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Brook Farm

89%
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· Ashbourne, England
6 acres hosted by Ann K.
10 motorhome/tent pitches
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Staff verified
Accuracy verified by Hipcamp's on-the-ground team.
Camping in a farmer’s field just south of the Peak District National Park

There’s nothing fancy about Brook Farm campsite in the Staffordshire countryside. It’s a simple site which offers back to basics camping in a farmer’s field. For self-sufficient campers who want little more than a place to pitch near the Peak District, this place will do very nicely indeed. You can bring the dog, you can have a campfire and, not only are you surrounded by lovely rural scenery, but you’re within easy reach of a heck of a lot. The site is just a couple of miles from Ashbourne, the southern gateway to the national park, and Alton Towers is a mere eight miles away. There’s also a farm shop, a pub, and a river within walking distance. What more could you want than that?

If your answer is “an on-site bar” or even just “a shower”, you had better look elsewhere. Brook Farm has neither. It simply offers electric and non-electric pitches in a flat field. In the winter months it’s campervans, caravans and motorhomes (with their own on-board facilities) only. From April to October, portaloos are brought in and tents are welcome too. Drinking water is on tap but it’s a cold-water site so there are no dishwashing sinks here either. What you will find is fire pits for hire with logs for sale at the garage down the road. You’ll also find fantastic views of countryside and, perhaps, cows and goats grazing in the field next door. 

Brook Farm is in the rural village of Middle Mayfield, which boasts a village shop and a location just south of the market town of Ashbourne. It sits on the softer, southern side of the Peak District where Dovedale with its famous stepping stones is the big attraction. Seasoned walkers could hike there and back in a day but most people will opt for the 15-minute drive. Taking the car opens up other options too: Bakewell, Buxton, and Chatsworth to name a few places in the park. Carsington Water, Alton Towers, and Sudbury Hall on this side of its boundary.

Brook Farm is a small, back-to-basics site in a remote location close to the Peak District (10 minutes). It is suitable for tents, caravans, campervans and motorhomes, with spacious electric and non-electric grass pitches. for lovely countryside views, the cows like to say hello when in the field next door too! Surrounded by open fields with plenty of space, the views here are mainly made up of various shades of green, in the form of fields and trees, with a few location bonus points thrown in for being on the banks of the Dove river. Facilities include portable unisex toilets and drinking water. There is also a designated waste area. NB there are no showers. Fire pits are available to hire, and logs and kindling can be purchased from a nearby garage. Picnic benches are available on request. There is also one electric pitch available for tents too. Dogs are welcome, and some lovely walks across the fields on the footpath running alongside the River Dove Theres plenty of space to play with around this site, great swathes of space for kids / dogs to run around and for barbecues or campfires to be constructed safely away from the action. Want to stretch your legs further? There are plenty of walks to be had in the surrounds; arguably one of the most rewarding is the one that takes 10 minutes to get to the local pub. Alder Carr farm shop is a few minutes away and opens on a Saturday. Local takeaways in Ashbourne offer a delivery service, and there's a pub just a 10 minute walk away.
Activities
Hiking
Natural features
Field
Farm
89%
9 Ratings · 9 reviews
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Lesley D.recommends
September 2, 2024
Non electric tent or vehicle pitch
Ann let us camp in a lovely quiet spot on our own in the big field with an amazing view
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Claire C.
August 26, 2024
Non electric tent or vehicle pitch
Basic
Close drive to dovedale and there was a lovely river close by and a nice walk. Surrounded by cows & sheep was lovely. However, the owner (Ann) was very rude and made us feel unwelcome after a campfire we had with a few people we had met on the site. We felt singled out and was threatened to be asked to leave baring in mind it’s stated in the listing description lights out at 10, shortly after we were inside our tents. Not a campsite you can openly socialise in, I guess. 😁
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Ellen M.recommends
August 13, 2024
Non electric tent or vehicle pitch
Lovely site, very quiet and peaceful! Loved the local piglets and good base for Alton Towers. Would recommend.
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Anne T.
July 23, 2024
Non electric tent or vehicle pitch
Back to basics camping
The site is advertised as "back to basics" and that's what you should expect. It's basically just a field with one portaloo in the corner next to a shed for the bins. There are various taps with cold water dotted about the site. I loved hearing the owls at night and the dawn chorus, although you could also hear the traffic (not too much, though) on the main road at night and there was one cow that woke everyone up at 4:30 with its constant moo-ing! Handy for some lovely walks and scenery in the peak district.
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Anna W.recommends
July 15, 2024
Non electric tent or vehicle pitch
Camping weekend
Really enjoyed camping here with friends for a weekend away- Ann was very friendly and was easily contactable in the lead up to our arrival. Also had a recommendation from a friend/family member of Anns to walk at Dovedale which was great!
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Marijke D.recommends
May 24, 2024
Non electric tent or vehicle pitch
Lovely peaceful site. Good pub food a walk away
Location
Ashbourne, England, United KingdomTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
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Hosted by Ann K.

Joined in June 2023
From the host
Brook Farm is a back-to-basics site in a remote location close to the Peak District (10 minutes). It is suitable for tents, caravans, campervans and motorhomes, with spacious electric and non-electric grass pitches. for lovely countryside views, the cows like to say hello when in the field next door too! Surrounded by open fields with plenty of space, the views here are mainly made up of various shades of green, in the form of fields and trees, with a few location bonus points thrown in for being on the banks of the Dove river. Facilities include a couple of portable unisex toilets and drinking water. There is also a designated waste area. Please note there are no showers. Fire pits are available to hire, and logs and kindling can be purchased from a nearby garage. Picnic benches are available on request. Dogs are welcome, and some lovely walks across the fields on the footpath running alongside the River Dove There's plenty of space to play with around this site, great swathes of space for kids / dogs to run around and for barbecues or campfires to be constructed safely away from the action. Want to stretch your legs further? There are plenty of walks to be had in the surrounds; arguably one of the most rewarding is the one that takes 10 minutes to get to the local pub. Alder Carr farm shop is a few minutes away and opens on a Saturday. Local takeaways in Ashbourne offer a delivery service, and there's a pub just a 10 minute walk away.
Nearby attractions

You can head out on walks or bike rides straight from Brook Farm campsite. The River Dove provides a nice route (though nearby its banks are fenced) and there are plenty of pretty villages to explore. The market town of Ashbourne is three miles up the road and the campsite is the one of the closest to Darley Moor Motorcycle Track (four miles). There are more thrills and spills over at Alton Towers theme park, about eight miles away. The Peak District National Park, of course, provides plenty of those too with climbing, caving and white water rafting all available. There’s a tourist information point in the town hall at Ashbourne. Dovedale and the Ilam Country Park are a lovely place for a walk on this side of the national park (six miles away) and the Tissington Trail provides a good cycle route along a former railway line. Bakewell and Chatsworth are just under 20 miles’ drive north in one direction and the pleasant town of Buxton is just over 20 miles’ drive in the other. Outside the park Carsington Water and Peak Wildlife are other popular places to visit, both within 10 miles of the campsite.

Food and drink

There’s local produce available from Alder Carr Farm just up the road and a village shop for basics less than a mile away. There’s also a Londis at the nearest petrol station where you can buy logs and groceries. For more than that, head towards Ashbourne (three miles) where there are lots of independent shops and eateries – as well as a supermarket. The Royal Oak is the closest pub serving food, a mile away in Mayfield. Another option for a drink is The Cock Inn at Clifton (just under two miles if you drive). Slightly further, but worth the drive if you want a good meal out, is The Duncombe Arms at Ellaston. Booking ahead is advised.

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