There are some great hostels and bunkhouses in the Peak District National Park. Near to the popular Derbyshire villages of Matlock, Castleton and Bakewell, and close to Leek in the Staffordshire Moorlands. Bunkhouses provide the perfect base for those walking the Pennine Way from Edale, mountain biking on Kinder Scout or climbing on the edges around Grindlow, Stanage, Froggatt Edge and The Roaches. Ex YHA camping barns and hostels provide great self catering accommodation close to the popular Monsal Trail, Manifold Valley Trail, High Peak Trail and Tissington Trial. All great trail for walking, family cycling and horse riding. Watersports are available at Carsington Water and Derwent Reservoir both with bunkhouses close by. Try the Peak Districts hostels and bunkhouses, ideal for holidays in the great outdoors.
Peak District bunkhouses & hostels
Ashbourne Gateway Centre, in the pretty market town of Ashbourne, provides groups of up to 27 with a perfect base for exploring the landscape & attractions of the Peak District. It is popular with schools, uniformed & youth groups, gatherings of friends/families and groups of walkers/cyclists. The Tissington trail off-road cycle/walking route starts opposite. Carsington Water,The Roaches & Alton Towers make great days out and are all close by.
The Roaches Bunkhouse provides group accommodation 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 & cycling in stunning scenery. Facilities include a large communal area with tables & chairs, a log fire, DVDs & board games. There’s a small well equipped kitchen. Outside there’s a BBQ area and on-site parking. Walking distance to Ye Old Rock Inn & the Roaches Tearooms. 3 miles to the bustling market town of Leek.
St Michael’s Centre, located in the village of Hathersage, provides high quality family friendly group accommodation, surrounded by the beautiful countryside of the Peak District National Park.
There are comfortable dormitory style bunk beds and a lovely central hall which provides a fantastic communal kitchen, dining and lounge area for enjoyable shared living. Attached cottage also available separately or for larger groups.
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.
Bretton Hostel, between Eyam & Hathersage in the heart of the Peak District, feels remote on Bretton Edge. It is a peaceful space with far-reaching views across the Peak. Excellent walks & cycle rides from the door. Perfect for winding down, as a base for outdoor activities & gatherings. Bedding provided, equipped kitchen, living/dining room, WiFi, secure cycle store, studio.
With all of the Peak District National Park within easy access, the centre is an ideal location for activities and tourism and it welcomes a wide range of groups. 31 or 52 bed configurations can be booked.
The spacious centre includes; a large lounge with library, TV and wood burning stove, well equipped kitchens & dining areas. An extensive network of paths give access to the countryside. Adventure activities available, great for team building & courses.
Close to Dovedale, the Manifold Valley Cycle Trail, Carsington Water, Alton Towers 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, fully plumbed in toilet and hand wash basin. No electric and no distractions. Stands in a meadow, off the beaten track, has outstanding views. BYO all camping equipment.
Overlooking Mam Tor, at the start of the Pennine Way, Edale Barn is a traditional camping barn; a stone tent with a wooden sleeping platform. Close to Kinder Scout, Jacobs Ladder, Kinder Downfall & Hollins Cross. Adjoining the barn, but with external access, is a cooking area with a mains water tap and a chemical toilet. There is no heating or electricity. BYO sleeping mats/bags, cooking equipment and torches. Pubs serving meals are an easy walk away.
Bradwell War Memorial Hall is in the pretty village of Bradwell in the heart of the Peak District. This community run hall offers low cost self-catering accommodation to groups of 6-42.
An ideal base for walkers, bikers, DofE students or climbers who wish to explore this popular area. There are no beds so BYO sleeping mat and bedding. The rooms are centrally heated, there’s a well equipped kitchen & hot showers.
Lockerbrook Farm Outdoor Centre, operated by The Woodcraft Folk, is situated in glorious isolation high above Ladybower Reservoir. The Centre provides exclusive accommodation with stunning views across Snake Pass. The converted hill farm provides accommodation in two units; the Cottage sleeps 6 and the Bunk Barn 38. Catering & outdoor activities available with notice.
With its own crags, streams, lakes & 600-acres of mature woodland, Shining Cliff Hostel has nature on its doorstep.
Access is half a mile from the nearest parking area along a woodland footpath. Paths lead through the woods to the A6 at Ambergate (20 mins’ walk) which has a food shop, pub, buses and trains to Derby.
The hostel is ideal for a wide range of groups wishing to enjoy time away in a peaceful woodland setting.
Close to the start of the Pennine Way with easy access to Kinder Scout and the village of Edale via a network of footpaths from the doorstep. Castleton, Buxton, Bakewell and Chatsworth House are all within 40 minutes' drive. There are 2 bunkhouses each with a fully equipped kitchen and available for sole use by groups. Bring your own sleeping bags.
