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Sustainable travel packing tips for your Peak District escape

August 19, 2025
August 19, 2025 - Sustainable travel packing tips for your Peak District escape
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What to pack for your eco-friendly getaway

Inside a wooden glamping pod, looking over a cosy kingsize bed and a well-equipped kitchenette, with a view through an open door to a bathroom

Planning a countryside break shouldn’t feel like prepping for an expedition. A few simple swaps can help protect the places you love visiting and make your journey more enjoyable too!

At Hoe Grange, we believe doing things thoughtfully makes for a better holiday. Whether you’re unwinding in a glamping pod, exploring the hills with your camera, or heading to the pub after a gentle circular walk, these sustainable packing tips will help you travel lighter and tread more gently.

Looking ahead to your autumn getaway? Book your stay at Hoe Grange and discover how relaxing eco travel can really be.

Why sustainable packing makes a difference

A Black woman sitting on the floor packing a suitcase for a getaway

Packing with care doesn’t mean you have to compromise on comfort. It’s about being intentional: bringing what you’ll use, skipping what you won’t, and choosing reusables where you can.

Guests often tell us they wish they’d packed less. Felicity puts it best: “Our cabins have pretty much everything you need already - and you’re not exactly far from civilisation if you forget something you need!”

Besides lightening your load, sustainable packing can cut down on waste, reduce your holiday emissions, and even save you money. And, let’s be honest, it just feels better to travel with purpose.

Your sustainable travel packing checklist

A woman putting a day bag into the back of a car at sunset

Use this handy list to help you pack!

  • Reusable water bottle (our fresh Peak District spring water is straight from the borehole)
  • Travel mug (perfect for sipping our own Hoe Grange coffee blend as you head out exploring)
  • Layered clothing (the weather loves to change its mind!)
  • Walking shoes or boots - well broken-in (we’ve got an outdoor tap for you to hose them off if you get muddy!)
  • Lightweight backpack or day bag
  • Natural toiletries in refillable bottles, or solid shampoo or soap bars
  • Tupperware or food wraps to bring home any tasty leftovers
  • A good book or journal
  • Reusable cutlery set (great for impromptu picnics)
  • Supplies for at least your first evening’s meal - unless you’re planning to head to the local pub! The nearest food shops are about 15 minutes away in Ashbourne or Wirksworth.

Optional extras:

A row of containers in a Zero Waste Refill Shop

  • Knitting, sketchbook, or mindful hobby supplies
  • Tripod or phone stand if you’re into sunset photography
  • Containers or jars if you want to use one of the Zero Waste refill shops!

Top tip: Copy this list to your phone notes app so you can check it off as you pack – all while saving on printing!

What not to pack (because we’ve got it covered!)

A welcome pack including homemade bread and biscuits, fresh milk, butter, eggs and local tea and coffee

A doggy welcome pack including beds, towels, mats, bowls, balls, eco poo bags and more

EV charging at Hoe Grange

Imagine arriving with just the essentials, slipping into your boots, and heading straight out for a countryside walk. No heavy bags to unpack, no last-minute dashes to the shop - just fresh Peak District air, rolling hills, and the promise of a cosy home from home to come back to.

One of the perks of staying at Hoe Grange is how much less you need to bring. Our guest reviews often mention how well equipped our cabins and pods are, with “all the home comforts you could need!”

Here’s what you don’t need to worry about packing:

  • Towels (unless you’d like a spare to use with your jacuzzi-style hot tub)
  • Hand soap
  • Bottled water - our borehole water is beautifully clean and safe to drink
  • Tea, coffee, milk and butter - there’s a starter supply ready in your cabin or pod
  • Bread and eggs - you get a freshly made loaf in your welcome pack too, and one egg each. More are available from the honesty shop.
  • Salt, pepper and vinegar
  • Eco cleaning products - we’ve stocked the essentials
  • Compact torch or headlamp (especially handy in autumn evenings)
  • Binoculars
  • Board games and pack of cards
  • Too many books! We have a book swap in our on-site honesty shop if you finish your current read
  • Wellies - while we’re on a farm, the areas you’ll explore are mostly quite firm and good walking shoes or boots will be enough in most weathers!
  • EV charging cable - our new EV chargers are tethered, so you can plug straight in
  • Dog towels, throw, bowls, mat and even eco poo bags
  • Accessibility equipment

If you’re staying in a log cabin rather than a glamping pod, then there are a few extras provided too:

  • Reusable shopping bags
  • Cooking oil
  • Hairdryer

Don't forget packing to come home too

A big pile of charging cables

One last thing - before you leave, have a quick check around your space. Posting back lost property adds to the carbon footprint of your stay with delivery mileage!

