The Old Vicarage
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/-0.9643780047546215,53.27250662197561,12,0,0/376x277@2x)
- Riverside site in grounds of a 17th-century house in Nottinghamshire
- Close to Sherwood Forest and 25 miles from Nottingham
- Space for outdoor activities; rope swing and stepping stones
Site type
Admission
- At least one of the party members must be aged 18 or over.
- Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
Dogs
- The site does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Dangerous Dogs Act (i.e. XL Bully, Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro).
General
- Discount cards and gift vouchers cannot be applied to bookings made via Pitchup.com.
Occupancy
- Group bookings of 10 or more units travelling together are not permitted via Pitchup.com.
- Group bookings of 15 or more adults are not permitted (couples and immediate family members excepted).
Vehicles
- Commercial vehicles (vehicles used for work-related purposes, carrying goods or fare-paying passengers) and sign-written vehicles are not permitted on site.
- The Cave Bar is only open 26 - 28 May and 25 - 27 August.
Languages spoken
English
Open from Fri 27 Feb to
Pitch types & availability
2

Non-electric grass tent pitch
8 people maximum
Ground type: Grass
Pitch size: Min 4m width × 5m depth (20m²)
Arrival daysFrom £28
View prices & book3

Electric grass tent pitch
8 people maximum
Ground type: Grass
Pitch size: Min 5m width × 4m depth (20m²)
Arrival daysFrom £76
View prices & book22

Luxury 1 bedroom cabin
6 people maximum
Wifi at the unit/pitch 1 bedroom
Arrival daysFrom £135
View prices & book
Reviews
84% would recommend this site to a friend
83% would stay here again
What customers say
This campsite boasts a beautiful riverside setting with ample activities for children, including a stream, swings, and a zip line. Guests appreciate the relaxed atmosphere, friendly staff, and convenient location. However, frequent comments highlight the need for urgent improvements and increased frequency of cleaning for the toilet, shower, and washing-up facilities. Some also note issues with electricity supply and the availability of hot water.
Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews.
Last updated 18/08/2026
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Lovely setting! Excellent for children to play safely
Electric grass tent pitch
Liked The grounds are beautiful! we met a few of the family members that run the site, they were all friendly and helpful including the owner who was so helpful and also found a little bike for my daughter to borrow.
Having the option for a late check out so we could enjoy our last day was also a bonus
We will definitely return!
Disliked The toilet and shower shed :(
It was cleaned and looked after, it’s fine for a couple of nights camping.
If the toilet block was upgraded id definitely stay for more than 2 nights.
Recommend to friends Visit again
Lovely peacfull place tidy and clean…
Non-electric grass tent pitch
Liked Lovely peacfull place tidy and clean lots for children to play on and keep busy
Recommend to friends Visit again
Absolutely amazing place for the kids.…
Electric grass tent pitch
Liked Absolutely amazing place for the kids. My first time camping and will definitely go back. The stream kept the kids entertained every day.
Recommend to friends Visit again
I've already been recommending to all my friends
Non-electric grass tent pitch
Liked We loved the location of the place and kids playing in the water.
Disliked Parents not watching there kids. Resulting in one boy throwing a rock with such force at my daughter. We ended up at hospital with a broken arm.
The facilities so much potential to be nicer.
Recommend to friends Visit again
Everything you need for the perfect…
Luxury 1 bedroom cabin
Liked Everything you need for the perfect relaxing time at the most beautiful place.
Staff are so helpful and really friendly with my kids. I’ve been 3 times now and get gets better each time we visit.
I’ll be definitely be back soon.
Disliked Going home
Recommend to friends Visit again
Rats galore
Non-electric grass tent pitch
Liked Lovely stream and a quaint little camping site. Could be so much more but feels neglected and that the owners have lost interest.
Disliked Rats! Loads of them running around at night. Guess can’t be helped near a river but the tonnes of rubbish on the site would also be attracting them. The limited toilets / showers were also filthy and not cleaned once in the two days we stayed. Never saw any staff about tidying or cleaning at any point. No hot water in the showers but to be honest they were so dirty we didn’t want to use them. Didn’t feel any point in complaining to staff as they seemed disinterested and clearly not bothered about basic hygiene for guests. I think this site makes most of its income from weddings so they aren’t really bothered about making campers feel comfy. Bar was also closed the whole time we were there. Husband asked if he could buy a drink once when the shutters were up and staff in bar but they went to ask someone and then just said no! 🤣
Recommend to friends Visit again
From the manager: Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We’re sorry that your stay did not meet your expectations, although we do feel it is important to clarify some of the points raised for the benefit of future guests.
Our toilets and shower facilities are cleaned twice daily, including once during the early morning period and again later in the day. We therefore cannot agree with the statement that they were “not cleaned once” during your two-night stay. As with any shared facilities, cleanliness can unfortunately be affected between cleaning rounds by the behaviour of other guests, and we do ask everyone to leave the facilities as they would wish to find them.
Regarding the rubbish shown in your photographs, if rubbish is being left next to individual campers’ pitches, this is unfortunately something we cannot control. Guests are responsible for their own waste and are expected to dispose of it appropriately. We do not deliberately leave piles of rubbish around the site, and it is unfair to suggest that this is evidence of the owners having “lost interest” or that the site is neglected.
We’re also disappointed by the comments regarding rats. We are situated in a rural setting with a river running through the site, so wildlife is an unfortunate reality of being in the countryside. However, we take pest control and hygiene seriously and would ask guests to report any concerns to us during their stay so that we have the opportunity to investigate.
We’re sorry you felt there was no point in speaking to us. Had these concerns been raised with us at the time, we would have been more than happy to discuss them and investigate anything you felt was not up to standard. It is particularly difficult for us to address issues retrospectively when we are not made aware of them during a guest’s stay.
Our bar is not a permanently staffed bar. It is generally open on bank holidays and busier periods, and during quieter periods we use a bell so guests can alert us when someone is available to serve them. As a small family-run site, we simply do not have the staffing levels to keep the bar permanently staffed when there are fewer guests.
We are genuinely sorry that you left feeling disappointed, but we do feel that some of the comments give a misleading impression of the site and the effort that goes into maintaining it. We are always happy to receive constructive feedback, but we also believe it is important that factual inaccuracies are clarified for future guests.
Excellent place for a weekend away with the kids!
Luxury 1 bedroom cabin
Liked Loved the cabin its self, was a lovely set up for how small it was it didnt lack facilities or space for us all, owner was lovely when we saw her out in the garden.
The stream is stunning and the swings, zip wires and little extras all around was excellent for the kids!
Atmosphere relaxing and breathtaking.
I brought my baby monitor but they even provided one of them which I was very surprised about, you can tell this is a family run business because they think about what families need.
We are already looking at booking again for September so we will see you then!
Disliked Only downfall was the shower, if there was people in the showers for the outside campers then the hot water for the cabin wouldn’t work, they came over to fix it and was lovely about it but then we figured out I had to wait till the outside campers finished, unfortunately with a baby it meant his bed time went well late and hes cranky when he doesn’t get his wash and bed ahah!
The noise from the toilet/shower area for the outside campers is right next to the bedroom window, unfortunately noise continued till 1am and this was when there was only 2 other families camping so I was surprised how noises it was but understand the family couldn’t monitor it all as they were probably asleep at that time and it was just young teenagers a little bit tipsy ahha
Recommend to friends Visit again
Been here 3 times now and…
Non-electric grass tent pitch
Liked Been here 3 times now and absolutely love the site and the stream. My daughter spent the best part of 2 days on the tree swing!
Recommend to friends Visit again
The site was amazing. So pretty.…
Electric grass tent pitch
Liked The site was amazing. So pretty. Beautiful little river running through.
Disliked The toilets and showers need to be better bit in all fairness the kids that were staying there broke the pump which cost the owners alot of money
Recommend to friends Visit again
Great site but facilities very poor
Electric grass tent pitch
Liked Great site for kids with the brook to play in, the bar on site and TV to watch
Disliked Disgusting toilets, not cleaned the whole while we were there, the washing up hut, no hot water and dirty, the elsan tank pump out of action, bar staff hit and miss. The rubbish bins over flowing
Recommend to friends Visit again
From the manager: Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We’re pleased to hear that you enjoyed the site itself, the brook, bar and TV facilities. However, we would like to clarify a few points for anyone reading your review, as some of the comments don’t give the full picture.
Our bar is only open on bank holidays and selected busy periods. As a small, family-run site, we simply don’t have the staff to fully man a bar throughout quieter periods. When the bar isn’t staffed, we have a bell available so that guests can let us know if they require assistance. We feel this is a reasonable arrangement for a small family-run campsite rather than leaving the bar permanently staffed when there may be very few customers.
Our toilet facilities are cleaned twice every day — once in the very early morning and again later in the day. Unfortunately, we cannot realistically clean the toilets continuously throughout the day. They are shared facilities, and we do ask all guests to leave them as they would expect to find them. With a river running directly through the site, keeping outdoor areas and toilet floors completely spotless at all times is also extremely difficult, particularly when people are coming in and out with wet or muddy footwear.
Regarding the hot water, this is particularly disappointing to see in a review because we were not made aware of any problem during your stay. Had you reported an issue to us, we would have had the opportunity to investigate and rectify it. We cannot resolve problems we aren’t told about.
We also have a skip, a Biffa waste bin and several other waste bins around the site, so we are surprised by the comment regarding rubbish bins overflowing. If a particular bin was full, we would have been more than happy to deal with it had we been made aware.
We appreciate that not every stay will be perfect and we welcome genuine feedback, as it gives us an opportunity to improve. However, we do think it is important that reviews also reflect the fact that we are a small, family-run campsite, rather than a large commercial holiday park with staff available around the clock.
We’re sorry that you wouldn’t choose to return, but we’re glad you did enjoy the location and some of what the site has to offer
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Features
Campfires allowed
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 WatersportsAmenities on site
Bath available Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Launderette Parent & baby washroom Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Public telephone Shower available Toilet block Washing-up area WifiGroups welcome
Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcomeRules
Barbecue provided Barbecues allowed Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all yearThemes
Lake and/or mountain Peaceful Walkers' paradise Wild camping Wildlife havenUtilities
Charging facilities Chemical disposal Communal freezer Communal fridge Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energyNearby amenities
Bar nearby Dog walk nearby Nearby farmers' market Public transport nearby Shop nearbyType
Medium (26-50 pitches)Accessibility
Bathrooms: Wheelchair accessible toilet Uneven terrain; gravel or loose mudNearby leisure
Canoeing/kayaking nearby Cycle hire nearby Cycling nearby Fishing nearby Golf nearby Horse riding nearby Indoor pool nearby Leisure/theme park nearby Mountain biking nearby Restaurant nearby Watersports nearbyLocation
The Old Vicarage
Twyford Lane
Elkesley
East Retford
Nottinghamshire
England
DN22 8AS
Timezone
Europe/London BST (GMT+01:00)
GPS
53.27251°N
0.96438°W
Route directions
Nearest transport
Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.
Local attractions
Food and drink
- Markham Moor Truckstop 1.9 mi
- China Moon 2 mi
- Mussel and Crab 2.4 mi
- Carpenters Arms Walesby 3.2 mi
- Bay Tree 3.4 mi
- Edi'z 3.5 mi
- Kenny's 3.5 mi
- Retford Glass 3.6 mi
- Everest 3.6 mi
- Amirs Balti House 3.6 mi
Public transport
- High Street 0.1 mi
- High Street 0.1 mi
- Holly Bush Close 0.3 mi
- Holly Bush Close 0.3 mi
- Blacksmith Cottage 0.4 mi
- Blacksmith Cottage 0.4 mi
- Headland Avenue 0.5 mi
- Coalpit Lane 0.5 mi
- Coalpit Lane 0.5 mi
- School Farm 0.5 mi
Groceries
- Co-op Food 2.6 mi
- Lidl 3.2 mi
- Asda 3.3 mi
- Aldi 3.4 mi
- Morrisons 3.8 mi
- The Co-operative Food 4.1 mi
- Heron Foods 5.1 mi
- Asda 5.1 mi
- Tesco 5.2 mi
Must see
Sherwood Forest Country Park 6.3 mi
Mansfield Museum 13.2 mi
Bolsover Castle 13.9 mi
Hardwick Hall 15.5 mi
Hardwick Old Hall 16 mi
National Trust
Clumber Park 4.2 mi
Mr Straw's House 6.8 mi
The Workhouse, Southwell 13.3 mi
Hardwick Estate: Stainsby Mill 16 mi
Hardwick Hall 16 mi
Cycle routes
Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.
Other
Bothamsall - Robin Hood's Cave - Walesby - Bothamsall 1.9 mi
BABWORTH HALL 3.4 mi
Headon - Upton - Askham - Grove - Headon 3.7 mi
CLUMBER PARK 3.8 mi
Clumber and Surrounding Forests - Robin Hood Way 4.2 mi
Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.
Want to know more about camping in Nottinghamshire?
Frequently asked questions
- Does The Old Vicarage have a swimming pool? No View all features
- Is The Old Vicarage dog friendly? Yes View all features
- What attractions are near The Old Vicarage? The surrounding countryside has great places for walks and wildlife-spotting, with trails around the lakes and wetlands of Idle Valley Nature Reserve (15 minutes' drive) and lakes for fishing too. Then there's … Read more
- When can I check in and check out of The Old Vicarage?
Read moreCamping and touring Arrive: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. Depart by: 12 p.m. On-site accommodation Arrive: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. Depart by: 10 a.m. - How much does it cost to stay at The Old Vicarage? From £28 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.
