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campsites and bivvi spots
There are many campsites in and around the UK's climbing areas, but most of them are, frankly, rubbish. This guide is intended to include only the most useful and climber-friendly examples, and the criteria are:
- Proximity to the climbing
- Proximity to a good pub (ie. CAMRA's definition of a good pub)
- Cheapness
- Surroundings
- Facilities (simplicity thereof)
- Lack of caravans and tourists
I have also included some favourite bivvi sites. These are an option not only for the terminally cash-strapped, but also a soul-enriching alternative for Mr Mondeo. Get away from it all, get back to nature and wake up right underneath the rock. I suppose I should point out that rough camping and bivving is not strictly legal, especially on National Trust land, but if you are quiet, discrete, clean and tidy there should be no problems now or in the future. Unless stated, assume you need a bivvi bag.
Special thanks to Alan Geer for help compiling this list.
Jump to: Cornwall | Lake District | Peak District | Scotland | Wales, North | Wales, South
Cornwall | |
| Trevalor Bottalack, Near St. Just |
Grid ref: SW 369325 map |
| Description: Unlike most sites with 'facilites', this is a really friendly place. There is a cheap bar and a useful shop selling gear and guidebooks as well as food. Bosigran is a short walk, or take the coastal path a little further to Land's End or Chair Ladder. Excellent. | |
| Directions: Drive north from St. Just, through Tregeseal and look for the huge sign. | |
| Recommended pub: King's Head (?), Bottalack, 2 mins. | |
| Showers: Yes | Caravans: Yes | Cost: £3 pppn | Score: 3 | |
Lake District | |
| Ashness Farm Derwent Water, Borrowdale 017687 77361 |
Grid ref: NY 271192 map |
| Description: Nice simple site with a good view, but a little distant from both the Pub and the Climbing. | |
| Directions: Drive south from Keswick along Derwent Water, and take a small, steep turning on the left after four kilometres signed to Ashness Bridge. Site is 1300m on the left. | |
| Recommended pub: None nearby | |
| Showers: Yes | Caravans: No | Score: 2 | |
| Foxes Tarn Scafell |
Grid ref: NY208065 map |
| Description: A flat bit of sheltered ground close to the summit of Scafell. With a water supply, what more could the experienced bivvier require? Turn up late to avoid hysterical and ill-equiped benighted tourists begging for help. Please keep the water supply clean! | |
| Directions: From Wasdale Head: take path to Scafell Pike. At Hollow Stones, bear right, and climb to the col (Mickledore). 200m down the other side, take obvious gully on right (easy scramble). Foxes Tarn is at the top of the gully, just before the steps(!) leading to the summit. 2-3 hours. | |
| Recommended pub: Wasdale Head Inn, 2-3 hours | |
| Showers: No | Caravans: No | Cost: free | Score: 1 | |
| Contributed by: Steve Jolly ilikecheese@round.org.uk | |
| Old Dungeon Ghyll Great Langdale 01539 437272 |
Grid ref: NY 286058 map |
| Description: Another great location, Langdale Pikes loom right overhead. Scramble the ghyll, ramble to Borrowdale or climb on Pavey Arc, you won't get bored. A fine pub to boot. Run by the National Trust, so it's a little expensive.Bivvi spots are available about 2km up the pass (south) near Blea Tarn. | |
| Directions: Take the B5343 from Chapel Stile right to the top of Great Langdale. Camping opposite old hotel. | |
| Recommended pub: Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel, 1 minute. | |
| Showers: Yes | Caravans: No | Score: 3 | |
| Thorneythwaite Farm Seatoller, Borrowdale |
Grid ref: NY 246135 map |
| Description: Small, cheap but unglamourous site. Suffers from mud and midges. Good access to Borrowdale and the classic Sour Milk Ghyl scramble. A second site is marked by the farm at the end of the Seathwaite road (unchecked) and there is yet another just to the east in Stonesthwaite. | |
| Directions: Seatoller is on the B5289, and the camping is located a short distance down the turning to Seathwaite | |
| Showers: No | Caravans: No | Score: 1 | |
| Wasdale Head At the very top of Wasdale, below Scafell |
