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Reviews of Callow Top Holiday Park

Q: Is Callow Top Holiday Park child friendly?

YES, it accepts children & has a playground View all facilities

Q: Does Callow Top Holiday Park have a swimming pool?

YES, there is a pool on site View all facilities

Q: Where is the nearest shop to Callow Top Holiday Park?

There is a shop on site View all facilities

Campsite Search > UK > Central England > Peak District & Derbyshire > Ashbourne > Callow Top Holiday Park > Reviews

Callow Top Holiday Park
Buxton Road
Sandybrook
Ashbourne
Derbyshire (Browse area)
DE6 2AQ
Tel: 01335 344 020
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Pitches: 200
Open: 22/03/2024 to 10/11/2024
22/03/2025 to 10/11/2025

Rating:

8/10 from 335 Reviews

Photos (17)

Tent Pitches	Caravan Pitches	Motorhome Pitches	Small Campervans
No Glamping Units	No Statics for Hire	Holiday Homes for Sale	Seasonal Pitches
Electric Hookups	Hardstanding Pitches	No Fully Serviced Pitches	Show Full Facilities

Who's it for
Families Welcome	Not Members Only	No Rallies	Not Naturist Site
Dogs Welcome	No Dogs Allowed	Groups Welcome
Facilities
Toilet Facilities	Hot Showers	Washing Up	No Bathroom
Baby Changing Facilities	Laundry On Site	Drinking Water	Disabled Friendly
Chemical Disposal	Battery Charging	Gas Exchange	Recycling Facilities
No Kitchen Facilities	No Freezer / Fridge	Motorhome Point	Wifi Access
Shop On Site	Bar On Site	Restaurant or Cafe or Takeaway On Site
Activities
Kids Playground	No TV Room	Games Room	No Evening Ents
Fishing On Site	No Wild Swimming	Indoor Pool <5 miles	Outdoor Pool On Site
No Horse Riding	Cycle Hire <1 mile	Golf <5 miles	Tennis <1 mile
No Beach	Watersports <5 miles	No Boat Launch
Other Features
No Sea Views	Not Working Farm	No Campfires Allowed
No Waterside Pitches	Public Transport <5 miles	Offroad Dog Walk On Site or Direct Access

Reviews: 335 in total, now showing 131 to 140 Previous 10 Next 10

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Date of Visit: May 2011

Unit: Touring Caravan

Reviewer: Sally Garrett

12 reviews from this member

Please note the drive way in has been improoved and is wider. It is steep and the speed bumps are evil but it is ok so long as you have not over loaded your van or have the wrong towing outfit. They have 2 lanes so new vans don't block up the route in for those already on site! This is a fantastic family site with a lot of thought into kids enjoyment and adults relaxing.

The cafe was fantastic although I think they need to rope off an area to q as it gets confussing when busy generally we were served at a good rate. The food was good and so was the choice. The on site pub we only went to on Sunday for prebooked lunch. But the service was terrible so we never went back. It was very odd like they had no idea what they were doing. We and several others had to ask at the bar to be served. The starter wasn't cleared before the main arrived and they forgot things, the occasional staff rushed past head down rather than looking to see if clearing was needed or help. He food was ok but we didn't bother with dessert as it was frustrating trying to grab any attention.

They don't make a thing about the micro brewery which is a shame and disappointing.

The cafe was a lot better and some nights had entertainment. Oddly all the catering was shut on Tuesdays?! It was fun and the kids loved the disco and we thought the talent show was great. A good choice of food and apparently they did breakfasts (not early enough for us though!)

The play park is for young kids upto 11 and is exceptional. Better still it locks up over night so you can get the kids to bed. Opening after breakfast helps too!

We were in our caravan but we used the washing up, showers and the loos. Generally speaking they are ok. But the loos are totally shut for cleaning and although there are other blocks the other blocks are really small. The showers were hot and 20p kept it going for a little longer than I needed. They can get mucky and some desperate people had used them to urinate in due to the loos being closed! Which is a really good reason for not totally closing toilets to clean them! The rear drains of the showers stunk and needed clearing. The 20p boxes were old and often failed. I got lucky and found 80p stuck in one and another day one shower was on permanently! Not great for kids too big to need an adult as hooks are high up and the floor gets wet. The usual queue builds and a lot of people grumbled there should be more blocks but I always got in early or late without much trouble.

