Camping in Hathersage

Camping around Hathersage puts you within walking distance of some of the best gritstone scenery in the Peak District, with Stanage Edge, Higger Tor and Carl Wark all reachable on foot from the village. As with the rest of England, wild camping is not legal here without the landowner's permission - almost all of the surrounding moorland is privately owned or managed by the National Trust and Peak District National Park Authority, and rangers do patrol popular spots, so it is worth sticking to one of the area's established campsites rather than pitching up on the open moor.

The terrain around Hathersage is properly upland: expect exposed, often boggy ground on the tops, fast-changing weather even in summer, and cold nights whatever the season, so a four-season-capable tent and sleeping bag are worth having if you are pitching outside the height of summer. Local campsites range from simple, view-heavy fields with basic facilities to smaller family-run sites with better amenities, and most are set within a short drive or walk of the village, the Edge and the river.

The best camping season runs from late spring to early autumn, when the ground is drier, days are longer and the moors are at their most walkable, though a clear autumn weekend can bring some of the best light of the year over Stanage. For anyone who would rather skip the tent-pitching, a growing number of glamping options in the area - shepherd's huts, pods and yurts - offer a warmer, drier way to wake up to the same views, without sacrificing the feeling of being out on the edge of the moor.