Derbyshire
Riverside site in the Dark Peak with Kinder Scout on the doorstep
Hayfield sits in the Dark Peak on the western side of the National Park, less than half a mile from Hayfield village along a riverside path. It is one of the best-known Camping and Caravanning Club sites in the north of England, largely because of what is immediately behind it: the route up William Clough and onto Kinder Scout, the park's highest ground at 636m, starts from the site. The Sett Valley Trail runs to New Mills, and Manchester is around 40 minutes by road.
Pitches are a mix of grass and hardstanding, taking tents, caravans and motorhomes, and there are camping pods for hire if you want a solid roof. Electric hook-ups are available on many pitches. The facilities block is modern and kept to the standard the club is known for, with toilets, showers, a laundry, washing-up areas and a motorhome service point. A small on-site shop covers basics and gas, and there is a children's play area, which makes it a reasonable family choice as well as a walkers' base.
The setting is wooded and riverside rather than exposed, so it is more sheltered than the altitude suggests, but this is still the wet side of the Pennines and drainage on the grass pitches suffers after heavy rain. Dogs are welcome on leads. Prices start from around £10 to £11 per night for adult club members, more for non-members and for hook-ups and pods. Hayfield village has pubs, a chip shop and a bus service, and the site is open through most of the year. Summer weekends and the May bank holidays are heavily booked.