- Riverside Camping
Riverside camping in Macclesfield Forest
98% (192) • 119 campsites
Top-rated campgrounds in Macclesfield Forest
River Dove Camp
1. River Dove Camp
100%
(105)
Ashbourne, England · 10 units
A perfectly simple, riverside Hipcamp on the edge of the Peak District
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from
£24
/ night
Hartington Hills, Peak District
2. Hartington Hills, Peak District
100%
(1)
Dovedale, England · 10 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Well-placed Peak District camping near the Manifold Way and Tissington Trail, with a luxury yurt and hot tub in a private space
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from
£37
/ night
The White Lodge
3. The White Lodge
90%
(55)
Cannock Chase, England · 5 units · Tents, Motorhomes
A traditional campsite close to Staffordshire’s canals, river, and stately homes.
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from
£18
/ night
Tower Farm
4. Tower Farm
Wales · 16 units · Motorhomes, Glamping
Tower Farm is nestled beneath Castell Dinas Bran in the stunning Vale of Llangollen, North Wales.
Just a 15 minute walk from the town centre with its many attractions and activities, and only 2 minutes from the Royal Pavilion, it offers the perfect base for guests looking to explore the area’s natural beauty and adventure opportunities.
Accommodation includes a 2 bedroomed cottage, 4 electric, hardstanding/grass caravan pitches, 4 electric, hardstanding caravan/motorhome pitches and 1 shepherd's hut with 2 more coming soon.
Please note that we don't have communal toilets/showers for the caravan/motorhome pitches currently, expected August.
Also, please note that this is an adults only site.
Please note that we do not currently have communal toilets/showers for the caravans/motorhomes, these will be available in August.
Sorry, we don't accommodate camping.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from
£36
/ night
Great Haywood Canalside Campsite
5. Great Haywood Canalside Campsite
96%
(57)
Staffordshire, England · 8 units
The simplest of canalside campsites with narrowboats chugging past and an award-winning farm shop over the road
Pets
Campfires
Potable water
from
£20
/ night
Primrose Cottage Camping
6. Primrose Cottage Camping
100%
(8)
Chorley, England · 13 units · Tents, Motorhomes
A quiet adult-only site (this site does not cater for children), with tents and campervans only, nestled below Healey Nab in the Lancashire Countryside. Rustic and back to basics is what this site is all about. Set amid spectacular countryside, grassy fields, woodland and streams to boot! Well behaved four legged friends are more than welcome. Campfires and good times allowed. *Please note loud music is not allowed.*
Flat walks are a plenty along the Leeds and Liverpool canal or maybe a circular walk to white White Coppice might float your boat? For the hill walkers amongst us there is Great Hill and Rivington Pike to climb.
Within walking distance or a few minutes drive there is pub at the end of the lane and local shops within the vicinity for those last minute snacks. Chorley town centre is 10 minutes drive away and we are close to the M61 which can take you to the Lake district in less than an hour, Manchester or Blackpool are roughly 30 Minutes away.
Pets
Campfires
Potable water
from
£25
/ night
Worfe Camping
7. Worfe Camping
100%
(50)
Ryton Shifnal, England · 7 units · Tents, Motorhomes
A riverside meadow with just six pitches for tents and campervans, each with its own toilet, shower and fire pit – and an unlimited supply of logs
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from
£58
/ night
School Farm Holidays
8. School Farm Holidays
100%
(1)
5 units
Welcome to School Farm Holidays in Shropshire.
We are a small family run site offering unique luxury one and two bedroomed glamping pods and four bedroomed cabin surrounded by the glorious Shropshire countryside. Each unit has a private patio and seating area with stunning views and peace and quiet. Feel free to walk in the fields, pick fruit in the orchard and picnic by the brook. We have a new Nature Trail Eye Spy for the children, Walks from the doorstep and games room for rainy days. Plenty of on site Parking & charging point for Electric Vehicles
Centrally located in the UK in Shropshire’s AONB we are ideally placed to relax and reconnect or visit local attractions such as Ironbridge, Blists Hill, Attingham Park and Wroxeter Wroman City. Less than a hours drive from Birmingham and 25 minutes off the M54 and yet a world apart.
