Hi all, I've been trying to book our next camping trip from the 19th of Aug to the 30th. I'm torn between Newhaven and Golden Valley in the Peak district. Golden Valley looks really nice and with more modern, up to date facilities according to their website and the reviews than Newhaven but Golden Valley is twice as expensive. Another thing that I am not so sure about is that when I phoned the campsite they said I would have to move my tent after 5 days to give the grass a chance to breathe. Since I will be staying for 12 days they are really keen on having us move our tent. This is the first time I've heard of such a thing. We've stayed in a different campsite for 9 days before but was not asked to move our tent to "let the grass breathe." I would have thought the grass will just grow back because it still has its roots. Has anybody had experience like this before in this campsite or anywhere else? I don't mind paying much for a good campsite but I would find it very inconvenient to move my tent and all that are in it after 5 days. With England's weather as unpredictable as it is, it might be pouring when we do that. Any advice please?
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
There were 11 adults 1 child & 1 dog in 4 tents all with hook ups so we were paying a LOT.
Despite asking NOT to be allocated pitches under trees, we were told to pitch under trees, which when it eventually stopped raining, the trees dripped on us, so we popped up a gazebo so we could sit outside without getting wet.
Within 30 minutes (I kid you not) we were presented with a £30 bill for the gazebo. they then tried to charge us £15 for a windbreak.
We did refuse to pay the extras arguing that we'd asked for specific types of pitches & if they had fulfilled their side of the contract we wouldn't have needed the gazebo.
There are little nazi staff that wander around all the time barking orders at people, one started shouted at the children in teh play area at 9pm that it was time to go to bed.
My son was walking back from the toilets at 10.30 & was told off for not being in bed and escorted back to the tent!!!
nice site, good facilities, wouldn't go back there again if you paid me
It's not really in a very good area either, why anyone would choose to camp where it is always puzzles me. You're in a much nicer surrounding area at Newhaven.
Golden Valley had lots of negative reviews and at the time, the site actually asked for reviews to be prohibited. We stayed quite a while ago, before it got established and we enjoyed it but I don't think we would go back now because of the price. We have stayed at far better campsites for a fraction of the cost.
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
hi not stayed at golden valley but just come back from a 4 night stay at newhaven. the site was excellent value for money. they had two lots of toilet and shower blocks and we found the ones on the top field nearest the shop to be the cleanest, as they didi not seem to get used as much. the staff on site were really friendly even opened the shop for us one evening as we had ran out of milk. the site itself has a small play area and a wooded area for the children to play in. there is not a lot within walking distance to the site. however just a few minutes down the road in the car you have buxton, bakewell, matlock and many more towns to explore. I would reccommend this site its in a lovely area and compared to the prices of others in the area its welol worth it.
Hi all, thanks for your replies. I have to be honest I am more confused than ever. I have rung Newhaven but I was told they are full to the max and they don't accept 8 berth tents so I booked in Golden Valley. The guy I spoke to said I am booked but didn't ask for a deposit. He said I can pay on arrival. Any other campsites you can recomment?
Golden Valley is in Derbyshire but it's not the Peak District - that area used to be mining country and Ripley/Heanor/Jacksdale are in no way the kind of scenic towns you might associate with the Derbyshire countryside.
Your coomments have all been noted and we have since decided to go to Dumfries and Galloway instead. We went to Hoddom Castle last year and loved every minute of our stay, so this year we've decided to go there again. We'll try the Peak District next year. Thanks to all of you for the enlightening inputs