Rivendale Lodge Retreat in Derbyshire: Our review of Darwin Escapes Peak District holiday park

Search latest deals at 
Rivendale Lodge Retreat

Does Rivendale Lodge Retreat in Derbyshire live up to the usual Darwin Escapes standard?

We are slowly making our way round all of the Darwin Escapes resorts in the UK, of which there are more than 20.

Over the years we've been to their resorts in Somerset, Bath, Cornwall, Yorkshire, Norfolk and on the Isle of Wight (and probably some others that haven't immediately come to mind). 

The latest was Rivendale Lodge Retreat, which is a little way outside of Ashbourne in Derbyshire. ​

---

Our first impressions of Rivendale Lodge Retreat

We have come to expect Darwin Escapes to offer classy lodge retreats with smooth roads, neatly pruned hedges and modern-looking communal areas. Our first impression was that Rivendale Lodge Retreat very much lives up to this standard. 

The reception building is particularly interesting and looks like something out of Grand Designs, with (presumably) local stone being used to create a building that fits in really nicely into the beautiful rolling hills of the Peak District.

There's no swimming pool - but there is a restaurant at Rivendale Lodge Retreat

We liked the design of the reception at Rivendale Lodge Retreat

Rolling green hills can be seen from the restaurant terrace

---

Exploring the site

It didn't take us long to get our bearings when we visited Rivendale Lodge Retreat, as it is not a particularly large holiday resort. This is not the sort of resort where you'll be spending two or three days on site just using the facilities. Instead, this is a really lovely base where you can get out and walk or cycle. You will need to drive a bit further get to some of the larger attractions and theme parks in the area (Alton Towers is 30 minutes away).

Our favourite thing about Rivendale Lodge Retreat was the gorgeous setting with dramatic cliffs surrounding the park. It has high hills all around it, giving it a lovely bit of shelter and also a real character. You will get a bit of a view from some of the hillier parts of the site but you really feel as though you are in a unusual part of the country thanks to the looming cliffs. Some holiday parks that we've been to feel very much like a row of caravans in a field. This is a long way from something quite so anonymous.

These dramatic cliffs give the site a lovely backdrop

Rivendale Lodge Retreat has lovely landscaping and smooth roads

This is the upper section of Rivendale Lodge Retreat

---

Vibe and feel at Rivendale Lodge Retreat

Of course, if you've come to Derbyshire will be aware but you're not in for a seaside holiday. You may want to manage expectations amongst your children if they begin to pack buckets and spades. Instead, the vibe is very much rolling hills, switching off from modern life and getting out for a walk. (Top parenting tip: call it an adventure instead of a walk...).

Just over the road from the entrance to Rivendale Lodge Retreat is the Tissington Trail. This is a mostly smooth cycleway and walkway but extends for several miles around this part of Derbyshire and is a nice safe way to explore with children. We made the most of this and really enjoyed our cycle rides along the Tissington Trail.

We enjoyed cycling along the Tissington Trail when we visited Rivendale Lodge Retreat in Derbyshire

The scenery on the trail is gorgeous

---

Accommodation at Rivendale Lodge Retreat

Accommodation at Rivendale Lodge Retreat is (as you will guess from the name) lodges rather than caravans. Newcomers to Holiday Park Guru may be wondering what the difference is. 

A lodge is effectively a larger and more spacious version of a static caravan. Typically, this means that you get full size beds in a lodge rather than narrower single beds in a caravan. You also get a much larger kitchen and a bigger living space. Some caravans have a terrace or balcony but a lot don't whereas you always get one with a lodge. 

Accommodation at Rivendale Lodge Retreat is spacious and well spread out throughout the site, so you don't feel like you're on top of each other. We also liked how well landscaped it had been, with quite a few trees and hedges separating the different lodges. 

These lodges are a big step up from standard static caravan accommodation

---

Final thoughts on Rivendale Lodge Retreat

Overall then, we were very impressed with Rivendale Lodge Retreat. This is not the sort of place where you will be spending hours and hours of free time during the day. However, it does have a restaurant on site so you won't feel you need to trek out every evening if you don't want to cook. 
​
As long as you are not expecting a big range of facilities then I would say it's a good choice for a base exploring this part of Derbyshire.

We enjoyed our visit to Rivendale Lodge Retreat