Best camping, glamping, and outdoor stays in Dovedale

·

The southern part of the Peak District is the gentler face of Derbyshire’s national park. While the north, Dark Peak area, is all brooding moorland and towering heights, the White Peak is gently rolling hills and green dales. It’s here that you’ll find the River Dove, the famous Dovedale Stepping Stones and the nearby limestone hill, Thorpe Cloud. You’d be hard-pushed to find anywhere that sounds and looks more idyllic so it’s little surprise that campsites in Dovedale are popular. Like the rest of the Peak District National Park, it’s a great area for walking and wildlife watching. With a gentler terrain than the Dark Peak, it is perhaps a little more family friendly too. There are camping and glamping sites in and around Dovedale for every type of camper from people passing through with a backpack to those on the look-out for luxury.

The limestone gorge which the River Dove has hewn through the hills is a great place for walking. There’s a National Trust car park close to the famous stepping stones which makes a good place to head out from if you want to cross the river on them. In the summer there’s also a little stand where you can get information on suggested local walks. A one-hour route through Ilam Park is recommended by the National Trust and if you take on the 287-metre Thorpe Hill, you’ll be rewarded with excellent views. If you prefer getting around on two wheels, there’s plenty of excellent cycling. Serious road cyclists will probably enjoy the undulating terrain but there’s family-friendly cycling too on traffic-free routes including the Tissington Trail, which passes nearby.

Dovedale is just 15 miles from the Peak District’s only town Bakewell where you can try the town’s famous pudding and visit medieval Haddon Hall. It’s just a little further to magnificent Chatsworth House. Despite the proximity, the journey might take a little longer than you’d expect but as the rural scenery it takes you through is almost as nice as the destination, it shouldn’t be too much of a chore. Closer by is the Staffordshire town of Ashbourne, another pretty market town with independent shops which is just outside the national park.

The Dovedale Valley is considered a bit of a camping Mecca in England. All around the White Peak area of the Peak District National Park unfurls in all its glory, while, in the valley bottom, the River Dove flows towards National Trust-owned Ilam Park.
93% (1.2K) 886 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds near Dovedale

Brook Farm

1. Brook Farm

93%
(22)
7.9km from Dovedale · 20 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Camping in a farmer’s field just south of the Peak District National Park
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from 
£20
 / night
River Dove Camp

2. River Dove Camp

100%
(105)
8km from Dovedale · 10 units
A perfectly simple, riverside Hipcamp on the edge of the Peak District
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£24
 / night
Intake Farm

3. Intake Farm

98%
(64)
14km from Dovedale · 7 units · Tents, Glamping
Quirky glamping and nearly wild camping on a farm in Staffordshire
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£15
 / night
Peak Pods

4. Peak Pods

100%
(43)
15km from Dovedale · 4 units
Family-sized en suite glamping pods in the Peak District
Showers
Campfires
Wifi
from 
£97
 / night
Camping at The Hollies

5. Camping at The Hollies

95%
(232)
16km from Dovedale · 50 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Back-to-basics camping at the foot of the Roaches in the Peak District National Park
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£18
 / night
Chrome Hill Campers

6. Chrome Hill Campers

98%
(22)
17km from Dovedale · 5 units
Far reaching views from one of the highest touring site in England, overlooking Chrome Hill in the picturesque village of Hollinsclough in Derbyshire. The site only accepts campervans and has 5 pitches available. This is a new site and has new toilet and shower facilities, water and waste disposal points and also there is a secure paddock area for children to play.
Pets
from 
£20
 / night
Gollin Farm Shepherds Hut

7. Gollin Farm Shepherds Hut

100%
(16)
18km from Dovedale · 3 units
Cosy and romantic shepherd's hut glamping in the heart, and at the highest heights, of the Peak District National Park
Showers
Campfires
Wifi
from 
£125
 / night
Peak Glamping Hideaway

8. Peak Glamping Hideaway

100%
(12)
18km from Dovedale · 3 units
Glamping literally reaches new heights in the Peak District National Park
Showers
Campfires
Wifi
from 
£100
 / night
White Peak Camping

