Best camping, glamping, and outdoor stays in Carsington Water

Fed by the River Derwent, the vast waters of Carsington Water provide a major leisure area in Derbyshire, with sailing, kayaking and boating of all kinds bringing family fun to the water.

96% (355 reviews)
96% (355 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Carsington Water

Available this weekend

Under £50

12 top campsites near Carsington Water

97%
(67)

Camping at The Hollies

50 units · Motorhomes, Tents6 acres · Buxton, Derbyshire, East Midlands
Back-to-basics camping at the foot of the Roaches in the Peak District National Park
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£16
 / night
96%
(41)

White House Farm Campsite, Wardlow

60 units · Motorhomes, Tents4 acres · Wardlow, England
What a little Derbyshire gem: back to basics Whitehouse Farm Campsite is a simple site in a most scenic setting five minutes’ drive from the pretty village of Tideswell. The site’s central location in the Peak District National Park means it’s a top spot for those who want to ramble or ride bikes – several circular trails leave from Tideswell and the traffic-free Monsal Trail is a five-minute drive away. And there’s plenty more activity if you require it too, as activity centres nearby can sort you out days of horse riding, abseiling, climbing and caving. All this activity isn’t mandatory, of course – this is an equally fine location for days pottering off to local pubs, pigging out on pudding in Bakewell or taking a leisurely stroll around the Chatsworth Estate, 20 minutes away. And if even that’s too much, you’d be welcome to spend some time loafing about on site: there’s heaps of space here, and as facilities have been kept quite minimal (just showers and toilets) there should be a good serving of peace and quiet to go with it all. Guests are welcome to light up a barbecue or campfire for cookouts and keeping warm; Tideswell’s the place for supermarket supplies, and it’s also handily got a fish and chip shop and a couple of pubs for days when your firelighting skills aren't up to much.
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£23
 / night
100%
(35)

White Peak Camping

10 units · Tents2 acres · Buxton, Derbyshire, East Midlands
Camping on a Peak District farm near the Monsal Trail
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£15
 / night
97%
(19)

Burrs Manor Wild Camping

30 units · Motorhomes, Tents3 acres · England
Nearly wild camping in the Peak District National Park, near Buxton
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£10
 / night
98%
(28)

Intake Farm

7 units · Glamping, Tents5 acres · Alton, Staffordshire, West Midlands
Quirky glamping and nearly wild camping on a farm in Staffordshire
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£15
 / night
Booked 20 times

Greystones Nawab Camping

17 units · Motorhomes, Tents2 acres · England
Take it easy at this unique and tranquil getaway near to Buxton in the Peak District. Enjoy the beautiful countryside, which is well known for great walks, cycling and which is full of pretty little English villages to visit. There is a local pub a stone's throw away, and a donkey sanctuary next door. There are also many more pubs in the area serving delicious meals. Historic towns such as Bakewell, Matlock, and Tideswell are also close by.
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£15
 / night
100%
(25)

Alder Carr Farm

2 units · Tents10 acres · Ashbourne, Derbyshire, East Midlands
A perfectly simple, riverside Hipcamp on the edge of the Peak District
Potable water
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from 
£30
 / night
100%
(34)

Fire and Stars Woodland Camping

5 units · Tents47 acres · Leicestershire, East Midlands
Wild camping in the woods with campfires, starry skies and a pub just across the road
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£50
 / night
Booked 23 times

Panpwnton Campsite

10 units · Motorhomes, Tents10 acres · England
Located on the edge of Knighton (right on the England-Wales border) Panpwnton Campsite has been open to visitors since 1963. Providing travellers with a peaceful place to stop on some of England and Wales’ most famous walking and cycling routes. Now managed by Will, Roxy and family, we would love to welcome you to Panpwnton Campsite and show you why we are proud to call this beautiful place our home. The campsite is on our working farm, where we keep a flock of 300 texel cross breeding ewes. We are very passionate about farming. Our aim is to produce lamb in a green and environmentally friendly way, striving to reduce our carbon footprint whilst working alongside nature. A family run farm campsite situated on the Offa’s Dyke footpath. Located in the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, we are ideally located for those who like to walk, cycle or just take in the peaceful countryside. With magical nights under the stars listening to the owls hooting in the oak woods. It’s the perfect place for your rural camping holiday! A ten minute walk into the market town of Knighton, with its iconic clock tower, friendly pubs and cafes, and the Offa’s Dyke Centre. The River Teme runs through the farm where you can dip your feet after a long day exploring, or freshen up in our modern facilities. The heart of wales train line also runs through the farm with the Station only half a mile walk away.
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£12
 / night
100%
(4)

