Glamping in Hartington: Hartington Hall Youth Hostel
Hartington Hall makes for a brilliant base if you want a bit more comfort than a standard tent pitch without going all the way to a hotel stay. It’s a budget-friendly way to stay somewhere really beautiful. We booked into one of the four bell tents they have set up there, and was really impressed by it.
Quick look
- Location: Hartington, Derbyshire, Peak District
- Type: Youth hostel with bell tent or landpod glamping options
- Dog-friendly: Dogs are allowed to stay in the bell tents for an extra fee
- Good for: Those wanting a step up from standard camping with a proper bed, and who want the flexibility of self catering or eating in the youth hostel restaurant
- Nearest town: Hartington village, right on the doorstep
Bell Tents at Hartington Hall
The youth hostel itself is set in the beautiful old Hartington Hall. Hartington Hall dates back to 1611, built by the Bateman family who remained in residence for centuries before the property was eventually sold to the Youth Hostels Association in 1948. Now a Grade II listed building, it’s kept much of its original manor house character despite the alterations over the years. It’s a bit like staying in a National Trust property!
The bell tent itself was pretty comfortable. The bell tents each sleep up to 5, and come with a real double bed, two single futons and a chair that folds out into a bed. All bedding is provided as well, which is also a nice touch as it’s one less thing to cram in the car.
The bell tent also comes with a cute woodburning stove and the YHA supply a pack of wood for you to use. During our stay we were asked not to use it due a high risk of wildfire, but I’m sure it’s nice.
There are toilet and shower facilities available a short walk away, and you have access to the kitchen facilities in the youth hostel if you fancy cooking for yourself. We had dinner in the youth hostel restaurant, and it was really nice. We also had breakfast, which was really well priced. I had the unlimited continental breakfast option at £7.95 with a good selection of yoghurts, cereal, fruit, muffins, croissants etc. Joel and Hols went for the unlimited full English at £12.95 and again, this was really generous.
The one thing worth knowing is that the bell tent walls are pretty thin, so it’s not the spot if you’re a light sleeper with noisy neighbours nearby. Quiet time is from 11pm until 7am.
Overall we had a really enjoyable stay, and the setting right in Hartington makes it an easy, walkable base for exploring the surrounding dales.
Know Before You Go
- Pack for thin walls – earplugs are worth bringing if you’re a light sleeper, given how close the bell tents are to each other.
- Take advantage of the meals – having breakfast and dinner sorted makes it a genuinely low-effort stay, ideal after a big day’s walking.
- Check in is from 5pm and we arrived early, but weren’t allowed to check in. We were however allowed to hang out in the grounds and cafe area, so we had a few games of huge chess while we waited.
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How to Book
Book through the YHA website. You can get cashback on the price of your stay as well if you use TopCashBack.
Hartington Hall Youth Hostel strikes a really good balance between the simplicity of camping and the comfort of having your meals and facilities taken care of. The bell tent made for a comfortable stay, and being right in Hartington puts you perfectly placed for exploring the dales on foot.