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from
£112
/ night
Whitelee Farm Shepherd Huts
9. Whitelee Farm Shepherd Huts
100%
(6)
Cheshire, England · 2 units
Romantic en-suite shepherds huts on a riverside farm in the Peak District National Park.
Showers
Campfires
Wifi
from
£115
/ night
Fords Farm Glamping
10. Fords Farm Glamping
97%
(19)
Oswestry, England · 4 units
Bell tent glamping in the grounds of a 17th-century farmhouse in Shropshire.
Showers
Potable water
Cooking equipment
from
£130
/ night
98% (192) • 119 campsites
Top-rated campgrounds in Macclesfield Forest
River Dove Camp
1. River Dove Camp
100%
(105)
Ashbourne, England · 10 units
A perfectly simple, riverside Hipcamp on the edge of the Peak District
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from
£24
/ night
Hartington Hills, Peak District
2. Hartington Hills, Peak District
100%
(1)
Dovedale, England · 10 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Well-placed Peak District camping near the Manifold Way and Tissington Trail, with a luxury yurt and hot tub in a private space
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from
£37
/ night
The White Lodge
3. The White Lodge
90%
(55)
Cannock Chase, England · 5 units · Tents, Motorhomes
A traditional campsite close to Staffordshire’s canals, river, and stately homes.
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from
£18
/ night
Tower Farm
4. Tower Farm
Wales · 16 units · Motorhomes, Glamping
Tower Farm is nestled beneath Castell Dinas Bran in the stunning Vale of Llangollen, North Wales.
Just a 15 minute walk from the town centre with its many attractions and activities, and only 2 minutes from the Royal Pavilion, it offers the perfect base for guests looking to explore the area’s natural beauty and adventure opportunities.
Accommodation includes a 2 bedroomed cottage, 4 electric, hardstanding/grass caravan pitches, 4 electric, hardstanding caravan/motorhome pitches and 1 shepherd's hut with 2 more coming soon.
Please note that we don't have communal toilets/showers for the caravan/motorhome pitches currently, expected August.
Also, please note that this is an adults only site.
Please note that we do not currently have communal toilets/showers for the caravans/motorhomes, these will be available in August.
Sorry, we don't accommodate camping.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from
£36
/ night
Great Haywood Canalside Campsite
5. Great Haywood Canalside Campsite
96%
(57)
Staffordshire, England · 8 units
The simplest of canalside campsites with narrowboats chugging past and an award-winning farm shop over the road
Pets
Campfires
Potable water
from
£20
/ night
Primrose Cottage Camping
6. Primrose Cottage Camping
100%
(8)
Chorley, England · 13 units · Tents, Motorhomes
A quiet adult-only site (this site does not cater for children), with tents and campervans only, nestled below Healey Nab in the Lancashire Countryside. Rustic and back to basics is what this site is all about. Set amid spectacular countryside, grassy fields, woodland and streams to boot! Well behaved four legged friends are more than welcome. Campfires and good times allowed. *Please note loud music is not allowed.*
Flat walks are a plenty along the Leeds and Liverpool canal or maybe a circular walk to white White Coppice might float your boat? For the hill walkers amongst us there is Great Hill and Rivington Pike to climb.
Within walking distance or a few minutes drive there is pub at the end of the lane and local shops within the vicinity for those last minute snacks. Chorley town centre is 10 minutes drive away and we are close to the M61 which can take you to the Lake district in less than an hour, Manchester or Blackpool are roughly 30 Minutes away.
Pets
Campfires
Potable water
from
£25
/ night
Worfe Camping
7. Worfe Camping
100%
(50)
Ryton Shifnal, England · 7 units · Tents, Motorhomes
A riverside meadow with just six pitches for tents and campervans, each with its own toilet, shower and fire pit – and an unlimited supply of logs
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from
£58
/ night
School Farm Holidays
8. School Farm Holidays
100%
(1)
5 units
Welcome to School Farm Holidays in Shropshire.