Close to Hathersage and 2 miles west of Stanage Edge, the bunkhouses are on a family-run dairy farm. Popular areas for climbing, walking from meadows to moorland with fantastic views & mountain biking. Each bunkhouse is heated and has a living room, kitchen, bathrooms with toilets, showers and washbasins. Sleep in dorms with bunks or the Hayloft has mattresses on the gallery floor. Camping is available. Secure bike storage and free parking.
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.
In the heart of Bamford these two bunkhouses are on a small farm just 3 miles from the iconic Stanage Edge.
Perfectly located for visiting Castleton, Chatsworth House & Hathersage. Both bunkhouses are centrally heated with hot showers & well equipped kitchens. Sheets & pillows are provided. BYO sleeping bags.
Fenns Farm Accommodation can offer guests accommodation to suit all budgets. It consists of four properties, Waterslacks Camping Barn sleeping 15, Wills ‘Glamping’ Barn sleeping 6 and two holiday cottages, Fenns & Foggs Barn both sleeping 7. All the accommodation is situated on the edge of the Peak District village of Butterton, in walking distance of the local pub and the Manifold Valley.
Next to an award winning Peak District country pub, The Royal Oak Bunkbarn is perfectly situated with direct access onto the High Peak and Tissington Trails. The area is also very popular with climbers and walkers with limestone gorges and stone circles to explore.
The bunkbarn closed for refurbishment during winter 2021. It is re-opening in early 2022. Check the website for updates. Campsite and holiday cottages also available.
Sheen Bunkhouse is in a quiet corner of the Peak District, close to the beautiful Dove and Manifold valleys. It has a well equipped self-catering kitchen, lounge, two bunkrooms and separate toilets & showers.
The Manifold Track, Tissington Trail and High Peak Trail give easy access to beautiful countryside, ideal for families and cyclists. Dovedale and the moors offer stunning walking. Buxton, Leek and Bakewell are within 12 miles and Alton Towers is 20 minutes away by car.
Thornbridge Outdoors offers excellent flexible group accommodation. With its superb location in the heart of the Peak District you have access to wonderful countryside, quaint villages, stately homes, and the traffic free Monsal Trail, popular with walkers and cyclists.
The Glenorchy Centre is on the edge of the Peak District National Park in the historic market town of Wirksworth. The High Peak Trail for walking & cycling, and Black Rocks for bouldering & climbing are close by. Nearby Cromford has Arkwright’s mills, a World Heritage Site, & Cromford Canal. Suitable for self-catering groups, the accommodation includes a spacious multi-purpose hall.
The John Hunt Base is situated in the High Peak on the site of Hagg Farm. The base offers comfortable, family friendly accommodation ideal for sightseeing, hill walking, trail running and biking as well as quieter pursuits such as photography. There is a picnic area, wildlife garden with fire pit and a playing field with climbing boulder. Activities can be arranged including climbing, stream scrambling, caving & on-site high ropes.
The Boarshurst Centre is situated on the north western edge of the Peak District yet with easy road and rail links to Manchester (12 miles away).
With 32 beds across 2 dorms and 2 leaders’ rooms the centre provides well appointed self catering accommodation for child, youth, adult and family/friend groups who seek to practice outdoor pursuits. BYO sleeping bags
A mile from Castleton in the Peak District, Pindale Farm offers a range of accommodation: B&B in the farmhouse. The Barn has 6 self-catering/self-contained rooms, 2x10-person & 4x8-person. The Engine House is a self contained self catering unit sleeping up to 8 people. Plus a campsite. Perfect for many outdoor activities. Instruction is available.
Peak District hostels and bunkhouses are ideal for holidays enjoying the outdoors.
They often have boot rooms and drying rooms for wet boot and coats and wash down areas for mountain bikes. Self catering is great for a warm cup of tea at the end of a walk and makes a good value holiday. The stately homes of Chatsworth House and Haddon Hall are in the heart of the Peak District whilst other sites such as Hardwick Hall, Keddleston Hall, Sudbury Hall and Lyme Park, Cheshire are just outside the boundaries.
Nature lover’s delight in the stunning scenery and unique biodiversity of Dove Dale, Lathkill Dale and Cressbrook Dale National Nature Reserves. Whilst walkers love the challenge of Thorpe Cloud, Mam Tor and Chrome Hill. The Pennine Way long distance footpath starts in Edale whilst the Pennine Bridleway starts at Middleton Top. Other long walks include the Limestone Way and Sabrina Way Bridleway. The Derwent Valley Heritage Way takes walker through the Derwent Valley World Heritage site heart of the beginning of the industrial revolution.
