Doorstep Discovery – Peaks and Lakes
By: Glamping UK
With so many opportunities for luxury holidays here in the UK, our new Doorstep Discovery feature we will be looking at some of the most beautiful and interesting areas for you to visit including a selection of the most accessible, affordable and comfortable Glampsites.
The Peak District
We begin with the peak district, which is a pretty good start seeing that 80% of the UK population lives within four hours of the park.
Forming the southernmost section of the Pennines, the Peak District covers parts of Derbyshire, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Yorkshire, and Greater Manchester and became Britain’s first official National Park in 1951… Not for its ‘peaks’ as there aren’t as many as the name suggests, but because of its remarkable and diverse natural beauty.
Covering more than 500 square miles of countryside it’s no surprise that there is a lot and I mean a lot of walking available. In all the extensive network of public footpaths and trails cover more than 1,600 miles, which is no bad thing if you’re looking for anything from a leisurely stroll to a full blown yomp, and hiking certainly continues one of the most popular activities in the region.
Of course there is much else to do including cycling, climbing, caving as well as a number of historical houses and places of special interest, such as Bakewell home to the delicious tart treat that shares its name.
Given that in 2015, more than 10 million people visited the Peak District there’s a whole host of places to go Glamping in the area. Two that we recommend for a comfortable and relaxing stay are Long Valley Yurts and New Hanson Shepherds Huts.
Long Valley Yurts offer a holiday with a difference amidst the idyllic rolling hills and dales of the White Peak. This family (and dog) friendly place is situated on the Knotlow Campsite, between Bakewell and Buxton. Four spacious yurts are available for hire between March and November, offering the chance to sit back and relax by a warm wood burning stove and ‘reconnect with the things that are important in your life’
New Hanson Shepherds Huts provide an ecologically friendly holiday, with a touch of luxury, within easy distance for tourist attractions, such as Alton Towers, Chatsworth House, Bakewell, Ashbourne, the spa towns of Matlock & Buxton and the Carsington Reservoir. The Huts have a built in double bed with luxury mattresses, with wood-burning stoves and battery operated lanterns that provide ambient lighting for a truly relaxing glamping experience.
The Lake District
Just over 100 miles to the Northwest of the Peaks, the ‘world famous’ Lake District is a rugged region famous for its mountains, forests and of course..... lakes.
While the Peak district is the oldest National Park in the UK the Lake District is the largest, covering 885 square miles of the County of Cumbria. In fact everything in the area seems to be massive, with the UK’s largest lake (Windermere), Britain’s deepest lake (West Water) and the highest mountain in all of England (Scafell Pike) all to be found here.
Since and probably well before William Wordsworth first wrote the ‘Guide to the Lakes’ in 1810, visitors have flocked like clouds to the Lake District and last year an estimated 16.4 million people arrived to take part in everything from hand-gliding to dry stone walling!
The mountains and lakes are of course the big draw and sailing and climbing feature heavily on many people’s agendas. Like the Peak District there’s lots of walking opportunities and with natural features and wildlife to be seen everywhere it makes photography extremely popular.
Food and drink is most excellent. In fact the park hosts everything from lakeside cafes to Michelin star restaurants and is one of the best regions in the country for gastronomic delights. Plus, dSid you know that the Lake District is home to more microbreweries than anywhere else in the country?
So where to stay? For us there are three Glamsites to recommend…
Once again, Long Valley Yurts make an appearance to provide that family (and dog) friendly Glamping Holiday. This site is situated within the National Trust Campsite at Low Wray on Windermere, and offers three 16ft Yurts and three 18ft Yurts from March to November. The site offers the perfect base for an array of activities and excursions. Whether it's canoeing on the lake, mountain biking at Grizedale, gentle lakeside walks or just sitting back at the site relaxing there is something for everyone.
Next up are Inside Out Camping who offer holidays in Yurts and Bell tents in the beautiful Borrowdale Valley close to Keswick in the Lake District. Inside Out have two sites in Grange and Seatoller to choose from, using existing local farm campsites with the location of each making them a fantastic location to get away from it all while having all that you want on your doorstep.
Last, but not least, are the Octolodges found at Abbot’s Reading Farm, which is a unique, friendly Glampsite in the Lake District with stunning mountain views, surrounded by beautiful countryside on a family run farm. The Glamping at Abbot’s Reading Farm is in an ideal location in South Cumbria for many of the activities listed in this article, including walking, cycling and bird/wildlife watching, and for generally just exploring the delights of the Lake District.
At Glamping UK HQ we’re divided on which of these regions or which Glampsite is our personal favourite, so either flip a coin or just go ahead and visit them all… Either way, you’ll be delighted with what you will discover on your doorstep.
