells every 15mins - and the bell continues all night. Also, once you get to sleep you can hear cars from the busy A-road nearby. So definitely a good idea to bring earplugs if you a light sleeper. Thanks Amy!

Charlotte B.recommends

September 2, 2023

Riverside Camping Pitch

Farm camp at its best!

We absolutely loved our stay! Beautiful location and being next to the river was extra special. Amazing to be able to buy sausages and bacon as well, really made the stay special for us! Will definitely be back ❤️

Lorna D.recommends

August 30, 2023

Riverside Camping Pitch

An ideal stay

Amy’s place was ideal for us! A quiet spot next to the river and lots of animals. A friendly check-in and use of a trailer to carry our stuff was really appreciated and valued. Thank you!

Bethany P.recommends

August 28, 2023

Riverside Camping Pitch

Best Camping Trip!

Absolutely loved camping at Alder Carr Farm with all the animals and will most certainly be booking another stay. Private field surrounded by stunning scenery and the sound of the river behind. Plenty of space and also has a fire pit provided which is great of an evening to roast some marshmallows. There is also a mini farm shop there open on Saturdays where you can buy fresh meat, fruit and homemade chutney. When we arrived we were met at the gate with a brief showing of the amenities and campsite. Amy was a great host and communicating was so easy.

Location

Ashbourne, England, United KingdomTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking

Hosted by Amy H.Joined in June 2022

From the host

In the mood for some off grid camping? You've found it. Alder Carr Farm is a working farm situated on the Derbyshire and Staffordshire border, just a short distance from the historic market town of Ashbourne. We specialise in rare breed Tamworth pigs, native breed sheep, a small herd of cows and lots of chickens. Stay with us over a Saturday and enjoy a taste of our farm produce from our mini farm shop which is open 10-1. We sell sausages, bacon, jams, jellies, chutneys and eggs as well as seasonal vegetables from our market garden. The camping field borders the River Dove - there is access to paddling and wild swimming from your pitch - and lots of local wildlife (including otters) can be seen if you're quiet and patient. We are on off grid site, we can offer a compost loo / long drop and drinking water, we allow fires raised off the ground. It's back to basics, perfect for nature lovers and people who want to spend time far from the madding crowd. What sets us apart? The only thing you'll be sharing your pitch with is our sheep. We believe that camping with us should be an opportunity to slow down and reconnect with nature, so when you book onto our pitch you will have the place to yourselves. No noisy neighbours! You will be sited in a quiet corner of our main field, surrounded on two sides by hedgerow and riverbank. Lie back and enjoy the sunset views, watch the bats in the evening or the swallows in the daytime. The pitch is private and not overlooked by anyone. Some people choose to snooze and sunbathe, paddle, read or journal. Others choose to use the site as a base for exploring the Tissington trail, walk the limestone way or hike into the Peak District. There are 2 pubs within a 30 minute walk, one serving traditional pub food and one which often has live music and is a 'proper' locals pub. *PLEASE NOTE* Please leave the camping pitch as you found it. This is a working farm and the grass is food for the sheep. Bottle caps and cigarette ends etc can harm our livestock. Please take your litter home with you. We do not allow dogs. When staying with us you are most welcome to have small fires raised off the ground in a fire pit which we supply. You will need to bring your own firewood, tinder, kindling and lighter/matches. Alternatively this is available to buy locally but we do not supply it. If you want to forage for firewood on the riverbank, please bring something to chop up it with. We have built a long drop/compost toilet and would recommend that you bring some loo roll with you, though we will try to ensure there is some available, please bring your own supply if possible. There are no shower facilities on site. We have drinking water available but you'll need to bring a water bottle or container. We do not allow vehicles on the pitch, it is a short 5 minute walk down from the parking area. We have a trolley available for you to pack your tent etc into if needed. Please pack accordingly. Thanks for reading and we look forward to hosting you.

Nearby attractions

Alder Carr Farm is just three miles outside the historic market town of Ashbourne which has more than 200 listed buildings in its centre along with lots of independent shops and eateries. It also marks the southern end of the Tissington Trail, a mostly traffic-free route, that takes you through Dovedale, in the Peak District National Park, to Parsley Hay. The national park stretches north from here offering plenty of adventures including walking, cycling, climbing and caving. There are plenty of historic sites and stately homes to visit too, including the stateliest of them all; Chatsworth House (just over 20 miles from here). You can paddle or wild swim in the River Dove by your pitch but for more adventures in or on the water, head for Carsington Water, nine miles away, where you can hire boats, kayaks and paddleboards – or go fishing. There’s also Alton Towers Waterpark and Theme Park just eight miles away.

Food and drink

Alder Carr Farm’s own produce is available from the little farm shop on site on Saturday mornings (10am-1pm) – but if you ask your hosts, Amy and Alex, they will usually be able to sell you some sausages if you need them at another time. They are also happy for you to collect your own eggs from the chickens they keep. For more than this, head into Ashbourne (three miles) where there are plenty of shops; both independents and small supermarkets. You’ll also find plenty of places to eat there including the recommended Lamplight restaurant and The Green Man pub (check out its record-breaking sign – the longest inn sign in the world, apparently). Closer to your campsite, there are two pubs you can walk to in 30 minutes: The Royal Oak, which does food, and The Cock Inn in Clifton, which does not but is friendly and often has live music. Both have beer gardens.

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