D of E’s rules have recently changed and they now allow participants doing the Bronze, Silver or Gold Awards to stay in camping barns or bunkhouses.
Independent Hostels have a network of camping barns and bunkhouses all over the UK that fit this new D of E condition perfectly.
Accommodation for the The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
This eco project on North Downs Way offers simple overnight accommodation in a beautifully converted historic barn. Self-catering (or local pubs for food within walking distance); three shared sleeping areas; garden with picnic bench and cycle shed. NO CARS ON SITE, even for off-loading. Nearest rail stations: Wanborough 3.5 km, Guildford 7 km.
Set in 30 acres on the North Devon coast, the farm boasts sea views overlooking Woolacombe, Lundy Island, Lee Bay, Ilfracombe, and the Welsh coast. A former stable block with all accommodation on ground level with raised sleeping areas with mattresses.BYO sleeping bag/bedding and warm clothing. There is a dining area and well equipped kitchen. Toilets/coin operated showers are in a nearby block. No stag/hen parties. Dogs welcome with sole use bookings. B&B, camping and a static caravan are also available on site.
Located in a quiet, tranquil, wooded valley with views across Bideford Bay towards Lundy, Peppercombe Bothy is effectively a stone tent. A perfect stopover on the South West Coast Path which passes through the valley close by or for those who really do want to get away from it all. With access to it’s own secluded beach you will not be disappointed.
There is no light or heating so bring your own sleeping, cooking and eating equipment and a torch!
Hawse End Centre sits at the head of the magnificent Borrowdale Valley on the shores of Derwentwater with easy access to Keswick via launch or lakeside walk. The house is a large, comfortable, country mansion, ideal for large groups, while the Cottage is more suited to smaller group, families and individuals. For the more adventurous there are two yurts with stunning views and transparent domes for star gazing. Catering & outdoor activities with instruction can be booked in advance.
A converted Sussex flint barn on a working sheep farm within the National Trust’s Slindon Estate, Gumber Camping Barn provides simple overnight accommodation & camping for walkers, horse riders and cyclists, just off the South Downs Way. A tranquil and remote location for you to get away from it all. Just five minutes’ walk from Stane Street, the Roman Road that crosses the South Downs Way at Bignor Hill. NO CARS. Not suitable for under fives.
Our hostel at lower Penderleath Farm near St.Ives is great for school groups.
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The Dalesbridge is just five miles from Ingleton and Settle in rural Yorkshire. In the grounds are cabins arranged around a camping field, with equipment storage, drying room, bar and conference rooms. Ideal for large groups. The Lodge B&B is furnished in a rustic mountain style with open fires. The bar, open at weekends, often serves breakfast and hosts a popular wood fired pizza night. Ideal for visiting the Yorkshire Dales & Forest of Bowland, whether you are a family, a group or an individual.
With unrivalled views of Pendle Hill Downham Camping Barn is a short walk from Downham village with its pub & cafes. Popular with walkers, cyclists & DofE groups the recently refurbished the barn sleeps 12 (BYO camp beds or roll mats). There’s a basic kitchen, sitting area, hot shower & WC. Photovoltaic cells provide power for limited LED lighting (but not for phone charging) and there is a wood-burning stove with fuel available to purchase. Outside there is space for tents, a gas BBQ & fire pit.
In the picturesque Loweswater Valley, Swallow Barn is part of a set of buildings dating back to 1670 on a working beef and sheep farm. Sleeping 18 on mattresses (BYO sleeping bags), there is a cooking and eating area, metered showers & plug socket and 2 toilets. Perfect for exploring the Western Fells on both high and low level walks with spectacular views, or enjoying the peace and tranquillity of the valley. On the C2C cycle route. The Kirkstyle pub (1 mi) serves food, Cockermouth (8 mi).
High Wallabarrow is a traditional hill farm in the Duddon Valley, the Lake District’s quiet corner. The well equipped camping barn, an old farmhouse, sleeps 10 upstairs. Downstairs there’s a large living area with woodburning stove and fully equipped kitchen. Mattresses provided BYO sleeping bags/pillows. Toilet just outside and shower nearby. 15 mins’ walk to pub, 10 mins to climbing crag. Not suitable for rowdy groups.
This former weather station has been converted into a comfortable bunkhouse located on the edge of the Hafren Forest. It is close to Plumlimon, in a quiet rural location between Llanidloes and Machynlleth in the Cambrian Mountains. A great base for walking, running, cycling (both on and off road), kayaking, wildlife watching, fly fishing, family groups and parties. Fully central heated the bunkhouse has a large dining room, well equipped kitchen and comfortable lounge with TV, DVD and playstation.
