River Dart Country Park

What River Dart Country Park does

River Dart Country Park is a family-owned visitor attraction and holiday park operating since 1976 under Simpson family ownership, set within 90 acres of Dartmoor National Park in Devon, United Kingdom. The business operates two integrated lines: a day-visitor adventure park with over 25 attractions (playgrounds, climbing pods, pirate ship, jungle ropes, low ropes course, wildlife trails), and an award-winning campsite and holiday park offering tiered tent/caravan pitches, hardstanding super pitches, B&B accommodation in the Victorian Holne Park House and Coach House, and on-site food and beverage at The Old Sawmill. A dedicated activity layer (Dare Devil activities) is delivered through subsidiary CRS Adventures Limited, covering high ropes (23 elements), zip wire, Dare Devil Drop, climbing/caving, kayak and canoe hire, and bouldering. The park is also a venue for weddings, corporate events, and school groups, with a niche presence at Exeter Chiefs' Sandy Park stadium via the Kid's Zone partnership.

The underlying platform is a multi-attribution direct-to-consumer booking stack: own websites (riverdart.co.uk, bookings.riverdart.co.uk, crs.riverdart.co.uk), RMS Cloud for camping and B&B, FuseMetrix CRM, and a mobile app. Operational technology includes a UK-first hydro-dynamic screw generator (2,000,000+ kWh produced, 8-month self-sufficiency), a 133 kWh woodchip biomass boiler with district heating (£20,000+ annual savings, 200 tons carbon saved), and 2023 solar PV installation (45,000 kWh/hour). Safety systems include Saferoller continuous belay on the high ropes and Powerfan technology for the Dare Devil Drop. Integration with Nimbus Disability's Access Card scheme supports accessibility.

Revenue is generated through a mix of one-time admissions (park entry from £3.95; activities £7-£25), multi-day camping pitches (£20-£88/night), B&B (£110-£225/night), annual memberships (£65), gift vouchers, event tickets (Land Rover Show, River Dart Rumble 5km, Muddy Mutts), venue hire, and food/beverage. Customer segments span families with children (primary), touring campers, school groups, corporate/wedding clients, mountain bikers, and paddlers, all served direct-to-consumer with no third-party reseller intermediation on primary inventory.

Name

River Dart Country Park

Legal name

River Dart Country Park Limited(The)

Website

https://riverdart.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

River Dart Country Park is a family-owned, 90-acre adventure park and award-winning campsite within Dartmoor National Park, Devon, serving UK families, school groups, campers, and event clients since 1976.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Family Adventure Park & Campsite

NAICS

RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (72121), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Campgrounds (721211), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Recreation Campgrounds (Amenities/Activities Focus) (THAMAJAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

National Park & Conservancy Lodges (THAGAIAI), Birding & Wildlife Observation Lodges (THAGAIAK)

Keywords

• Family adventure park
• Campsite caravan park
• Outdoor recreation venue
• Adventure activities centre
• Family tourist attraction

Headquarters

HQ city

Ashburton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Day Visitor Admission: Entry fees for day visitors to the park with access to adventure playgrounds, trails, and included activities. Pricing varies by age (adult/child), with free entry for children 2 and under, and discounted rates for ages 3-4.
2. Camping and Touring: Pitch fees for tents, touring caravans, motorhomes with options for grass/non-electric, grass with electric, hard standing, and premium super pitches. Includes free park entry for duration of stay.
3. Bed and Breakfast Accommodation: En-suite rooms at Holne Park House and Coach House rooms. Individual rooms from £110-£155 per night, family suites from £210-£225 per night. Includes free park entry during stay.
4. Adventure Activities: Pay-per-activity fees for Dare Devil activities including High Ropes (£23-25), Zip Wire (£12-15), Dare Devil Drop (£13.50-20), Climbing & Caving (£12.50), Kayak Hire (£7-8.50), Canoe Hire (£12-13), and Bouldering (£8).
5. Bike and Equipment Hire: Mountain bikes and jump bikes available for single day or multi-day hire with various sizes for children and adults.
6. Events and Special Activities: Ticketed events including Land Rover Show, River Dart Rumble 5km obstacle race, and Muddy Mutts dog walk. Early bird group tickets and sponsorship opportunities.
7. Annual Memberships: 12-month membership from £65 offering free day admission and bike park access, with benefits for the adventure park and selected events.
8. Gift Vouchers: Digital gift vouchers available in £10, £20, £30 denominations or custom amounts for park activities and experiences.
9. Venue Hire and Events: Holne Park House and grounds available for weddings, conferences, corporate events, and private functions. Silver award winner for Business Events Venue of the Year.
10. Food and Beverage: The Old Sawmill Cafe Bar and Restaurant, Park Shop, Oasis Beach Hut, and catering services for events. Licensed premises with seasonal opening.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

River Dart Country Park operates a 90-acre family adventure park and award-winning campsite within Dartmoor National Park in Devon. The core offering combines a day-visitor attraction with over 25 play and adventure features, a touring caravan and tent campsite, bed and breakfast accommodation in Holne Park House and The Coach House, and separately bookable Dare Devil adventure activities (high ropes, zip wire, drop, climbing, caving, kayaking, canoeing) operated by subsidiary CRS Adventures. Additional revenue comes from a Dartmoor Bike Park, on-site food and beverage, weddings and corporate venue hire at Holne Park House, and an annual membership programme.

