Winnats Pass Wild Camping: An Easy Beginner Wild Camp in the Peak District

Last updated: October 2026

Looking for an easy first night out? If you’ve never wild camped before, Winnats Pass wild camping is where I’d start. It’s the easiest wild camp I know in the Peak District. It’s ten minutes from the car, there’s good flat grass to pitch on, and you get one of the most dramatic views in the Peak District, looking down the gorge over Castleton and the Hope Valley.

I’ve camped up here twice and filmed both trips. The first was a relaxed overnighter to test my gear. The second, more recent one was about getting ready for winter with my 4-season kit. Here’s what makes it such a good beginner wild camp, what you need to know before you go, and the kit I take.

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Winnats Pass wild camping at a glance

Where	The ridge above Winnats Pass, near Castleton, Peak District
Walk in	About 10 minutes from the car
Ground	Good flat grass
Views	Down the gorge over Castleton and the Hope Valley, with Mam Tor next door
Best for	A first wild camp, photography, timelapse
Watch out for	Wind on the tops and cliff edges after dark

Why Winnats Pass is perfect for a beginner wild camp

A first wild camp should be about learning, not suffering. The suffering can come later, on a summit, like it did for me. Winnats Pass gives you everything you need to build your confidence:

• A short walk in. Ten minutes from the car means you’re not carrying a heavy pack for hours, and if anything goes wrong you can be back at the car in no time.
• Flat ground. There’s good flat grass to pitch on, so you’re not fighting a slope all night.
• A big reward. The view down the pass makes it feel like a proper adventure, even though you’re barely out of sight of the road. Nobody needs to know that bit.
• It’s a great place to test kit. If you’ve bought a new tent or sleeping bag, this is the place to find out how it works before you take it somewhere remote.

My first camp: a walk, a wild camp and a waffle

My first trip up here was a simple overnighter: a walk, a wild camp, and a chance to test my gear in the real world. I tested a Rode Wireless Go mic (it was flawless), shot a timelapse of the pass, flew the drone over the tent, had a whisky tasting and cooked dinner looking down the gorge. Strictly for testing purposes.

Not everything went to plan. My tripod was at fault, but I managed to repair it on the spot. Tripods always pick their moment. That’s exactly why a short, easy camp like this is the place to test your kit.

My second camp: getting ready for winter

I went back to Winnats Pass recently with a different job in mind: getting ready for winter. Before the cold nights arrive I like to take my 4-season kit out somewhere easy and make sure everything is working. Winnats is perfect for that. If something isn’t right, the car is ten minutes away.

Once camp was set, the camera came out. I shot a night timelapse from the cliff tops as day turned into night: headlights snaking up the road through the gorge, the lights coming on in Castleton below, and clouds rolling across the stars. I’ll cover that shoot properly in its own article.

Beginner wild camping kit checklist

You don’t need expensive gear for an easy first wild camp in summer, but you do need the basics. This is the list I’d give anyone heading out for their first night:

• A tent you’ve practised pitching. Put it up in the garden first. Find out what can go wrong in my Vango Pulsar Pro 300 review.
• A sleeping mat. The cold comes up from the ground, so the mat matters as much as the bag.
• A sleeping bag rated for the season. Check the comfort rating, not the extreme one.
• A stove, gas and a lighter. Hot food and a brew make the night. Check you’ve got the right gas.
• Water. Bring enough for the evening and the morning.
• A head torch and spare batteries.
• Warm layers, a waterproof, a hat and gloves, even in summer.
• A rubbish bag to take everything home.

Not sure whether your kit is up to it? My 3-season vs 4-season gear guide explains the difference.

My 4-season kit for winter wild camping

This is the kit I rely on when the temperature drops. Each one has its own full review if you want the detail.

Shelter and sleep

• MSR Access 2: my 4-season tent. Solid, freestanding and still under 2 kg. See how it compares in MSR Access 2 vs Terra Nova Laser Competition 2.
• Rab Mythic 600 sleeping bag: warmth for the long winter nights.
• Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT MAX: the cold comes up from the ground, so the mat matters as much as the bag.
• Flextail Gear Pump X: inflates the mat without filling it with damp breath.

How these work together is covered in my 4-season winter sleep system.

Clothing

• Rab Mythic Ultra down jacket and Rab Argon pants for camp.
• Rab Cinder Downpour jacket for the rain.
• Rab Baltoro gloves and my winter headgear.
• Salomon Quest 4 Gore-Tex boots.

Cooking and light

• Jetboil Flash. In the cold, take the right gas. I learned that the hard way on Helvellyn, as I explain in my Vango Pulsar Pro 300 review.
• Petzl Tikkina head torch, essential when it’s dark by teatime.

Camera kit

• Canon 5D Mark IV for the timelapse.
• DJI Mavic 2 Pro for the drone shots of the pass.
• GoPro for filming around camp.
• Benro Tortoise tripod to keep everything steady.

For the full list, see my wild camping kit list, and if you’re not sure what you need for the colder months, read my 3-season vs 4-season gear guide.

Tips for your first wild camp in the Peak District

• Arrive late, leave early. Pitch around dusk and be packed away by morning.
• Leave no trace. Take everything home with you, including food waste, and never light fires.
• Mind the edges. The views come from cliff tops. Pitch well back and use a head torch after dark.
• Check the wind. It’s a short walk, but you’re still on the tops. Peg the tent out properly.
• Test your kit. Use a short camp like this to find problems before they matter, like my tripod.

Can you wild camp in the Peak District?

This is the question every beginner asks. Strictly speaking, wild camping in the Peak District, like most of England, is only legal with the landowner’s permission. Winnats Pass is National Trust land.

In practice, many people wild camp responsibly in the Peak District without problems. If you do, follow the unwritten rules: one or two small tents, high up and away from roads and houses, pitch late, leave early, no fires or barbecues, and leave no trace. If a landowner asks you to move on, move on.

Beginner wild camping in the Peak District: FAQ

Is wild camping legal in the Peak District?

Not without the landowner’s permission. Many people still wild camp responsibly: pitch late, leave early, keep it small and leave no trace.

Where can beginners wild camp in the Peak District?

Winnats Pass is the easiest I know: about ten minutes from the car, flat grass and a huge view over Castleton and the Hope Valley.

What do I need for my first wild camp?

A tent you’ve practised pitching, a sleeping mat, a sleeping bag rated for the season, a stove and gas, water, a head torch, warm layers and a bag to take your rubbish home.

When is the best time of year for a first wild camp?

Late spring to early autumn, on a dry, calm night. Save winter until you’ve done a few camps and have 4-season kit.

Is Winnats Pass good for a first wild camp?

Yes. It’s the easiest wild camp I know in the Peak District: about ten minutes from the car, with flat grass to pitch on and a huge view.

How far is the walk in?

About ten minutes from the car, up onto the ridge above the pass.

Can you wild camp at Winnats Pass in winter?

Yes, with the right 4-season kit. It’s a great place to test your winter setup because the car is so close. It can get snow and strong wind, so check the forecast.

What’s near Winnats Pass?

Castleton sits at the bottom of the pass and Mam Tor is right next door, so you can easily add a walk along the ridge.

Keep reading

• My 4-season winter sleep system
• MSR Access 2 tent review
• How to find the perfect wild camping spot
• Winnats Pass after dark: night timelapse