Perched at 290m (950ft) in the foothills of Snowdonia with direct access to the Carneddau mountains, Bron-y-Gader Bunkhouse offers comfortable & great value accommodation for groups of up to 37. Although remote and isolated it is just 8 miles to Conwy and 2 miles to the nearest pub. The many attractions and high adrenaline activities in Snowdonia are just a short drive away.
Watendlath Bothy sits next to the tarn in the quiet, picturesque hamlet that shares its name. High in a beautiful valley, it offers superb access to the surrounding fells. Visitors should treat the Bothy as a stone tent, BYO equipment as for camping, such as cutlery, plates, sleeping bags & mats, matches, etc.
The perfect choice for people looking to escape to one of the most remote-feeling places in the Lake District.
Here at Kendal we are perfect for groups, schools and even people that are achieving their D of E award.
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The Roaches Bunkhouse is at the foot of The Roaches gritstone edge in the Peak District. The area has some of the best climbing in the country plus walks and cycling in stunning scenery. An ideal base for climbers, walkers and cyclists. It has a drying room and bedrooms sleeping 2 or 4 in bunks. The communal area has tables and chairs, log fire, TV and board games. Self-catering facilities are available in a small kitchen. Parking available on site. Close to Ye Old Rock Inn and 3 miles the bustling market town of Leek.
Remote & peaceful, surrounded by the rugged splendour of Snowdonia, Ffridd Bunkhouse offers budget accommodation. Harlech with its beach, pubs, cafes & castle is just 2.5 miles away. This basic accommodation is in 2 units, one sleeps 12 & the other 4/5. Both have kitchen/dining areas & some heating. Each has a separate outside WC, but the shower is shared. Walkers, climbers & mountain bikers alike return annually to this hidden gem of a bunkhouse. BYO bedding.
Bluebell Farm Bunkbarn is within walking distance of shops and pubs. It is ideally located for exploring Nothumberland's Heritage Coast, the Cheviot Hills and the Scottish Borders. The Bunkbarn sleeps 14, the Studio 4. Plus 2 studio apartments and 5 self-catering cottages. There is a shared modern toilet block. BYO sleeping bags/towels or hire. Studio apartments & cottages have bed linen.
Renovated to a high standard including double glazing and insulation, the Reckoning House is situated 3 miles from Bakewell. It is on the edge of the Lathkill Dale National Nature Reserve, full of interesting flora and fauna as well as outstanding geological features. Horse riding, fishing, golf and cycle hire are available locally. Local walks include the Limestone Way. Facilities include: cooking area, 4 calor gas rings (gas supplied), hot water for washing up & showers, storage heaters in all rooms.
A mile from Castleton in the heart of the Peak District, Pindale Farm offers a range of accommodation. There's B&B in the farmhouse. The Barn has 6 self-catering units. The Engine House is a self-catering unit and The Powder House is a small camping barn. There is also a campsite. The ideal base for many outdoor activities. Instruction is available.
Fell End is a traditional 18th century Lakeland stone barn, located within its own grass courtyard approximately ½ mile from the farm. It is within easy distance of Coniston (6 miles) and the Duddon Valley (5 miles). Come and stay and witness the star filled skies, a truly breathtaking sight. Experience the magical sound of silence in the tranquil and calming Fell End Barn. Bring your own cooking equipment, torches, bedding and mat.
Bents Camping Barn, formerly a 17th century shepherd’s cottage, is in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. There are 2 bunkrooms sleeping 14 in total (BYO sleeping bags), a well equipped kitchen and a dining area. Please bring £1 coins for the electric metre. The Coast to Coast path is nearby and the Howgill Fells, Wild Boar Fell and Crosby Garrett Common offer great fell walking. Smardale Gill Nature Reserve and Sunbiggin Tarn are also easily accessible.
With 4 miles of stunning beach just 20 metres from the front door, Borth Youth Hostel is perfect for a beach holiday. This Edwardian house has 9 bedrooms with sea views and is a great base for visits to the Centre for Alternative Technology, Aberystwyth or the beautiful Dyfi Biosphere. Snowdonia National Park is just a short drive away making Borth perfect for both mountain biking & surfing. With two classrooms, Borth YHA is idea for school trips too. There's free WiFi, a games & TV room, bike storage & drying room. Breakfast, packed lunch & a licensed bar are available.
