The Racecourse Retreat

View prices & book 9.4 254 reviews
Views
Views
Pitches
Views
Views over derbyshire
Exterior
Tent pitch
Top of the pitches
The meadow pitches
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Pitches
Views
Views over derbyshire

  • Spacious, family‑run site set in scenic Derbyshire countryside
  • Four miles from the Peak District; a 15-minute drive from Matlock
  • Back to basics pitches with firepits; close to walks and bike routes
Planning on moseying on down to the Peak District for trails, historic estates and rural landscapes? From the Racecourse Retreat four miles from the edge of the national park, you’ll be in for a restful retreat with delicious views and green surroundings. This quiet, rural and family-friendly smallholding is just 15 minutes’ drive away from buzzy towns such as Matlock and 35 minutes from royal sites like Chatsworth House. It is a fairly simple setup here, with spacious pitches that have access to showers and toilets, plus firepit areas for a feelgood gathering, waste and recycling points, a dishwashing station and drinking water. This area is walking and biking trails galore, beginning with the High Peak Trail around five minutes’ drive away. At the same time, tourist hotspots such as Carsington Water, Cromford Mills and Matlock Bath are within 15 minutes’ drive of the site. Just above the town of Wirksworth and the small village of Cromford, there are shops, pubs, restaurants, cafes and takeaways a short walk away so that guests can grab all the goods they desire for an easy off-grid stay. And in the opposite direction, Belper (15 minutes’ drive) and then Ashbourne (20 minutes’ drive) are some more lively calls with eateries and the likes – or there's a bigger city break to Derby 35 minutes’ drive away in case that’s your next plan of action.

Campground type

RV sites 48
Rent a tent 1
Tent sites 48
Open now
Opens July 17
Please note

Admission

  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.

Dogs

  • The park does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Breed-specific legislation (i.e. 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.
  • Please note that the toilet/shower facilities are unisex.

Safety

  • Fires, barbecues and/or firepits will not be permitted in dry, windy and/or hot weather conditions.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Fri, Jul 17 to

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Campsite types & availability

Accommodation

Tent sitesCamper sitesRV sitesLodges, cabins, pods or hutsMobile homes for rentRent a tent
Choose your dates
2 adults
0 children
0 dogs

Reviews

9.4

Overall rating from 254 Pitchup.com customers

  • 70%
    10
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    9
  • 12%
    8
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    7
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Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 7
Spectacular scenery

94% would recommend this campground to a friend

93% would stay here again

What customers say

Stunning views, spacious sites, and super friendly staff. Clean, modern facilities, with nice touches for women's restrooms. Popular bar and food. Occasional wait times and low water pressure mentioned, but manager notes ongoing upgrades. Great atmosphere, location, and value, highly recommended.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews. Last updated 8/11/2026

Filter by topic

Reviews page 1 of 26
Arrival date (latest first)

Perfect get away for a night! Fully recommended

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Anonymous

Powered grass tent or RV campsite

Liked Very nice site, great vibes and stunning views! Plenty of space around the pitch!
Lovely local beers and a singer on Saturday night.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Fantastic place !

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Ross J. 1 review

Primitive grass tent or RV campsite

Liked We only stayed for 1 night but wish we’d have done more ! Facilities all perfect, very laid back, allowed to pitch anywhere, big sand pit for the children.
Bar and marquee at night with entertainment on and food ! Definitely going back !

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great place

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 8
Wifi
 No rating
Beata B. 3 reviews

Primitive grass tent or RV campsite

Liked Highly recommended:) lovely place, kind staff, a bar on site where it’s good vibes

Disliked Cold water on showers

Recommend to friends Visit again

Perfect.

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
 Rory O. 1 review

Powered grass tent or RV campsite

Liked Everything.

Disliked Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

The best views from a campsite…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Adam C. 1 review

Primitive grass tent or RV campsite

Liked The best views from a campsite I’ve seen. The site is very well maintained, spacious pitches and great facilities. The kids loved it there, we will definitely return.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Hi Adam

Thank you for your review.
We are pleased to hear you enjoyed your stay with us, the views definitely are amazing! Glad the kids enjoyed the space :)

We hope to see you back with us again soon.

Kind Regards
The Racecourse Retreat Team

Everything, from the welcome at reception…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Carla M. 1 review

Primitive grass tent or RV campsite

Liked Everything, from the welcome at reception to the relaxed atmosphere at the pitches. Toilets and showers immaculate. Stayed on a week day so didn’t get to use the bar but enjoyed it nonetheless. Will definitely be back.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Hi Carla
Thank you for your lovely review.
We hope to see you again so you can visit us at the bar, we have a singer on most weekends and a food vendor too!

Kind Regards
The Racecourse Retreat Team

We’ll definitely be returning in the near future!

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
 Brad R. 2 reviews

Primitive grass tent or RV campsite

Liked We absolutely loved our stay at The Racecourse Retreat! From the moment we arrived and were checked in by the wonderful receptionist, we felt so welcomed.

The site was clean, tidy and beautifully maintained, with stunning views and excellent facilities. Me and my family have thoroughly enjoyed our stay and couldn’t have asked for a better place to relax and enjoy some quality family time.

We’ll definitely be returning in the near future for our next family adventure. Highly recommended!

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Hi Brad

Thank you for your lovely review.
Your feedback is very much appreciated :) We work very hard to maintain the campsite and its lovely to see its noticed.
We hope to see you again soon.

Kind Regards
The Racecourse Retreat Team

Beautiful area really well kept campsite…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
James H. 1 review

Primitive grass tent or RV campsite

Liked Beautiful area really well kept campsite

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Hi James
Thank you for your review :)
We hope to see you again soon.

