Last Updated on 27 January 2025 by Colette
This post features a hosted stay
After spending our most recent camping trip at coastal site of Mablethorpe, we wanted something completely different for our second trip of the summer so chose the Delamere Forest Camping and Caravanning Club site on the basis that we thought it would be nice to camp near woodland for a change and also, perhaps most importantly, it’s less than an hour’s drive from home but feels like a world away from the hustle and bustle of Manchester.
The campsite is right next to Delamere Forest train station which makes the campsite super accessible by public transport but also means you are treated to plenty of train noise at regular intervals throughout the day but this soon settled into being background noise and didn’t really bother us.
Delamere Forest Camping and Caravanning Club Site is a mid-sized family-friendly campsite with a range of pitches both grass and hard standing with and without electric hook-ups (we didn’t use to camp with electric but now we have an EHU, I wouldn’t be without it!).
The site is split into three sections surrounded and separated by trees so it didn’t feel overly big and busy even though there were actually quite a lot of people on site. There was a good mix of caravans, motorhomes and tents on site when we visited.
We arrived at Delamere Forest Camping and Caravanning Club Site shortly after 1pm (this is the earliest your pitch will be available) and were welcomed by staff who checked us in efficiently and showed us to a lovely big pitch (pitches are pre-assigned according to the details you supply at booking so if, like us, you have a massive tent, it’s important to make that clear and booked a “jumbo” pitch!).
Our pitch was tucked away in a corner of the site next to a patch of woodland which meant we were treated to some welcome shade (we found ourselves camping in the midst of a 26 degree heatwave!) and didn’t feel that we were on top of other guests on site. Unfortunately we were also right next to the busy road which, whilst mostly blocked from view by trees, was really quite noisy with cars, lorries and motorbikes passing at speed at all times of day and night – Dave said it felt like we were camping next to the motorway and I have to agree. The road noise itself would be enough to put me off booking the site again however having read other reviews of the site nobody else mentions it so Dave and I went for a wander to listen to the traffic noise in other parts of the site and found it was considerably quieter so it’s perhaps only an issue for the pitches closest to the road.
It’s worth noting that you are only allowed one car per pitch and, whilst you are allowed visitors on site, there is no onsite car parking for extra cars. As we typically travel with two cars when we’re taking our dog camping, we were directed to park at the Manchester side of the train station – this does say it is private land but we were assured by staff that it was ok for us to park there.
Delamere Forest Camping and Caravanning Club Site is a well maintained campsite if a little tired in places. We appreciated the hanging baskets, planters and herb garden which was free for guests to use – these were clearly well looked after and made the site feel very welcoming. The gravel road through the site is one way and would benefit from being tarmacked – I’ve read previous reviews of people struggling with pot holes, mud and flooding however this wasn’t something we experienced during our visit.
The main reception building is home to a small shop selling basic groceries and ice cream. This is open from 9am to 10.30am and 4pm to 6pm.
The shower block is small but clean and well looked after if perhaps a little tired. There is one free-to-use hair drier, two sinks with very little surface space for putting your things – there’s also a couple of private sink cubicles. With just four showers, I ended up queuing for a shower at about 10am though I think this is partly as the strict and lengthy closures for cleaning cause an increase in demand! The showers are plenty hot enough and have more than enough power for a good wash. The shower cubicles have two pegs for hanging your things and a stool. The wet and dry area of the shower cubicle is separated by a shower curtain which I appreciate is necessary but if I’m honest gives me the ick.
There is also a “Family Room” – you need a code for this from Reception so I didn’t take a look inside but I imagine this is super handy when you’re trying to shower with little ones!
My biggest niggle with the shower block is that it is cleaned between 10.30am and and 12pm which I honestly think is a really awkward time for cleaning. I can’t understand why it isn’t done either first thing in the morning or in the afternoon – we found this at Mablethorpe too. Whilst the toilets are being cleaned you can’t access them at all – the disabled toilet would be useable but you need a key which you can’t get because reception is closed – so for 90 mins there is just no toilet access at all which isn’t ideal in anyone’s world never mind if you are camping with young children.
The dishwashing area has four sinks, one at a lower height which is perfect for sending younger kids to do the washing up (dishwashing is a standard camping task for kids in our family)! This area is clean and well maintained.
There’s a laundry room with a large machine and dryer charged at £3.50 per wash and £1 per 20 mins for the tumble drier as well as an iron which you need 20p coins for. You’ll also find a stand packed with leaflets about things to do in the surrounding area and takeaway menus in the laundry room. Whilst we’re on the subject of food, there is a pizza van on site on Saturday nights – we were only staying Wednesday to Friday though so missed out on trying that however reviews seem to be generally positive.
As is typically the case with Camping and Caravanning Club sites, no campfires or firepits are allowed on site. BBQs and gas stoves must be raised off the grass. With it being super hot this week, we didn’t miss the campfire at all and we used the gas stove to melt marshmallows for s’mores. We do need to invest in a new camping BBQ though after ours finally gave up the ghost earlier this summer so I’m absolutely open to recommendations!
There are no ball games allowed on site and there is no play area however there is a small wooded area in one corner of the campsite that Amy enjoyed playing in but more excitingly, the campsite benefits from direct access to Delamere Forest itself which Ben and Chloe disappeared off into for an hour or so one afternoon and Dave appreciated for walking Poppy.
Dogs are welcome at Delamere Forest Camping and Caravanning Club Site – they must be kept on a lead at all times. We like to use a corkscrew hook for Poppy so that she can have a little freedom and we don’t have to keep hold of her all the time. There are dog poo bins dotted around the site and whilst they’re isn’t a specific dog exercise area at this campsite, with direct access into to Delamere Forest itself it would be quite unnecessary. We thought the “dog and bike wash” was a great feature with a clamp for holding your bike up so you can hose it down thoroughly and enclosed space to wash your dog down after a muddy woodland walk!
You can read our tips for camping with a dog here and also check out our list of essential camping kit for dogs.
If you do book a stay at Delamere Forest Camping and Caravanning Club Site, don’t forget your insect repellent and be vigilant with keeping your tent zipped up! This is something I’m obsessive about anyway but camping on the edge of woodland means there’s plenty of bugs about.
In terms of things to do while you’re staying at Delamere Forest Campsite, you’re spoiled for choice:
As I mentioned, you’re right next door to Delamere station which gives you easy access to both Manchester and Chester. (I have it on good authority that the Station Cafe is also worth a visit.)
The Delamere Forest Visitors Centre is a 15 minute walk from the campsite and I fully recommend popping down there for an ice cream and to pick up a map for the Stick Man trail.
You are also within walking distance of the Delamere Forest Go Ape if zip wires are your thing!
Just a five minutes drive away, you’ll find Wild Shore Delamere. More often than not, we don’t plan in additional activities when we are camping as we all tend to appreciate the time to relax and read and the kids love the freedom to explore however when you’re camping in the midst of a heatwave with a water-based activity centre just a spit down the road, it would be foolish not to check it out! Long story short, we were really impressed.
You can read more about Wild Shore Delamere here.
Wild Shore Delamere – Review & Tips
Delamere Forest Camping & Caravanning Club site absolutely wins on location in terms of accessibility via public transport, access to Delamere Forest itself and things to do nearby – but if you’re looking for peace and quiet, or struggle with noise at night, then the roadside location might be a problem for you. (As an aside, I can’t recommend these ear plugs highly enough for blocking out noise when you’re camping!)
If you’re considering booking the Delamere Forest site or any other Camping and Caravanning Club sites, check out this page of offers first!
Check out our guide to camping next for more campsite reviews and camping tips.
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