We are a small family run site offering unique luxury one and two bedroomed glamping pods and four bedroomed cabin surrounded by the glorious Shropshire countryside. Each unit has a private patio and seating area with stunning views and peace and quiet. Feel free to walk in the fields, pick fruit in the orchard and picnic by the brook. We have a new Nature Trail Eye Spy for the children, Walks from the doorstep and games room for rainy days. Plenty of on site Parking & charging point for Electric Vehicles
Centrally located in the UK in Shropshire’s AONB we are ideally placed to relax and reconnect or visit local attractions such as Ironbridge, Blists Hill, Attingham Park and Wroxeter Wroman City. Less than a hours drive from Birmingham and 25 minutes off the M54 and yet a world apart.
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from
£112
/ night
Whitelee Farm Shepherd Huts
9. Whitelee Farm Shepherd Huts
100%
(6)
Cheshire, England · 2 units
Romantic en-suite shepherds huts on a riverside farm in the Peak District National Park.
Showers
Campfires
Wifi
from
£115
/ night
Fords Farm Glamping
10. Fords Farm Glamping
97%
(19)
Oswestry, England · 4 units
Bell tent glamping in the grounds of a 17th-century farmhouse in Shropshire.
Showers
Potable water
Cooking equipment
from
£130
/ night
Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community
N
Nicholas
3 weeks ago
Tent
Group trip
Brilliant location, lovely view everything we needed 👍
See moreH
Hussain
September 2025
Tent
Group trip
Alex was very helpful and kind. He accommodated all our needs and made sure we had a comfortable stay.
See more
K
Keith
September 2025
Tent
With pets
Really good staff, and pleasant location. Only stayed a couple of nights, but was really pleased with the conditions.
See more
s
susan
August 2025
Tent
With kids
Lovely field for camping and enjoying its natural beauty
See moreI
Ian
August 2025
Tent
With kids
Lovely spot, nice and private. Host was great, helpful and friendly
Would book again without hesitation
See moreS
Sapphira
August 2025
Tent
With kids
Lovely, quiet spot. So picturesque and peaceful. Had a great stay with the family.
See moreE
Emily
August 2025
3 m travel trailer
It was our first time camping with our new teardrop camper and we definitely chose the right place! David was so lovely and helped me to reverse it onto the pitch. Due to bad reviews I expected the facilities to be dirty but they were far from it! Very clean and plenty of toilet roll!
As for the location, it’s amazing for people who love walking, we had a few hours walk down the canal and I definitely recommend walking across the road to the Riverside cafe for some lunch. Other than that there’s not much to do unless you want to drive into Stafford Centre but perfect for a quiet chilled couple of nights!
See moreH
Helen
August 2025
Tent
With pets
Basic but exactly what we needed. Stayed with 3 teenage boys who spent most the time in the river or round the campfire.
Loo and drinking tap were a bit of a trek.
Alex and family were very welcoming.
See more
F
Fiona
August 2025
Tent
With kids
A lovely clean campsite with plenty of activities to do locally. There is someone on site all of the time which is reassuring . We had a beautiful spot right overlooking the canal junction . We had a great 3 night stay at Great Haywood . Thank you so much
See more
Shanine
August 2025
Tent
With kids
Lovely view! Farm Shop opposite where we got ice cream, fresh milkshake and fresh pizza cooked! Then we went on a walk past the canals and found Essex bridge where the kids swam with other children in a river! Kids had the best time!
See more
N
Nicola
August 2025
Tent
With kids
Really peaceful, magical spot. Stayed as a group of four adults and 10 kids. Loved having the whole field to ourselves and a gorgeous stream to swim in. Bliss x
See more
E
Effie
August 2025
Tent
With kids
Absolutely fabulous camping spot, we were 4 adults and 10 kids ten and under and it was great to have so much space for them to run around, and the river to cool off in. It is absolutely no frills, just one compost toilet and a water tap, but that’s all you really need!
