Rivendale

When we first visited, Rivendale was two sites for the price of one: a strikingly set main camping area under the cliffs of an old quarry, manicured to holiday-camp standards but softened by local Derbyshire stone facilities, alongside a wilder 'meadow' of connected fields overlooking the rolling hills near Eaton and Alsop Dale, with roads and cars banned and even a handful of 'wild camping' pitches sitting alone on the hillside. That spirit is worth remembering, because Rivendale has since been reborn as Rivendale Lodge Retreat under Verde Resorts, and the emphasis today is firmly on that manicured side of its character.

The old quarry now shelters well-spaced timber lodges with adjacent parking, most with a Scandinavian-style hot tub, and there's an on-site restaurant, bar and small shop by reception with EV chargers in the car park. Guests consistently praise how modern, warm and spotless the lodges are, and how dog-friendly the place has become, right down to a welcome gift for the dog. From here you can still get straight onto public footpaths, fly fishing has long been part of the estate, and the site's own guided walks make the most of the surrounding dales.

Something everyone can still agree upon is the beauty of the stone walls that criss cross the fields, the sweet taste of a local ale, and, with a policy of minimal lighting, the novelty of gazing on shining stars. Just go knowing this is now a comfortable lodge park rather than the tents-and-wild-camping site of old.