Camping at Farm on the HillOur small, secluded eco-campsite is set on the edge of a young woodland and wildflower meadow, in the scenic countryside of Prestwood on the Staffordshire/Derbyshire border.
There are two camping areas available, both small, both beautiful. Camping Area 1: The CopseOn the edge of the woodland there is an established copse area, surrounded by fully grown trees and a high hedge to keep the wind at bay. Entering the copse through a break in the hedge, you step into a hidden place, a place of campfires and stargazing on hazy summer days , a special place that has our campers returning time and time again.
Barbecues are on site for you to use, along with both a communal fire pit and smaller stone fire circles for the more intimate feel. |
Camping Area 2: The MeadowNew for 2015 is our second small camping area, this time set in the woodland itself in a small mown clearing close to the edge of the site. Only a matter of metres from the main camping area this additional spot has a completely different feel to it. Surrounded by young trees, and abundant wildflowers this spot is so magical, and so alive. Due to it being the first year of using this area you are advised to bring something comfy to sleep on though as there is the odd bump to be found on the ground! :)
I really can't describe adequately how beautiful this place is, camping in a wildflower meadow...simply out of this world. 
the meadow in July 2014. This is not the new camping area (which i seem to not have a photo of!) but helps a little with the imagining :)
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Campsite Facilities
 The Long Drop Compost Toilet with views over the valley
'Both camping spots share facilities which include a compost long drop toilet set on the edge of the site with a magnificent view overlooking the churnet valley from the toilet itself.
(The view from the toilet is actually so good that it has now been mentioned in both the Telegraph and the Guardian! ) click here to see the photo of the view in the guardian :-) its the main picture at the top of the article! :-)... and we do now have hot water and showers just in case you were wondering! |
In addition to the toilet is a solar shower and wood-fired sauna. The shower is inside just like any other but is heated by the sun via a solar water heater on the outside of the building. The water heater also heats hot water for two outside sinks.
On dull days the water can be heated up via a wood burner in the sauna part of the building. This can take up to an hour so we suggest you enjoy a sauna while you wait and then appreciate the shower afterwards...that way you may also be grateful that it never really achieves 'hot' in the conventional sense of the word!! :-) If you're looking for scorching hot water and a power shower this site may not be for you , but if you're looking for a shower adventure it definitely is! |
Additional on-site and on-farm facilities:
In addition to the above mentioned compost toilet, shower and sauna there are also:
- Barbecues available on-site for you to use (please bring your own charcoal)
- A large stone fire circle with stone seating for group gathering campfires
- Smaller stone fire circles and additional stones for building your own for a more intimate fire
- Firewood available for sale from the main farm house
- Cycle Hire available from the farm and a beautiful traffic free cycle route through the valley
- Fresh seasonal veg and salads available for sale grown organically here on the farm (please let us know in advance and we can have some picked fresh for your arrival)
- A tea room set in an open fronted barn and gardens down at the main farm house that is open at weekends during the summer or weekdays/evening by prior arrangement. We serve a basic menu of teas, coffee, homemade lemonade and freshly baked cakes and scones. Additional food available on request eg sandwiches etc
Things to do in the area
cycling along the old railway line
From the campsite you can explore, either on foot or by bike the beautiful,and undiscovered Churnet valley with its hidden lakes and stunning scenery..you may even catch sight of a kingfisher down by the river, or the allusive green woodpecker. At the end of the cycle trail you will find dimmingsdale, and the Rambers Retreat, a really special place and the perfect spot for refueling before you walk back up the track to the campsite for your evening by the fire.
For those of you wishing to venture further afield, there is the peak district, with Ashbourne, the gateway to the peaks, being only 10 minutes away by car. The Potteries in Stoke on Trent where you can visit the old pottery kilns, a really brilliant Monkey Forest at Trentham gardens which i really recommend as a great day out for children and adults alike, as well as many National Trust places, the most local of which is Sudbury Hall with its Museum of Childhood only 15 minutes by car.
I personally would just stay at the campsite though! :)
For those of you wishing to venture further afield, there is the peak district, with Ashbourne, the gateway to the peaks, being only 10 minutes away by car. The Potteries in Stoke on Trent where you can visit the old pottery kilns, a really brilliant Monkey Forest at Trentham gardens which i really recommend as a great day out for children and adults alike, as well as many National Trust places, the most local of which is Sudbury Hall with its Museum of Childhood only 15 minutes by car.
I personally would just stay at the campsite though! :)
Prices:£10 / tent / night for up to 2 people in tent.
Additional people in tent - £5/person the whole campsite can also be hired for private use. Prices are the same as above but with a minimum hire charge of £100/night for private hire of the whole site and facilities. Private hire must be for at least 1 night mid-week, 2 nights at the weekend, or 3 nights for bank holidays. We also offer private hire of the copse area but with shared use of facilities for a minimum of £50/night for up to 10 people to make a booking or for more information please contact us either by telephone or via the online form |
The woodland and meadow, home to the campsite at Farm on the HillFor those of you wanting to read a little about our new woodland and meadow planted in partnership with the Woodland Trust in 2011, there is information to be found on our woodland page , as well as up to date photos of the woodland and meadow itself on the woodland blog
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Some more photos of the campsite and meadow...Arrival and Departure Times: Arrival is anytime from 2pm onwards and departure is by 12pm on the day that you leave. However we do try to be as flexible with this as possible so if you would like to either arrive earlier or leave later please let us know and we will do our best to work this for you. If there is no one booked into your pitch the day that you leave you are very welcome to stay and enjoy the space as long as possible. |
Camp Site GuidelinesOur campsite is set in a beautiful environment on the edge of a small village. We expect that all campers will respect the environment and people around them, not litter either the site or surrounding area and not make loud noise during their stay. In order to prevent loud noise from occurring we do not allow generators or music systems.
As this is a site that welcomes young families we ask that campers are quiet from 11pm onwards. Quite often the nights can be so still here that laughter around a campfire can carry right around the field...so we ask that campers only laugh in whispers after 11pm! :-)... thankyou Dogs by prior arrangement only. We operate a system where we allow dogs only if you are the first people to book in, that way we can inform anyone else that enquires that a dog is booked in and they can then decide whether or not to continue with their booking. We will always site campers with dogs in a pitch away from other campers. |
Bell Tent Camping
Working with local company Tinkers Bells, we now offer 'glamping'. Visit Tinkers Bells for prices for bell tent hire.
to book or for more information please contact us on 07971 371433 or via the contact form