The pool is great but families ignore the rules. Kids were unattended and it was crowded but people still bombed and had floats. To be honest no-one had problems and everyone was totally enjoying themselves. Take big towels as only 2 family changing rooms. There is a smaller paddling pool for little ones and both are well fenced and gated. I do think a little light hearted enforcement of rules would help. But hey its free!

It can be noisy up to 11pm depending on where you are positioned but we knew this may be the case as we were close to the main blocks and we didn't mind. I always take earplugs.

The pitch was great, flat and big but for the money I expected waste water drainage. The shop perfect with both food, camping accessories and even souvenirs! The staff were awesome in all the locations other then the pub. The kids loved the staff too. Especially Izzie. My girls thought she was great and my partners lad was quite taken by her.

Ashbourne is lovely and has lots of pretty shops as well as a co-op. Go left in the centre then right car park on right. There are great walks, cycle routes and although no bites at fishing other people got some! A little pricey for fishing considering the lake but its good to have it.

Generally we loved the place and will definitely go back! Great for a huge amount of places to visit including Alton Towers. Overall we would recommend this site and certainly seemed one of the better sites in the area.

Date of Visit: April 2011

Unit: Touring Caravan

Reviewer: Tpear1

1 review from this member

Had a fab week at Callow Top. Kids and adults loved it. Site lovely and clean. Shame pool not open as weather was gorgeous. Pool not open until May (I think). Stayed the week before Easter so not too crowded. Left Good Friday to a very 'packed' site.

The Callow Top Inn on site had a couple of roaring fires in the oldest part of the building. Meals were expensive so choose not to eat there. Did find a great pub called the Oakover Arms, Mapleton, 20 mins walk from site. Take right turn on public foot path at top after field 4. Continue on foot path, you will see pub in distance as you descent.

Views across fields breath-taking. Received a warm welcome despite 15 in our party including children and dogs. I would advise to book first. Excellent home cooked food to a high standard. Reasonably priced and an excellent choice on menu. The walk back to the campsite ended the evening perfectly. Shall be visiting Callow Top again but will try to avoid busy times, if that's possible. Site is getting a little expensive charging extras for awnings, etc.

Date of Visit: November 2010

Unit: Touring Caravan

Reviewer: Rachandgarry

6 reviews from this member

We love this site. We came 2 years running in a tent and have now been twice last year in a touring caravan.

It’s really secure with a security operated barrier which is manned and you have to display your tag in your windscreen. We have stayed in the dedicated tent field which was brilliant, we pitched in the inside of the filed which had a massive play area in the middle. Your pitch is large and is clearly identified by markers.

We stayed in filed 2 the first time in the caravan which was separated by hedges between pitches and had roads all the way around. Spacious pitches which we easily had our caravan, car and awning on. We could stay until 4pm as it was off peak.

Second time we stayed on a mixed caravan and tent site which wasn’t as nice, gravel roads and no lighting – family had to set up with the aid of car head lights. We booked late for the bonfire weekend which I would definitely recommend

Toilet facilities were clean and the showers are 20p which I could easily shower in time. Only downside was they weren’t really suitable for our toddler as they were quite hot but not a problem as we showered him in our own caravan. They don’t offer serviced pitches which we would usually pay extra for but as we only stayed a weekend wasn’t a big issue. No family bathrooms.

There is a shop selling basics and some camping equipment which had good opening hours. You could hire bikes from there and there is an outdoor swimming pool but didn’t use so can’t comment.

A nice pub on site which at weekends when we stayed had outside disco, food was nice but service was long winded when we ate there but it was last day of the season. Large children's play area but can get quite noisy into the evening and older children do tend to take over and can get quite rowdy.

Good location and nice walk into Ashbourne although all uphill on the way back. Cycle track into Ashbourne as well.

Date of Visit: April 2011

Unit: Tent

Reviewer: Tracy.....

2 reviews from this member

Callow top is situated just outside a small town.

Nice place,kids are well catered for with big play area and swimming pool. Bar, shop, reception.