9. White Peak Camping

99%
(465)
19km from Dovedale · 18 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Camping on a Peak District farm near the Monsal Trail
Pets
Campfires
Potable water
from 
£13
 / night
White House Farm Campsite, Wardlow

10. White House Farm Campsite, Wardlow

91%
(93)
23km from Dovedale · 61 units · Tents, Motorhomes
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.
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£24
 / night
Damside Campsite

11. Damside Campsite

96%
(14)
25km from Dovedale · 10 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Well-maintained and peaceful wild camping site in the Peak District Buxton 15 minutes’ drive; Chatsworth House half an hour Dogs welcome; 10 minutes’ walk from a pub; nearby playground Just how remote would you like your holiday accommodation to be? If the answer is fair to middling, Damside Campsite might just be the place for you: this pop-up spot is surrounded by the glorious wilderness of Peak District National Park. Doesn’t get much more blissfully peaceful than that – except for the occasional lowing cow, all is stillness here. Having said that, don’t worry: you won’t have to scramble across hills and dales for a pint: a traditional pub serving real ales and home-cooked food is right in the village of Peak Forest, a 20-minute walk away. Both the site and the pub welcome dogs, though it might be wise to keep them on a lead when walking past the farm animals. This is wild camping; facilities might not be abundant (there are no showers), but they are well maintained and include a portable toilet and a washing-up area. There is also fresh running water, and you’re welcome to start a campfire or a barbecue. You can grab essentials in the village shop, or head to Chapel-en-le-Frith (10 minutes) or Buxton (15 minutes). If you’re here with the kids, the flat, grassy field where you’ll set up your tent makes for an excellent play area on which to run around, kick a ball or fly a kite. A nearby playground has swings, slides, a small adventure course and a multisport pitch. Walking paths start from right outside the farm, or you can drive to hiking areas like Chee Dale Stepping Stones (10 minutes), a dramatic gorge on the River Wye.
Pets
Campfires
Potable water
from 
£20
 / night
Lambs Glamping

12. Lambs Glamping

96%
(28)
26km from Dovedale · 3 units
Luxury pod glamping on the edge of the Peak District National Park
Showers
Hot Tub
Potable water
from 
£187
 / night
Peake's Retreats

13. Peake's Retreats

100%
(13)
28km from Dovedale · 3 units
Luxury yurt glamping near the Peak District where, from the tiny-toiletries to the family-sized hot tub, every single detail is covered
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£190
 / night
Secret Wood Glamping

14. Secret Wood Glamping

95%
(21)
29km from Dovedale · 10 units · Tents, Glamping
A private woodland and stream all to yourself, with one spacious bell tent and a hot tub beneath the stars
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£18
 / night
Great Haywood Canalside Campsite

15. Great Haywood Canalside Campsite

96%
(57)
33km from Dovedale · 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
The White Lodge

16. The White Lodge

90%
(55)
33km from Dovedale · 5 units · Tents, Motorhomes
A traditional campsite close to Staffordshire’s canals, river, and stately homes.
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£18
 / night
Chase Camping

17. Chase Camping

97%
(59)
37km from Dovedale · 67 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Tent camping and bell tents for hire on a family farm within easy walking distance of Cannock Chase Forest
Pets
Showers
Potable water
from 
£28
 / night
Tackeroo Campsite

18. Tackeroo Campsite

96%
(69)
38km from Dovedale · 54 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Basic pitches (without toilet facilities) in Forestry Commission-owned woods beside a renowned mountain biking trail
Pets
Potable water
Picnic table
from 
£17
 / night
Tipsy Tree Glamping

19. Tipsy Tree Glamping

100%
(17)
39km from Dovedale · 4 units
Quirky eco-friendly glamping ideal for a rural road-trip
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£120
 / night
Fire and Stars Woodland Camping

20. Fire and Stars Woodland Camping

100%
(49)
48km from Dovedale · 5 units
Wild camping in the woods with campfires, starry skies and a pub just across the road
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£49
 / night

The southern part of the Peak District is the gentler face of Derbyshire’s national park. While the north, Dark Peak area, is all brooding moorland and towering heights, the White Peak is gently rolling hills and green dales. It’s here that you’ll find the River Dove, the famous Dovedale Stepping Stones and the nearby limestone hill, Thorpe Cloud. You’d be hard-pushed to find anywhere that sounds and looks more idyllic so it’s little surprise that campsites in Dovedale are popular. Like the rest of the Peak District National Park, it’s a great area for walking and wildlife watching. With a gentler terrain than the Dark Peak, it is perhaps a little more family friendly too. There are camping and glamping sites in and around Dovedale for every type of camper from people passing through with a backpack to those on the look-out for luxury.

