The Racecourse Retreat
/-1.5570684149323877,53.07337104717692,12,0,0/376x277@2x)
- 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
Campground type
48
1
48Admission
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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Reviews
94% would recommend this campground to a friend
93% would stay here again
What customers say
Spacious site with great country views. Staff are very friendly/helpful; toilets/showers are spotless. Pitches are generous. Bar & food are popular. Occasional queues & water pressure issues noted, with upgrades planned.
Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews.
Last updated 8/25/2026
66 
Filter by topic
Lovely peaceful well maintained site, very…
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Primitive grass tent or RV campsite
Liked Lovely peaceful well maintained site, very tidy.
Disliked N/A
Recommend to friends Visit again
Great site for adults, kids and dogs, lovely setting, top site.
Primitive grass tent or RV campsite
Liked We absolutely love this site, been for the past 4 or maybe 5 years. Staff lovely, great for the kids with the sand pit and football area, good for dogs, the bar, the food trucks, the singer/entertainment they had this year. The facilities are always clean, and are building new shower blocks etc. The setting is also lovely, can see for miles. Love it.
Disliked Nothing to add here
Recommend to friends Visit again
This was our first time camping.....…
Powered grass tent or RV campsite
Liked This was our first time camping..... I can honestly say we can't wait to come back! The staff are absolutely fantastic!! Very helpful and professional. The site it's absolutely spotless and very well maintained. Showers are fantastic hot water system. Toilets are spotless and regularly cleaned. Washing area is brilliant also.
Cracking views, brilliant sunrise and sunsets on the viewing point.
The onsite shop is also a little gem
We highly recommend a visit to anyone with brilliant views, nice walks and just a nice relaxing time.
See you again soon.
Disliked Nothing at all
Recommend to friends Visit again
Loved every moment!
Powered grass tent or RV campsite
Liked First family camping trip! Will be hard to beat. We had plot 11 overlooking the landscape! The facilities are OK, and what you’d expect at a camping resort. Showers are OK, again, as you’d expect. Really great atmosphere, especially on the weekend with live music, bar and food trucks!
Disliked Just be careful on the B roads getting to the resort - out of the camp sites control but these are single track roads, so take it steady!
Recommend to friends Visit again
Recommended!
Powered grass tent or RV campsite
Liked Laid back vibe, amazing views, lots of space, great check in, a beer tent with table tennis and big connect 4!
Disliked Nothing
Recommend to friends Visit again
We are 100% will be coming back here and will be telling everyone too!
Powered grass tent or RV campsite
Liked It was our first time camping ever and what a place to pick, it was beautiful, it had toilets where are very clean, showers which are clean too and hot water. It has a bar and entertainment on at night (on certain days). Staff are so friendly and family run and you can feel the passion from the staff on how much this place means to them! They have done an amazing job!
Disliked I literally done have nothing, this is the place you want to be.
If I was being really picky, and it’s only a person preference, to have like something in the shower to place your shampoo/conditioner/shower gel etc when having a wash.
Recommend to friends Visit again
The views were incredible and the…
Primitive grass tent or RV campsite
Liked The views were incredible and the site was really spacious.
The bar was a great addition and we appreciated the food options on site.
Recommend to friends Visit again
- the electric pitches were spacious,…
Powered grass tent or RV campsite
Liked - the electric pitches were spacious, I liked the open space, and pitches around the outside.
- never had any issues waiting for the toilets, they were always free. Very well looked after. And this was a prime weekend in August.
- loved the bar on site
- there was a dog run for our dog, always empty
Disliked No issues, had a great stay.
Recommend to friends Visit again
Fab pop up summer site- friendly, clean, great bar.
Powered grass tent or RV campsite
Liked Friendly site, stunning views. Great bar and food offerings. We had live music on the Saturday night which was excellent. Very clean facilities. Stunning sunsets, viewpoint and dog run.
Disliked As this is a pop up site there is no MH service point to empty water or elsan point. You can empty onto the field and use the toilet to empty your cassette if you have green toilet fluid. Roads to the site are single track and windy so yake care.