Grid ref: NY 187085 map |
| Description: The site is nothing special, and often busy, but the location! Situated right under the 'Scafell Massif', the climbing options are almost endless. Add to that a good pub and an outdoor shop (and nothing else) you can see why it's such a great spot. A very long drive from the south, but still gets ludicrously crowded in summer. | |
| Directions: From Nether Wasdale, follow the narrow road NE along Wast Water to the very end. | |
| Recommended pub: Wasdale Head Inn, opposite. | |
| Showers: No | Caravans: No | Score: 2 | |
| Wasdale NT Near Wasdale Head 019467 26220 |
Grid ref: NY 183076 map |
| Description: Although a National Fascist run site, it is simple and pleasant, and in a great location. Cars are banned from the field (good) but it's expensive (bad). An option when Wasdale Head is full (ie. when there's no 'r' in the month). | |
| Directions: From Nether Wasdale, follow the narrow road NE along Wast Water. Site is just after the lake. | |
| Recommended pub: Wasdale Head Inn, 15 mins | |
| Showers: Yes | Caravans: No | Score: 2 | |
Peak District | |
| Eric Byne Memorial Near the Robin Hood pub, A619, west of Baslow 01246 582277 |
Grid ref: SK 274727 map |
| Description: A very simple site, just a (sloping) field and a loo. Overpriced and inaccessible, but with great location, right between Gardom's Edge and Birchen Edge and a beautiful view. Suffers from the irritations of sheep, annoying farmer waking you up and hard ground, but benefits from a proliferation of a particular variety of mushroom in the autumn. | |
| Directions: Park at the Robin Hood, then walk 300m east to the gate. Follow path 500m north across two stiles to the site. | |
| Recommended pub: Robin Hood, 10 mins | |
| Showers: No | Caravans: No | Cost: £2.50 pppn | Score: 2 | |
| Froggatt Edge Cave Froggatt Edge |
Grid ref: SK 247765 map |
| Description: A terrible bivvi, whatever Joe Brown may say (although you can do Cave Crack from your sleeping bag, a gem at HS 5a). Usually wet. Avoid. | |
| Directions: Forget it | |
| Recommended pub: The Checkers, 20 mins NE | |
| Showers: No | Caravans: No | Cost: free | Score: zero | |
| Hardhurst Farm Hope Valley, near Wirksworth 01433 620001 |
Grid ref: SK 295529 map |
| Description: Rather a long way from the climbing, you will need to take your car. Otherwise an adequate farm site. | |
| Directions: Take the B5035 east from Wirksworth about 600m, then turn south up a small steep road. Campsite is in one kilometer near the farm. | |
| Recommended pub: Wirksworth, 10 mins | |
| Showers: | Caravans: | Cost: £2.50 pppn | Score: 1 | |
| Millstone Edge bivvi Millstone Edge, nr. Hathersage |
Grid ref: SK 247805 map |
| Description: One of the best edges at which to camp or bivvi -- totally sheltered and secluded with the mighty London Area just outside your tent. But be discrete and keep it tidy! IMPORTANT -- there is a history of vehicle break-ins and thefts at Surprise View, so leave your car clearly empty with the glove compartment open and the radio removed. Better still, leave it in Hathersage or don't use a car at all, it's doable by public transport. | |
| Directions: Park at the Surprise View on the A6107, walk 300m west then follow marked path north (about one kilometer to London Area). | |
| Recommended pub: Nearest pub is in Hathersage Booths, one mile west, untested. | |
| Showers: No | Caravans: No | Cost: free | Score: 3 | |
| North Lees One kilometer east of Stanage Edge 01433 650838 |
Grid ref: SK 235832 map |
| Description: The site for Stanage, only 15 minutes walk to Robin Hood's cave area. A pleasant and shady location, but suffers from overcrowding and midges. Book in Summer. | |
| Recommended pub: The Little John, Hathersage, 25 mins | |
| Showers: Yes | Caravans: No | Score: 2 | |
| Peakland Caravans Stoney Middleton, Hope Valley 01433 631414 |
Grid ref: SK 216752 map |
| Description: Although really a caravan site, and a rather anal one, there is a small and pleasant camping area. The closest site to the Stoney limestone climbs. | |
| Directions: From the Moon pub in Stoney, go up the steep High Street for about a kilometer. Site is on the right. | |
