What can you do when crowds of people – all total strangers – insist on walking through your garden? Thousands of them, in fact. Tramping around with big muddy boots and walking sticks, chattering away excitedly; the inconsiderate wretches.
Of course, this isn’t your bog-standard garden. This is 970 acres of prime Derbyshire livestock farmland in one of the most renowned valleys in the Peak District. It’s also the home and garden of Robert and Sarah Helliwell, National Trust tenants and lifelong farmers. But for the transient visitors, it’s something else entirely – the main thoroughfare of the Pennine Way.
As the first port of call after the Kinder Scout Plateau, walkers are always stopping at Upper Booth Farm in need of plasters, refreshments or emergency services. But the most useful service provided by Robert and Sarah is a place to crash for the night.
The backdrop to the camping at Upper Booth is spectacular and, like the best countryside campsites, it’s difficult to see where the site ends and the open landscape of the Peaks begins. The campsite stretches across two fields. The first, smaller field is flat, sheltered and near to the facilities. The second field is a larger, undulating area of grass, open to expansive Peak District views.
The
Helliwells have won awards for innovative and eco-friendly farming. And if
there were an award for services to walkers, they’d win that too