When can I check in and check out of The Knockerdown?

Camping and touring Arrive: 1:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. Depart by: 1 p.m. Read more

The Knockerdown

7.4 130 reviews

Gravel pitches for motorhomes, caravans and campervans

Breakfast available from saturday and sunday

Well-maintained 10-acre site under a mile from Carsington Water
A 10-minute drive to Ashbourne; 15 mins to Peak District National Park
In the grounds of a pub with restaurant, beer garden and play area

What sort of views might you like to start your morning with while on your Derbyshire break? Sunrise over Carsington Water sounds like a pretty good choice – and that’s what awaits for guests at The Knockerdown, a rural 10-acre site where all pitches look out over the lake and the hilly backdrop beyond its banks. And what might you like to finish your day with? If the answer is a pint and a hot meal then step this way, because the pitches here are in the grounds of a pub that has a large restaurant area (serving up not only dinners but also lunches). There’s also a beer garden for drinks in the sunshine (fingers crossed…) and a play area where the kids can scamper about while the grownups relax nearby. Out in the accommodation area, guests have access to toilets and showers (open 24 hours a day), along with a washing-up area. In between that sunrise and that pub dinner there are plenty of ways to fill your days – not least getting down to Carsington Water for walks, bike rides, horse riding, watersports and fishing. It’s less than a mile to the water’s edge so it’s easily walkable in about 15 minutes. There are lots more walking routes around nearby too (including one trail running through the site), and it’s about a 10-minute drive to Ashbourne when you fancy some town time or need to sort some shopping.

Site type

Languages spoken

English

Nearby sites that are bookable on Pitchup.com

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable sites.

Features

Dogs 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 Watersports

Amenities on site

Bath available Car parking by pitch/unit 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 Wifi

Groups welcome

D. of E. welcome Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided Barbecues allowed Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all year

Themes

Peaceful Spectacular scenery Walkers' paradise

Utilities

Charging facilities Chemical disposal Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby Shop nearby

Type

Medium (26-50 pitches) Pub campsite

Accessibility

Disabled facilities

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Cycle hire nearby Cycling nearby Fishing nearby Horse riding nearby Restaurant nearby Sailing nearby Watersports nearby

Location

The Knockerdown

Ashbourne

Derbyshire

England

DE6 1NQ

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London GMT (GMT+00:00)

GPS

53.06424°N
-1.65347°W

Nearest transport

Coach

8.6 km Fishpond Hotel

10.4 km Railway Station

Rail

8.8 km Cromford Rail Station

9.2 km Matlock Bath Rail Station

10.2 km Whatstandwell Rail Station

Ferry

Airport

34.2 km East Midlands Airport

41.1 km Sheffield City Airport

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

Once you’ve taken strolls on the trails running through the site and down at Carsington Water, there are plenty more walking routes to follow nearby, whether you’re up for a gentle wander around places like Harboro Rocks (five minutes’ drive) and Black Rocks (10 minutes) or prefer to head out into the Peak District National Park to cross the Dovedale Stepping Stones (15 minutes) and find Thor’s Cave (half an hour). Ashbourne (10 minutes) is the starting point for the Tissington Trail, a 13-mile traffic-free route along a disused railway line – it’s one of the most popular routes in the area for walkers and cyclists, and it’s family friendly too. For other days out, you might like to ride a heritage tram at Crich Tramway Village (20 minutes), take the cable car to the caverns and fossil exhibits at Heights of Abraham or spend the day exploring all the rides and shows at Gulliver’s Kingdom (both 15 minutes). And it’s quite possible the kids will note the proximity of Alton Towers (25 minutes) as well…

Must see

Sir Richard Arkwright's Masson Mills 8.1 km

Arkwright's Cromford Mills 8.3 km

Kedleston Hall 13 km

Haddon Hall 14.7 km

Chatsworth 17.4 km

National Trust

Winster Market House 8.6 km

Kedleston Hall 14.1 km

The Old Manor 14.7 km

Sudbury Hall and the National Trust Museum of Childhood 21.1 km

Hardwick Estate: Stainsby Mill 25.7 km

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

Carsington - Ible - Winster - Brassington - Carsington 1.9 km

Carsington - Hopton - Kirk Ireton Circular 1.9 km

Carsington - Griffe Grange - Ible - Bonsall - Middleton by Wirksworth - Hopton - Carsington 2 km

Brassington - Carsington - Hognaston - Kniveton - Brassington 2.7 km

Tissington - Hall Dale - Alstonefield - Tissington 5.5 km

Local events

Download Festival (Friday 13 June 2025 – Friday 13 June 2025)
Derby, England 32.3 km

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.

Payment terms

Offers

Conditions apply - see pitch type section for details

Reviews

would recommend this site to a friend

would stay here again

33%
10
0%
9
25%
8
0%
7
21%
6
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5
13%
4
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3
6%
2
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1

Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

Poor washing and shower/ toilet facilities

Small friendly site. staff helpful at pub.

