Chatsworth House Club site. Always full ????

I agree we've managed to get on chats worth site a few times and thoroughly enjoy it. And like u we've been there twice during the Xmas festivities. Highly recommended. We always have problems getting on rowntree in York. 

We were there the beginning of November and found the site lovely, paid a visit to the house also and thought the xmas decorations really nice, the goods etc for sale at the xmas market in our opinion though were on the expensive side, we would definately visit the site again.

we love chatsworth and try to go as many times in a year as possible we try not to do weekends if we can get the time of work it is a bit quieter not so many kids about we have nothing against them but ours have grown up and we just like a kid free time now

We are fairly new to caravanning and the club. We have our usual sites within weekend staying distance. We also try new ones every year, for our longer trips. This year we planned on Chatsworth for a Bank Holiday weekend and booked without a problem. Really looking forward to it. 

New to M/homing and joined in November. Tried to book a weekend at Chatsworth on line and could only get the Sunday night so stayed elsewhere Saturday. Arrived Sunday and the site was by no means full. It is a lovelly site and early morning walk into the grounds with the deer was great. No problem booking for a two day mid week break 14th December we celebrated our 38 wedding anniversary with a meal at the Devonshire Arms. Will definitely go back..As we are both retired mid week breaks suit us best.

nice to hear such lovely stories  as me and my wife are stopping at chatsworth in may cant wait thanks for the reviews mr and mrs nelson

I tried to book Chatsworth site at 11am the day online booking opened and every weekend in May/June was already fully booked. I'd be interested to find out what percentage of these booking are taking advantage of the "no deposit" arrangements and eventually cancel. We're going to a CL instead.

I tried to book Chatsworth site at 11am the day online booking opened and every weekend in May/June was already fully booked. I'd be interested to find out what percentage of these booking are taking advantage of the "no deposit" arrangements and eventually cancel. We're going to a CL instead.

Write your comments here...I tried booking Chatsworth at 9am on the morning online booking opened for mid May and could only get 4 days mid week. All weekends being booked up. I was told by wardens at Chester Fairoaks that this was due to postal bookings being processed before online bookings. It is obvious the club needs many more fabulous sites like Chatsworth! 

Postal bookings before online bookings?  Doesn't that beat all! Tried for years to visit Rowntree. NO JOY. Even stayed up a couple of years ago to catch the deadline. I tried this year to book Edinburgh at just after 9.00am on the day bookings opened. What a waste of time, and even when I enquired as to why, I got a wet blanket excuse trying to say I was too late. I think this is all very wrong and we should have a level playing field, with no back doors,

What is the point of online bookings apart from to check availability, i agree that all bookings should be fairly dealt with and not postal first. I too stayed at Chatsworth in January and it was -5 but we had a great time and would like to visit when the house is open but this is proving very difficult to book, will probably tried the good old fashioned phone and see if i can book that way

I would agree totally with your post, we were there last year on the Royal Wedding weekend, yes it was busy but we had no problem booking a pitch via the web-site.  It was a glorious weekend and being able to use the gate and gain access to the estate is a real boon, especially when you have two dogs who love to run about!

We seem to be quite lucky getting on Chatsworth, But we do go mid week its one of our favorites and only half an hour from home, We were there for new year it was almost empty the day after new years day!! Never seen it like that before!

I have stayed on Chatsworth site several times, mainly for weekends, including Chatsworth show, which is very busy on site but had no problems booking, as long as booked on opening day for bookings. This year however my wife tried to book from 9am and by the time she got through online, she could book week before show, which she did, we had to book local CL at Bakewell for show weekend. Our friends managed to book the whole period on site. We have only ever been able to book Rowntree Park once, but like Beechwood Grange anyway, so book that now as well as CL's around york, of which there are plenty.