Now for the only bad bit. Not enough water points or toilets and were very smelly. We went at Easter and there was nearly always a queue for the loo, the washing up facilities were always full and queues outside and the showers were a sore point with a lot of people. Luckily we are a night time showering family but if you wanted a morning shower you would have to get up at the crack of dawn to get one without queuing and although it was a fairly clean site they could do with bins on the tent fields.

Other than that all was good, reception staff were fast and helpful and there was no dog poop on the grass. Although the staff could empty the dog poo bins more often. But then I don't have a dog, just don't like the smell as I walk past!

Date of Visit: November 2010

Unit: Touring Caravan

Reviewer: Kie68

36 reviews from this member

We have just returned from a Bonfire Weekend at Callow top. This is a lovely site,the check in was quick and easy although a bit more information could be provided for first time visitors like ourselves,we couldn't find the showers as they are not with the toilets like most sites but on the end of the toilet block and are not signposted esp. When it is dark.We were on field five which was a mixture of caravan electric hook ups and tents with no hook ups.The pitches are big the only down side was there are no lights on the field and we had to pitch the awning with the aid of the car headlights,there was also a lack of water taps on this field.These are only minor complaints as the Site is very nice,there is a large pub that does it's own Beer,the shop was big and well stocked.We had a full English Breakfast in the cafe bar which was worth the money,the cafe bar turns into a family bar at night.There is a nice children's play area for younger children.They must have spent a fortune on the fireworks as there were loads of them.

The town of Ashbourne is half a mile away and Dovedale stepping stones about three miles away.We will be returning again,hopefully in the summer when the nights are lighter.

Date of Visit: October 2010

Unit: Touring Caravan

Reviewer: S+gknight

9 reviews from this member

We couldn't resist the special half price offer that Callow Top had on for the Oct half term week, at £99 for 2 adults, 1 child on a hardstanding pitch with electric we thought we had good value for money.

Campsite has lots of on site facilities, cafe, pub, small arcade, playpark and the usual toilet/shower facilities. There is an outdoors pool but of course it was closed in Oct! We didn't use any of the food outlets but heard from our neighbours that the pub food was good. Our son really enjoyed the use of the pool tables in the cafe but thought the arcade a bit boring and it didn't seem to get much use.

Very close to Ashbourne, lovely town with a choice of supermarkets. Ashbourne is right on the edge of the peak district so was a bit of a drive to the main attractions, but we chose it for its proximity to Derby where we planned to visit relatives whilst in the area.

We thought the main touring fields were a little cramped and were pleased we were put in field 3 although our view of the long row of car parking spaces was not very attractive. There was only one set of toilet facilities open and at first we found the set up of separate toilets and unisex showers odd especially as they opened straight outside but we soon got used to them and found them mostly clean (opening up straight onto path meant they got muddy). 20p gave 4 mins of lovely hot water and if you rushed it was plenty long enough.

Friendly and efficient staff and reassuring to see an active security guard who was quick to disperse some noisy children who had gathered at the park one night.

Now for the bad points, limited lighting once off main paths, so you will need a torch. Electricity is only 10 amp which caused a lot of problems at the beginning of the week when the cold weather caused everyone to switch on extra heaters and resulted in the power constantly tripping. Hardstanding pitches are a compressed chalky gravel, our pitch was poorly drained and caused some flooding in the awning and you will need rock pegs.

The worse point about this park and the one thing that stops us returning is the approach. We only just made the ascent up the long steep wet and leafy hill and over the fierce speed bumps to the campsite.

Date of Visit: October 2010

Unit: Touring Caravan

Reviewer: CaddyClan

23 reviews from this member

We booked this campsite primarily due to them offering half price pitches throughout October which we thought was a great deal, plus we wanted to take our teens to Alton Towers and was delighted to learn that this site was within a 20 minute drive.

The steep hill up to the campsite definitely needs another mention as I missed it in an earlier review and we struggled to get to the top, despite our outfits being a perfect match. This was due to having to come to a halt at the bottom of the hill as another caravan was coming the other way and the road was wet and covered with fallen leaves. The ESP (traction control) light kept illuminating and we struggled to gain traction. One major gripe which we heard many other people mentioning was the speed humps all the way up the hill which force you to slow to a crawl - and subsequently struggle to get going again - even with a well matched outfit. Indeed we (along with many others) watched another car/caravan struggle for the best part of 10 mins to get going after stopping mid-way up.

