Callow Top Holiday Park, Derbyshire
Buxton Road, Sandybrook, Ashbourne
Callow Top is the ideal base from which to explore The Peak District National Park. It is a large family friendly site with lots of amenities to entertain the kids. It takes caravans and tents across 3 caravan fields and 4 camping fields. Together with an onsite brewery, an outdoor swimming pool, kids playground, restaurant and large shop there is everything on-site provided to enable you to not to venture off-site should you so choose. For the more adventurous it is also close to all the area's major attractions.This campsite is extremely popular with families camping with kids of all ages so in peak season it will be very busy.
Callow top is found just north of Ashbourne. When you turn off the main road for Callow Top you have to negotiate a gradual incline up the hill. Callow Top offers a safe and secure environment for your family's next camping adventure with security barriers placed at the entrance to the park and visitors for people camping on the site are not allowed.
The Outdoor Swimming Pool
Yes it is heated and is open from 1st May - 30th September. When we were there it wasn't the best of weather - in fact it was raining, yet there was still people (brave souls) making the best of things and the pool was still busy. The pool is quite deep in and is unmanned so it is your responsibility to keep an eye on your children at all times.
Child Friendly Facilities
There is plenty of open space and room to children to play freely with a grassy level field for ball games with football goal posts, cricket nets and volleyball court. The children's fully enclosed playground was well equipped and was very popular with children of all ages. It has very flexible opening times from 9a.m. and shuts at 10 p.m. every day. Although there is a fishing lake, there's no need to be concerned as it is 1/4 mile down the drive, well away from the pitches and main facilities.
Baby baths are available from reception for a small refundable deposit and baby changing facilities are available in both the ladies & gents toilets in the main amenity block and in the Callow Inn. Cycle Hire including buggies, tag-alongs & small bikes with stabilisers are available from the shop but pre-booking is advisable. During peak season there is regular entertainment including family discos, live vocalists and bingo.
Food and Drink
The site shop was very well equipped with all your basic groceries, a range of sandwiches, toys for kids, an off licence plus basic camping equipment fot the items that get left at home.
The focal point of the park is the old farmhouse which has been converted into an Olde English Inn serving pub food and real ale from the renowned on-site microbrewery. The pub is friendly,cosy and serves hearty food at reasonable prices. You need to pre-book roast dinners on a Sunday as they are very popular.
There is a small arcade room which also houses the freezers where you can freeze your ice packs for free.
Showers, Washing and Laundry Facilities
There is a 20p charge for the showers (approx. 4 mins). As long as you remember to take your change I thought having a nominal charge for the showers was a good idea. It stopped people hogging them and queues were kept to a minimal. The shower cubicles are large enough to shower kids and were kept fairly clean. There always seemed to be hot water regardless of time of day. There is also a 20p charge for the hairdryer in the men's and ladies toilets. As you would expect there is a charge for the use of laundry facilities eg. washing machines etc. The laundry room had 2 washing machines, 2 dryers and even an ironing board and iron.
Things to do and places for families to visit near Ashbourne
Nearby attractions include Alton Towers (only 20 minutes drive,) Gulliver's Kingdom, Carsington Water, Heights of Abraham - cable car and cavern, Crich Tramway Museum, Chatsworth & the Blue John mines in Castleton. Numerous picturesque walks that lead from the park follow the River Dove, running right into the heart of Dovedale where you can cross the river on the iconic large stepping-stones, discover the local wildlife and find a beautiful picnic spot. There is direct access to the Tissington Trail cycle route which is a 13 mile traffic free path on the tracks of a disused railway line.