York Rowntree Park Club Campsite

Rated 4 of 5

Peace and quiet

Rated 3 of 5

Facilities and cleanliness

Rated 5 of 5

Location

Rated 4 of 5

Good for families

Warden warning :(

We come here at least once a year when the booking system allows us - it appears that the Club choose the most obnoxious and jobsworth wardens to work here. This time on arriving just after 12pm (glad we didn't arrive earlier looking at previous reviews!!!) we were told we could only have white peg pitches (which we had booked), which didn't have a cone on as these were reserved. The previous reviewers had issues with their allocated reserved pitch - we struggled to find an empty pitch that was white and not coned!! When we asked why all these pitches were in effect reserved - the warden gave us an officious answer about the size of outfits and making sure the right size was on the right pitch. However by the end of the day - the outfits in these reserved coned pitches were no different in size to ours - how does that work? We also saw small camper vans in huge white peg pitches, which is far more annoying and unnecessary - try sorting that problem out if you want to be so pedantic and officious! The pegging system - right next to the hedges also makes parking very difficult and most outfits have to go onto the opposite pitch in order to get out, so the warden could spend some of his time sorting this out as well. The Club needs to sort these issues out please – this is a high priced site and poor customer service, is unacceptable at any site. Our overall rating took into consideration the warden’s attitude – perhaps the reviews should include one about customer service?

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geordie21

Reviewed on 04/05/2016 13:07

7 reviews

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Rated 4 of 5

Rated 3 of 5

Peace and quiet

Rated 4 of 5

Facilities and cleanliness

Rated 5 of 5

Location

Rated 3 of 5

Good for families

what a difference a season makes !

out with the old (friendly and helpful wardens) and in with the new (unfriendly and unwelcoming wardens). We have used this site for many years without any problems, one of our favourite sites. We have never been allocated a particular pitch in all the years we have been visiting, until this year! This year things are totally different, due to the unfriendly and dictating warden, who has insisted in allocating us a pitch each time we have visited since he took over as head warden. The allocation is final, non negotiable and it does not matter what time you arrive you will be given his pre-chosen pitch. That can't be right in my eyes, when others arriving later are allowed to chose their own pitches. We are all paying the same. We have been given pitches in an undesirable/inferior area of the site, in my opinion, and certainly in an area we would never choose for ourselves. After we had taken up our given pitch and my partner went to the office to pay, when the matter was further discussed with the head warden his response to her was "at the end of the day it's just a gravel car park!" They seem to be obsessed with putting out cones ! Even on the day of departure a cone was placed on the centre of our pitch , hours before we were due to leave, in preparation for the next unsuspecting victims to receive this pre-allocated pitch. Not a friendly or considerate practice in my mind and one that provokes resentment. It generally felt as though they couldn't wait to get rid of us. We no longer feel welcome at this site and the current way it is being run is spoiling our experience of York. It will not stop us visiting, because we love the site, we will just have to persevere and express our views accordingly, in the hope that soon the site will return to it's usual friendly status. But for now, our visits are being marred by these custodians, it's a shame and unnecessary.

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wadhill

Reviewed on 03/05/2016 19:28

1 review

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Rated 4 of 5

Peace and quiet

Rated 4 of 5

Facilities and cleanliness

Rated 5 of 5

Location

Rated 3 of 5

Good for families

Great site but shame about officious wardens

We have used this site for many years without any problems however the current wardens are insistent on allocating pitches to twin axles and are totally inflexible about accommodating requests to change pitch no matter what time you arrive. In the last couple of years we have been met with a friendly warden advising us we have been allocated a pitch but as we have arrived early we can choose a different pitch as long as it isn't coned off. Not these wardens they have allocated a pitch and you will not change! This goes against the ethos of the friendly caravan club and has spoilt our experience of this site. On reading other reviews it seems we are not alone and hope the caravan club take note and deal

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hemmo5

Reviewed on 29/04/2016 16:40

1 review

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Rated 4 of 5

Peace and quiet

Rated 5 of 5

Facilities and cleanliness

Rated 5 of 5

Location

Rated 4 of 5

Good for families

Great location

This is one of our favourite sites for location and nearby facilities. It's walking distance into the centre and has access to local shops from the rear gate of the site. The site itself is well maintained and pitch sizes can vary but the wardens do manage this well. We had a lot of noise whilst staying - all of which were from neighbouring sources beyond the sites control. Workers must have been working on the railway line because one night (Sunday) every train must have sounded its horn between 2-4am. Then Mon-Wed from 8am to 4pm there was a hammering noise/drive piling from a nearby building site. Again, beyond the sites control but not good all the same. We would however return and would recommend this site to anyone. The problem is getting in/availability!

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Wilmaw

Reviewed on 27/04/2016 22:39

15 reviews

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Rated 4 of 5

Rated 5 of 5

Peace and quiet

Rated 5 of 5

Facilities and cleanliness

Rated 5 of 5

Location

Rated 5 of 5

Good for families

Pitch Invasion

On arriving at Rowntree Park at 12.00 sharp, we were fifth in a queue on the main road outside the site. When a warden came up & said we would be fast tracked into the site, find a pitch & then return to the office to pay. For some reason it was nearly 12.10 when I was able to move off the road. This left me & others behind holding traffic up on the main road. This fast track system worked well last time we came, I think they used both lanes up to the barriers which would easily take five units off the road two being motorhomes.

We found the site did not seem as friendly as normal & the wardens did not empty any waste bins till after 9.30am by this time the bins were over flowing.