See moreJ
Jenny
August 2025
Tent
With kids
One night, 10 kids and 4 adults! We stayed at the weir side, expecting a stay in the wild. Having had to re book due to a storm the previous weekend, Alex put up two hammocks, and with the fire, an empty field bar a few sheep, a bouldery climb to the paddling area and a laddered climb to a dip, we were totally entertained for our stay. Alex gave good chat, the chickens were entertaining, and most importantly for us, the kids were able to be wild and loud and free.
See moreT
Trudi
August 2025
Tent
Clean washrooms and toilet amenities. On site bar and entertainment was excellent. Short walk to town, shops and pubs. Highly recommend.
See moreI
Ian
June 2025
Tent
Great little spot by the canal. Facilities are quite basic but the swans and goslings more than made up for it.
See moreA
Amanda
June 2025
5 m car
Lovely clean, spacious camping site, Friendly hosts and in a great location. River Trent next door, lovely walk along the canal & lovely garden centre opposite. In fact we liked it so much we stayed an extra night 😊
See moreS
Sarah
June 2025
6 m pop-up camper
With pets
Views and location was amazing, we had such a lovely time just enjoy the scenery and the peace and quiet.
Camp site has everything you need.
Just gutted we had only booked the 3 nights, which we would of booked longer. Thank you!
See moreE
Emma
June 2025
Tent
Group trip
Second visit to this campsite, such a great spot next to the canal and the farm shop across the road. I'm sure we will be back again!
See moreR
Richard
May 2025
Tent
With kids
The host, Patrick, was amazing. He fixed an issue which I had created when booking the trip. The location was perfect for our plans. Lovey canal side location. Great cafe 2 minutes walk of site, pub 5-10 minutes. No issues with noise from the train track close by. Thank you
See more
D
Diane
May 2025
With kids
We stayed in Stag Lodge.
Delighted with our accommodation. It was comfortable, stylish, and had every facility. A wonderful hot tub.
Helen was a great host, e mailing a really useful handbook, about the Lodge, & area.
I appreciated the fact that all the essential items like soap, dishwasher tablets, salt, pepper, teabags etc etc were supplied…! A great base to enjoy visiting an interesting area.
See more
Riverside camping in Macclesfield Forest guide
Where to go
Sutton Lane Ends & Langley
These two villages comprise the main gateway to the forest to the west, and fall under the same overarching parish. Only a few miles from Macclesfield, a balmy, bucolic vibe pervades. There are several atmospheric pubs and the only organised camping site close to the forest. Continuing east from Langley up Clarke Lane, you’ll quickly reach the Macclesfield Forest’s edge.
Trentabank Reservoir
This reservoir is the heart of Macclesfield Forest, home to the Peak District’s largest heronry, a nature reserve, and visitor centre. Birdwatch or spot other creatures including badgers, weasels, and red deer, get refreshments at the Leather’s Smithy pub, or take to the forest walking and cycling trails. A great walk runs through the forest and up to Shutlingsloe summit.
Tegg’s Nose Country Park
On Macclesfield Forest’s north side is this irresistibly pretty country park, occupying the site of a former quarry and the surrounding steep-sided moors. Climbing and abseiling are big here, and the one-hour Rock’s Trail highlights the area’s geology with a visit to Tegg’s Nose summit. There is also the challenging ‘Grit and Gears II’ mountain bike route, a tearoom, and a visitor centre.
Shutlingsloe
Cheshire’s second-highest hill, Shutlingsloe is linked by footpath across the moor near Macclesfield Forest. Views from the 1,670-foot top are superb—over the Peak District and across most of Cheshire—and the summit is also the highest point on the 190-mile Peak District Boundary Walk. England’s last wild boar was supposedly killed nearby—which is one theory behind the etymology of Wildboarclough, the village below the hill where you’ll find camping and a pub.
South West Peak
The South West Peak region of the Peak District National Park rolls away east of Macclesfield Forest, typically the national park’s least-visited region. It’s a zone loosely bounded by Macclesfield, Buxton, Kettleshulme, and Ilam, mixing barren plateau with fetching lower-lying pasture, while deeply scored cloughs divide the two. Long-distance hikes passing through include the Dane Valley Way and Churnet Way. Wildboarclough and the Manifold Valley make beautiful, quiet camping bases.