We've stayed over Christmas 2009 and 2011 - no problem if booked around September time. Fabulous location, great atmosphere, and within walking distance of a good 'walkers & dogs' pub in Baslow... what more can you ask for?

i agree with you chatsworth is amzing at christmas but i can say rowntree park in york is a nightmare to get on since we have had the caravan we have only manged to get there once but as you talk to other people they seam to be able to get onthat site when ever they wantis it me or am i using the wrong aftershave

Try ringing the site at 9am on Friday usually they have had a cancellation, mind you now the 72 hour rule kicks in best ringing 9am Tuesday for the weekends, never found a problem Sunday to Thursday with the exception of School Holidays.

NigelH

If we want to go to Chatsworth we book up as early as possible, as coming from Cornwall we need at least a week's stay to make the visit worthwhile. So many people seem to book weekends only which blocks our choices.

Taken 2 years to get in this site as always "fully booked".  Looking forward to this stay at last!

We did get in at fairly short notice for a fewdays mid week not lomg ago much to the surprise of many people on site. We had been previously and on that occassion there was an open air concert on, using the door from the site to the house we had a magnificent nights entertainment. To be frank however we prefer Grin Low as a site as it is far more open but that is personal preference.

Managed to get booked in over the kids summer holidays and really looking forward to staying...in fact to be honest WE ARE REALLY EXCITED lol

Never managed to get in at Chatsworth to include a weekend as we both work and have a long way to travel. Baltic Wharf is much the same, no weekends now until 21st Dec which we have now just booked. Rowntree is another one, no chance. There are several sites out there where you have to book very early almost as soon as the new years bookings go live (early December) or you have to make do elsewhere. I still believe the system should have a cut-off point to which people are able to make advanced-bookings though not sure if this will make a difference!!?? We can always hope.

I visited Chatsworth last summer, and really enjoyed the stay- so convenient for the Peak District, and great to be able to walk across the park to visit the house.

Each July we bring the caravan over from Northern Ireland for our months holiday and we often stay at Chatsworth. We book from Monday to Friday without any difficulty. On arrival we ask the Warden if we can stay over the weekend if there is a cancellation and in four of the last five years we have been lucky. Our circular tour includes Hargill House, Beechwood Grange, Ferry Meadows, Chatsworth, Bolton Abbey and Low Park Wood or Troutbeck Head. Roll on July. One gripe, the ferry from Belfast to Cairnryan costs an arm and a leg.

Henry S

stayed on this site for a long weekend , really enjoyed our stay went in the house and walked through the grounds in the evening would reccomend it.

We had no difficulty in booking at Chatsworth last December 2011 to take advantage of the Christmas Decorations at Chatsworth House. Fabulous event and the meal was well worth the extra cost. Also very friendly and helpful wardens who go the extra mile for their visitors. Would like to visit this site again some time.

Several times we have tried to book sites online only to be told no joy.   Immediately then phoned the wardens direct to be told plenty of room.   The last time was Februay 2012 site at Castleton.  Think there must be a gremlin "online". Never take its word for gospel always go direct.  

Yes we had the notion as you .Many times we had treid to book this site but it was always full ,although to be fair we only treid at Bank Hol .Last year we decided to try and book the site for my wifes birhday in lat September and lo and behold we got a pitch. We enjoyed our stay its a pleasant site and the access to Chatsworth is a bonus.Just shows if do do not succeed the first time try again

We are going this weekend for the first time ! Any tips for good walks with the kids from the site ???

