Boots, Bonfires, Burgers & Brews in the woods

🌲 Escape the Noise: The Digital Detox & Hiking Getaway

Boots, Bonfires, Burgers & Brews in the woods

Dates: Friday Nov 13th to Sunday Nov 15, 2026

The weekend after the chaos of Fireworks Night, we’re heading deep into the trees for something different. No crowds, no sirens, and no notifications. Just 100 acres of ancient woodland, the crunch of leaves under your boots, and the glow of a real fire.

What does it include?

🥾 Guided Woodland Hikes: Our guided walks take you through the heart of the woods, perfect for clearing the head and enjoying the outdoors.

🔥 The Alternative Bonfire: Forget the loud bangs. Spend your Saturday evening gathered around a crackling firepit in a secluded woodland clearing.

🍔 Burgers by the Fire: Hearty and freshly grilled burgers on the BBQ served right in the woods with a great selection of sides. (Vegetarian options available)

🍺 Craft Beer Tasting: Warm your spirits with a selection of craft beers to taste.

🛏️ Two nights accommodation right in the heart of nature, with female & male only dormitories. The Shining Cliff Hostel is a unique, off-grid experience and is famous for being accessible only on foot! There are wheelbarrows to carry your bags down from the car park though.

🌠 Some stargazing may be possible under clear skies in the woodland clearings.

📵 Digital Detox: We encourage you to switch off the phone and tune back into the rhythm of the forest. (But there is Wi-Fi in the Hostel if you need it!)

Shining Cliff is a very relaxing and secluded spot right in the forest. Why not spend a weekend waking up to birdsong and not much else! Whether you’re a solo walker looking to come on your own or a group of friends wanting a weekend escape, this weekend is perfect for connecting to nature.

Shing Cliff Woods is a stunning 100-acre ancient woodland and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on the western edge of the Derwent Valley. Once part of the medieval royal hunting forest of Duffield Frith, the area is famous for its rugged gritstone "shining" cliffs and history. In mid-November, the woods offer a crisp, atmospheric setting where the dense canopy of oak and birch transitions into late autumnal colours.

How to Get There

Shining Cliff is located just south of the official Peak District National Park boundary. The woods are located near the village of Ambergate, making them accessible by both car and train. We will do picks up from Ambergate station.

The Accommodation

The Shining Cliff Hostel is a unique, off-grid experience. It is a former YHA hostel, now independently run, and is famous for being accessible only on foot!

You will have to wheelbarrow your bags half a mile into the woods to reach it! Yes, that’s right the car park is a half mile away!

The hostel sleeps up to 20 people across 5 bedrooms but we are limiting numbers to 12 only so we have plenty of room. They are full size bunkbeds and we will have all male and female dorms.

There is an outdoor firepit area with circular seating and a BBQ, right against the cliff face. It’s perfect for our craft beer tasting and burger night!

The hostel has an open-plan lounge and dining area with views directly into the forest so if the weather is wet, we have plenty of space to relax in the warm. There are 3 modern bathrooms, each with a shower and composting toilets which is part of their commitment to the SSSI woodland environment. Every room has adjustable panel heaters to keep things cosy and warm.

The Walks

The longer circular walk on the Saturday will be between 8km (5 miles) and 15km (9 miles) depending on the weather and how the group is feeling and but there are several options to shorten or lengthen it. Expect a mix of terrain, mainly through woodland, grassy fields, tracks, and some muddy sections, especially after rain.

It is a gentle pace and we will talk to you as a group about the walk options before we set off and you won’t be asked to go further than you are comfortable doing and we will be able to take short cuts back.

We would class this as a beginner to intermediate level walk so a base level of fitness is required and there will be some elevation in places in the woods.

The walk on Sunday will be significantly shorter.

The Food

Wholesome food which includes vegan and vegetarian options.

Includes dinner on the Friday night, breakfast Saturday, packed lunch and dinner Saturday night. Breakfast & and buffet lunch before departure on the Sunday afternoon.

We will send out a food choices form, a week or so before the event where you can choose from at least 3 main options.

Here’s an example of the sort of food we offer:

• Middle Eastern Chicken & Lentil Pan Roast: A ‘curry’ style dish of lentils, spinach & aromatic spices, with pan-fried chicken thighs, finished in the oven.

• Homemade Spaghetti Bolognese: A true Italian classic with a meaty, tomato based chilli sauce.

We are going to do a BBQ on Saturday with burgers and sausages and lots of great sides to go along with them!

And for breakfast we will offer things like: Porridge Oats and Berries, Bacon and Eggs on Toast, Smashed Avocado on Toast, Eggs on Toast or a selection of croissants and pastries

You definitely won’t go hungry!

Please see our website www.wellbeingwalk.co.uk for our Terms and Conditions for public events. We will also send you a full kit list and a welcome pack on booking.

Info: We will get unpacked, relax and get to know each other - dinner will be served about 7:30PM and we may play a few board games

Info: We will wake up to the birdsong and start with a nice cooked breakfast and then set off on the Hike about 10am. We will stop for our packed lunch on route and then head back to the hostel before dark. We will get the fire pit and BBQ going and cook our burgers round the firepit. We will try a selection of craft beers from several well known breweries and share stories by the fire.

Info: We will have a lovely relaxing breakfast, get checked out and then go on a smaller walk in the woods, reflect on the weekend before setting off home or going for a Sunday roast!

Event venue & nearby stays

Shining Cliff hostel, Jackass Lane, Belper, United Kingdom

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