Our pitch was a decent size with very high hedging either side (great if it's windy!). The pitches seemed fairly level on first inspection however we ended up needing chocks as did most of our neighbours along with rock pegs in order to secure the awning to the hardstanding.

No reception on the tv (presumably due to the high hedging) so satellite is the order of the day.

We visited in half term so the site was fairly busy and there were a lot of children on site. The playground seemed very popular and in a central location. The football pitch / ball games area however could only be accessed by the kids walking down the main access road into the site which may not be safe for younger ones.

Showers: The shower block closest to us was closed for environmental reasons (?) so this left only the showers adjacent to the main toilet block. We did have one major concern with these showers in that there was absolutely no lighting at the side of the building and there are several steps / ramps. The showers are individual cubicles directly accessed from the outside. As it goes dark early at this time of year we had to take great care when coming out of the shower cubicles to avoid slipping or tripping until we reached the front of the building, which was then lit.

Take lots of 20p's with you for the showers. They were always hot during our visit but ladies (or gents!) you may need more than 1 x 20p if you have long/thick hair that requires a lot of rinsing as we found the 4 mins only just adequate.

We found much of the site to be very poorly lit, the only areas with adequate lighting being around the shop / pub. Most of the rows of pitches did not have any lighting at all - so take a torch if you intend to visit the toilets at night!

The family bar & pub seemed very popular and we went to Arthur's bar several times during the week. It was always clean, drinks and meals reasonably priced and staff friendly.

For a meal out - we highly recommend the Rose and Crown just outside Ashbourne. Terrific Sunday Roast at a reasonable price, and desserts to die for!

As mentioned in other reviews, the shop is excellent, stocking all of your everyday requirements and plenty of camping accessories. Should you need a more varied selection of food then there is a Waitrose, an M&S Food and a Sainsbury's less than a mile away in Ashbourne.

We all agreed that the site would likely seem very different in the summer when the pool was open for the kids and the weather was favourable enough to utilise the beer garden in front of the pub (from where you can keep an eye on your kids in the park).

All in all we had an enjoyable week. Will try it again in the summer.

Date of Visit: September 2010

Unit: Motorhome

Reviewer: RIMMER

203 reviews from this member

Something for everybody at this excellent site although wouldn't like to be here during peak periods,being Sept. And midweek the site was very quiet and relaxing,facilities very good as others have commented and no queue for showers.

Particularly liked the on site pub,found it very cosy and welcoming and liked their own micro brewed real ales. The Tissington cycle trail down the road but as previous post mentioned the hill back to the campsite is not for the faint hearted, we cycled to Biggen which is on a gradual incline to there then practically free wheeled all the way back.

Ashbourne can also be walked to from the site in about 20 mins. But the hill has to be negotiated on the return leg. Paid £20/night for two with ehu and a hard standing pitch.

Date of Visit: August 2010

Unit: Tent

Reviewer: CALDAN

8 reviews from this member

Stayed here for 5 days in August. On arrival the reception is superbly organised and efficient.

Site is directly on the tissington trail for walking and biking, lovely in either direction but to get back to site you have to get up the big entrance hill! Save some energy for this.

The shop is the best I have ever seen on a campsite and they seemed to have thought of everything. It was the size of a full minimart and they also hire bikes from site. We managed to hire a buggy for my 7yr old with a broken arm to go in so that we could still use the rest of the family bikes. Staff really helpful with this.

Pitches were large and clean. We were on field 4. Further out fields had their own small toilet block which I didn't use. Pitches on our field were round the edges leaving middle free for kids to play ball games without annoying anyone.

Playground and small arcade for kids were great. Large Cafe open all day serving food drinks and beer. Never any pressure on you to leave once finished eating / drinking. Small pub on site open in evenings which had child free area and served nice food.

Washing machine dryer and Iron there and pot washing clean and not overcrowded most of the time.