Find a friendly welcome at this warm & comfortable hostel for your group or family. Enjoy the loch-side location overlooking the Caledonian Canal, 4 miles from Fort William & Ben Nevis, with the meeting of the West Highland Way and Great Glen Way on your doorstep. Perfect for the outdoor enthusiast with advice/instruction/guiding from resident instructors for walking/climbing, river, loch and sea kayaking & dinghy sailing. Equipment hire available. AALS licensed & DofE approved for activity expeditions.
Lockerbrook Farm provides remote accommodation for groups of 15 to 38 with with stunning views across Snakes Pass to the Peak District Edges. Sleeping is in two large dorms and six private rooms. There is a large kitchen and dining area, ideal for groups to self cater (catering can be provided) and an enormous activity room with lounge area and a splendid wood burning stove.
Surrounded by the fells & valleys of the North Pennines, Carrshield Camping Barn offers basic accommodation for 18 across 3 rooms, each with a wood-burner and a wooden sleeping platform. There’s a separate cooking area & a composting WC. BYO stove, utensils & sleeping bag/mat. Perfectly located it’s on the Isaac’s Tea Trail, C2C cycle route and close to a number of mountain bike routes. A container of tap water can be provided and camping may be available.
Dalehead Bunkhouse is on a working hill farm at the remote head of Edale Valley. Providing basic but comfortable accommodation heated by log burner & infrared radiant heat. There is a kitchen with fridge/freezer, a lounge, dining room and plenty of parking. Please bring sleeping bags, pillows and towels. Edale is a very popular destination for walkers, climbers, mountain bikers, hang-gliders or for enjoying the magnificent scenery.
At the foot of Souther Fell, within easy reach of Blencathra, Blakebeck Farm is set amidst the wildflower meadows of Mungrisdale. On the C2C cycle route and the Cumbrian Way. Perfect as a weekend break for walkers and families. The large upstairs room has bunk beds for 10 people (BYO sleeping bags) and a large farmhouse table. The kitchen has all you need to cook a simple meal. DIY breakfast & pack lunches can be pre-booked. One dog welcome with sole use. Not suitable for parties.
Lledr House nestles in Snowdonia National Park. Once YHA and now newly refurbished, guests delight in the luxury mattresses, modern bathrooms, well equipped kitchen and extended car park. Individuals, groups and families enjoy the clean, comfortable accommodation. Betws-y-Coed, Llyn Elsi and Zip World high rope course close by.
...comfortable accommodation and a whole range of activities ..
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Waterslacks Camping Barn is perched on the edge of the Manifold Valley with breathtaking views of the surrounding hills. BYO all camping gear including stove and sleep mats. Wills Barn is a fully equipped bunkhouse with stunning views of this unspoiled area of the Peak District National Park. A rustic log-burning stove provides heating and cooking facilities. Fenns Barn 4* self-catering holiday let and camping are also available
Situated in the Peak District’s Woodlands Valley, Hagg Farm offers comfortable accommodation for up to 44 people with an additional 18 beds in the John Hunt Base next door (also in this Guide). Part of Nottinghamshire C.C’s Environmental & Outdoor Education Service, Hagg Farm is available for private hire by groups, families, clubs & charitable organisations. It can be booked on a self-catering or catered basis.
Holme Wood Bothy offers basic accommodation in a spectacular secluded location, right on the shore of Loweswater. This stone tent provides a roof, kitchen area and sleeping platform. Visitors must bring all camping equipment including plates, matches, sleeping mats, sleeping bags, food and water. If you are looking for a remote and basic getaway with easy access to the lake, this bothy is your perfect choice. Great for accessing the lakes and canoeing on Loweswater.
Dinah Hoggus Camping Barn lies on the old Packhorse route to Watendlath on the edge of the village of Rosthwaite in the Borrowdale valley. For walkers it is perfectly located right on the Cumbria Way and the Coast to Coast walk. It sleeps 12 on mattresses (BYO sleeping bag) & has a cooking/dining area. Basic cooking equipment is provided and there's an electric shower. The pub and village shop are just 300m away.
Denton House is a purpose built hostel and outdoor centre in the Lake District offering bunkhouse accommodation. Warm and well equipped for self-catering, the centre was designed for groups with parking for 40 cars. A variety of outdoor activities can be arranged on site. There is equipment storage and access to the River Greta across the road.