What gets left behind most often:

  • Phone chargers
  • Travel mugs
  • Earrings, jewellery and hair clips
  • Clothing and shoes - make sure you check the hooks on the back of the doors, inside drawers and cupboards, under beds and even behind the curtains!

Local eco shops to restock or refill

Locally produced rapeseed oil on sale in the honesty shop at Hoe Grange

Two white women with brown hair wearing aprons standing in a refill shop

Forgot something? Fancy a few more sustainable swaps? There are some brilliant independent shops nearby where you can top up your essentials without the waste:

Our on-site honesty shop – Perhaps better described as a shoppette! You can pick up some sustainable toiletries, essential foods, milk, butter, eggs, meat, ice cream, cheese and cooking oil, as well as some lovely Peak District gifts.

Skopa, Wirksworth - 15 minutes from Hoe Grange and packed with refillable toiletries, zero waste food, and you can even grind your own peanut butter!

Refills on the Road - A mobile zero waste shop, jam-packed with high quality ingredients and sustainable toiletries. Check their diary to see where they’ll be stopping off during your stay.

Fresh Choice, Ashbourne - An independent grocer with fresh, high-quality produce and minimal plastic packaging.

Supporting local also means fewer transport miles (and often, friendlier service too!)

Travel light, breathe deep, enjoy more

An outdoor dining table laid with drinks and nibbles on a sunny afternoon, with views over the countryside

Sustainable travel isn’t about being perfect - it’s about thoughtful choices that make your journey simpler and kinder. You've already made the first step, by choosing a holiday that takes sustainability seriously. Now packing light means fewer bags to juggle, less fuss on arrival, and more time to settle in.

Picture this: you’re on the cabin decking, a mug of Hoe Grange coffee warming your hands as the sky turns pink over the hills. The packing and planning is behind you. All that’s left is the peace, the views, and the feeling that you’ve started your holiday the right way.

Ready to book your autumn stay? Our cosy log cabins and peaceful glamping pods are waiting. Come and experience eco travel that feels like a real break.

-Caroline

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Hoe Grange Holidays Tripadvisor Comments...

  • star rating  Stayed last week, from 6th to 13th September in the log cabin called Hipley. This was amazing, it was our first visit but certainly not our last. Gold standard disability... read more

    548julie
    September 14, 2019

    star rating  We stayed for a night in one of the cabins . The cabin was spotless and very well equipped , lots of extra touches were added like fresh eggs and... read more

    Ajtravels14
    February 3, 2020

    star rating  For the second year running, we have had a great family holiday at Hoe Grange. We had one cabin for the week, for two sisters and our elderly wheelchair-using... read more

    EJYork2013
    June 25, 2019
  • star rating  A beautiful place to stay! Amazingly run family business! Everyone were very welcoming, friendly and cozy! The skylark pod we stayed in was very clean, cozy and well equipped! The... read more

    sophiee249
    January 2, 2020

    star rating  We love this place. Very wheelchair friendly, really well equipped and comfortable, with easy access by car to lots of places of interest particularly Crich Tramway Village, Chatsworth, Bakewell and... read more

    David H
    October 25, 2019

    star rating  It's been three years since we last visited but once we arrived it certainly didn't feel like it!
    We stayed in Hipley again which had had a refurbished wet... read more

    ElizabethA717
    September 21, 2019
  • star rating  We love this place. Very wheelchair friendly, really well equipped and comfortable, with easy access by car to lots of places of interest particularly Crich Tramway Village, Chatsworth, Bakewell and... read more

    dghiggs61
    October 25, 2019

    star rating  We stayed in Pinder cabin and had a lovely stay, the cabin was spacious and comfortable, nice and warm after cold days out. The children loved meeting the animals and... read more

    Tiggywinkle15
    November 5, 2019

    star rating  We had a lovely time staying in one of the incredibly well equipped pods. I bought my pony along and we had some great rides on the high peak trail.... read more

    plopster1
    June 7, 2019
  • star rating  We have just returned from a short stay in one of the pods on site at Hoe Grange Holidays. We couldn’t recommend them enough. The pod has everything you could... read more

    Catboy86
    August 17, 2019

    star rating  We stayed in Skylark, one of the two glamping pods available at Hoe Grange in February 2020.

