Calderdale is one of those places that I always want to explore more of, but it’s just a little bit too far away to do in a day trip. I was therefore thrilled when Angie and Andrew from Daisy Bank Camp invited us to spend a weekend in their brand new glamping units in the heart of the Calderdale countryside. Daisy Bank Camp is a collection of six luxurious dog friendly cabins, three of which sleep up to two adults in an expertly converted stable block, and three larger standalone pods which sleep up to four adults.
Daisy Bank Camp is located a short distance from Hebden Bridge and is easily accessible from most places in the North and the Midlands – we would’ve been there in less than two hours if we hadn’t got caught up in a traffic jam 15 minutes after setting off! We therefore arrived slightly later than planned on Friday evening, after a pleasant drive through the Yorkshire Dales and West Yorkshire Moors, to find that our beautifully done up home for the weekend wasn’t just well equipped inside, but also had a cosy terrace looking out over a wonderful view. We proceeded to spend the evening out on the decking, enjoying a picky tea and watching the sun go down – and we were even treated to a quartering display by a local barn owl!
It had been an absolutely swelteringly hot day, so we hadn’t walked the dogs before setting off. As the sun started to go down the mercury dropped to a somewhat more manageable temperature, so we went for a short wander on the moor directly next to Daisy Bank Camp to stretch our legs and to let the dogs have a sniff. The site is in an unbeatable location in the heart of Calderdale: we walked directly onto the moor, with limitless opportunities to explore. We just did a short loop recommended by Angie and Andrew as the light was fading, but you can walk as far as Hardcastle Crags or join up with the Pennine Way without ever needing to get in your car. If walking isn’t your thing, Hedben Bridge is a short drive away and is crammed full of quirky independent shops and cafes, many of which are dog friendly.
After our walk we got to unpacking. We stayed in Linnet, one of three converted stables sleeping two adults, with a pull out sofa bed which was already made-up for us when we arrived. Don’t let the term ‘sofa bed’ put you off – Sam actually joked that it was more comfortable than our bed at home! With plenty of cushions and blankets provided it was the perfect place to snuggle up at the end of the day. The kitchen is well equipped with everything you need to cook simple meals while you’re away, including a microwave-combo oven, a fridge with freezer drawer and a two ring hob.
We absolutely loved all the small touches such as the fresh flowers in water and cheerful radio which welcomed us when we opened the door – it felt more like a luxury hotel room than a converted stable. We didn’t stay inside for long though, taking the thoughtfully provided cushions and blankets back outside to watch the super moon rise up over the moor.
On Saturday morning we were up bright and early to beat the heat – our original plan had been to have a leisurely stroll across the moor to Hardcastle Crags. We slightly revised this plan, driving down to the Midgehole car park (free for National Trust members) instead of walking to minimise the time spent out in the open sun with the dogs. We spent an hour exploring the shady woodland here and letting the dogs splash in the stream – and despite there being a few other people in the car park, we saw absolutely no one else (Angie mentioned to us that most people walk down to Gibson Mill for a cup of tea, so we walked in the opposite direction – not that we’re anti social…). We’d definitely love to come back another day to have a look at the rest of the site and visit Lumb Hole Falls.
We got back to the car at around half nine, and it was already beginning to feel very warm. We headed back to Daisy Bank Camp and me and the dogs settled in for a snoozy day reading in the cabin, which actually stayed pretty cool – and the overhang in the front meant that in the afternoon we were able to sit outside and enjoy the sunshine from the safety of the shade. Sam on the other hand decided to use the free afternoon to do a training run, and set off on a six hour tour of the local reservoirs, running as far as Top Withens (thought to be part of the inspiration behind Wuthering Heights) before turning around and retracing his steps to Daisy Bank Camp. I was very jealous as Top Withens was on my list of places to visit but unfortunately it was just too hot to safely take the dogs up there.
On Saturday evening it was still warm so we had another lazy evening on the decking watching the sun set, enjoying the DELICIOUS home made treats Angie had left in the welcome basket and trying to decide where to go the following morning. Ultimately we settled on a quick trip up and down Penistone Hill, which we were confident we could do quickly enough for the lack of shade not to matter. All too soon it was Sunday morning and I was enjoying my cup of tea watching the mist shimmer over the moors on our final morning.
We arrived at Penistone Hill Country Park at 8am and we were at the top of the hill by 8.30 – and we were surprised by the amount of other dog walkers we saw! Perhaps everyone was out early to get a cooler walk like we were, or perhaps it’s always a popular walk – the views were lovely, especially with the heather out, so it would be completely justified. On a less hot day we’d have done the Bronte Waterfalls walk around here – but our quick trip up and down Penistone Hill was more than enough to make us want to come back and explore more.
Dog friendly rating – 5/5. There is so much to love about Daisy Bank Camp and the dog friendliness shines through in how Angie and Andrew have designed the site. Our welcome pack included dog bowls, poo bags and treats, and the fantastic walking options without needing your car make this a dog owner’s dream. There is a dog wash bay by the units where you can hose your dog down to cool them off on a hot day or clean them up after a muddy walk. Angie and Andrew were so welcoming to both Merry and Coal, and as rescue dog owners themselves they were so understanding of Coal’s reactivity. And there’s more to come – they have plans to fence off a secure area in one of the paddocks so that you can let your dog have a run off the lead in those morning and evening toilet breaks.
If you’ve enjoyed reading this blog today, make sure to subscribe below:
