Glamp it up in the comfy camping pods at Hillcrest Park, ideal for those who want to escape to the country without straying too far off the beaten track. This tranquil six-acre site in the grounds of a former farm is encircled by pastoral panoramas, yet it’s very close to the delightful market towns of Barnard Castle and Richmond, and only a ten-minute drive from the trans-pennine A66.
The well-insulated, heated pods offer all the joys of camping without any worries about what the weather might do, and the essential amenities on site are good: cosy, clean showers and loos, laundry and dishwashing, plus a large exercise area for dogs. The helpful owners will even arrange for little essentials, given a bit of notice.
Nearby attractions and activities
Visitors may be surprised at just how many interesting places are crammed into this northern corner of the Yorkshire Dales. For a start there’s Raby Castle, which you can see from Hillcrest; it’s one of the greatest medieval piles in the country, and its 200-acre deer park contains the spectacular foaming cascades of High Force waterfall. Then there’s the world-beating art collection at the Bowes Museum, housed within a grandiose faux château in Barnard Castle, the ancient capital of Teesdale (seven miles away from Hillcrest).
Venturing a bit further afield, holidaymakers can reach Head of Steam (the Darlington Railway Centre and Museum) to inspect George Stephenson’s Locomotion No 1, the first steam train to take paying passengers; and the fascinating open air museum at Beamish, which transports visitors back to daily life in Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian times via its living exhibits - take a ride around the village on a vintage tram, talk to the inhabitants of the historic buildings preserved with original contents, or see what it’s really like going down the mines...
Teesdale is one of England’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with glorious walking and cycling on the various National Cycle Network routes in close proximity (a night in a pod at Hillcrest makes a perfect stopover for those following the cross-country Walney to Whitby route).
Last but not least, the site is surrounded by villages with good food pubs - there are three around a mile away.
Attractions near Hillcrest Park
Must see
- The Bowes Museum (5.9 miles)
- Barnard Castle (6.3 miles)
- Locomotion:The National Railway Museum at Shildon (8.2 miles)
National Trust
- Moulton Hall (9.1 miles)
- Braithwaite Hall (18.5 miles)
Cycle routes
Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.
Activities near Hillcrest Park
Brignall Banks - Brignall Mill - Greta Bridge – Brignall (5.2 miles) Walking
Egglestone Abbey - Greta Bridge - Brignall (5.5 miles) Walking
Barnard Castle, Green Lane and Mount Eff Lane. (5.9 miles) Walking
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very nice Mrs O. (Mature couple, 1 review, 0 photos) Confirmed ?
Liked: Nice sites, little 'crowded' but quite sure we had our allocted space. Very pretty and with a lovely shower block and dishwashing area. Loved the pods! Disliked: I felt quite 'close' to the people on either side. |
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Liked: The surroundings, the camping pod, the shower block and the site its self was just extremely clean and tidy. Disliked: Nothing, everything was just right for a perfect weekend away |
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Excellent site linda m. (Mature couple, 1 review, 0 photos) Confirmed ?
Liked: Everything about it. We were welcomed by Kath who took us to our pitch , she is very friendly and pleasant , she brings a very personal touch to the park. The location is perfect if you want peace and quiet and it has lovely countryside views The site is immaculate..Theres no problem if you have dogs as theres a large area to walk them. Disliked: Nothing at all to dislike.
From the manager...
Linda - thank you so much for taking the time to post such a lovely review! It's always nice to hear that other people like the place as much as we do. Hope to see you again before too long. Kate and Ed |
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Liked: Lovely walks, clean accommodation and shower / toilet areas Disliked: As it was snowing it was cold in the pod we stayed in, these would be ideal in the summer but unfortunately the weather when we were there made it cold
From the manager...
James. I'm so sorry to hear you were cold, and that we didn't manage to see you before you left. Perhaps we could have provided extra heating or blankets? It really was arctic on the days you stayed - I think it got down to about minus10 overnight. We were cold in the house too! I do hope it won't spoil your idea of Hillcrest and that we see you here again one day - perhaps in the sunshine! |
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Liked: we had a weekend in one of the family pods we had a lovely time the site is clean,tidy and well run. we found the pod very comfortable with views over the snow covered landscape. even in temperatures below freezing the facilities were warm and clean with lots of hot water . Disliked: we enjoyed the whole experiance
From the manager...
Dear Stewart. I'm so glad you enjoyed your stay - despite the arctic temperatures! Thank you very much for taking the time to review us so positively and we look forward to perhaps seeing you again one day. Kate |
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Fab! Mollywebster1 (Mature couple, 1 review, 0 photos) Confirmed ?
Liked: Not many sites open at this time of year. Disliked: Nothing |
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Fantastic Stay even for January Time, returning next month with kids Rachel D. (Young couple, 1 review, 0 photos) Confirmed ?
Liked: The wooden pods, area and overall cleanness of site and facilities Disliked: Bit cold during night even with heater on but that was the weathers fault not the site or pods
From the manager...
Belated thanks for taking the time to review us and I hope you enjoyed your stay. I think a tip would be to bring (or hire from us) a camp bed, rather than inflatable, in very cold temperatures, as you are then a bit higher off the ground and you get the full benefit of the heater. Hope to see you back here again in the summer - and basking in sunshine next time! |
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A pod with a view :-) DONNA C. (Young couple, 1 review, 0 photos) Confirmed ?
Liked: We loved everything. Such a beautiful place to stay. Disliked: Nothing at all |
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This was our first time camping as a family, we stayed in a pod which our 18month old son loved. hannah p. (Family with young children, 1 review, 0 photos) Confirmed ?
Liked: everything about the pod.......was warm, cosy, comfy and suited our needs perfectly. Disliked: think we would have preferred more of a view instead of looking at the caravans but this was only a very small dislike.
From the manager...
Thank you very much for taking the time to submit both reviews - and we're glad to hear you enjoyed your stay. The 3 pods at the top of the site do have better views, but 2 of them are Family sized pods. However, with far reaching views comes wind and they can sometimes be a bit exposed. The pod you had is about the most sheltered on the site - so it's swings and roundabouts really! Do come again, and I'll see if I can put you in the standard pod at the top! Kate |
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Hillcrest Pods were brilliant! John D. (Family with young children, 1 review, 0 photos) Confirmed ?
Liked: We stayed at Hillcrest as a little treat for our 6 year old before he went to school and he LOVED it, as did we. Disliked: There was nothing we disliked, however pubs and places to eat were quite a walk. however the local taxi drivers are brilliant and when booked in advanced are reasonably priced and always on time!
From the manager...
Thanks for the great review! Hope to see you here again before long. Kate and Ed |
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very clean and quiet a great place to relax richard c. (Family with older children, 1 review, 0 photos) Confirmed ?
Liked: the pod Disliked: nothing
From the manager...
Glad to hear you enjoyed your stay and hope you can come back for longer next time! |
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Liked: The area was lovely - Barnard Castle nearby. Site was clean and toilets/showers were fine. Disliked: We paid £50 per night for a family sized pod and it was our first time camping. Hired mattresses that deflated slowly and the pod was freezing when it became dark. It was fun for the first night as we all struggled to stay on the airbeds and debated who was the coldest (even with the heater on) but a second attempt was not an option for us. We did not see the owners but ...
From the manager...
Thank you for taking the time to submit a review, but I'm so sorry to hear you didn't enjoy your first podding experience. It's a shame we weren't there to meet you, but we had to go away for a couple of days, leaving our niece to look after things. Unfortunately airbeds do sometimes spring leaks, but we will always replace them if we are made aware of it. In the lobby of the Amenity Block there is a folder with lots of suggested walks, leaflets for local attractions and an OS map on the wall, and we're always happy to lend maps and give suggestions if asked - eg there is a lovely walk along the River Tees just down the road - and a little natural pool you can swim in if the weather is good. But you do have to watch out for tractors and combine harvesters along the road as we're surrounded by farms. On checking the Pods on our return we noticed that the heater in your pod had tripped out (which sometimes happens if they are covered, but is easily fixed) and that might explain why you were cold (and it was also a frosty night!). You might be interested to know that we also have cottages to hire for around £180 for 3 nights - with central heating, TVs and dishwashers - so if you prefer a few more home comforts perhaps they might be more your bag! Kind regards, Ed and Kate |
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Only stayed the one night, but thoroughly impressed - site was incredibly clean and very peaceful. the camping pod was fab, was great to have a heater and access to electricity. Would recommend to everyone, including those that dont like camping!! Alison K. (Family with older children, 1 review, 0 photos) Confirmed ?
Liked: everything about the camping pod!! Disliked: not really a dislike as I knew there wasn't one, but a little cafe would add even more to the site.
From the manager...
Really pleased to hear that you enjoyed your stay at Hillcrest. Maybe one day we'll be able to find a spot for a little cafe! Kate and Ed |
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Stayed in Pod, loved it. mattandgem (Family with young children, 1 review, 0 photos)
Liked: The Pod was really good, clean and ideal for our two young children. The pod we stayed in was fenced off in its own area sharing with one other pod, which was great to let the kids run around. We were unaware of this when we booked but was probably the best pod to have for us. The pods are very well insulated and roomy enough and also have a picninc table per pod to ... Disliked: I have no complaints regarding our stay at Hillcrest park and would recommend it to people wanting to stay in a pod, cottage or touring caravan.
From the manager...
Thank you for your positive review and we're really pleased you enjoyed your stay. Hope to see you again some time! |
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first time camping in a pod brill beverley m. (Family with young children, 1 review, 0 photos) Confirmed ?
Liked: the site was nice quite and surounded with fields the showers and toilets were lovely clean there is a washer&dryer.the pod was great with a heater and lights and 2 plug sockets.kate&ed the owners were very friendly and helpful.we stayed for one night and would stay again. Disliked: none
From the manager...
Great to hear you enjoyed yourselves, Beverley. Stay longer next time! |
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Pod camping at Hillcrest Sara F. (Young couple, 1 review, 0 photos) Confirmed ?
Liked: Omg! My first pod experience was absolutely great. I fully recommend them. Disliked: Nothing
From the manager...
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it and hope to see you again. |
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Very clean friendly site Rebecca M. (Young couple, 1 review, 0 photos) Confirmed ?
Liked: Friendly, informative welcoming Disliked: Everything was great, no complaints!
From the manager...
Thanks for such positive comments, Rebecca. Really glad you enjoyed Hillcrest and hope to see you again. |
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Liked: The location, the facilities, the treatment. We had a fantastic weekend! And spent a day in Richmond which wasn't far away at all!! Disliked: Nothing we disliked!!
From the manager...
Thanks, Ceri - hope to see you again before too long! Kate |
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Liked: We were very impressed with the site and the welcome we received. My husband and myself have been camping for 20 years and this site has the best toilets and showers that we have used. One really big plus point was that they had heating! The camping pods are excellent...warm and roomy. It was perfect for this time of year as the weather did turn a little colder while we were there. Disliked: The only thing we would suggest would be some sort of wind break in front of the pods. |
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2nd time we have stayed in pods, lovely location and great facilities cat (Young couple, 1 review, 0 photos)
Liked: We stay in the camping pods, easy and fun way to get in touch with the outdoors! We have stayed twice now, lovely area with local pubs to eat at and all the facilities at the park very fresh and clean. Would be great place for cyclists or mountain bikers to stay, no fuss and great area. Disliked: We disliked nothing its great!!!!!! |
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Stayed in a Camping Pod not a tent.....very windy, cold, night! jo d. (With friends, 1 review, 0 photos) Confirmed ?
Liked: Farm is really well laid out. The amenities are excellent and very clean. The Camping pod was clean and fresh and offered a good alternative to a tent....very cosy. Great views. We hired air beds for a good price. Ed and Kate, the owners, were very pleasant and approachable and eager to make our stay as comfortable as possible. Disliked: We tripped the switch and lost the heater for the night......our fault, Kate and Ed genuinely disappointed we didn't go and get them to sort it out....was simple press of switch! Lesson learned! |
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Liked: The pods, the situation, the lovely warm showers, the size of the site, the friendly hosts. Disliked: Any problem was down to the timing - muck spreading was stinky (but only lasted a day) and the pod was in an incredibly exposed position which meant that we couldn't sit out because of the wind. Bad timing on our part! |
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I stayed two nights with my son in one of the new camping pods, using it as a base to go mountain biking in the area. The accommodation was great, and after a long drive such a pleasure not to have to put a tent up. Tom W. (Family with older children, 1 review, 0 photos) Confirmed ?
Liked: The owners of the site were very helpful and friendly. The ablutions were very clean as was the rest of the site. The camping pod was likewise spotless and the overall setting was delightful. Disliked: There is really nothing I disliked about Hillcrest Park. |
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Liked: Stayed for two nights in the family pod and was great fun. Within 15 minutes of arriving we were unpacked and sitting on the deck with a glass of wine, unlike the usual hour it takes to put up our tent! The facilities were excellent, with a fully equipped laundry/utility room..iron/ironing board/washer/dryer, there was an area full of local interest leaflets, books and magazines to lend, and the owners were ... Disliked: The only thing that i could possibly pick fault with (although it didn't bother us in the least) was that the shower cubicle walls were a little damp (for obvious reasons) so maybe a little more ventilation may help. |
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Perfect weekend tamarashaffer (Young couple, 1 review, 0 photos)
Liked: Great place, me and Andrew had a fab weekend. The weather was great, everyone on the site were great and the facilities were perfect. Stayed in the camping pod and couldn't have had a better nights sleep. We forgot to bring a matress or blow up bed but a guy that stays at the sight at the time jon, lent us a blow up bed! Everyone couldn't have done more to help! We ... Disliked: I dont mind but there were a lot of dogs on the site! |
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Liked: everything was great . stayed in pod for three nights would highly recomend.kate and ed were very helpful the pods are definetly for us no fuss just enjoyed every minute amenities were spotless cant fault it in any way we are looking forward to our next visit Disliked: nothing at all great |
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perfect retreat for families and couples lesley-ann_b (Family with young children, 1 review, 0 photos) Confirmed ?
Liked: the camping pods,are spacious warm and cosy they have heater's inside. Disliked: nothing i disliked! |
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Leisure on site
Bar or club house
Cycle hire
Evening entertainment
Fishing
Fitness centre
Games room
Indoor swimming pool
Kids' club
On-site restaurant/cafe
Outdoor swimming pool
Play area
TV room
Take away
Tennis
Watersports
Amenities on site
Bath available
Car parking by pitch
Disabled facilities
Drying room
Food shop
Free wifi
Ice pack freezing
Internet access
Launderette
Parent & baby washroom
Pick-up from public transport
Public telephone
Shower available
Toilet block
Washing-up area
Wifi
Utilities
Charging facilities
Chemical disposal
Gas cylinders available
Recycling available
Renewable energy
Touring and motorhomes
Electrical hook-up points for tourers
Hard standings
Seasonal pitches
Rules
Campfires allowed
Commercial vehicles allowed
Dogs allowed
Dogs allowed all year
Themes
Gay friendly
Peaceful
Spectacular scenery
Walkers' paradise
Wildlife haven
Nearby leisure
Canoeing/kayaking nearby
Cycle hire nearby
Cycling nearby
Fishing nearby
Golf nearby
Horse riding nearby
Restaurant nearby
Tennis nearby
Groups welcome
Family friendly
Motorcycle friendly
Rallies welcome
Single-sex groups welcome
Student groups welcome
Nearby amenities
Bar nearby
Nearby farmers' market
Public transport nearby
Shop nearby
Type
Medium (26-50 pitches)
Camping 2.0
Camping pods
Ordnance Survey maps (GB and Northern Ireland only) are available at lower levels via the drop-down menu.
Nearest transport
- Coach stations
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Barnard Castle: Galgate Coach Stop — 6.3mi
Scotch Corner Services A1: Coach Stop — 7.5mi
Darlington: Feethams opp Town Hall Coach Stop — 8.7mi
- Train stations
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Shildon Rail Station — 8.3mi
North Road Rail Station — 8.7mi
Heighington Rail Station — 8.7mi
- Ferry ports
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Transporter Bridge South Side — 22.0mi
Transporter Bridge North Side — 22.1mi
- Airports
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Durham Tees Valley Airport — 13.6mi
Directions
From A1(M), north or south, take the A66 Westbound at Scotch Corner. Travel 2 miles and take right turn onto B6274 signposted 'Winston'. Go through Caldwell Village, then continue for 1 mile and Hillcrest Park is on the left-hand side.
If travelling South from Scotland on M6, take A66 East at Penrith, J40. Head towards Scotch Corner and take B6274 signposted ‘Winston’. Go through Caldwell Village, then continue for 1 mile and Hillcrest Park is on the left-hand side.
If travelling North on the M6, at J38 take the A685 to Brough. From Brough, take A66 Eastbound towards Scotch Corner and take B6274 signposted to Winston and Staindrop. Go through Caldwell Village, then continue for 1 mile and Hillcrest Park is on the left-hand side.
Permitted arrival time
12 noon, unless by prior agreement
Cancellation policy
Cancellations made less than one week prior to booking are non-refundable.
Please note that your deposit paid to Pitchup.com is non-refundable.
Payment of balance
We will be in touch to arrange payment of your balance 3-4 weeks prior to booking, or after submission of your booking if within 3-4 weeks of arrival.
Cards accepted on the park
Visa, Mastercard
Terms and conditions
Site booking terms and conditionsPlease note
Hillcrest Park is a quiet site and therefore we do not accept large groups of under 25s or student parties.
Check availability at Hillcrest Park…
The standard camping pod is an insulated wooden structure that provides comfortable accommodation for 2 adults and 2 small (under 10) children. It has good headroom, a carpeted interior floor area and a porch to provide shelter. There is timber decking, and each pod has its own bench/picnic table. Dogs ...
Max. persons: 3x
Hardstanding pitch with 10-amp electric hook-up approximately 3m x 8m (10ft x 26ft), plus grass area for one awning only. Includes use of centrally heated amenities, with free showers, loos and coin operated laundry. We're very dog friendly and have a three-acre dog walking field on site, with beautiful views ...
Max. persons: unlimited
The family camping pod is an insulated wooden structure that provides comfortable accommodation for up to 4 adults. It has good headroom, a carpeted interior floor area and a porch to provide shelter. Dogs are welcome in the pods. There is timber decking, and each pod has its own bench/picnic ...
Max. persons: 4x
Thank you for taking the time to give us a positive review. I should explain that we put you on the pitch we did in order to accommodate your last minute request for an extra night over the Bank Holiday - we usually keep it for one night stopovers when we're busy (and so it was for this Bank Holiday) but it was the only way I could get you in the for the extra night! I do hope you come again and we can put you on one of the more spacious pitches.