Why visit Edale?
The Pennine Way
Edale camping sites are close to the kickoff point of the Pennine Way, so they make brilliant bases for hikers. The UK’s first-ever long-distance walking trail is 268 miles long and takes around 18 days to complete. Not got the time? Tackle a part of the path – the bit starting in Edale goes up Jacob’s Ladder to the Kinder Scout plateau, the Peak District’s loftiest point at 2,087 feet. Once you’ve clambered over the top, detour to Kinder Downfall, the tallest waterfall in the national park.
Majestic mountains
Spectacular scenery really is all around when camping in Edale. You’ll glimpse Kinder Scout to the north, Mam Tor to the south, Win Hill to the east and Dale Head to the west – so there are plenty of peaks to scale. Scramble up to Grindsbrook Knoll via the rock formations of Ringing Roger for 360-degree views of the surrounding fells.
Village life
Tiny Edale is made up of sweet stone cottages, a handful of places to eat and a couple of churches. It’s surrounded by ‘booths’ – small hamlets that developed out of herdsmans' shelters. It’s also got a train station that whisks you to Manchester in one direction and Sheffield in the other, so it’s a top spot for Peak District camping trips by public transport. Swing by the village’s Moorlands Visitor Centre on arrival to plan your Edale adventure while learning about local efforts to conserve the countryside.
The top things to do in Edale
Escaping to an Edale campsite? Here’s what not to miss:
* Meander up to the top of Mam Tor – also known as ‘Shivering Mountain’ – for a stunning sunrise
* Embark on the Edale Skyline stroll (all 22 miles of it…)
* Take part in the Great Kinder Beer Barrel Challenge race with your pals
* Have a nose around the traditionally English Edale Church
* Go paragliding and survey the picture-perfect panoramas from Rushup Edge
Adventuring beyond Edale
Cool caverns
Spelunking is a popular pastime in the Peak District – head to Castleton, a 15-minute drive from our campsites in Edale, for subterranean explores in four show caves. There’s Peak Cavern, Blue John Cavern, Speedwell Cavern and Treak Cliff Cavern, all of which have intriguing stalactites and stalagmites to stare at. Blue John Cavern is the only place on the planet where the unique Blue John mineral is mined, while Speedwell Cavern hosts boat tours 450 metres underground.
Cave Dale days
Also in the Castleton area is Cave Dale, a vast valley towered over by the Norman ruins of Peveril Castle. Enter the sheer-walled ravine through a narrow 50-metre-high rock entryway. The limestone landscape was carved out by melting glacier water, creating the unusual – and spectacular – sight you’ll see today. You can also spot the famed Winnats Pass in the distance from this hiking hotspot.
More hiking hotspots
Around a half an hour drive – or about a four-hour walk for hardcore hikers – from our Edale campsites is the gritstone moorland of Bleaklow, where the Superfortress wreck is shielded by the Higher Shelf Stones. This aircraft crash landed in 1948 and now serves as a poppy-strewn memorial and quiet place of contemplation. Other Peak District places to walk close by include around the Y-shaped Ladybower Reservoir, an easy 40-minute foray.
Here’s how
Escaping to an Edale campsite? Opt for electric pitches to keep your smartphone and camera charged up ready to take all those scenic snapshots. We’ve also got dog-friendly parks for trekkers with four-legged pals in tow, along with places that permit campfires.
Pottering around the Peak District is thirsty work, so you might like to make sure your campsite in Edale has water at its pitches. And if you’re travelling in a troupe? Pick a pitch with space for multiple units. We’ve also got Edale touring caravan parks if you’re roving around in a rolling home.
If you’d like to try a different type of terrain, alternative Peak District hotspots to consider include Buxton and Tissington in the south for access to destinations like the Dovedale stepping stones and Thorpe Cloud hill. Or you could explore another northern national park, such as the Yorkshire Dales or the Lakes.
We’ve got camping guides to have a gander at whichever destination you decide on. Read up on the reasons why tent-based breaks beat staying in hotels, learn about the top pitch types then discover which tent to buy.
