Campsite Review: Riverside Caravan Park, Pateley Bridge
Disclosure: We paid for our stay at this campsite and did not receive any discounts or other freebies.
We recently spent three nights staying at Riverside Caravan Park, in Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire, so I thought I’d sum up our thoughts on the site for anyone planning on visiting the area. (First, a disclaimer – it’s been a few years since we stayed on a UK campsite. These days, we normally go abroad and use motorhome aires and the like. If I seem out of touch with campsite life, that’s why!)
Location
The campsite is located on the southern edge of Pateley Bridge, just across the River Nidd on Low Wath Road.
It’s about 10 minutes walk from the site to the centre of the town. The site has great views over Nidderdale and is next to a large playing field/children’s play area/bowling green.
Road access is easy for most vehicles and the site is primarily a caravan site – so most motorhomes shouldn’t find access difficult.
All in all, a very pleasant location.
Facilities
The site had an excellent modern and clean wash block, although the hot water was more like lukewarm water while we were there. The main toilet/shower facilities are up a flight of stairs, although there is a disabled bathroom downstairs with toilet, shower and sink.
There is also a laundry room, but rather strangely it is only open from 9-5 each day. This seems a bit inconvenient for any genuine tourers, who might need to do their laundry in the evening before moving on the next day.
There is no campsite shop and the reception is open for a couple of hours in the morning and again around tea time, although the management can be reached via the courtesy phone provided.
The site itself is fairly spacious and flat and has a mixture of grass and gravel pitches, with lots of water taps, waste water drains and mains hookup points. There’s also a chemical toilet disposal point next to the toilet block.
Riverside Caravan Park is open from 1st April – 31st October.
Cost, Staff & General Comments
Our gravel motorhome/caravan pitch with electric hookup cost £16 per day when we were there (mid-May). There are a number of additional fees that might apply to you – £2 per night for awnings, £1 per day for additional adults (more than two) and so on.
The lady we dealt with on arrival and departure was very friendly and helpful and gave us a choice of pitches, despite the fact we were with another family and wanted two adjacent pitches.
Riverside Caravan Park is aimed at families and couples and is basically a fairly quiet, peaceful site. Unaccompanied teenagers and single-sex groups aren’t allowed, neither are washing lines, ball games, unleashed dogs and camp fires. The result is a very relaxing, clean and civilised site – but it may not be ideal for everyone.
Overall, I enjoyed my stay very much and would visit again. You can contact the campsite via riversidepateleybridge.co.uk or on 01423 711383.
(There is a website www.riversidecaravanpark.co.uk, but this belongs to a different caravan park that’s near Lancaster and is not the one I’ve reviewed above!)