SHAWN RIGGS CAMPSITE REVIEW – WHITBY
Location: 'Whitby
Shawn Riggs Caravan Park, Whitby YO22 5HW
We visited Friday 17th-Sunday 19th September - 2 nights
With us usually being 'spring/summertime' campers, we weren't sure how we'd fair to a January camp out. So wanted to book somewhere that had a pub close by - just in case it got too cold and we needed to take refuge by a log fire and sample some beer - this came up on our search and it was perfect!
PRICE AND BOOKING:
To book, we called the number that we found on google maps and spoke to the owner, who was lovely and very talkative. She explained that currently, they were only taking cash payment on arrival as it's been a pain for them to issue refunds due to covid cancellations. The cost is £19 per pitch per night, so it cost us £38 for the two nights, with electric hook-up, which is quite reasonable.
DIRECTIONS
The site isn't located in Whitby, but a small village just outside called Ruswarp. It's a quaint little village, but with plenty of amenities a short walk from the site - a bit more on this later. We used google maps from our house in Nottingham and it took us straight there with no issues (except for the usual M1 turning into a car park at normal rush hour).
THE SITE
The site is a Certified Site (CS) with the Camping and Caravan Club. It is quite small, with only 5, hardstanding pitches available. These are ample size pitches though, so more than enough space for a van with an awning. With this, the site isn't suitable for tent camping. Each Pitch also has an Electric hook at no extra cost. In regards to facilities, there is a Freshwater tap, an elsan point and a bin.... that's ya lot. No toilets or shower facilities here, so you will need to be self-contained or have a portable loo with you.
Directly over the road from the entrance, there is a small plot of grassland that is cordoned off, that is right on the river. It's owned by the site and people using the site can use this freely for BBQ's or just to enjoy the tranquillity of the riverside.
Now, as lovely as the site is, there are some things to be aware of. Firstly the entrance to the site is basically a small layby with a large gate. If like us, you are in a small camper then there's plenty of space to jump out of the van and get the gate open - if you are in a larger motorhome or a caravan, then there might be an issue with blocking the road a little while you do this.
The site is also situated right on the side of a road. Not necessarily a main road, but plenty of noisy vehicles pass at all hours of the day and night, so can be a bit loud. There is also a church nearby where the bells ring every hour... even through the night, so if you are a light sleeper like Trish, some earplugs might be in order.
Lastly, there is also direct river access from some of the pitches – so if you have children - or dogs - be sure to watch them at all times.
SURROUNDING AREA
Ruswarp is a small village but with more than enough local conveniences. With a few mins walk from the site, you will find a local pub that serves food, a local small shop for the essentials, butchers and even a train station.
Within a 5 min drive, you are in the middle of Whitby. If walking is more your style, there is a path that starts at the train station and follows the railway lines straight into Whitby Harbour, which takes around 20 mins. This a really flat walk so suitable for all abilities. At night we took a taxi and it cost us £7.50 from the centre of Whitby to the Ruswarp train station.
Whitby is rammed with historic sites, pubs, boat rides, beaches and of course fresh fish and chips! There's plenty to do for all the family, or even for a night on the town.
For more on Whitby click
here.
OVERALL
This is a great site to soak up the historical sights of Whitby with it being only a short drive or walk away. Its get everything you need for a weekend get away with plenty of amenities on your doorstep and is a reasonable price too. However, if you are looking for a site to simply chill and not move from, you may want to see what is closer to Whitby, but this will come at a cost.
