My favourite campsite

Park House campsite at Monsal Head, Bakewell, Derbyshire. 

Really nice little campsite - it's a field next to an old farmhouse, with the showerblock built into one of the farm buildings. The showers are clean and hot. It's not all-singing-all-dancing, it's literally just a field, but there's great views of the countryside all around, and it's a two minute walk away from the Monsal trail - the view is SPECTACULAR! (And there's a pub and cafe there also).  It's cheap to camp, and the owners are welcoming. The only downside is the washing-up facilities - it's a sink outside, so a bit miserable washing up when it's cold or wet! Otherwise, great. Andy and I used to come up here on the weekends when we lived in Belper, either hiking the Monsal trail or biking to Bakewell.


John Ruskin wrote this about Monsal Dale valley: "There was a rocky valley between Buxton and Bakewell, once upon a time divine as the Vale of Tempe; you might have seen the Gods there morning and evening - Apollo and all the sweet Muses of the light - walking in fair procession on the lawns of it, and to and fro among the pinnacles of its crags."