The limestone gorge which the River Dove has hewn through the hills is a great place for walking. There’s a National Trust car park close to the famous stepping stones which makes a good place to head out from if you want to cross the river on them. In the summer there’s also a little stand where you can get information on suggested local walks. A one-hour route through Ilam Park is recommended by the National Trust and if you take on the 287-metre Thorpe Hill, you’ll be rewarded with excellent views. If you prefer getting around on two wheels, there’s plenty of excellent cycling. Serious road cyclists will probably enjoy the undulating terrain but there’s family-friendly cycling too on traffic-free routes including the Tissington Trail, which passes nearby.

Dovedale is just 15 miles from the Peak District’s only town Bakewell where you can try the town’s famous pudding and visit medieval Haddon Hall. It’s just a little further to magnificent Chatsworth House. Despite the proximity, the journey might take a little longer than you’d expect but as the rural scenery it takes you through is almost as nice as the destination, it shouldn’t be too much of a chore. Closer by is the Staffordshire town of Ashbourne, another pretty market town with independent shops which is just outside the national park.

The Dovedale Valley is considered a bit of a camping Mecca in England. All around the White Peak area of the Peak District National Park unfurls in all its glory, while, in the valley bottom, the River Dove flows towards National Trust-owned Ilam Park.
93% (1.2K) 886 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds near Dovedale

Brook Farm

1. Brook Farm

93%
(22)
7.9km from Dovedale · 20 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Camping in a farmer’s field just south of the Peak District National Park
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from 
£20
 / night
River Dove Camp

2. River Dove Camp

100%
(105)
8km from Dovedale · 10 units
A perfectly simple, riverside Hipcamp on the edge of the Peak District
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£24
 / night
Intake Farm

3. Intake Farm

98%
(64)
14km from Dovedale · 7 units · Tents, Glamping
Quirky glamping and nearly wild camping on a farm in Staffordshire
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£15
 / night
Peak Pods

4. Peak Pods

100%
(43)
15km from Dovedale · 4 units
Family-sized en suite glamping pods in the Peak District
Showers
Campfires
Wifi
from 
£97
 / night
Camping at The Hollies

5. Camping at The Hollies

95%
(232)
16km from Dovedale · 50 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Back-to-basics camping at the foot of the Roaches in the Peak District National Park
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£18
 / night
Chrome Hill Campers

6. Chrome Hill Campers

98%
(22)
17km from Dovedale · 5 units
Far reaching views from one of the highest touring site in England, overlooking Chrome Hill in the picturesque village of Hollinsclough in Derbyshire. The site only accepts campervans and has 5 pitches available. This is a new site and has new toilet and shower facilities, water and waste disposal points and also there is a secure paddock area for children to play.
Pets
from 
£20
 / night
Gollin Farm Shepherds Hut

7. Gollin Farm Shepherds Hut

100%
(16)
18km from Dovedale · 3 units
Cosy and romantic shepherd's hut glamping in the heart, and at the highest heights, of the Peak District National Park
Showers
Campfires
Wifi
from 
£125
 / night
Peak Glamping Hideaway

8. Peak Glamping Hideaway

100%
(12)
18km from Dovedale · 3 units
Glamping literally reaches new heights in the Peak District National Park
Showers
Campfires
Wifi
from 
£100
 / night
White Peak Camping

9. White Peak Camping

99%
(465)
19km from Dovedale · 18 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Camping on a Peak District farm near the Monsal Trail
Pets
Campfires
Potable water
from 
£13
 / night
White House Farm Campsite, Wardlow