    Felicity & David welcomed us when we arrived to show us around... read more

    HelenLCarter
    February 6, 2020

    star rating  Another great holiday at Hoe Grange - such a great place for us all to holiday as a family - this time with a baby, a 3 yr old, a... read more

    Thesamps
    October 4, 2019
  • star rating  lovely surroundings real farm country with chickens paying you a visit nice decking area to chill at the end of the day accommodation very good plenty to do nearby... read more

    vincent s
    July 28, 2019

    star rating  Lovely place to holiday near to interesting locations and easy access to the High Peak trail and Carsington Water. Part of a working farm with fresh produce to enjoy during... read more

    Angie B
    August 3, 2019

    star rating  Loved every minute of our stay, and so did the family and friends that came to stay. Excellent facilities in our cosy Hipley log cabin. By far the best... read more

    krimpenijssel
    October 25, 2019
  • star rating  Myself and my sister travelled to Costa Rica and Panama via Viva Holidays Ltd. The holiday was exceptional and one to be treasured forever. Andrew at Viva Holidays... read more

    Paula C
    July 4, 2019

    star rating  What a lovely weekend away! We stayed in the lovely gypsy caravan, which was a wonderful and really unique experience. We took along our two horses, who also had a... read more

    rachelthomas2015
    June 18, 2019

    star rating  We stayed in Rainster cabin for a long weekend 6 th to 9 th September. This was my 5 th visit to the amazing Hoe Grange. I had visited before... read more

    Jan Horsman J
    September 17, 2019
  • star rating  Arrived and was shown to our pod, fantastic location and the pod was very good indeed plus we had home made bread and milk and tea and coffee. A... read more

    mickvfr
    July 28, 2019

    star rating  What can I say?
    Absolutely superb!
    We have just returned from a family weekend staying in Daisybank cabin and the Skylark pod.
    It was our first trip away with my... read more

    Wheelieuser
    June 13, 2019

    star rating  On arriving at Hoe Grange in a downpour, we doubted if we’d made the right decision to go glamping, but after the warm welcome from David and a quick tour,... read more

    karenmD4738KD
    June 25, 2019
  • star rating  Felicity and David made us feel very welcome right from our booking. The pods are well equipped and spotlessly clean. The area is very peaceful with great views and we... read more

    Adventurer_12121
    January 30, 2020

    star rating  We spent four nights at Hoe Grange and had a lovely time. The location is fantastic and right next to the High Peak Trail. The cabin was very clean and... read more

    Big_Al_0000
    July 16, 2019

    star rating  We've just returned from our second visit to Hoe Grange. The suggested riding routes with stunning scenery were enjoyed by my daughter and I while the menfolk were delighted with... read more

    Jdrichie12
    July 11, 2019
  • star rating  Recently spent a week in "Pinder" and had a lovely time. The location is stunning - the site is nestled in a beautiful valley on the edge of the Peaks... read more

    Peachey167
    July 16, 2019

    star rating  We wanted a complete break and some peace and quiet and this was perfect. The caravan was secluded with beautiful views over the countryside. Everything was spotlessly clean and well... read more

    joanne B
    June 4, 2019

    star rating  We stayed in the Skylark pod last October (2018) and had a lovely time. There was homemade, rustic goods (bread, biscuits etc) when we arrived. Felicity and David who run... read more

    KBarry
    September 15, 2019
  • star rating  What a wonderful find. As our first experience of needing accessible accommodation we could not have wished for better. Beautiful well equipped lodges in lovely surroundings. We stayed in both... read more

    L9943KBlesleym
    April 3, 2020

    star rating  Second visit to the accessible holiday cabins at Hoe Grange. David and Felicity were as helpful and friendly as ever. We had a welcome pack of freshly baked bread, butter,... read more

    Charlotte M
    August 7, 2019

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