Recommend to friends Visit again
A wonderful stay.
Primitive grass tent or RV campsite
Liked Everything was great. We loved the location, the facilities and the feel of the campsite. We were made to feel very welcome and everyone was so friendly. We will definitely be back.
Recommend to friends Visit again
Features
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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 WatersportsAmenities 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 WifiGroups welcome
Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Rallies welcome Scouts welcome Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcomeRules
Barbecue grills allowed Barbecue provided Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all yearThemes
Budget/backpacker Hikers’ paradise Peaceful Remote location Spectacular sceneryUtilities
Charging facilities Communal fridge Dump station Electric car charging point(s) Propane/gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energyNearby amenities
Bar nearby Convenience store nearby Dog walk nearby Nearby farmers' market Public transportation nearbyType
Farm Medium (26-50 sites) Pop-up campgroundNearby 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 nearbyLocation
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
Rail
Ferry
AirportPlease 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
- The Dining Room 0.9 mi
- Gino's 0.9 mi
- Le Mistral 0.9 mi
- Don's Pan Asian 0.9 mi
- No. 5 0.9 mi
- The Raft 3.2 mi
- China Rose 3.2 mi
- Charles Steak House 3.3 mi
- Anila 3.3 mi
- Jeera 3.3 mi
Groceries
- Bradmans Off-licence 4.4 mi
- French Wine People Off-licence 4.4 mi
- Co-op Food Supermarket 4.5 mi
- Sainsbury's Supermarket 4.5 mi
- M&S Foodhall Supermarket 4.6 mi
- Aldi Supermarket 4.6 mi
- Morrisons Supermarket 4.7 mi
- The Co-operative Food Supermarket 4.7 mi
- The Beer Trap Off-licence 4.7 mi
Parks and play
- Kingsfield Play Area Playground 0.8 mi
- Fanny Shaw's Park 1.1 mi
- Stoney Wood park 1.1 mi
- Cromford Play Park 2.4 mi
- Play Mill Playground 2.9 mi
- The Scotches Play Area Playground 4.1 mi
- The Ship Loads park 4.3 mi
- Hall Leys Park 4.4 mi
- Allenhill Park 4.6 mi
- Sparrow Park 4.7 mi
Family days out
- Alport Height Visitor attraction 1 mi
- Steeple Grange Light Railway Visitor attraction 1.7 mi
- Middleton Top Winding Engine Visitor attraction 1.9 mi
- Leawood Pump House Visitor attraction 2 mi
- Aqueduct Cottage Visitor attraction 2 mi
- Train Cars Visitor attraction 2.1 mi
- Train Cars Visitor attraction 2.1 mi
- Hall's Amusement arcade 3.2 mi
- Temple Mine Visitor attraction 3.2 mi
- Hall's Amusement arcade 3.2 mi
Public transport
- Medical Centre 0.7 mi
- Anthony Gell School 0.8 mi
- Oat Hill 0.8 mi
- The Kings Field 0.8 mi
- Summer Lane 0.8 mi
- Adam Bede Crescent 0.8 mi
- St John's Street 0.8 mi
- Cinder Lane 0.9 mi
- Market Place 0.9 mi
- Co-op 1 mi
What’s nearby
- Pellegrina General shop 4.6 mi
- Chevin Vale Golf Course 5.6 mi
- Matlock Golf Club Golf course 5.8 mi
Local services
- Hannage Brook Medical Centre Doctors 0.7 mi
- B. Payne & Son Ltd Pharmacy 0.9 mi
- The Co-operative Fuel station 1 mi
- BP Pulse Charging station 1 mi
- Murco Fuel station 2.3 mi
- Holloway Surgery Doctors 2.7 mi
- Crich Medical Practice Doctors 3.2 mi
- Crich Pharmacy 3.2 mi
- Essar Fuel station 3.3 mi
- Matlock Green Service Station Fuel station 4.2 mi
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?
Read moreRV, 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.