Postal bookings before online bookings?  Doesn't that beat all! Tried for years to visit Rowntree. NO JOY. Even stayed up a couple of years ago to catch the deadline. I tried this year to book Edinburgh at just after 9.00am on the day bookings opened. What a waste of time, and even when I enquired as to why, I got a wet blanket excuse trying to say I was too late. I think this is all very wrong and we should have a level playing field, with no back doors,

Write your comments here... I agree there should be a level playing field, we have tried to book sites online only to find them full - on phoning the site vacancies were available!  Some years ago I tried to book a popular site in France early on the first day of booking only to find one of our chosen weeks already full - on querying this I was told that people had reserved in advance - I suggested that either there should be no reserving of sites in advance of opening day or this facility should be publicised in the mag for all to use.  I got a mealymouthed reply, hopefully things are better these days but I'm not banking on it.  (We have never managed to get on Chatsworth or Rowntree despite trying)

We used to book by post every year because we both work full time and do not have access to a computer during the day, however last year we were told by the cravan club that postal votes were being phased out and would no longer be accepted so we had to wait until evening before we could even try and get onto sites like Chatsworth and York so no matter which way it is done there is never a level playing field. We believe the only fair way is to take a reasonable deposit but the caravan club do not appear to agree so retired or people who do not work in the week and can go during the week are at an advantage to people who can only go at weekends. Roll on retirement or better still take a deposit so that there are not so many cancellations.

We gave up trying to get book onto the popular sites for weekends and holidays in the main season before we retired.  We used CLs and rallies instead, hardly ever found them full and had some fantastic holidays.  Last year we finished work and managed to get on the Chatsworth site for 4 days but not over the week end. Still it was very enjoyable and will try again soon.    

Like many of you I have tried several times to book at Chat. but with no luck. This year, we are traveling up to the Lakes and Yorkshire Dales and I thought I would give it another try as a stopover on the way up north. Imagine my surprise when I got a pitch on the Sunday night. So surprised,infact, I booked TWO nights so that we could see the house and gardens. As a matter of interest, there is a programme coming on TV shortly all about the Chatsworth estate so may be well worth watching to give some ideas on what to look at when visiting Chatsworth House.

Why not go mid week? There are lots of midweek slots available at Chatsworth still (as at mid May)!

We have just got back from Chatsworth house.  We booked well in advance because we always had a problem with it been ful When booking onlinel.  A couple next to us had phoned the site just a couple of days before and were able to get in.  It seems that it is always worth phoning the site just to make sure.  It is a brilliant site, we had four days there and would have loved to have stayed longer if we had the time.  The wardens were frinedly and help full.  We will be going back again.

We have just got back from Chatsworth house.  We booked well in advance because we always had a problem with it been ful When booking onlinel.  A couple next to us had phoned the site just a couple of days before and were able to get in.  It seems that it is always worth phoning the site just to make sure.  It is a brilliant site, we had four days there and would have loved to have stayed longer if we had the time.  The wardens were frinedly and help full.  We will be going back again.

Had a lovely week at incleborofields - mid June - peaceful. Site beautifully kept just a pity the managers were coping with the serial closure of the facilities due to the original updating/refurb work not being right first time.  Went over to Seacroft Cromer for a look see - the reception staff were very helpful but the 'clubhouse' was disappointing. Walking in we saw 4 people sitting around a table, one of them wearing a life guard tshirt so we asked for a drink/information - he was disinterested and unwelcoming  though we had said we were new. A second couple came in and we had to point out the same man to them as he again did not look up and ask if anyone needed anything. All very off putting - the second couple said they were glad they had only booked one night.  Think we will stick to incleborofields! 

been to Chatsworth many times over the last 20yrs,but have never seen the pitches in such a poor condition.Grass and weeds growing in all the hard standing.At one time the wardens would rake each pitch as it became vacant(not the present wardens) and as they did the walk around if there was as much as a blade of grass visible on a pitch this was removed.Everything else is in pristine condition,and the wardens are very friendly and helpful.

Has anyone else done what we have twice - taken van off site at 12 noon Sunday and, with permission, parked it at the house on the long drive below to allow us to extend the day fully.  Emphasise how strict the wardens at Chatsworth are about leaving and arrival times to avoid chaos.  The eveing do's at the farm shop in December are wonderful too - bit procey but behind the scenes and lots and lots of goodies to buy in the run up to Xmas.

