coopers campsite in Edale, Derbyshire (Camping Sites in UK & Ireland in general)

Member Name: blissman70

Product:	Camping Sites in UK & Ireland in general
Date:	22/11/08 (342 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Beautiful surrounding area and nice pubs

Disadvantages: Owners are a little on the arrogant side

Coopers campsite is situated on New Fold farm at the very far end of the road which runs through the small village of in Edale and it's real claim to fame is the fact that it is the campsite which leads you directly onto the Pennine way.
It is open all year round, and has plenty of 'hook-ups' for caravans. Also on the site is a restaurant and café, a small post office type store, laundry room, shower block and toilets.
Dogs are allowed if under full control, and the same goes for children too...

The village of Edale can be found just off the A625 or the A6187 near Castleton which are very close to the A6 between New Mills and Buxton.
The roads are quite bendy but are quite well sign posted, although the actual road to take you over the hill can jump out on you if you're not concentrating enough, (it is situated just with-in a cluster of trees and is a rather steep road indeed... and please use a low gear and your brakes on the way down into the village, you will see why when you reach the top of the hill and look down the road...!!)

The actual campsite can be found on the left, just before 'Ye old Nags Head' public house, (which is an ideal pub for a lovely meal and drink, very family friendly indeed).
To book in you have to knock on a farm door which is on the right hand side as you walk up enter the stony road towards the post office/ shop,( there is a sign near the door).

It is in a great location, right behind the village shop and a few metres from the Nags head pub, so you can crawl back to your tent after a skin full of real ale.
The site is a good size, comprising of three fields which are all used for camping, either tents or caravans.
The shower block and toilets, which ALL sites have to supply anyway, are in fact better than a lot of sites I have stayed at, allowing a warm shower when you come off the hills after a long hike... and the washing facilities are a big help if you need clean gear...
I always used a tent,(or bivi) and felt safe in the open fields, even in the darkest of nights...the comforting sounds of the wildlife roaming through the grass and in the trees seeming to help you sleep...

There is a cafe at the entrance of the site which serves a half decent breakfast and is open to non site users, (as cooking your own breakfast on an open fire these days is a health hazard and against someone's human rights).

I first stayed on this site in 1985 when you were aloud to park your car at the side of your pitch and you were allowed to have a small, but controlled, open fire, and over the years the site has not changed but the health and safety rules have so the fun of the site has now gone.

The owners of the site have not changes at all and considering they own most of the farm land around Edale, (so I've heard), they are, and always have been, a miserable couple considering the amount of easy money they make from some empty field, they simply take your money without a smile... although the good thing is they do leave you alone as long as you obey the long list of rules, like no loud noises after 11pm, (I always wondered if this rule included excessive bottom burps after a baked beans supper..?), and open fires must be a certain height above the ground, ( basically a gas powered barbeque, which most people camping tend not to have stuffed in their rucksacks...
I know you can't blame one individual campsite owner for the Health and safety brigades rules but when I first started camping, (many moons ago) part of the fun of it was making a small fire to cook you slops on...

Anyway...
Coopers site is the largest in Edale and the high prices shows this, (prices do vary so please check before you go... I think the number is still 01433 670372) so if you only need to pitch your tent up before hitting the Pennines (like we tended to do) then there are smaller, but cheaper sites around Edale, (They are all on farmland and are all signposted), so give your money to some friendly farmer instead of the moody Coopers who probably has more money than he can handle.

Although I do recommend the campsites little café/ restaurant which, like I said, serves a hearty breakfast ready for your days hiking... but for an evening meal then the 'Nags head' is your man and the last time I visited there the landlord was a friendly sole who welcomed everyone with a smile and a quick chat.

Summary: A place to rest before hitting the Pennine way...