Product overview

River Dart Country Park is a family adventure park and campsite operating across two distinct offerings: the Day Visitor Attraction (core product) featuring over 25 adventure attractions including playgrounds, zip wires, climbing areas, and water activities; and the Campsite & Caravan Holiday Park providing tent/caravan pitches and luxury B&B accommodation at Holne Park House and Coach House. The Dare Devil Activities program operated by CRS Adventures offers premium charged activities (high ropes, zip wire, kayaking, climbing, caving, bouldering) that complement the included park entry. The Dartmoor Bike Park provides dedicated mountain biking facilities. Additional revenue streams include Annual Memberships, Gift Vouchers, Tennis Courts, Holne Park House wedding/corporate venue hire, Kids Zone at Sandy Park (Exeter Chiefs partnership), and kayak-specific facilities including Dartcam and river access. The park celebrated 50 years in 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CRS Adventures: Adventure activities subsidiary offering high ropes, zip wire, climbing, caving, kayaking, canoeing, and bike hire experiences.

Products and services

• River Dart Country Park Day Visitor Attraction Family adventure park set in 90 acres within Dartmoor National Park featuring over 25 attractions including adventure playgrounds, space nets, jungle ropes, pirate ship, wildlife trails, agility trail, anaconda, bike trail, climbing pods, dam pool, jungle fun, low ropes course, snake slides and outdoor activities for day visitors.
• Campsite and Caravan Holiday Park Award-winning family campsite offering grass pitches with and without electric, hard standing pitches, and super pitches with electric for tents, touring caravans and motorhomes. Includes modern amenity blocks, electric hookups, drying rooms and free park entry for the duration of stay, with seasonal pricing from £20 to £88 per night.
• Holne Park House Bed and Breakfast Luxury bed and breakfast accommodation in a Victorian manor built between 1885 and 1906 with nine en-suite bedrooms and family suites. The Coach House provides nine additional twin en-suite rooms, three of which are on the ground floor with disabled facilities. Includes free park entry during stay.
• Dare Devil Adventure Activities Instructor-supervised adventure activities operated by CRS Adventures Limited including the High Ropes Course (23 elements with Saferoller continuous belay and two zip wires over the River Dart), Mega Zip Wire (150m over a lake from 7m platform), Dare Devil Drop (12m freefall with Powerfan technology), Climbing and Caving Zone, Kayak Hire, Canoe Hire, Bouldering Room and multi-activity bundle savings.
• Dartmoor Bike Park Mountain bike park featuring a Freeride Area with four graded runs from blue to orange with sizeable jumps, log drop and mulch trick jump. Day entry from £4.50 per person.
• Bike Hire Mountain bikes and 26-inch wheel jump bikes available for single or multi-day hire (2-5 day packages from £52 to £125). Various sizes from 20-inch children's bikes to XL. Pick up 9:30-10:30am, drop off 5pm. Must be pre-booked at least one day before.
• Annual Membership 12-month membership from £65 offering free day admission, free Dartmoor Bike Park access and entry to selected events throughout the season, with benefits for the adventure park and selected events.
• Gift Vouchers Digital gift vouchers available in £10, £20 and £30 denominations or custom amounts for outdoor experiences at River Dart Country Park, including park entry and activities.
• Holne Park House Wedding and Corporate Venue Premier wedding and corporate venue hire offering flexible reception rooms, nine en-suite bedrooms, an award-winning events team, scenic grounds in Dartmoor National Park, and on-site accommodation. Commended Wedding Venue of the Year and Silver Business Events Venue at Devon Tourism Awards 2025.
• Tennis Court Hire Two tennis courts available for hire on-site, bookable individually as Court 1 or Court 2 via the park's online booking platform.
• Kayaker Accommodation Dormitory-style accommodation for paddlers at £25 per night (Friday and Saturday) including bed linen, parking and drying room facilities, or £37 per night including breakfast. Located within River Dart Country Park and dedicated to kayakers and canoeists using the river.
• The Old Sawmill Cafe Bar and Restaurant On-site licensed cafe bar and restaurant offering seasonal food and beverage alongside the Park Shop and Oasis Beach Hut, with catering services available for events at the park.
• Kid's Zone at Sandy Park Match-day entertainment zone at Sandy Park stadium for Exeter Chiefs rugby matches with Adventure Zone (7.5m climbing wall, adventure cave, trail), Accuracy Zone (rugby ball pass) and Skill Zone (archery). Season Pass available from £35 for Exeter Chiefs season ticket holders and Junior Chiefs; pre-booked online £8 per person, £10 on match day.

