My wife and I, our dog and 3 year old girl stayed here on the Tour de France weekend. Unlike other campsites, Elaine kept her prices the same for this weekend. It cost us £24 for 2 nights. We received a very warm welcome from the owner on arrival, she remembered my name even though it was a year ago since we last went. The site was a lot busier than normal but not overcrowded. The facilities coped as Elaine has had an extra toilet put in. The atmosphere here was very family friendly, on Saturday evening, The owner's husband took all the children on a tractor ride around the campsite/farm. Also later on Saturday, a hog roast was laid on for all the campers. Everyone who stayed here had an excellent time and most will be returning. What makes this site special is Elaine makes sure it's never overcrowded, it is a peaceful site with amazing views of the Dales. There are supermarkets nearby in Richmond (Co-op) or Catterick Garrison (Tescos), and local shops in Reeth. We can recommend the Bridge Inn at Grinton and the Black Bull in Reeth for food.
What a fantastic campsite! The farmer, his wife and children are extremely friendly and welcoming. We’ve been 3 times and will certainly be heading back again this year. Set in stunning scenery with a breath-taking view of the valley below, this quiet, working farm is ideal for families with children or indeed anyone who wants to experience a relaxing break. This trip we saw piglets, cows, sheep, chickens and even a pregnant cat! Our kids (5, 7, 9yrs) just love watching the farmer do his ‘stuff’ rounding up sheep with his dog or playing on the trampoline or playing rounder’s or cricket in the massive camping field. It feels really safe and although other people are there on the site-caravans, tents motorhomes and coast to coast walkers-it never feels busy or crowded. One of Yorkshire’s best kept secrets! Only 15 mins away from Richmond by car, with a basic, but very large toilet and shower (great for washing kids) and delicious food (cake and scones etc. Served in or outside the farmhouse conservatory) we always have an amazing time. My husband loves the cooked breakfast with freshly laid eggs courtesy of the farmer’s wife!
We came back from 5 nights at Nun Cote Nook on Saturday. I paid £15 a night for a pitch with EHU in my folding camper. The site is a large, sloping field with the most amazing views.
There are, I think, only 4 pitches with EHU, I don't know how many without - it's a big field, but it seemed only the edges are used for pitches. There is a tap for drinking water near the entrance to the field.
There is one toilet and one shower. These are both in outhouses, the former has a table for placing your toiletries, a mirror, handbasin with towel and fresh flowers in a vase. The latter is in a room that also contains the dishwashing sink. I was worried that it would be cold as it is quite a large space, but it wasn't at all.
The shower was free, fully adjustable and there was even some shampoo and shower gel in case you forgot your own. I do recommend using the 'duck board' provided as the tiles could be slippy. These facilities are simple and clean rather than luxurious, with little touches that add to the warm welcome from Elaine in person.
Nun Cote Nook is a working farm with all the noises (and smells) of animals and machinery that involves. The cockerel woke me at 04. 20 the first morning, there are chickens and cats wandering about the camping field and tractors and quads being driven across it from time to time (not in a manner that represented any hazard to campers I would hasten to reassure!) The field is a field, not a lawn and the grass is not close cropped nor are the cuttings collected.
Some of which may sound like I am being negative. In reality I don't know where to begin to give this site the praise I feel it deserves! The welcome is warm and wholly genuine and the atmosphere is totally laid back.
People are left to camp as they choose - there was a group who had camped on the longer grass, with a little woodburning stove in the middle of their tents as well as people in a motorhome, us in a folding camper, tents of various shapes and sizes, with and without EHU and a couple of caravans over the five nights we were there.
There was loads of space with no feeling at all of being cramped up next to other campers. It is hard to overstate how lovely the location is, even 3 days of very heavy rain could not diminish it, there are wonderful views for miles in every direction and lots of footpaths for those who enjoy exploring on foot.
Marrick is a tiny village with no shop, the nearest so far as I am aware is at Reeth a couple of miles from the site. There is a good choice of shops in Richmond, which is a pretty town, with a tourist information office and a quite large Cooperative supermarket.
There are some really good shops for those of a foodie persuasion and lots of charity shops for those who like a bargain! Speaking of which, the café in the market hall does a great cup of tea and a toasted tea cake for £1. 50, there were also some rather splendid looking cakes on offer in the chiller.
You don't have to go that far from the site for great cake however. The coast to coast path runs across the land at Nun Cote Nook and Elaine, assisted by daughter Annie, runs a tearoom in the conservatory which overlooks the camping field and shares its wonderful views. The bacon butty I had was fantastic, my daughter's fried egg sandwich was equally good and the bowl of chips we shared finished the meal off perfectly!
The chiller there is full of wonderful treats, we sampled a marvellous lemon meringue pie, it was genuinely hard to choose as everything looked delicious (there was a victoria Sponge I will remember for a long time!) Children are even allowed to bounce around on the trampoline in the garden while the grown ups chat over a cup of tea.
I was a bit anxious about towing the camper off the field as the rain had left things rather slippy. Despite the fact that the family were rushed off their feet organising a surprise 50th party for Keith, time was made to tow the camper clear of the mud and make sure I was safely hitched up.
The hospitality was lovely, the site's location as beautiful as any I have visited, the sense of relaxation was wonderful. I hope they never change a thing!