This is pushing it a little in terms of distance (1hr 13 from Leeds centre) and price (depending on when you go) but we camped at Studfold Farm a couple of years ago and we absolutely loved it. So long as you understanding of "child friendly" means natural, space to play and explore safely rather than playground, clubhouse and video games, it's great.
http://www.studfoldfarm.co.uk/Here is my review from 2009. Since my review they have reduced the charge for pitching a kitchen tent!!
There are other campsites I’ve stayed at that do certain, individual things better than Studfold Farm, but as a total package Studfold Farm is vying for the position of my favourite family campsite.
Nestled in Upper Nidderdale the views from the campsite are beautiful, even when the sun isn’t shining, and the drive to the campsite was a most rewarding one as we took in the scenery. It is a five-minute walk from the nearest hamlet of Lofthouse that has little more than houses and a pub (apparently there is also a Post Office / small shop).
It’s over eight miles to the nearest town of Pately Bridge and over twenty miles to a town of any size, Harrogate. Some may find this remoteness a deterrent but I find it to be one of the campsite’s strengths; it’s so tranquil and there’s barely any light pollution at night.
There is a small shop on site that sells some very basic provisions and milk can be ordered. But it will require a trek if you require more substantial provisions.
When you arrive and pay for your stay (I do wish that more sites had a policy of settling accounts at the end of your stay) you are given your allocated pitches. As a rule I don’t like marked, allocated pitches; it seems to be a little too regimented. However it does guarantee a certain distance between pitches and the pitch sizes at Studfold are fairly generous, especially as we were able to park in the car park and not next to the tent.
There are two fields with EHU available on the first, larger field. Also located by the first field are toilet, shower and washing-up facilities. In the gents there were three sinks, two urinals, WCs and two showers, all of which were clean, modern and of a high standard. What was particularly impressive was that each shower had an anti-room. This allowed a relatively dry area in which to get dressed and meant that the whole procedure was less cramped; especially welcome if you are taking young children with you. We never had any problems with hot water but I had to queue for the shower once when the site was nowhere-near full (we went mid-week); at weekends the number of showers would, I suspect, be inadequate.
There are two washing-up sinks which, again, is one too-few and there was queuing on more than one occasion. All of these facilities were clean and well-maintained.
We were on the second field which did not have EHU. Included in the second field was a spacious area reserved for children to play games. This was so welcome. Too many campsites prefer to cram in as many tents as possible leaving little room for children to play without getting too close to tents. There were also other areas that the children could explore safely, messing in the long grass and making dens.
Flowing past the site is a river and there is access to a path by the river from the upper field. There was a lovely, peaceful atmosphere on the campsite and the evenings were tranquil.
Even though the campsite is just outside the National Park there is lots to see and do in the area though, given the remoteness of the campsite, most are at least a forty-minute drive away. We went to Stump Cross Caverns, Fountains Abbey and Brimham Rocks. If we had been there longer we would also have visited Bolton Abbey but we’ve been once before. Brimham rocks, in particular, makes for a very inexpensive family day out; for a £4 parking fee the kids can be set free to explore and climb, but keep close to the younger ones! There is a café selling sandwiches, pasties ice-cream, but no covered area to eat. Fountains Abbey demands a full day, partly because there is so much to see and partly because it’s not cheap (~£27 for two adults and four children). You can buy meals or take a picnic. The monks certainly knew where to build their monasteries and the ruins and water gardens made for a lovely day that the kids really enjoyed. Other campers I met had travelled as far as Malham for a day trip.
However, if you don’t want to drive so far there are walks of varying difficulty to be had around the area. Also the campsite has developed a nature discovery trail for the younger children, though there is a charge for this.
Are there any downsides? Inevitably! There was a £5 tariff for a kitchen tent! It was no surprise to me that I didn’t see one kitchen tent all week. The only other thing that may put some people off is the midges which come at you with knives and forks! But, so deep in the countryside, it is only to be expected and is not much of a price to pay, all things considered.
I really want to give Studfold Farm 10/10. And I may later regret not doing so. There’s beautiful scenery, plenty to go out and see and it’s a wonderfully relaxing place. But 10/10 is a perfect score; one extra shower per gender, one extra washing-up sink and a different charging structure for kitchen tents and this site would be perfect. As it is, I recommend Studfold at least as highly as any other I have stayed at and more highly than the vast majority.
by craftynclothy on Wed Jan 18, 2012 12:06 pm 
