North Lees

The peaceful solitude of North Lees contrasts with its vicinity to both natural wonder and urban beauty. The site sits a short walk from Stanage Edge, the awesome gritstone escarpment that stretches for six miles along the peaks, yet it is only a few miles from the city of Sheffield and from beautiful Hathersage, a 30 minute walk away, which boasts an open air pool and good pubs. With so much to do during the day, North Lees is the perfect base to rest up after the day's excursions. The site covers three or four slightly sloping fields with a calming stream skirting one edge and trees surrounding all sides. This cocoon-like layout is enhanced by the lack of cars, kept at arm's length in the car park, creating the ideal setup for a restful night's sleep; wheelbarrows are on hand to trundle your kit across to your pitch.

The famous Packhorse Route passes close to the site. This paved path was once used to transport goods to Sheffield and lies about 15 minutes away. Alongside the more challenging hikes and climbs, this area is perfect for a relaxing ramble, and if your leanings are more literary than outdoors you'll be inspired to know that the area has been both the setting for a film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and the rumoured inspiration for Jane Eyre, with North Lees Hall hosting Charlotte Bronte in 1845.

Since we visited, a handful of camping pods have been added among the fields, so if the ground looks a little too tilted for a good night's sleep, an upgrade is there for the taking. Open all year bar a short Christmas break, it is a genuinely restful spot to come back to.