Where We’re Staying for Our 2026 Short Break Weekends
- The Adventure Service
- Jun 25
- 4 min read
An important part of our short break weekends is where we stop and the centres we use.
In 2025, we’ve been using three fantastic outdoor centres across the Peak District: Thornbridge Outdoors in Great Longstone, The Peak Centre in Edale, and St Michael’s in Hathersage.
All three are perfect for the activities we run and are well placed to access the adventurous areas of the Peak District.
We'll be making use of all three centres again for our 2026 weekends. So we've put together a quick guide to tell you all about them.
🎥 Watch: We're going on 30 breaks in 2026!
Thornbridge Outdoors
Summary:
Thornbridge is one of the best outdoor venues in the Peak District, with great on-site activities. It offers easy access to the Monsal Trail and facilities like tree climbing, mountain biking, bouldering, and sky ropes.
The spacious dorms are comfortable, and the communal room is perfect for evening socializing. Thornbridge’s rich history and beautiful setting add to its charm.
Where is it: Great Longstone, Bakewell
Distance from each centre:
Top Valley: 1 hour 5 mins
Mansfield Woodhouse: 55 mins
Chesterfield: 25 mins
What Activities We’re Running There in 2026:
February 6th–8th: Sky Ropes/Low Ropes
March 13th–15th: Cargo Net/Tree Climb/Low Ropes
March 27th–29th: Bikes and Archery
May 8th–10th: Abseil
October 16th–18th: Bikes and Archery
October 23rd–25th: Sky Ropes/Low Ropes
November 6th–8th: Cargo Net/Tree Climb/Low Ropes
Thornbridge is based just outside Bakewell in the South of the Peak District and provides fantastic access to the Monsal Trail, which is great for walking and offers some of the most beautiful views in the National Park.
We often use our Sunday morning stroll to hit the trail, giving Adventurers a chance to enjoy the fresh air and stunning scenery.
What really makes Thornbridge special is its great facilities on site. Tree climbing, mountain biking, bouldering, cargo nets, and sky ropes mean we can have a full adventure without leaving the venue. So it's particularly good for the winter breaks, so the warm refuge of the centre is only a short walk away!
The dorm rooms are spacious and comfortable (ideal for adults) and the communal space encourages socializing and hanging out after a day outdoors.
Thornbridge sits in the lovely village of Great Longstone, and the building itself is possibly the prettiest in the village, dating back to the time of William the Conqueror, which adds a unique sense of history to our stays.
🎥 Watch: We're going on 30 breaks in 2026!
The Peak Centre (Known to Most as Champion House)
Summary:
The Peak Centre feels like a home away from home for our short breaks. Located in Edale, it offers easy access to the hills and has an indoor climbing wall for the colder months (though a bit of cold never stops us).
It’s the largest venue we visit, with plenty of space for gear and a mezzanine area perfect for Saturday night discos. Despite its size, it keeps a cosy atmosphere with an open fire in one of the communal rooms, spacious dorms, and a great outdoor area for year-round activities.
Where is it: Edale
Distance from each centre:
Top Valley: 1 hour 30 mins
Mansfield Woodhouse: 1 hour 15 mins
Chesterfield: 45 mins
What Activities We’re Running There in 2026:
January 23rd–25th: Indoor Climb
April 17th–19th: Hill Walk
April 24th–26th: Hill Walk
May 29th–31st: Weaselling at Roaches
June 5th–7th: Hill Walk
June 12th–14th: Bushcraft/Archery/Outdoor Cooking
July 3rd–5th: Paddle Sport
July 24th–26th: Paddle Sport
August 14th–16th: Hill Walk
September 18th–20th: Hill Walk
October 2nd–4th: Bushcraft/Axe Throwing/Cooking
December 4th–6th: Indoor Climb
December 11th–13th: Indoor Climb
The Peak Centre is situated in the heart of the Peak District, in the village of Edale at the foot of Kinder Scout and rolling hills.
Often our hill walking weekends are based here because of the quick access to the hills, and the indoor climbing wall gives us great options when the weather is a bit bleaker.
With plenty of space, including a mezzanine social area ideal for discos, and a big open fire that adds atmosphere during winter, it really feels like a home away from home.
The outdoor field and woodland area let us make the most of the summer months, giving us a great place to chill and relax in the evenings or for a game of rounders/football on the Sunday morning.
Check out the view from the grounds of the Peak Centre - not a bad spot to spend a weekend!
St Michael’s
Summary:
St Michael’s in Hathersage is our go-to for caving weekends.
It’s perfectly located for quick cave access and has wet and dry rooms where we can change without worrying about mess. If Adventurers forget their wellies, no problem - St Michael’s has a stash to borrow, making packing lighter.
The cosy setup with a single room for cooking, eating, and socializing keeps the atmosphere lively. Dorms are smaller than the other venues but comfy, and the nearby Wild Kettle café on Sunday mornings is always a favourite.
Where is it: Hathersage
Distance from each centre:
Top Valley: 1 hour
Mansfield Woodhouse: 50 mins
Chesterfield: 25 mins
What Activities We’re Running There in 2026:
March 6th–8th: Caving
April 10th–12th: Caving
May 15th–17th: Paddle Sport
June 26th–28th: Paddle Sport
July 17th–19th: Outdoor Climbing
August 7th–9th: Outdoor Climbing
August 21st–23rd: Paddle Sport
September 4th–6th: Weaselling at Roaches
September 11th–13th: Outdoor Climbing
October 3rd–5th: Hill Walk
October 17th–19th: Hill Walk
November 20th–22nd: Caving
St Michael’s location gives us quick access to some of the best caves in the Peak District.
The wet and dry rooms let us get ready and change without stress, and the wellie stash helps lighten Adventurers’ luggage.
The communal cooking and eating space is a bit smaller, but it creates a great atmosphere for socializing.
Being in Hathersage means easy access to great cafés like Wild Kettle — always a welcome treat on Sunday mornings.
Interactive Tour:
Which Break Takes Your Fancy?
That’s a wrap on our 2026 venues. We can’t wait to share these amazing spaces with the Adventurers again next year and keep helping them achieve their potential through adventure.
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