| Recommended pub: The Moon, Stoney Middleton, 10 mins | |
| Showers: Yes | Caravans: Yes | Cost: £4 pppn | Score: 1 | |
| Robin Hood Cave (bivvi) Stanage Edge |
Grid ref: SK 245835 map |
| Description: A fine bivvi on quiet days. The cave itself is very sheltered with a sandy floor, ideal for really bad weather. The balcony area to the right is more pleasant and open but still stays dry. Keep it clean, no dumping (people do, you know). To access, climb the staircase route to the left (an easy diff) then drop down from above to the ledge. Not recommended for non-climbers. | |
| Directions: From the road junction at SK 240835 above North Lees, head straight uphill to Robin Hood's cave area. | |
| Recommended pub: The Little John, Hathersage, 30 mins | |
| Showers: No | Caravans: No | Cost: free | Score: 2 | |
Scotland | |
| Clachaig Inn Glencoe 01855 811252 |
Grid ref: NN 127566 map |
| Description: Unofficial free camping is available in the field opposite the Clachaig Inn, though I think you're expected to eat and drink there! There are three official campsites between here and Glencoe village, but why bother? | |
| Directions: Off the A82, 3 miles SE of Glencoe village, first left after the visitor's centre. | |
| Recommended pub: Clachaig Inn, CAMRA best pub in Scotland, 0 mins. | |
| Showers: No | Caravans: No | Cost: free | Score: 2 | |
Wales, north | |
| Beddgelert 1 mile north of Beddgelert 01766 890 288 |
Grid ref: SH 577490 map |
| Description: A full-on international-style campsite with all the facilities, but the drawbacks of high cost and rumours of thefts. Not offwidth's cup of tea. | |
| Directions: It's obvious | |
| Showers: Yes | Caravans: Yes | Cost: £ high | Score: 1 | |
| Capel Curig A5, near Capel |
Grid ref: SH 743573 map |
| Description: A good simple site with plenty of space, but a little out-of-the-way. | |
| Directions: From Capel, walk about 1500m east, site is on the right indicated only by a 'no caravans' sign | |
| Recommended pub: The Bryn Tyrch Hotel, Capel, 10 minutes or Tyn-y-Coed, 20 minutes. | |
| Showers: No | Caravans: No | Score: 2 | |
| Cromlech Llanberis Pass |
Grid ref: SH 634563 map |
| Description: A few unofficial tent / bivvi spots are available next to the stream, or use the sloping field a little to the west. The farmer sometimes collects a small fee. No facilities or pub, but unbeatable location. | |
| Directions: Just across the road from the Cromlech boulder | |
| Recommended pub: None for miles! | |
| Showers: No | Caravans: No | Cost: usually free | Score: 3 | |
| Eric's Caff Bwlch-y-Moch, Tremadog 01766 512199 |
Grid ref: SH 574403 map |
| Description: A good site, with the considerable benefits of being directly below the crag and right next to Eric's famous Caff. Bunkhouse also available. | |
| Directions: Directly off the A498, below the crag | |
| Showers: Yes | Caravans: No | Cost: £2.50 pppn | Score: 3 | |
| Nant Peris Nant Peris, a few miles east of Llanberis across the lake |
Grid ref: SH 606584 map |
| Description: There are actually two adajcent sites, pretty much the same. They are the closest to Snowdon and Cloggy, which can be reached in forty minutes by the entertaining 'direct' route. Reputed to be the windiest campsite in the UK, possibly the world, I've heard of half a dozen tents destroyed by a freak tornado. Should also be avoid when very wet. | |
| Directions: Next to the road, directly opposite the pub in the centre of the village | |
| Recommended pub: Vaynol Arms, opposite | |
| Showers: No | Caravans: No | Cost: £1.50 pppn | Score: 2 | |
Wales, south | |
| Bocherston Just north of Bosherston village, Pembrokeshire |
Grid ref: SR 963947 map |
| Description: A simple green sward with a tap -- perfect! Loos are in the centre of the village opposite the church. Short drive to parking for Saddle Head and St. Govan's Head. | |
| Directions: Approaching from the north, look for and ignore small camping sign. Site is 200m further through a very narrow gate on the right before the guesthouse. | |
| Recommended pub: The Crown (?) Bosherston, 10 mins | |
| Showers: No | Caravans: No | Cost: £1 pppn | Score: 3 | |