www.nwcampers.co.uk

This is not the first time that I have borrowed Oscar’s phrase, but I came away whelmed by Fieldhead Campsite and so I’ve taken a few days before starting this review to give myself a sense of perspective. Maybe my expectations were unreasonably elevated from all the upbeat reviews.

There are many positive aspects to Fieldhead Campsite. It’s scenically located in Edale in the Derbyshire Peak District with a choice of six small fields (one reserved for backpackers) which, together, make up the campsite. The fields each have different views and characteristics; two of the top fields have the greater perspective over the valley and all three top fields have the advantage of being nearer the car park if you are concerned about having to lug your stuff from the car to your pitch; the fields by the river are more secluded. (For the record I prefer campsites where you do not park your car by your tent.)

After a warm welcome from Samantha and paying up front for our stay (this always rankles a little) we were given a choice of where to pitch and so it seems to be a case of first come first served; there are no marked pitches. There are washing up facilities, toilets and showers which can be used for a maximum of six minutes at 20p a minute. We had no problems with supplies of hot water. The toilet and shower facilities are fine: I’ve seen better but I’ve seen more that are worse.

In our short stay we didn’t make any use of the village except for a playground that was marked “For residents only”!! But Fieldhead is well located for walks in the area as well as some daytrips; we went to Castleton and went down Treak Cliff Cavern – recommended as the better of the Blue John Stone mines around the town.

The presence of the Moorland Centre at the campsite is a plus if only to get ideas of what to do during your stay.

There are, inevitably, some negatives. Although there are plenty of bins in which to put your rubbish I was disappointed to discover that there were no recycling facilities. We were also unhappy to be told that after a barbeque we were not allowed to use any of those post-BBQ imitation logs even though our barbeque was at least 18” off the ground; this is the first time that we have had such restrictions and the campsites that we stay at are not dissimilar to Fieldhead.

We felt that two washing-up sinks was one too few for the size of campsite and we had to queue on more than one occasion. I was also irritated by the fact that there was no soap provided in the toilets; a couple of tubs of liquid soap costs little, is convenient (especially for the kids) and engenders good will.

Unlike some others I found the noise of the railway line annoying, especially the long, heavy freight trains that occasionally rumbled by even well into the evening. And particularly disappointing was the level of noise at around bed-time. On arrival you receive a list of rules/expectations which, among other things, repeats a note on the website: “Silence is required 10.30pm-7.30am”. We may have been unlucky but I’ve never been on a noisier post-curfew campsite. In fairness the noise seemed to be coming solely from the field on which we were camping but it was significant and particularly frustrating as we had stressed upon our children that they must be silent after 10.30pm.

However, the next two negatives were significant for us. Because the campsite is composed of several small fields there is simply not enough room to play for children who are over ten or eleven years old. It’s not such an issue for the younger kids as they don’t tend to play games that need a great deal of room and on the field in which we camped there was a small copse which they loved exploring. I was also irked by the requirement to vacate your pitch by 10.30am. We don’t camp light and striking camp is a palaver at the best of times; but no campsite I’ve ever been on had such an early deadline.

I can see why so many of the reviews I have read rate this campsite so highly. But for our family circumstances, and those of the friends with whom we camp, it didn’t quite meet our needs. I suspect that it is more suited to families with small children, walkers and adults.

http://www.fieldhead-campsite.co.uk/

As having been to that campsite myself before.

I would say that this review is a a very fair and honest one.

All I would like to add is that the times I have been there they did seem very strict about the no noise rules as we were asked to quiet down at 10:45 for letting out a couple of giggles !!

(yes I know mine are quite loud, but we were then kept awake by the backpackers and cyclists setting up after dark!)

Thanks for that FS