Royal Oak Campsite

At a charming crossroads complete with red telephone box and fields bordered by the ubiquitous Peak District drystone walls sits the Royal Oak. A full car park reflects the enduring popularity of the pub, and the long drive to get there meant your reviewers were keen to fill their bellies before tents were even thought about. Happily the menu lived up to its reputation, and one delicious (and huge!) venison stew later it was time to explore the site. The benefits of camping next to a pub were immediately obvious, with campers sipping on pints of the local ales as they sat outside their tents swapping tales of the day's sightseeing.

Despite being such a popular spot to eat and drink, the pub sits in a quiet spot surrounded by farmland on all sides. The large, round main field has a slight slope, with the adjoining narrow field offering a flatter pitch. The site has room for 40 pitches, with a stone bunk barn offering another 40 beds if the weather is looking dicey.

The Tissington and High Peak Trails pass right next to the site, so if you fancy a good cycle (recommended after a couple of Royal Oak dinners) a hire company will even drop and collect from the site. Bakewell (of tart fame, this is going to be a belt bursting trip) is nearby, as are Ashbourne and Buxton. The other obvious activity is a few drinks in the pub, and with a proper breakfast menu now on offer to complete the foodie theme you can set yourself up for a day in the Peaks. One tip: the pub is deservedly busy, so book a table rather than chancing it after a day on the hills.