I'm sat in my awning on the site at Chatsworth right now, and it's delightful. I find the Internet booking system is superb as it is a live system. This means that as pitches become available through cancellations, they become instantly available on the net. I have grabbed many such pitches. It's well worth checking. 

Thats exactly how we managed to get 3 nights last weekend over the Chatsworth Country Fair weekend! 

yes thats right .

It's a few years since we stayed at Chatsworth but thoroughly enjoyed our 2 stays - both in the winter.  One of our stays was to see the house decorated for Christmas which is well worth going for. Don't forget to visit Chatsworth farm shop while you are there.

We managed to get in for just the two nights in November, the Wednesday and Thursday nights.   We didn't find it the friendliest of sites, but loved the surrounding places, Baslow has some pretty little gift shops (for Mrs Jingles) and  Bakewell town is really lovely and we would go back.    On the Friday morning when we were getting ready to leave, Mrs Jingles ran across to the site Reception to check if we could stay another night and the warden said, "No we are full".

There were quite a few spaces on the site at this point, but other visitors could have been booked in for these.    We tried another commercial site in Bakewell and a CL, but they were  also full for the weekend.  We were amazed at this given it was the middle of November.  So we set off heading for Grassington (Wharfedale) where we knew we could get into,  as we were now heading north and on our way home.    However, about an hour after we left Chatsworth, we checked the bookings online and found that spaces had now become available!!

So, we wondered how spaces were now available if you are required to cancel at least 72 hours in advance?   Presumably there can be emergency cancellations, or people who just don't show.     But, yes, we also find the whole "weekends fully booked up" syndrome to be a real pain.

Just had to cancel my booking a Chatsworth for next weekend so there is at least 1 pitch now available for that weekend!

Dont understand the problem. We were there last weekend. At least 40 empty pitches every day. Good weather, good walking, Chip van on Friday, what more could you ask for?

We have stayed at this site twice and loved it both times.  We shall go again, so thanks for the advice on showing our Caravan Club receipt as we didn't know about this.

 Chatsworth mostly showing as fully booked when it's actually not. Goodness knows how much money c.c. lose through cancellations. There ought to be a text, stand-by service put in place. We have been several times and the house and gardens are well worth a visit, particularly at Christmas. However, we believe the site is way over rated and looking very tired now indeed. 

The first time we went to Chatsworth it was pure luck, as I was looking for a weekend away in our area and Chatsworth came up, we booked straight away, although I might add my friend tried booking straight after and couldn't get in, and we had a lovely weekend so we wanted to book again for the horse trails weekend which we managed last year having booked on booking day in December, but unfortunately the horse trails were cancelled due to the weather, we still went and had another good weekend.  So we have booked again for    horse trails weekend this year but I had to book at 9am on booking day and since I have looked I can see weekends are all booked in may and June the reason is its such a popular site but why not try some of the others in the Derbyshire area we love Carsington water [Blackwell plantation] and we never have any problem getting on there.

we went the week before christmas and found the site half empty, the wardens told us there had been 40 cancellations and they were only approx 15 booked in over the actual christmas period , so just goes to show you, a couple of months before it was fully booked over christmas , we would have loved to have stayed as some people had really gone to town dressing their vans up but I had to work christmas day !!

yes itis me just reading the interesting comments about chatsworth been twice and never had aproblem booking

Just come back from Chatsworth, we always manage to get a cancellation on late availability, it you look on a monday/tuesday thats when people start to realise they can't take up their booking. Great site and plenty of walking to do.

Bristol just as bad fully booked until September .

just as an aside speaking to other members last season and nine out of ten said they book their sites for three weeks at a time for the full season and just pick the week (s) they want nearer the time perhaps a restriction on the amount of bookings made by members will be a start. Please consider other members as well otherwise people will not renew their membership

Chatsworth is a delightful site, one of our favourites.  Try the lovely tea room (Hatties) a hidden gem at the back of the Devonshire Arms, walkin distance from the site in the village of Baslow.