Outdoor swimming pool was brilliant, clean and well looked after. Great fun.

The showers and washing facilities were a let down. The showers were getting tatty and there were usually queues.They cost 20p thank goodness as the queues would have been much longer. There were no separate sinks to just have a private wash in and no sinks in the shower cubilcles. Your only choice was to use the sinks that were in the toilets.

Plus points. Kids facilities, cafe brilliant for food and drink and generally sitting and chatting. Reception and Shop excellent.

Minus points. Showers needed updating as there was nowhere to just have quick wash unless you get in way of the people using the toilets and after showering you still had to go elsewhere to brush your teeth.

Suggestion. Some cubicles like the C & C Club sites have where you could have strip wash behind locked door would ease pressure on the showers and the toilet sinks.

Date of Visit: August 2010

Unit: Tent

Reviewer: Princessstoops

2 reviews from this member

This site was recommended to us by friends as a lovely site to visit in a good location. We haven't really a bad word to say about this site and would summarize as follows:

RECEPTION/CHECK IN- The staff seemed really friendly and welcoming to the site and very helpful with any inquiries. Immediately it was noticeable that the campsite had a brilliant atmosphere and good facilities. Reception had a wide range of leaflets suggesting day trips and what the local area had to offer.

PITCHES- They were easily identifiable with good signposting around the site to the various fields, this was depending on whether you require electric hook up or not. The lay out was fantastic with a road around the entire field making access to your pitch very easy. They were certainly spacious, with plenty of room and private for your own personal space. Enough room for parking and tent whilst allowing space between strangers. The inner field provided plenty of space for children/families to play away from tents but easily visible.

SHOWERS/TOILET BLOCK- They were very clean at all times and we did not have to walk very far for these facilities, each individual field having their own separate facilities meaning there was no queuing at any time. You did have to pay for the showers, but this was a minimal charge of 20 pence, which gave you enough time to have a shower if you are a male. The girlfriend required 40 pence worth of shower! The showers were the hottest we have experienced on any camp site, and we definitely felt the small charge was well worth it.

POT WASH FACILITIES- These were easily accessible and never seemed to be overly busy. There may have been small queues but nothing major.

PUB/CAFE/CLUB- These were of a high standard and served food that was reasonably priced and tasteful. Again the staff offered service with a smile and were polite at all times. There were a variety of entertainments from watching sports, bingo and music. There was also a games room which seemed very popular with children, as it stocked a selection of arcade games. There were pool tables and table tennis table to keep children and a adults amused.

SHOP- The shop catered very well for essentials and camping gear, things that you may have ran out of, broken or just forgot. It didn't seem to be overpriced for any products that were on offer.

PLAYGROUND AND POOL- When passing the playground it seemed very busy and the children seemed like they were having fun. A small outside pool was available, that did not seem too busy throughout our stay. However, the weather was warm but perhaps not to everybody's liking to swim as it is not heated. If the weather was warmer I would imagine it to be much busier.

LOCATION- The site is very well signposted and easy to find. It is sighted in a great location that provides easy access to attractions like Dovedale, Chatsworth, Alton Towers and Carsington Water. There are many small villages that can also be visited such as Buxton and Ashbourne together with Matlock that isn't too far away. For younger children there is Gulliver's Kingdom or Heights of Abraham. This range of attractions offers something for everyone's different tastes.

CONCLUSION- We would definitely visit again and would highly recommend the site to any potential visitors. The site seemed to be very family orientated (which is good) but as a lone couple it sometimes felt a little awkward seeing most people with children or in bigger groups.

If we were to visit in future we would take our nieces. One feature that particularly impressed us was the fact access to the site was not possible without a barrier being raised upon production of proof of booking. This made you feel safe and secure that everyone on site was booked on.

Previous 335 Reviews in total, now showing 131 to 140 Next

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Common Questions

Is Callow Top Holiday Park child friendly?  YES, it accepts children & has a playground  View all facilities

Does Callow Top Holiday Park have a swimming pool?  YES, there is a pool on site  View all facilities

Where is the nearest shop to Callow Top Holiday Park?  There is a shop on site  View all facilities

Is Callow Top Holiday Park dog friendly?  YES  View all facilities

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