For those not familiar with my blog, I am on a mission to make cheap travel awareness available for everyone. No matter how near or far your adventure might be from home, no matter how big or small your budget may be, there's an adventure for everyone. There are hidden gems and cheap getaways to be had up and down the country and I feel obligated to share my camping knowledge and savviness to get everybody up and out there.
So this next adventure is really for those hardcore campers amongst us or the ultra self-sufficient. This next campsite is a field…….a lovely field with a nice view, however, it is just a field with a tap and a toilet emptying point. This little beauty of a campsite is just £10.00 a night, yes you heard it right £10.00 a night (you can close your mouth now) and is called Uppertown Farm. The main advantage of this campsite is that it overlooks the action-packed Carsington Water Reservoir, situated in between the market town of Ashbourne and the Victorian inland seaside resort of Matlock Bath; in the stunning Peak District.
The campsite is set over two fields on either side of the road (Millfield Lane), just a short walk down to the entrance to Carsington Water. The last time we camped here the owner collected the money on his rounds, usually late in the afternoon to evening. There really isn’t much more to say about this campsite, after all, it is just a field, however, it's what's around that makes this campsite a great find.
Bring on the Action
Carsington is a short walk away down the road and has lots of activities to keep kids of all ages entertained. When the sun is shining, this is a great place to bring a picnic and spend the day. On site is an outdoor play area which is free, a cycle path that runs all the way around the reservoir and is also free (so bring your bikes), a variety of water sports for the thrill seekers to try and equipment to hire. There are hosts of little shops, restaurants, cafes and a small interactive exhibition on the local waterworks by Severn Trent Water, again which is free. There are also BBQ stands and picnic tables available for use, however, there is an abundance of green space to lay down your blanket and bask in the sunshine.
Walking in the other direction from the campsite is the local public house, 'The Knockerdown'. This watering house has reasonably priced good food, a small play area and there are some animals on site for the little ones as well. Across the road is a cafe called 'The Pudding Shop'. I can’t really comment on this as I haven’t been, but I have heard good reports.
Further afield is the market town of Ashbourne. This quaint town is home to the 'Shrovetide' football match: a football match with no rules, lasting two days and played between the uppers and the downers, depending on which side of the river you live (madness but great fun). If you can visit in February it is quite a sight to see. The town is full of historic buildings, lots of charity shops (I love charity shops), cafes, fish and chip shops, a lovely recreation ground and a memorial garden. You can also pick up the 'Tissington cycle trail' from the town. Just outside of Ashbourne is the one and only 'Thorpe Cloud', a local little hill situated in the Dove Valley. Thorpe Cloud is accessed by hopping over the stepping stones over the beautiful river Dove, this can sometimes be quite high, so feet can get a little wet, however, this all adds to the fun and entertainment of ‘will she, won’t he make it’. Unfortunately, the stepping stones have been levelled off recently, health and safety overkill or what!
The hike to the summit is quite steep in places, so feral children should be watched. This comes from first-hand experience. I, in my youth, thought it would be a fab idea to go for a little run down Thorpe Cloud, needless to say, I ended up with a concussion, cuts, bruises, and a good few weeks off school recovering from my injuries: I've always been a bit of an adrenaline junkie. Please don’t let that put you off though, just make sure the children are under control.
Anyway, back to the hike.
Once at the top, the views across the Derbyshire Dales are fantastic and well worth the short; but steep hike up. Again the ridge line is quite narrow, so please keep an eye on any young children. Sit for a moment to get your breath, admire the view, have a picnic, or think 'She was such a wally for running down Thorpe Cloud'!. Once back down and at the base of Thorpe Cloud you could walk to Milldale, pass Lovers Leap and Dove Holes, a huge cave for little ones to explore.
This is an ultra cheap as chips day out, however there is a charge for the carpark and be warned there is an ice cream shop, so be prepared to reward the climb or use this as your bartering tool for the less enthusiastic little nippers or teenagers in mourning of a lack of technology. Just a little film fact for you too, Thorpe and the Dove Valley were used in the making of Russell Crowe's 2010 Robin Hood.
The Victorian Town of Matlock Bath
Matlock Bath is located 15 minutes north east of Uppertown Farm campsite. The little village is located in a gorge of the River Derwent and has been a popular tourist destination since the 17th Century. It can be very busy over weekends (especially in the summer) and is very popular with motor cyclists. Bikes are often lined up in rows along the main street with bikers dreamily mesmerized over the amount of mean machines on display There are several car parks located around the village and Matlock Bath is also easily accessible by bus from Carsington. This unusual village is located along the main A6 road, however the residential houses are placed high up overlooking the busy bustling street below. It is worth having a walk around the quieter areas of the village as there are lots of little nooks and crannies where houses have been squished in. Across the river over the Jubilee bridge is a lovely riverside walk, two play areas for toddlers and older children and a walk to a lovely waterfall. There is also a mining museum, a cable car ride to the Heights of Abraham (although this can be accessed for free) and an aquarium (£3.50pp, under 4’s free), which can also be visited depending on the budget. From September to the end of October, Matlock Bath hosts its annual illuminations: decorated boats lit up by hundreds of lights. There is a small charge to see these, however if you can go on a weekend when they are running the free firework display then this is an entertaining night out. There is also a small toddler theme park in the village called 'Gullivers Kingdom'.
Matlock Bath certainly packs a punch for such a small village.
Evening Entertainment
Uppertown Farm allows campfires, so bring on the marshmallow toasting and backwoods cooking (post to follow, with recipes). It's always great to get the kids involved in the cooking of treats, they usually love being involved and making their own campfire concoction can be very exciting. Warm your innards with a tipple or two of your choice and grab some games, chill out, relax and on the camping checklist, you can tick the budget fun filled weekend mission as complete. For other evening entertainment ideas check out this post https://belowthebudget.wixsite.com/website/post/small-county-small-budget
So what's there not to love about a £7.50 a night campsite when there is so much to do on its doorstep, you won’t be there anyway. So bring your bikes, prepare your picnics and get ready for the adventure.
Camping.........because therapy is expensive.
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