Far Peak Campsite

When you’ve clambered your way up and down the site’s wild rock indoor climbing wall so many times it hurts, there are plenty more activities for the whole family to scale around Far Peak. Hikers, ramblers, strollers, whatever your ability, the make-up of the mighty Cotswolds, from flat farmland to wild-flowered grassland, and steep valleys to undercover woodland, means that anyone stepping into their comfiest pair of walking boots can take on one of the many routes of the area. Rediscover that inner Scout or Girl Guide and be prepared with compass and OS map in hand, or (for the simpler option) enjoy one of the well-signposted circular walks, or even join a guided tour. For those still yearning for their explorer badge, the demanding 102-mile Cotswold Way National Trail takes in some of the most spectacular sites of the area, while green-fingered visitors will enjoy spotting the unique flora of the shires. If you’d rather take to two wheels, the south Cotswolds has sloping terrain for gentler bike rides, with more challenging inclines in the north if you fancy a more Tour de Cotswolds approach. Pony trekking and horse riding is also available if you want to give your legs a rest altogether. Head half an hour by car southward and you’ll reach Cotswold Water Park. Made up of 150 lakes and stretching over 40 square miles, the activities here guarantee a spashtastic time for all. Fishing, boat hire, swimming and kayaking are perfect for a lazy day on the lakes, while more demanding activities such as sailing, wakeboarding and waterskiing will suit the thrill seekers. After something a little different? Then grab onto an inflatable banana or doughnut for a high-speed pull around the watery expanses...white knuckles guaranteed. Birdwatching opportunities and even the chance to improve your wilderness skills, including shelter building, fire lighting and bushcraft, are also offered for those young (and grown-up) Bear Grylls wannabes. Travel to the east for 20 miles and Cotswold Wildlife Park awaits. Home to giraffes, crocs, penguins, meerkats and more, children will have a wildly entertaining time learning about the mammals, birds and reptiles here, as well as taking to the Skymaze (a 20-foot high adventure treehouse for the most intrepid young explorers). The children’s farmyard lets kids get up close and personal with some of the animals and the narrow gauge railway (open April to October) makes getting round the park easy with little ones. If you drive just under half an hour north from Far Peak you can also enjoy a day at the farm of BBC and Countryfile presenter Adam Henson, where from a farm safari to a milking demonstration, little ones can get their hands mucky as they discover what life is like on a real working farm. The historical town of Northleach is just under two miles northeast from the campsite. Established way back in 1200 AD, it now has a handy collection of small shops selling local produce, a museum about the town’s history, and a pub hailed by the Good Pub Guide. The Wheatsheaf Inn stocks local ales and writes its menu seasonally so as to make the most on what’s abundant in the surrounds. Burton-on-the-Water is a little further along the accessible A429 and has trinket shops, tearooms, and a sandwich shop - so you can get your fill of gifts and goodies (we’ll have ours on a bloomer, with butter, please).