Rivendale Campsite Review: I’m going on an adventure!
All we have to do is decide what to do with the time that is given us. For our family, this means the simple pleasure of camping! It is no bad thing celebrating a simple life. We love getting out into the big, outside world. I always think that the wide world is all about you: you can fence yourselves in, but you cannot forever fence it out.
For our latest trip, and first with Baby in tow, I chose Rivendale campsite. I scored a real coup here as I had (completely unknowingly) booked us onto a site with a Tolkien theme. This meant nothing to me, but seeing as I share my life with a massive fan, one of us at least was very happy! (One of us was not so happy, as they faced a barrage of LOTR quotes all weekend). So after booking in at reception, I wisely started with a map to help us find our pitch in Bindlebole Wood. The main camping area at Rivendale campsite is located in an old quarry so is very sheltered. Our pitch was surrounded by trees, luckily I am at home among trees, and so we were especially protected. This was particularly appreciated after a cold final night and a morning that was so fair, so cold; like a morning of pale spring still clinging to winter’s chill.
The view from our tent showing the old quarry walls
There are other areas, further away from the amenities that offer a wilder experience for the more adventurous. However, we were happy in the main camping field, we are plain, quiet folk and have no use for adventures.
As it’s the job that’s never started as takes longest to finish, we got straight on putting up our tent. Our pitch was relatively flat and, for once, the ground wasn’t stony. We also had the added benefit of electric hook up to power our newly acquired fridge box.
Rivendale campsite is very laid back; time doesn’t seem to pass here; it just is. There is a cafe and small shop onsite, plus a bar, The Prancing Pony. The facilities, including a laundry, are clean and modern and have a plentiful supply of hot water. There is also a children’s play area to keep the youngsters occupied. The amenities block is locked and accessed via a keypad, with the code being changed every Wednesday. I heard that one of our camping neighbours forgot the new code, that was the most awkward Wednesday he ever remembered.
We enjoyed our time at Rivendale campsite. It’s a larger site than we usually go for, but was still friendly and relaxed. It is in a great location (on the A515 a few miles north of Ashbourne) and offers very good amenities. I was sad to leave but we said goodbye to those still left, for someone always has to carry on the story.
(With sincere apologies to J.R.R. Tolkien)
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