The main complaint we had was with pitch invasion, we had pitch 44 which has the bollard for the electrics in the centre of the pitch in the hedge but there was a gap in the hedge which allowed people to pass through & walk straight across our pitch from pitch 39 which they did throughout the weekend going to the toilet taking rubbish to the bins or going off site. The club cannot be held responsible for people’s ignorance but a post to stop access until the hedge was allowed to grow would make the pitch more private

This is the first complaint I have ever made about any issues after being a member for many years in an excellent club with the highest standards & excellent wardens I hope this was just a one off & the wardens were only having a bad weekend. The pitch invasion is another matter; dealing with ignorant people is not so easy.

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GeorgeWalker

Motorhomer

Reviewed on 11/04/2016 19:20

2 reviews

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Rated 4 of 5

Peace and quiet

Rated 5 of 5

Facilities and cleanliness

Rated 5 of 5

Location

Rated 5 of 5

Good for families

The good, the bad and the ugly

The Good.......As stated by many members this is a wonderful site in a perfect position for exploring York and walks along the Ouse. Facilities are first class and maintained to a high standard with plenty of hot water for showering and washing up. The Bad......Arriving at 11.53 am to be met by an unfriendly "you're early you'll have to drive around York as arrivals are from 12.00" No apology. No flexibility!! By the time the warden had opened the barrier to let me drive around the site and out again it was 11.55am. Bearing in mind departures are by 11.15am and there were plenty of available pitches then I think the the warden is being a tad unreasonable. I agree that members arriving at 9.00/10.00 as seen in the summer down in Cornwall should not be allowed on as available pitches are not going to be ready then fair enough but for the sake of 5 minutes or so.... Come on!! The ugly......Virtually no grass on the site. As the site is prone to flooding then all pitches and surrounds are of grey limestone chippings. Gary ground and grey weather just made the place feel drab.

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rajminder

Motorhomer

Reviewed on 09/04/2016 15:35

14 reviews

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Rated 4 of 5

Peace and quiet

Rated 4 of 5

Facilities and cleanliness

Rated 5 of 5

Location

Rated 5 of 5

Good for families

Finally got to Stay Here

First time at Rowntree Park and first ever visit to York. Had to adopt the "if you can't beat 'em join 'em" attitude to secure a booking here and was frantically making the on-line booking on 9th December, even though I had no idea at that stage whether I would have to pull out because of work commitments, but we made it and haven't been disappointed.

Very different site to the normal club sites as there is no open space or grass, however with Rowntree Park next door this isn't a problem if the kids need to let off steam.

Fantastic location for visiting York, which was what it was all about for us. We didn't use the car for 3 days walking into the city each day and even the supermarket for provisions. Unfortunately, some of the visitor attractions were closed due to flood damage, but that just means we will have to come back again, so another frantic morning in December.....

Have seen negativity about price. Not sure why. 1 adult and 2 children during the Easter school holiday cost £21.30 a night. Seems fair to me. Will definitely come back at some point, subject to being able to get in of course.

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Bicesterblue

Caravanner from Oxfordshire

Reviewed on 08/04/2016 08:07

16 reviews

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Rated 4 of 5

Rated 3 of 5

Peace and quiet

Rated 5 of 5

Facilities and cleanliness

Rated 5 of 5

Location

Rated 4 of 5

Good for families

Very popular!

We have used this site several times in the past (10 or more years ago) and it is as good now as it ever was. However it is a victim of it's own success, as getting a whole week booked there is now nearly impossible! The site however is clean, smart and well looked after, it is ideal base for sight seeing the wonderful city of York. The walk along the river toward Selby is very nice, the dogs loved it! Highlights of York are, the City walls, the Minster, the shopping centre (including the wonderful Barnitts, which sells everything including 'fork 'andles!) and of course the dozens of Pubs and eateries. For Curry the 'Mumbai Lounge' is the best, Fact!

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Bill Parmenter

Caravanner from Essex

Reviewed on 06/04/2016 16:50

4 reviews

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Rated 4 of 5

Rated 3 of 5

Peace and quiet

Rated 5 of 5

Facilities and cleanliness

Rated 5 of 5

Location

Rated 3 of 5

Good for families

Not all it seems

I have been to the Rowntrees site on several occasions. It is the best site for getting into York and is up to the usual CC Club standards. I have only one fault this year and that was the lack of friendliness of the staff I encountered. Yes there is a 1200hrs arrival time. I arrived 9 minutes prior to this only to be told to drive through the site (noting many empty pitches) and out, not to return before 1200hrs. I was lucky to arrive early which with the normal York traffic problems was a real bonus but then encountered this petty individual who wasn't going to be deterred from applying "the law". I asked if I could just stay where I was for the few minutes. No was the reply. I wanted to get shirty but couldn't be bothered. I am now put off from visiting this site again. This is the first time in my 33yrs as a member that this has happened, usually staff are friendly and obliging. It was just luck that I had an early arrival, never again.

3 replies

JSB

Reviewed on 04/04/2016 08:52

1 review

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Rated 4 of 5

Rated 3 of 5

Peace and quiet

Rated 5 of 5

Facilities and cleanliness

Rated 5 of 5

Location

Rated 5 of 5

Good for families

Great Location for a Short City Break

Ideally situated site for exploring York on foot, no need to use the car. Consequently this site is very popular which makes it difficult to get booked for full week, hence our shorter than originally planned stay - Sunday to Thursday. Warm welcome from the Wardens who were happy to assist us make the most of our stay. Excellent facilities that were kept spotless despite the site being busy.

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Andy Harrower

Reviewed on 31/03/2016 18:23

3 reviews

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