An almost wild camping trip: alternative family fun in the Peak District
The children were fast asleep, their little faces half-lit by the soft glow of the torchlight as I read them a story about rivers. The sound of rain on canvas lulled them into a deep slumber, and the fog pooling in the valley below created a mystical atmosphere. My partner and I, snuggled under a waterproof coat, shared a moment of pure joy, laughing and cherishing the absurdity and beauty of parenthood.
This trip, which seemed impossible just a few days prior, was made possible by a combination of luck and inspiration. Last year, I had the privilege of staying at The Beeches, a former Quaker residential community house in Bamford, Derbyshire. Its new stewards, Vanessa and Max, welcomed us with open arms, offering us a cozy cabin nestled in a wildflower path, past allotments and woodland.
The Beeches, with its sheds on the outside and cozy cabins on the inside, was just as enchanting as I remembered. We unloaded hot pizzas, cold beers, and marshmallows for roasting by the firepit, and as the darkness enveloped us, the children's laughter filled the air as they drew shapes in the air with sticks.
In our cabin, candles, fairy lights, and a wood-burning stove cast a warm glow, creating a cozy atmosphere. The sofa beds were pushed together to make one giant bed, and as I told the kids a story beneath the covers, I felt like I was living in a story myself.
The next morning, we woke up to the sound of a train rumbling past, summoning us to adventure. We ate lunch at the nearby Anglers Rest, a community-owned pub with a cafe and post office, and explored the nearby River Derwent, its banks dotted with bluebells, cow parsley, clover, and stitchwort.
That evening, we followed a winding road up into the hills above Lady Bower reservoir. We were lucky enough to secure a stay at Lockerbrook Farm Outdoor Centre, a hill farm run as a residential education center by Woodcraft Folk, a national youth charity promoting education for social change.
The friendly warden showed us around, and we set up camp in a field with a stupendous view of the high moorlands and deep cut of the Derwent valley. The children bickered over which molehill was theirs, and as we cooked dinner, the rain turned to drizzle.
Despite the challenges, we persevered, and the children fell asleep in a scene of pure bliss. The next morning, we packed up early and drove down to Fairholmes car park, where we enjoyed hot drinks and pasties at the Refreshment Kiosk.
From there, we followed a family-friendly trail featuring carved wooden creatures on the shores of Lady Bower reservoir. I told the children about the lost villages beneath its waters, and they were already there, one foot always in the imaginary.
As we walked, we smelled of mildew, wildflower, woodsmoke, river water, and sweat. Dandelion seeds were caught in my daughter's curls, and I blew the wishes free.
The Beeches offers cabins sleeping four from £125 a night, and camping for £10pp per night. Lockerbrook Farm is predominantly for large groups, but the Warden's Cottage sleeps six from £33pp per night. The weekend is accessible from Bamford train station for those who love hiking, with The Beeches a 15-minute walk away, the pub and wild swimming 20 minutes away, Fairholmes two hours away, and Lockerbrook Farm a further 30-minute uphill hike from there.
This trip was a testament to the beauty of nature and the power of community. It was a reminder that sometimes, the best adventures are the ones that take us out of our comfort zones and into the wild. And as we returned home, we knew that we had created memories that would last a lifetime.
