The Racecourse Retreat

View prices & book 9.5 203 reviews
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Views
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Views
Views over derbyshire
Exterior
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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
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • 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).
  • Discount cards and gift vouchers cannot be applied to bookings made via Pitchup.com.
  • Please note that the toilet/shower facilities are unisex.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Fri, Jul 17 to

No availability here for your search criteria

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

9.5

Overall rating from 203 Pitchup.com customers

  • 74%
    10
  • 7%
    9
  • 11%
    8
  • 2%
    7
  • 2%
    6
  • 0%
    5
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    4
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    3
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    1
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 7
Spectacular scenery

95% would recommend this campground to a friend

94% would stay here again

What customers say

Spacious site, stunning views, friendly vibes. Clean facilities, helpful staff, great grounds. Popular bar & food trucks. Minor queues for restrooms at peak times & some tight roads. Highly recommended, guests plan to return.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews. Last updated 7/21/2026

Filter by topic

Reviews page 1 of 21
Arrival date (latest first)

Nice friendly site with big pitches but toilets & showers let it down

Overall

7 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 7
Facilities / Activities
 5
Customer service
 No rating
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 8
Wifi
 No rating
Oliver K. 1 review

Powered grass tent or RV campsite

Liked Family friendly
Large pitches
Nice staff on welcoming
Lovely views

Disliked Toilets and showers

Shower had no water pressure and was just trickling down the shower a guy who went in shower after me said it had been like that for a few days

Not many toilets available

There were only 6 toilets

The males have a urinals which is very handy but out of the 6 toilets 3 were showers so were taken up most the time with ppl showering and 1 was female only

Visited few times from 6:30am and 9pm and there wasn’t a time there wasn’t a queue

Recommend to friends Visit again

Would come again and recommend to everyone

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
 Pete B. 1 review

Primitive grass tent or RV campsite

Liked Check-in is immaculate, very friendly, shop is nice, people are lovely. Site is well kept and has lovely views, has it's own bar and pizzas for sale on weekends. Lovely rural location. Toilets were extremely well cleaned.

Disliked Only 2 shower rooms however the ones they have are exceptional quality

Recommend to friends Visit again

The views were amazing. Spacious pitches…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
 Andrea L. 1 review

Powered grass tent or RV campsite

Liked The views were amazing. Spacious pitches and great toilets, showers and washing up facilities. We went Monday - Friday and it was lovely and quiet. Lots of space to play games (cricket, rounders, badmington etc)

Disliked Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Absolutely brilliant site Facilities are to…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
matthew w. 2 reviews

Primitive grass tent or RV campsite

Liked Absolutely brilliant site
Facilities are to top standards
Fair price
Good location
Spectacular views

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great family site. Bar, food.

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
Danny T. 1 review

Powered grass tent or RV campsite

Liked We thoroughly enjoyed our stay so much so we rebooked for 2 weeks time.
Perfect for 1 or 2 nights.
Good food
Clean site
Clean showers
Clean toilets
Fantastic views
Family run and lovely people.

Disliked Some nets on the goals would be an advantage for the children

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Hi Danny

Thank you for your lovely review :)

We are glad you enjoyed your stay with us and have decided to come back so soon!

Yes we do have a net for the goal posts and you will be happy to see it ready for your return :):)

See you in a couple of weeks.

Thanks
The Racecourse retreat team

Amazing place.

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
 Agne D. 6 reviews

Powered grass tent or RV campsite

Liked Everything from start to finish.
Location,owners,staff,pitches,bar on site,life music evening.

Disliked Showers:)

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely easy place.

Overall

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

Powered grass tent or RV campsite

Liked Lovely area. Lovely people running the place. Nice quiet place to pitch up for a few days. The view is spectacular! If I’m ever in the area again I would definitely return. Would love to see some of the additions they are making in the future.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Hi Helena

Thank you for your review.

We agree the view definitely is a sight to behold!

Hope to see you back again.

Thanks
The Racecourse Retreat Team

We had a fantastic stay at…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
 Victoria T. 1 review

Powered grass tent or RV campsite

Liked We had a fantastic stay at The Racecourse Retreat. The staff were friendly and welcoming, the facilities were clean and well maintained, and the onsite bar was a great addition, especially with the live music on one of the evenings.

We can’t wait to come back for another weekend away during the summer holidays. Highly recommend!

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Hi Victoria

Thank you for your review.

We are pleased you enjoyed your stay with us. The singer was new to us this season and we have already booked them again :)

Hope to see you again soon.

Thanks
The Racecourse Retreat Team

Great site, with good facilities and beautiful views.

Overall

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

Primitive grass tent or RV campsite

Liked Everything,

Disliked nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Hi and thank you for your review.

We hope to see you again :)

Thanks
The Racecourse Retreat Team

Amazing family run site!

Overall

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

Powered grass tent or RV campsite

Liked We have had a lovely weekend at the racecourse retreat, such amazing staff who are so friendly and the site has everything you need! (Shop, bar, pizzas!)
The toilets are always kept clean and amazing facilities for pot washing and storing food.

We will 100% be booking to come again soon, would highly recommend this site!

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Hi Devon L
Thank you so much for your lovely review!
We are really happy to hear you enjoyed your stay with us, we try to provide things you would need for a comfortable stay.
We really hope to see you back with us again soon.
Best Wishes
The Racecourse 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

Local events

  • Bloodstock Open Air (Thursday, August 6, 2026 – Thursday, August 6, 2026)

    Swadlincote, England 24.1 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 $33.38 (for 1 night, 4 people) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.