Glamping It Up In Crowden (Not)...

An artist's impression of the mooted camping pods proposed for the camp site at Crowden on the Pennine Way. We kind of like 'em.

We're somewhat amused that the announcement that the Peak District National Park Authority's go ahead for the proposed installation of ten camping pods at Crowden on the Pennine Way has become a 'glamping story', but there you go.

The reality is that the proposed pods - the first to be approved for the Peak Park apparently - are permanent structures made from aesthetically-friendly insulated wood and steel with a shingled exterior - see artist's impression of the Crowden pods, left - which look not dissimilar to tents. The Peak Park Planning Authority decided to treat them as 'in planning terms like mini static caravans' with the limits in size, number and location making them acceptable.

The pods, if they are built, will be situated amongst trees at the quiet Camping and Caravanning Club site at Crowden, which is the first obvious overnight stop for walkers attempting the Pennine Way from Edale. 

The structures are possibly better viewed as permanent, static tents, with campers needing to supply their own cooking and sleeping gear, so if you were picturing luxurious mattresses festooned with silk-covered scatter cushions and llama-hide rugs, you're going to be a little disappointed. And as for the crushed velvet bedspread...

Anyway, the proposed pods would be around four metres long, 2.5 metres high and 2.4 metres wide, accessed by bark chip pathways. We reckon they'd make a cracking low hassle camping option for Pennine Way walkers, particularly if it's raining, which it usually is, and we can't see that anyone would be offended by the things given that the location is close to a busy A-road in the shape of the Woodhead Pass, a youth hostel and a substantial working farm plus an outdoors centre. No pubs or caffs within walking distance however.