Mandale Campsite

20 units · Motorhomes, Tents3 acres · England
Old school camping in the Peak District on the edge of Lathkill Dale
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£16
 / night
86%
(139)

Cotswolds Camping

71 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents1 acre · Charlbury, Oxfordshire, South East England
Simple camping surrounded by all the delicious Oxfordshire and Cotswolds village food offerings
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£30
 / night
90%
(5)

Yew Tree Farm

10 units · Tents3 acres · Stretton, England
A tents-only, dog-friendly campsite near Matlock and the Peak District
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£9
 / night

Dog-friendly getaways

Star Hosts in Carsington Water

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Value Prop

On the water’s edge, there’s plenty to do too. The surrounding parkland is popular for picnics and family bike rides and it’s just a short drive to the Peak District National Park. Carsington Water provides everything from aquatic fun to outdoor holidays that may also involve hiking, biking, rock-climbing and, of course, camping. There are plenty of good campsites in the local area, with only the best making the Hipcamp shortlist.

Best camping, glamping, and outdoor stays in Carsington Water guide

Overview

Campsites in Carsington Water

Situated between two southern gateways in to the Peak District National Park, Carsington Water offers a handy location – and a charm of its own. This huge reservoir in Derbyshire not only provides water to the county but also watersports. If you’re looking for water’s edge camping in or near the Peak District, take some time to browse campsites in Carsington Water and its surroundings. Whether you want to launch a kayak, try your balance on a paddleboard, spot wildlife on the banks or simply like the views, Carsington Water is a great place to pitch your tent.

Located between the market town of Ashbourne and the former spa town of Matlock, Carsington Water is close to amenities, facilities and attractions. It’s also just a couple of miles from the national park boundary so you can dip in and out of the park almost as easily as dipping in and out of the water. The Peak District has long been a favourite destination for outdoor lovers and has some utterly charming camping and glamping sites from basic stone-walled meadows to places with yurts and shepherds' huts.

Things to do in Carsington Water

It’s not all about the water in Carsington Water – but it makes a sensible place to start. If you’ve chosen this location as your Peak District camping base, you’re probably bringing a kayak, paddleboard, boat or Hope to hiring one. You won’t be disappointed as there are plenty of opportunities on the water. Head for Severn Trent Water’s visitor centre or the neighbouring activity centre to find out what’s on offer when you visit. Activities on the water include paddleboarding, windsurfing, kayaking and sailing but there’s lots to do on land too. The reservoir is surrounded by wildflower meadows and woodland which makes a great habitat for birds. The RSPB have a shop and visitor centre here with information on the latest sightings.

The tracks and trails around Carsington Water would be reason enough to camp in this area but add in the Peak District and it's a hiking, biking and horseriding heaven. The national park includes hundreds of miles of footpaths and bridleways in its 500 square miles of protected landscape so there's plenty to choose from. A popular spot within the easily-reached southern half of the national park, known as the White Peak area, is Dovedale with its famous stepping stones. Further north you’ll find other famous Peak District landmarks including Kinder Scout, Mam Tor and Stanage Edge where climbing and peak-bagging and upland walking among the heather are the order of the day. Carsington Water’s location between Ashbourne and Matlock means there are plenty of Peak District and Derbyshire attractions nearby from the Heights of Abraham country park, cable car rides and caverns to the Crich Tramway Village.

About

Fed by the River Derwent, the vast waters of Carsington Reservoir provide a major leisure area in Derbyshire, with sailing, kayaking and boating of all kinds bringing family fun to the water. A short drive from the Peak District National Park, Carsington Water provides some aquatic fun to outdoors holidays that may also involve hiking, biking and rock-climbing, as well as, of course, camping.

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