Dads Cave Camping

First time visit and we'd plan to go again - camping in your own private little glade is so different to being in a field. Definitely bring a hammock to make it even better. All the staff were so friendly and helpful too. Loos are portaloos but we're cleaned regularly. Hot water at the washing station - it's good to pack a bathroom tote bag with hand soap and a towel and you're good to go. Fun having two pubs you can walk to through the wood.

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Instructions provided for the site are spot on and easy to follow. The campsite map is available to view on the website and really helped navigate site whilst we were there. The overall site is really beautiful and looked after. There is incredible staff during their allocated times who do a phenomenal job to ensure everything is kept on top of. They are all incredibly helpful, also helping to take kit to sites that aren't accessible to park closer to. We also got a recommendation for where to walk, which we followed to be close to the canal in a loop, which conveniently stopped by a pub. The overall atmosphere was easy and friendly, everyone was respectful. There was the occasion we had a dog running through the site followed by two children who seemed to be trying to catch the dog who appeared to be a lab puppy. Not ideal as the children didn't look like they were able to look after the dog, nor carrying a lead. There was also a group who decided to be shouting late into the evening, till they were eventually told by another group to be quiet a few times. Despite those occasions, we were far enough apart from other guests that it was private and we were able to have a really lovely time away. The amenities is the slight let down for the site. The toilets were portaloos, which were pretty much full when we arrived on the Friday before the bank holiday weekend. These absolutely reeked by Sunday and was extremely hard to use due to the smell. The blue chemical used to keep the smell down stopped in a few and you could see the waste closer to the toilet bowl. There is a washing up station, which was itself really lovely and also had a boiler to try and create hot water. We didn't find the hot water worked very well/ took a long time to come through so we washed up back at site for the remainder of the time for ease. The only negative was the waste was leaving the back and should be absorbed through a soak away, which unfortunately due to the high use, was not draining so was creating a small pond out the back. Unfortunately this pond, combined with the smell of the toilets, was creating a stagnant stink that was awful to be around. The fresh water tap being on the side of the wash station was perfect and was an ideal height for most :) It was lovely to see so many families out using water guns to have a water fight :) The showers are attached to the local pub, which is a very short walk from site. The quality of the showers are poor and not very well maintained. The door doesn't close fully, which means the shower is slightly flooding the floor, which makes it really hard to get changed and leave it good for the next user. The toilet and floor area was grim and in need of a good scrub. I was very grateful that the site has access to showers as the weather was very intense. We were fortunate to be on a campsite that had two parking spaces available for it as the site was rammed for the bank holiday weekend so was very cosy when leaving site. There is also a site shop with some basics if anything was forgotten or in need of a top up. They unfortunately didn't have any marshmallows as we left ours at home, though they did say they were awaiting on an order. We didn't use any of the activities onsite but looks like those who did, had a great time

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If you're a camping family, this place is perfect. There is practically no phone signal! Very family friendly, and clearly safe as there are constantly kids running around playing, using the complimentary go karts on their own having a great time whizzing around the site. If you have a tent I think you'll be really happy. The pitches are big, the campfires are available and encouraged and the woodland is thick and full of wildlife. It's great. However... If you are in a campervan, choose a grass pitch overlooking the meadows not a hardstanding. They are right by the portaloo toilets, and the doors are constantly banging. It gets a little annoying. Also the stone path is right behind the pitches and the go karts make a hell of a racket as they go past. Peaceful it is not! The shower (singular) is at an outbuilding at the pub just down the road. It's really dog friendly, the staff are really helpful and welcoming and you are invited to wander through the woodlands exploring, dogs must be kept on a lead. My dog really enjoyed a morning mooch about before we headed out. So... Would I come back? Yes! If you're looking for a peaceful woodland camp site ask for a pitch away from the entrance, there are some great pitches down the bottom, tents only though. I enjoyed my time here, but with no 'Warden' on site after 5pm you're relying on individuals to be mindful of noise etc in the evening. The go karts were bouncing on this stone gravel behind the hardstanding pitches at 21:40. That might not seem late, and I guess it's not, apart from the fact it starts at about 4pm and the noise is so loud and intrusive any chilling is ruined in seconds! I put my book down put it that way. Saying this, it was really lovely to hear the kids and families having so much fun, lighting their fires, racing in the karts and playing football. Great place to bring my nieces and nephews, just not what I had in mind do this particular trip. The Belper Inn pub down the road was fab .. I recommend that for a treat! It's a well kept lovely woodland site - I'll already told my camping friends with little people about it!

· via Google

Great place to go camping! - the team on site was really helpful and accommodating. - camp sites between the trees were well spaces out. - great supply of trailers to move camping kit around and go carts for the kits to play on. - is camping really camping without a fire? Fire pit with all pitches and wood available on site! - pub a 5 to 10 minute walk away depending on location and if the kids lead you along the short route 😂 You will not be disappointed!

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