Kind Regards
The Racecourse Retreat Team

The campsite was very spacious and…

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 8
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 8
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 6
 Jessica M. 1 review

Powered grass tent or RV campsite

Liked The campsite was very spacious and clean, and the facilities were always well maintained and kept spotless. When we arrived, there was a bar and live music on the Saturday evening, which was a lovely surprise. It's very family-friendly and family-run, which gave it a really welcoming atmosphere.us, clean an

Disliked There was a minor issue with the water supply running out, as some taps had been left on which drained the pumps. However, this was only a minor inconvenience and the issue was resolved very quickly. One member of staff did come across a little abrupt when asking us to stop washing our pots, although our bowl had already been filled with water. That said, it was clear she was under a lot of pressure trying to deal with and resolve the situation, so we completely understood the circumstances. Overall, it was a small issue that didn't detract from an otherwise excellent stay.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Hi Jessica
Thank you for your review.
We are pleased to hear you enjoyed your stay with us.

Sorry if one of our team came over as being abrupt :( however thank you for noting this was this was due to being under pressure with the situation. We have a solution in the pipeline to resolve the water supply and this will soon be in place :)

Thank you and we hope to see you again soon.
Kind Regards
The Racecourse Retreat Team

Everyone was so welcoming, we loved…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
 Holly T. 1 review

Primitive grass tent or RV campsite

Liked Everyone was so welcoming, we loved that it was family run. Dog friendly
.Perfect location, beautiful views, food at the weekends was amazing, toilets were clean, liked they had a separate toilet for the ladies, showers were clean, Saturday night entertainment was great, would stay here again :)

Disliked Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Hi Holly
Thank you for your review. We are pleased to hear you enjoyed your stay with us ☺️.

We hope to see you again soon.

Kind Regards
The Racecourse Retreat Team

Features

Pop-up campground

Dogs allowed

Campfires allowed

Leisure on park

Bar or club house Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Indoor swimming pool Kids' club On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Playground Recreation room/arcade TV room Takeout Tennis Watersports

Amenities on park

Bath available Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Free wifi Grocery store Ice pack freezing Internet access Laundromat Parent & baby washroom Payphone Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Restrooms Shower available Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Rallies welcome Scouts welcome Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

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

Themes

Budget/backpacker Hikers’ paradise Peaceful Remote location Spectacular scenery

Utilities

Charging facilities Communal fridge Dump station Electric car charging point(s) Propane/gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Convenience store nearby Dog walk nearby Nearby farmers' market Public transportation nearby

Type

Farm Medium (26-50 sites) Pop-up campground

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Climbing nearby Cycle hire nearby Cycling nearby Fishing nearby Horseback riding nearby Indoor pool nearby Mountain biking nearby Restaurant nearby Sailing nearby Watersports nearby

Location

The Racecourse Retreat

Hay Lane

Wirksworth

Derbyshire

England

DE4 4AF

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London +0100 (GMT+01:00)

GPS

53.07337°N
1.55707°W

Nearest transport

Bus
3.2 mi Fishpond Hotel
3.2 mi Fishpond Hotel
4.5 mi Railway Station
Rail
2.3 mi Whatstandwell Rail Station
2.8 mi Cromford Rail Station
3.3 mi Ambergate Rail Station
Airport
19.5 mi East Midlands Airport
23.4 mi 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

Where to wander first? A climb to the Black Rocks (five minutes’ drive) for views over the countryside? A little stroll around Bakewell (half an hour), over its medieval bridge, perhaps to pick up a Bakewell pudding for the riverbank? The mills and canal at Cromford Mills (10 minutes)? Or onto the Tissington Trail (20 minutes) for the Derbyshire Dales, a limestone ravine and stepping stones? In Matlock (10 minutes), you’ll have the choice of spas and shopping and further out, the Matlock Farm Park (25 minutes) for an afternoon of full-on animal activities such as horse riding. There’s a farmyard with animals at Chatsworth House (35 minutes) too, but this grand place is packed full with much more to do, from playgrounds to house tours and pretty picnics in the gardens. The same kind of vibe goes at Haddon Hall (35 minutes), a medieval hall and park with tours. After some water-based action too? Carsington Water (15 minutes) is your guy, thanks to its watersports centre running rowing, canoeing, windsurfing and kayaking. And on dry land, there's cycling, walking and fishing to get your senses tingling.

Must see

Arkwright's Cromford Mills 2.5 mi

Sir Richard Arkwright's Masson Mills 2.7 mi

Kedleston Hall 7.3 mi

Haddon Hall 9.5 mi

Chatsworth 10.4 mi

National Trust

Winster Market House 5.8 mi

Kedleston Hall 8 mi

Hardwick Hall 12.2 mi

Hardwick Estate: Stainsby Mill 12.2 mi

The Old Manor 12.7 mi

Cycle routes

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

Other

Alport Heights - Kirk Ireton Circular 0.9 mi

Wirksworth - Bolehill - Middleton Top - Wirksworth 0.9 mi

Cromford (Black Rocks) - Middleton Top - Kirk Ireton - Black Rocks 1.8 mi

Lea Bridge - Whatstandwell - Alderwasley - Lea Bridge 2.2 mi

Derwent Valley Mills Buffer Zone 2.6 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 Derbyshire?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does The Racecourse Retreat have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is The Racecourse Retreat dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near The Racecourse Retreat? Where to wander first? A climb to the Black Rocks (five minutes’ drive) for views over the countryside? A little stroll around Bakewell (half an hour), over its medieval bridge, perhaps to … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of The Racecourse Retreat?
    RV, travel trailer and tent sites
    Arrive:  2 p.m. –  7 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    On-park accommodation
    Arrive:  2 p.m. –  7 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at The Racecourse Retreat? From $33.84 (for 1 night, 4 people) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.