Barnswood Campsite provides a safe, scenic base for Duke of Edinburgh’s Award groups, ideal for overnight stays, navigation practice, and building resilience in the great outdoors.
Barnswood is a practical base for DofE groups looking for a calm, Scout-friendly site to camp, train, and get expedition-ready. With plenty of space on site and the Peak District close by, it’s ideal for building confidence with navigation, teamwork, cooking, and campsite routines before heading out on your route.
Whether you’re planning a training weekend or using Barnswood as your start/end point, we’ll help your group feel organised and supported.
Ideal for schools and first-time expedition groups. Barnswood offers nearby walking routes, local towns within easy reach, and on-site accommodation for accompanying adults, making it a convenient and supportive base for Bronze-level expeditions.
Located a good distance from Gradbach Scout Camp, Barnswood makes an excellent midway stop for Silver expeditions. With varied terrain and flexible camping space, it’s a reliable site for more advanced route planning and overnight stays.
Barnswood is a popular choice for Gold-level groups, especially those planning multi-night stops. Its proximity to Gradbach and surrounding walking routes makes it ideal for challenging expeditions while offering solid campsite facilities between legs.
Small, separate camping areas plus bivvy and hammocking options—so each team feels independent while staying in
a safe, self-contained environment.
Toilet and pot-washing facilities close to the Discovery site, with campfire areas available where required to
support your expedition setup.
Optional leader accommodation with cooking and sleeping facilities—making briefings, kit checks and supervision
easier across the weekend.
Excellent vehicle access, plenty of parking, and accessibility for participants with physical limitations.
Centrally placed between Macclesfield, Leek, Buxton and Congleton.
An explorer, adventurer and TV presenter, Dwayne's been seen in BAFTA nominated Channel 5 series Race to the Pole, on BBC Springwatch, Countryfile, National Geographic and Disney+.
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