10. White House Farm Campsite, Wardlow

91%
(93)
23km from Dovedale · 61 units · Tents, Motorhomes
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.
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£24
 / night
Damside Campsite

11. Damside Campsite

96%
(14)
25km from Dovedale · 10 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Well-maintained and peaceful wild camping site in the Peak District Buxton 15 minutes’ drive; Chatsworth House half an hour Dogs welcome; 10 minutes’ walk from a pub; nearby playground Just how remote would you like your holiday accommodation to be? If the answer is fair to middling, Damside Campsite might just be the place for you: this pop-up spot is surrounded by the glorious wilderness of Peak District National Park. Doesn’t get much more blissfully peaceful than that – except for the occasional lowing cow, all is stillness here. Having said that, don’t worry: you won’t have to scramble across hills and dales for a pint: a traditional pub serving real ales and home-cooked food is right in the village of Peak Forest, a 20-minute walk away. Both the site and the pub welcome dogs, though it might be wise to keep them on a lead when walking past the farm animals. This is wild camping; facilities might not be abundant (there are no showers), but they are well maintained and include a portable toilet and a washing-up area. There is also fresh running water, and you’re welcome to start a campfire or a barbecue. You can grab essentials in the village shop, or head to Chapel-en-le-Frith (10 minutes) or Buxton (15 minutes). If you’re here with the kids, the flat, grassy field where you’ll set up your tent makes for an excellent play area on which to run around, kick a ball or fly a kite. A nearby playground has swings, slides, a small adventure course and a multisport pitch. Walking paths start from right outside the farm, or you can drive to hiking areas like Chee Dale Stepping Stones (10 minutes), a dramatic gorge on the River Wye.
Pets
Campfires
Potable water
from 
£20
 / night
Lambs Glamping

12. Lambs Glamping

96%
(28)
26km from Dovedale · 3 units
Luxury pod glamping on the edge of the Peak District National Park
Showers
Hot Tub
Potable water
from 
£187
 / night
Peake's Retreats

13. Peake's Retreats

100%
(13)
28km from Dovedale · 3 units
Luxury yurt glamping near the Peak District where, from the tiny-toiletries to the family-sized hot tub, every single detail is covered
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£190
 / night
Secret Wood Glamping

14. Secret Wood Glamping

95%
(21)
29km from Dovedale · 10 units · Tents, Glamping
A private woodland and stream all to yourself, with one spacious bell tent and a hot tub beneath the stars
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£18
 / night
Great Haywood Canalside Campsite

15. Great Haywood Canalside Campsite

96%
(57)
33km from Dovedale · 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
The White Lodge

16. The White Lodge

90%
(55)
33km from Dovedale · 5 units · Tents, Motorhomes
A traditional campsite close to Staffordshire’s canals, river, and stately homes.
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£18
 / night
Chase Camping

17. Chase Camping

97%
(59)
37km from Dovedale · 67 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Tent camping and bell tents for hire on a family farm within easy walking distance of Cannock Chase Forest
Pets
Showers
Potable water
from 
£28
 / night
Tackeroo Campsite

18. Tackeroo Campsite

96%
(69)
38km from Dovedale · 54 units · Tents, Motorhomes
Basic pitches (without toilet facilities) in Forestry Commission-owned woods beside a renowned mountain biking trail
Pets
Potable water
Picnic table
from 
£17
 / night
Tipsy Tree Glamping

19. Tipsy Tree Glamping

100%
(17)
39km from Dovedale · 4 units
Quirky eco-friendly glamping ideal for a rural road-trip
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£120
 / night
Fire and Stars Woodland Camping

20. Fire and Stars Woodland Camping

100%
(49)
48km from Dovedale · 5 units
Wild camping in the woods with campfires, starry skies and a pub just across the road
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£49
 / night

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

Value Prop
Value Prop
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

The scenery of the national park’s White Peak unfurls around you in all its glory. Wagtails and dippers flit across the clear, running water of the River Dove and limestone peeks through the surrounding green hills. The local area has plenty of decent campsites but, as always, only the very best make the cut for the Hipcamp shortlist.