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Intake Farm

98%

· Alton, England

5 acres hosted by Maria H.

2 glamping pitches · 5 tent pitches

Private sites

100% of recent Hipcampers say the sites felt private.

Family-friendly

Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.

Quirky glamping and nearly wild camping on a farm in Staffordshire

The camping and glamping at Intake Farm has a fantastic location, just a ten-minute drive from the Peak District National Park and 20 minutes from Alton Towers. But, in spite of this, plenty of people who stay here say the biggest attraction is Intake Farm itself. Or should we be clearer and say: the residents of Intake Farm? Welcoming hosts David and Maria are likely to be the first you’ll meet – but it won’t be long until you get to know the others. They include cows, horses, and llamas, sheep, chicken, and ducks.

Twice a day, there’s the chance to help at feeding time. It makes this place especially popular with kids – but don’t let them have all the fun. Intake Farm is as good for adults as it is for children with year-round almost-wild camping in the woods and glamping accommodation that works as well for couples as it does for families.

The Greatest Showman, a 1950s’ circus wagon, and White Cloud, a colourfully-painted converted bus, both sit in their own private areas on the farm. Each offers accommodation for up to four that’s kitted out and warmed by a log burner; White Cloud is slightly more spacious. Both are off-grid like the site’s five camping pitches, which are tucked away in Wudu Woods. These have their own shared facilities nearby (compost loos, hot showers and an outdoor washing-up sink). Campfires are allowed in off-ground fire pits, which you can hire on site and logs are for sale alongside Intake Farm’s own bacon and eggs. If you’re glamping, the ingredients for a Staffordshire breakfast are part of the deal for day one.

Either way, we’d recommend it as a hearty local breakfast could fuel walking, climbing, and cycling adventures in the Peak District National Park, a day out at nearby Alton Towers or a visit to the Peak Wildlife Park. For something more sedate, there are country walks to nearby pubs, an RSPB reserve, and a heritage railway too; all of these within five miles. But whatever you decide to do, we predict you’ll be itching to get back for feeding time at Intake Farm.

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98%

30 Ratings · 18 reviews

Rhys P.recommends

April 2, 2024

Wudu Wood

Camp in the woods

Lovely site, took my daughter for her first tent campout here and she loved it. It’s a working farm so she loved feeding the animals. Owners were so nice, will defo be back!

Helen B.recommends

April 1, 2024

Wudu Wood

Had a really great stay. The owners were friendly and helpful and it was so good to help feed the animals - the kids loved it. Showers were lovely and hot and the compost toilets were fine. Would go again.

Suzanne S.recommends

March 19, 2024

White Cloud converted bus

Amazing, Peaceful, Friendly

We absolutely loved our getaway in White Cloud bus. Such a peaceful place, felt so relaxed. I felt very welcome here. The bus was very clean too. Had the best nights sleep-the bed was super comfy!! Loved meeting all of the animals too. I will be returning :)

Katie O.recommends

March 14, 2024

Wudu Wood

‘Wild camping’ with a HOT shower!

We really enjoyed the simple camping at Intake Farm (note below for dog owners). We booked this campsite as we were looking for a fairly sheltered campsite to meet up with friends (the wind was due to be 30-40mph gusts!) and thankfully this site was perfect for this weather as we really didn’t feel the wind at all! The composting loos were exactly what you need and the showers were lovely and hot which was a pleasant surprise for an outdoor shower in March! You can pick your own pitch in the ‘wild camping’ wood and you have highland cows as your neighbours in the next field which we loved. If you’re looking for a basic campsite this will be perfect for you because that was just what we were looking for and we enjoyed relaxing in the evenings around our campfire. Note for dog owners : We were initially really put off when we arrived as the farm dogs were really high energy charging at our car, barking and winding our dog up (one of them did jump up with their paws on our car door too), I guess they’re doing their job. If we weren’t meeting friends I possibly would have 180 out of there as this was really off putting and something I wasn’t prepared for before hand. Thankfully we only saw one of the dogs again the rest of the weekend and although they will initially charge, our experience was that they were friendly. We’re glad it didn’t put us off as we had a great time and the owners are lovely and friendly but would think hard about returning with our dog because of this.

Lyndsey B.recommends

February 18, 2024

Wudu Wood

Just wonderful

Wonderful, beautiful campsite. Like wild camping but with a few more mod cons. Great hosts really friendly and lovely animals and fab wildlife.

Kate B.

August 22, 2023

Wudu Wood

Animals lovely. Hosts sadly not.

The farm animals were lovely and our children enjoyed the feeding times but apart from a young lad, the hosts were not welcoming and we felt like we were an inconvenience which spoilt our holiday.

Location

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

Hosted by Maria H.Joined in May 2022

From the host

We have unique and quirky glampsite consisting of a converted bus and a 1950’s showman’s wagon. We have nearly wild camping in the woods and a flat space for conventional camping. We are a quiet site, suitable for romance, family and pets. We are close to the Peak District and Alton Towers, have footpaths and RSPB sanctuary's close by

Nearby attractions

Helping to feed the farm animals at Intake Farm is a big attraction in itself and if you (or your kids) are animal lovers, there are more to meet at Peak Wildlife Park which is just four miles down the road. It’s four miles in the other direction to the woodland nature reserve, RSPB Coombes Valley and about the same to the edge of the Peak District National Park where the chances for outdoor adventure are plentiful. The area is particularly good for walking, cycling, caving and climbing. Head for The Roaches (12 miles) for a scenic walk on top of a rocky ridge that’s typical of the Peak District or head underground at Poole’s Cavern (17 miles), where a cave full of crystal stalactites is a popular tourist attraction. The thrills and spills of Alton Towers are just nine miles from site and the Trentham Estate with gardens, woodlands, treetop adventure and a calendar of events is about 15 miles away. The steam trains of the Churnet Valley Railway offer a more sedate ride and you can hop aboard at Froghall Station, three miles from site.

Food and drink

Intake Farm’s own local produce is perfect camping fodder with fresh farm eggs, bacon and sausages for breakfasts as well as burgers for cooking on the campfire – although the produce for sale can vary seasonally. The good news for glampers is that the ingredients for a cooked breakfast are included for the first morning of your stay and a continental breakfast is provided for the day after. It’s about half a mile from Intake Farm to the centre of Ipstones village where there's a small grocery shop for any additional supplies. The village is also where you will find the dog-friendly Marquis of Granby pub which serves good food Wednesday to Sunday and The Old Red Lion with its menu of pub grub and real ales. Other nearby pubs, which come recommended by your hosts, are the canalside Boat Inn, three miles from site in Cheddleton, and The Black Lion on the banks of the nearby River Churnet. It’s a cross-country walk of a couple of miles but the route along the roads is less direct; a circuitous seven miles.

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