Camping in Tomonslow

Wild camping is not legally permitted in England without the landowner's explicit permission, so anyone hoping to camp near Tomonslow should book a proper site rather than pitching up on open moorland or farmland. That said, the Staffordshire Moorlands and southern fringe of the Peak District are good camping country, with a landscape that shifts from gentle river valleys around the Churnet and Dove to higher, more exposed gritstone moor further north towards Leek and the Roaches. Campsites in the area range from simple farm-based fields to more developed touring and camping parks, and several sit within easy reach of the Churnet Valley Railway, Consall Nature Park and Alton Towers, making them practical bases for a family holiday as well as for walkers and cyclists.

The terrain around the old Totmonslow hundred is generally kinder than the high Peak further north, with fewer steep gradients and more sheltered valleys, which suits tents and smaller campervans well. Ground can still get soft after wet weather, particularly on farmland pitches, so a spring or summer visit tends to be more comfortable underfoot than autumn or winter. Summer is the busiest season, especially close to Alton Towers, so booking ahead is worthwhile if you want a pitch during the school holidays. Spring and early autumn offer a quieter alternative, with the Churnet Valley's woodland especially attractive when the bluebells are out or the leaves are turning.

For those who would rather not sleep under canvas, glamping has grown steadily across this part of Staffordshire, with pods, safari tents and shepherd's huts appearing on farms around Cheadle, Leek and the wider Moorlands. These sites usually offer a step up in comfort, with proper beds and sometimes en-suite facilities, while keeping the same rural, walking-friendly locations as traditional campsites. Whichever way you choose to stay, this is a landscape built for slow exploration on foot or bike, with the steam railway, nature reserves and market towns of the Moorlands all within a short drive of most sites.