Quantifiable outcome

• Self-sufficient for 8 months of the year through hydro-electric generation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CRS Adventures LimitedcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides all Dare Devil adventure activities including High Ropes, Zip Wire, Dare Devil Drop, Climbing & Caving, Kayak/Canoe Hire, and Bouldering. Operates separate booking system (crs.riverdart.co.uk). Also provides Kid's Zone activities at Sandy Park stadium for Exeter Chiefs match days. Activities are available at additional cost and must be pre-booked.
• Nimbus DisabilitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccess Card scheme partnership providing Essential Companion tickets for visitors with disabilities. Nimbus processes applications for Free River Dart Digital Access Pass and recognized Access Cards. Enables +1/+2 companion symbols for accessibility support.
• South Coast CanoesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports Dartcam river monitoring system. Co-hosts annual paddling events and fundraising activities for various local charities.
• Dartmoor Search and RescueminorOthersAnnual fundraising partnership. Dartmoor Search and Rescue receives donations and support from the park.
• HospiscareminorOthersCharity partner based in Exeter. Park donates share of Picnic at the Park event ticket sales. Team participates in Raceworld Karting Devon Business League to raise funds.
• Exeter ChiefscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Supplier designation. River Dart Country Park operates Kid's Zone at Sandy Park stadium on match days with adventure activities including climbing wall, caving, and archery for families. Kid's Zone Season Pass offered at reduced price for Exeter Chiefs season ticket holders and Junior Chiefs.
• Animals In DistressminorOthersOrganizes Muddy Mutts dog walk charity event held at River Dart Country Park. All proceeds support animals at the Rescue Centre. Minimum sponsorship of £50 for adults, £30 for children.
• Ashburton Cricket ClubminorOthersLocal sports club sponsorship recipient.
• Bovey Tracey Cricket ClubminorOthersLocal sports club sponsorship recipient.
• Tribe MTB/BMXminorOthersLocal biking community group sponsorship recipient.
• Milly Klinkenberg (Exeter City Football Club)minorOthersIndividual sports sponsorship recipient.
• Dart FisheriesminorOthersSupports Dartcam river monitoring system alongside South Coast Canoes.
• Dartmoor National ParkminorOthersLocated within Dartmoor National Park. Membership in Devon Association of Tourist Attractions (DATA) conforming to guidelines, codes of conduct, and standards.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Eden Project: Cornwall-based visitor attraction featuring biomes, gardens, and educational programming on a former quarry site, with strong sustainability messaging. Comparable South West England nature/educational tourism destination, award-winning sustainability positioning, and ticketed day visitor model alongside venue hire.
• Woodlands Family Theme Park: Family adventure theme park in Devon offering over 90 attractions including indoor and outdoor rides, play areas, and water features. Directly comparable to River Dart Country Park as a competing Devon-based family adventure park serving the same regional family day-trip and tourist market.
• Go Ape: UK-wide operator of outdoor adventure experiences including high ropes courses, zip lines, and forest Segway. Direct competitor to the high ropes course and Dare Devil activities at River Dart, though Go Ape focuses purely on the activity experience without the broader park, camping, and venue-hire offerings.
• BeWILDerwood: UK family adventure park with treetop courses, zip wires, slides, and woodland play on a comparable outdoor forest setting. Most direct competitor to River Dart's high ropes, zip wire, and woodland adventure offering for families with children ages 3-12.
• Crealy Theme Park & Resort: Devon-based family theme park and holiday resort with theme park rides, accommodation, and glamping. Closest direct competitor in the Devon family adventure + on-site accommodation market, serving overlapping family segments and competing for school trip and tourism bookings.
• Adrenaline Quarry: Adventure attraction in Cornwall offering coasteering, aquapark, axe throwing, and water-based Dare Devil-style activities. Comparable paid adventure activity portfolio (high ropes, cliff jumps, water activities) targeting the same South West family and thrill-seeking segment as River Dart's CRS Adventures activities.

Broad incumbents

• Haven Holidays: UK holiday park operator with 40+ caravan and touring parks offering accommodation, entertainment, activities, and F&B. Comparable UK caravan/camping holiday park business model but operating at national scale with entertainment complexes, whereas River Dart focuses on rural adventure within Dartmoor.
• Alton Towers Resort: UK theme park and short-break resort offering rides, attractions, on-site hotel and accommodation. Adjacent in combining theme park with resort-style accommodation but operates at significantly larger scale, branded hotel, and concentrated thrill-ride positioning versus River Dart's family adventure + nature focus.
• Legoland Windsor Resort: UK family theme park and short-stay resort (Legoland Windsor Hotel, Holiday Village) combining rides, attractions, themed accommodation. Operates at substantially larger scale in the family theme park + on-site accommodation space that River Dart occupies, but with a stronger IP-anchored brand.
• Center Parcs UK: UK family forest holiday village operator offering accommodation, indoor and outdoor activities, restaurants, and family entertainment in multiple UK locations. Comparable integrated family short-break offering (lodging + activities + F&B), though operating at much larger scale and across multiple forest locations rather than a single rural park.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=9bDxfsJPx0w
• Instagraminstagram.com/riverdartcppaddling
• Xx.com/RiverDartCP
• Facebookfacebook.com/RiverDartCountryPark

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about River Dart Country Park