Moortown
Market Rasen
Lincolnshire
LN7 6HZ
01472 851770
Open all year
Current fees - contact site for details
This basic but peaceful little site is literally a hidden gem. About half a mile from the village of Moortown and almost in the middle of nowhere it's tucked away behind a pub, and you wouldn't know it was there unless someone told you about it as there's no sign at the entrance and it can't be seen from the lane; there's no reception so you go into the pub to book in. The level open field is well-draining and separated from the pub by a small car park and a grass bank, and the end nearest the car park is divided by rows of tall conifers, making a separate section for a handful of seasonal caravans. There's also a large fishing lake on one side of the site with access all the way round, making it ideal for those early morning dog walks.
There are several 16amp hook-up posts along the side of the site nearest the lake and plenty of space to pitch elsewhere if you don't need ehu. There are no lights on the site other than one near the car park so you will need a torch or lantern for any night time visits to the loo. The toilet/shower block is situated just off the car park; the doors have keypads so you will need to get the code number when you book in. I can't comment on the mens' side but the ladies side was very clean and heated by a convector heater, and even on a bitterly cold December weekend was certainly warm enough to get washed and changed in comfort. The pub itself serves good-sized portions of home-cooked food at very reasonable prices; the staff are all very friendly and there's often entertainment on at weekends.
There's nothing in Moortown itself, in fact the place is so small you can't even call it a village - hamlet would be a better word - so if you want a shop the nearest place is a couple of miles away at Nettleton where there's a small village store, or Caistor another mile or two further on. If you need to stock up at a supermarket then Market Rasen is just over seven miles south. The North East Lincolnshire coast is about twenty miles away and the resorts of Cleethorpes and Mablethorpe are easy enough to get to. For anyone camping or caravanning in winter a 'must see' is the large grey seal colony at Donna Nook, about halfway between Cleethorpes and Mablethorpe - the seals are there from mid October to the end of December and the babies are absoloutely adorable.
I think the only possible downside to Skipworth Arms for some campers would be the railway line which runs right past the site. Trains are roughly every half hour during the day with one or two goods trains running at night, and though the passenger trains are fairly quiet the goods trains do make quite a rumble, though personally I wasn't disturbed by any of them. Other than that the site is really peaceful and you'll go to sleep to the sound of an owl hooting and wake to birdsong coming from the trees.
So whether you're into trainspotting, star gazing or fishing, or you just want to get away from the rat race for a couple of days, this hidden gem is a great place to do it, and the pub only a few yards away is a great bonus for those who like a pint in the evenings. Would I go back? - most definitely!