Lovely location, 20 minutes walk from carsington water

No definitely not

Overall	2/10
Location	2
Value for money	2
Accommodation	2
Facilities / Activities	2
Customer service	2
Child friendliness	2
Cleanliness	2
Wifi	2

Karen P. Nov 2023

Electric grass and gravel touring pitch

Liked: Nothing it was disgusting flooded toilets & showers disgusting poo all over toilet doors hanging off

Disliked: We didn't even park up wasn't told it was flooded we travelled 1 hour 30 mins with caravan so I would like my deposit back for that weekend also my friend who I booked for as well

Recommend to friends Visit again

Location…

Overall	6/10
Location	8
Value for money	6
Accommodation	4
Facilities / Activities	4
Customer service	4
Child friendliness	4
Cleanliness	4
Wifi	4

Anonymous Oct 2023

Electric grass and gravel touring pitch

Liked: Location

Disliked: Advertised as hardstanding but was advised this isn't the case and hat to go on grass not ideal with the rain we had on Friday.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Showers were nice and hot. Clean toilets. Friendly staff. Lovely spot for…

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	8
Facilities / Activities	8
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	4

Charlotte M. Oct 2023

Electric grass tent pitch

Liked: Showers were nice and hot. Clean toilets. Friendly staff. Lovely spot for a campsite near the lake.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Food at pub…

Overall	6/10
Location	6
Value for money	4
Accommodation	2
Facilities / Activities	2
Customer service	4
Child friendliness	No rating
Cleanliness	2
Wifi	2

Michelle F. Oct 2023

Electric grass tent pitch

Liked: Food at pub

Disliked: The Knockerdown is a lovely pub great atmosphere and lovely staff.
The camping not so good. The field was very wet with numerous cars and vans having to be pushed out. Thank goodness for a couple of men who seemed to have the job of doing it. Felt like it was a bit of a find your pitch and do what you want. Fire pits not allowed, there were 2 last night. Next to us was a group of teenagers smoking and drinking until 3 in the morning. Kids running around all hours of the night. I used the shower but only because I needed to. It was warm but that is the only positive. Relying on customers to clean it themselves is never going to work. Cheap weekend away and will stick to adult only from now on.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Definitely be back!

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	8
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	10

Laura N. Oct 2023

Electric grass tent pitch

Liked: Booked fairly last minute on Pitchup and was a little dubious due to some reviews about the toilets etc. However, we have had a great couple of nights. The toilets were absolutely fine, shower a little meh but we're camping so what do we really expect?! Pub food was lush, girls working there were super friendly (especially the blonde haired girl) and pub is dog friendly! We will be back!
Great walk around Carsington also, very close to!

Disliked: Shower could be better but definitely not a moan!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Dissapointed

Overall	4/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	2
Facilities / Activities	2
Customer service	8
Child friendliness	6
Cleanliness	6
Wifi	2

Tracey G. Sept 2023

Electric grass and gravel touring pitch

Liked: People

Disliked: The fact you can’t get off the field when it’s rained

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent site, friendly & helpful staff

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	10
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	10

Emma W. Sept 2023

Electric grass tent pitch

Liked: Pitch sizes. Local area. Showers and toilets were good enough.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Will return

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	8
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	No rating

Anonymous Sept 2023

Electric grass tent pitch

Liked: Fantastic location, easy going camp site, great onsite pub

Disliked: Breakfast would have been an advantage

Recommend to friends Visit again

We would stay again, due to location.

Overall	8/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	6
Facilities / Activities	4
Customer service	6
Child friendliness	No rating
Cleanliness	8
Wifi	No rating

Anonymous Sept 2023

Electric grass and gravel touring pitch

Liked: Beautiful scenery and quiet.

Disliked: As said in previous reviews, the toilets/showers desperately need updating. However we were not there in height of season, so when we stayed they were clean, hot and functional.

Recommend to friends Visit again

I liked the size of the campsite as it wasn’t too big…

Overall	8/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	8
Facilities / Activities	8
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	8
Wifi	No rating

Stephanie G. Sept 2023

Electric grass tent pitch

Liked: I liked the size of the campsite as it wasn’t too big and had a nice little park, the pub was lovely and the staff were friendly. We needed some help as was our first time camping and one member of staff was very helpful.

Disliked: The cleanliness of the toilets wasn’t up to my standards.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Frequently asked questions

Does The Knockerdown have a swimming pool? No View all features
Is The Knockerdown dog friendly? Yes View all features
What attractions are near The Knockerdown? Once you’ve taken strolls on the trails running through the site and down at Carsington Water, there are plenty more walking routes to follow nearby, whether you’re up for a gentle wander … Read more
When can I check in and check out of The Knockerdown?

Camping and touring

Arrive: 1:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Depart by: 1 p.m.

Read more