Perfect for the Pennine Way or C2C cycle route. In the lovely village of Garrigill, the bunkroom above the village hall sleeps 8 with bedding hire available. Larger groups can BYO bedding and use the hall itself where 12 camp beds are available. There is free wifi, a well equipped kitchen, showers and drying room so the perfect long distance walk/C2C stop over.
Cragg Camping Barn, with stunning views of the Buttermere Fells, is a great base for all outdoor enthusiasts with great walking, climbing and mountain biking close by. Sleeps 8 with a kitchen and seating area, hot shower on a meter and toilet/ washbasin with hot and cold water. BYO sleeping bag and stove/eating utensils if you wish to self-cater. Under-5’s and dogs welcome (sole occupancy only). Cragg House Farm also has a holiday cottage sleeping two.
In the village of Hardraw, the Old School Bunkhouse caters for individuals, families and outdoor activity groups.
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Overlooking Mam Tor, at the start of the Pennine Way, Edale Barn is a traditional camping barn or stone tent with a basic sleeping platform and a small communal living area. Within easy reach of the high moorland of Kinder and the wooded Derwent Valley. Adjoining the barn, but with external access, is a cooking area and separate toilet. There is no hot water or electricity. BYO sleeping & cooking equipment and torches. Pubs serving meals are within walking distance.
In the Ennerdale Valley, one of the most beautiful, least spoilt and quietest in the Lake District, Low GIllerthwaite Field Centre sits at the foot of Pillar and Red Pike. Well equipped for groups it is the perfect base for fell walking, rock climbing, bird & wildlife watching, mountain biking, orienteering, canoeing. The centre generates its own hydro-electricit. Vehicle access is by forest track and a BT payphone is on site as most mobiles do not work here.
St John’s-in-the-Vale Camping Barn, a renovated 18th century stable on a peaceful hill farm, has stunning views to Blencathra, Helvellyn and Castle Rock. The Barn has a sleeping area upstairs (mattresses provided) and a sitting/dining area below. A separate toilet, shower and cooking area (BYO equipment) are within the building. A wood-burning stove makes it nice and cosy. Outside there is a BBQ area. As there is no light pollution, the star-filled night skies are magical. Northern Lights have been seen too!
Foreland Bothy on the National Trust Foreland Point Estate on the Exmoor coast offers very basic accommodation, but rewards you with a fantastic location right on the South West Coast Path. Treat it like camping but without the tent, so you need to bring camping mats, sleeping bags and cooking equipment. There is a composting loo but no hot water. The perfect location for a night or two for those who want to explore the area on foot or want to escape technology in this wilderness under some stunning dark skies.
Opened April 2019 on the National Trust Malham Tarn Estate in North Yorkshire, Ragged Robin Bothy and Meadowsweet Bothy each sleeps 6 people on bunk bed platforms. Like camping but without the tent, you need to bring mats, sleeping bags and cooking equipment. There is one external toilet, cold water and no heating or lighting, so a perfect location for those who want to escape technology and enjoy dark skies. The bothys are right on the Pennine Way.
Situated in Thirlmere at the foot of the Helvellyn mountains, close to Sticks Pass and the spectacular Fisher-Gill waterfall, the camping barn offers you direct access to numerous walks, hill and rock climbing. It is just off the A591 with local and national bus stops at the end of the lane. Accommodation consists of two rooms; a kitchen/diner with all the basic equipment and a 10 bed bunkroom (sleeping bags/liners are required). A pub serving meals is within walking distance. Perfect for quite country retreats, it is not suitable for late night drinking parties
A mile outside the town of Dulverton on Exmoor, Northcombe Camping Barns nestle in the Barle river valley with good canoeing, walking and bridleways. A perfect base for groups on Exmoor. The barns sleep 16 and 28 in partitioned dormitories. Smaller groups can be catered for. Heated by wood-burning stoves with a well equipped kitchen, you just need to bring your own pillows, sleeping bags or duvets.
We are keen to promote sustainable use of the countryside and welcome the opportunity to explain our working rural environment. Farm walks can be arranged.
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As part of our ethos we offer free nights and reduced rates to charities, youth and community groups.
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Luxury bunkbarn, camping barn and B&B on an organic farm in beautiful Glaisdale Dale. Stunning views of the North York Moors and just 1 mile from the Coast to Coast route. The newly converted bunkbarn is warm & well appointed with one dorm of mostly single beds. The camping barn provides simple, single-night shelter for walkers and cyclists.
