Combs Valley Campsite

Lovely little campsite, clean facilities and quiet. Was still being developed/improvements being made when I stayed, the train track running to the back of the site and blowing it's whistle was annoying, however this is no reflection on the site or how it was being run, in all an enjoyable couple of days was had.
4 7 years ago (25-02-2018)

This is a gem of a site, set in a beautiful location, nestled between Castle Naze and Combs reservoir; just 20 minutes walk from Chapel en le Frith train station, along a clear footpath. The majority of pitches are allocated to caravans, but tents can be accommodated in a little field beside the farmhouse and in a larger, lower level area. The toilet block is impeccably clean and well-stocked, with plenty of hot water at all times. The owner was friendly and helpful and his advice assisted me in a lovely ramble. You need to bear in mind (especially if back-packing) that the nearest shops are in Chapel en le Frith. Combs hamlet is under 15 minutes' walk away, but has only a pub for food and drink, so take what you need with you unless you intend dining out either at The Beehive Inn in Combs or The Hanging Gate on the far side of Combs reservoir - (the latter has earlier opening and food serving times if you fancy a cooked breakfast). I had worried that proximity to the Buxton railway line might cause a noise nuisance, but trains were fairly infrequent. Most of the ambient sounds on the site were horses whinnying and cockerels crowing. The only relatively minor things which cause me to give this site 4 rather than 5 stars are: The website states that the fee for a 1/2 berth tent is £12, but I was charged £15. I was told this was because I had been assigned a larger pitch, so this was a bit confusing. And therein lies another issue. I like to choose my own pitch. At Combs I was not given a choice, but was informed that I had been allocated a specific pitch and it was a costlier one. It would be useful to say on the website that back-packers in 1 berth tents may be charged the same as a caravan or family with a large tent and car. Also, I had chosen the site based partly on my impression of it when I had walked past it a week previously, when I saw only the smaller field near the farm house and thought that this was where I would be camping. When I checked in I was disappointed to find that the pitch I was given was not there, but on a relatively hard pitch in a separate section. True, it appeared grassed, but immediately underneath was gravel, which isn't my first choice to sleep on, especially when back-packing and having my minimalist sleeping mat under me. That said, the pitch was a good size and was flat and well drained and still enjoyed lovely views, despite being at a lower elevation than the smaller field. I set up my tiny one person tent right in the centre of the pitch, confident that I would have a good margin around me. I then went off for a walk. I was unhappy therefore on my return to find that a family had arrived in my absence and pitched up an enormous tent right up close to mine, encroaching on my pitch, and two more enormous tents were on the pitch on my other flank. As it turned out these campers were the bane of my trip: with the two large tents being obviously all one group who partied loudly into the small hours, whilst the toddler in the tent bang next to mine talked and screamed at the top of its lungs till late at night and then started again at 5:40am the next morning. With part of the reason I'd picked this site being that it appeared to have strict rules about noise, I had thought that these would be enforced. They were not, and I spent an almost entirely sleepless night as a consequence. I know that inconsiderate campers are a risk factor in almost every site, but I had hoped that the site owner might have carried out checks to ensure that visitors complied with the rules. On the whole though these are minor issues and my overall verdict of the site is extremely favourable in that it is a beautifully-located place, with plenty of facilities created and maintained to a high standard, and I would be more than happy to go there again. I guess I could always ask when booking if I could be placed in the smaller field. Maybe closer proximity to the farmhouse would also deter louder campers.
4 7 years ago (23-08-2017)

Great little campsite. Warm welcome by the chap on the tractor. Clean toilets and all warm welcome from the others on the site. Would be a great site in the summer. We walked into Buxton and back down Lesser Lane and over the tops. Great walk ending in the Beehive pub on the way home. We will be back.
5 8 years ago (05-02-2017)

Very friendly and helpful owners and a beautiful new shower and toilet block, which has central heating for winter use. We stayed the week in October and the heating didn't come on at all. Although new, the shower block is in need of a good deep clean -already brown staining below the waterline in the toilet and the same pieces of toilet paper stayed on the floor for several days. Probably because the site was uncrowded the owners felt it was not necessary to clean each day. Great view from pitches, which all have electricity. Unfortunately the railway line runs along the side of the camp with trains running late at night and early in the morning.
3 8 years ago (13-11-2016)

Camping in tent with kids for weekend: Amazing views and two pubs in easy walking distance even with young kids. Flat field & 1st rate facilities. Small and would be tight if full though. Really beautiful/unbeatable location. I can recommend, & we'll be back. Out of the way but not isolated. Me & the kids loved our weekend. Many thanks. X
5 8 years ago (16-07-2016)