Bowderstone Bunkhouse is situated along the Borrowdale Valley by the famous Bowderstone – a massive boulder that has lain precariously on one side for the last 10,000 years! It has a kitchen, accessible shower room and communal area, plus running water, electricity and drainage, but linen and mattresses not provided. Please note, Bowderstone Bunkhouse is only for use by clubs, educational groups or other organisations such as the Scouts, as it is on National Trust land and has certain restrictions to its use.
Close to Dovedale, the Manifold Valley Cycle Trail, Carsington Water, AltonTowers and the Roaches Rocks (great for climbers). Ideal for quiet group get-togethers/parties, families, cyclists, walkers, DofE, Scouts, school groups and team building.
Camping in the comfort of a remote cosy barn with log burning stove. No electric and no distractions, it is the perfect place to switch off from the hassles of a hectic life. BYO all camping equipment.
Nestling in the wild and remote Wasdale valley, Murt Camping Barn is ideally situated for high fell walks in the Lake District including Scafell Pike, Mosedale Horseshoe and Great Gable. Converted from a hay loft and byre, it sleeps 8, with WC, shower & hot water in the same building. Pubs in the village of Nether Wasdale are just a 10 minute walk away and nearest shops are within 5 miles. Waswater & its YHA are half mile down road, towards the Scafell range of mountains.
Mid Wales Bunkhouse is perfect for school groups and especially D of E groups.
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Bushey Heath Farm in the heart of the Peak District offers 2 self contained bunk barns for groups of up to 20 and a summer campsite. The larger barn can accommodate occupants of both barns for meals. The farm has been developed with ground source heating, a wind turbine and rainwater harvesting, so visitors can experience practical sustainable ideas. Sleeping bags/duvets/sheet required.
D of E’s rules have recently changed and they now allow participants doing the Bronze, Silver or Gold Awards to stay in camping barns or bunkhouses. Their website now states as one of ‘The 20 Conditions of Expeditions’ that ‘Accommodation must be by camping or other simple self-catering accommodation (e.g. camping barns or bunkhouses)’. Independent Hostels have a network of camping barns and bunkhouses all over the UK that fit this new DofE condition perfectly. With prices starting at £11 per person per night they won’t break the bank.
Puttenham Eco Camping Barn on the North Downs Way passed by many D of E walkers every summerSituated in the typical areas for D of E expeditions, these independent camping barns and bunkhouse are often close to footpaths and quiet roads. They have traditionally been used mainly by walkers, cyclists and mountain bikers because of their unique locations. Generally small and compact, your DofE group could book the either the whole place or a dormitory for their sole use.
Fisher Gill Camping Barn in Thirlmere at the foot of the Helvellyn range of mountains in the Lake District. Another great place for D of E groups to stay.Camping barns are generally more basic than bunkhouses. Some are little more than a stone tent with sleeping platforms and a cooking area. The D of E participants would need to bring their own mats, sleeping bags, cooking equipment, food etc. In fact pretty much everything except their tent. Quite a few of the camping barns listed below belong to the National Trust and are on National Trust estates. If you are wanting your DofE group to have an overnight experience as close to camping as possible, then a stay in a camping barn (sometimes also called a bothy) would be the best option. Many don’t have electricity or heating other than a fire or log burner.
Sleeping platforms at Carrshield Camping Barn in Northumberland. Bunkhouses come in all shapes and sizes and generally offer a better standard of accommodation than a camping barns. There will be bunk beds in dormitories, a self catering kitchen with crockery and cooking equipment, hot water and showers. The bunkhouses listed below do not provide bedding, so your D of E group will still need to carry a sleeping bag.
Bunks at Hagg Farm Outdoor Centre in the Peak District ensure a dry night’s sleep There are many more bunkhouses in the Independent Hostel Network that do provide bedding as a standard, these are not listed below but it may well be worth looking at them too as they may be in just the right location for an overnight stay. If you search by the location you are looking to stay in on any of Independent Hostel’s website pages all the possible accommodation in that area will come up.
DofE campers enjoying an evening at Pindale Farm in the Peak District You might also be interested in a group of hostels and bunkhouses that have campsites on the same site. Good examples of this are Pindale Farm in the heart of The Peak District or Garrigill Village Hall just off the Pennine Way (and many other footpaths) in Cumbria. These hostels with campsites are very popular with with D of E groups, traditionally the leaders have tended to stay in the hostel while the participants have camped. With the rule change of course everyone can now stay within four stone walls.
Don’t let the British weather ruin your next D of E expedition. Book into an independent camping barn or bunkhouse to guarantee a dry night’s sleep. The participants will be in much better spirits to face the challenges of the next day.
