Barnard Castle

11th –13th October

Barnard Castle is a market town in Teesdale, County Durham, England. It is named after the castle around which it grew up. It is the main settlement in the Teesdale area and is a popular tourist destination. Set on a high rock above the River Tees, Barnard Castle takes its name from its 12th century founder, Bernard de Balliol. It was later developed by the Beauchamp family and then passed into the hands of Richard III.Barnard Castle sits on the north bank of the River Tees, 21 miles south-west of the county town of Durham. Nearby towns include Bishop Auckland to the north-east, Darlington to the east and Richmond in North Yorkshire to the south-east.

Teesdale Barnard Castle Caravan Club site where we stayed for the weekend on a serviced pitch is set in open countryside that is designated an Area of High Landscape Value. The site is fairly new and eco friendly. The amenities block is very clean and modern and up to the high standards of the club, with heating from a ground source heat pump, hot water from the solar panels and rain water used in the toilets from rainwater harvesting A very eco friendly building.  A mobile fish & chips van arrived on the Friday – excellent fish and the size and portions for the price were brilliant.

From the site, you can enjoy a 10- minute walk (the CC list this as a river walk) along the road on the grass verge, covered with a plastic matting, down hill  and across the river and then up the hill to Barnard Castle. A delightful town, home to the renowned Bowes Museum, a 12th century castle, an excellent visitor centre and a great choice of pubs and restaurants. Also a Morrison’s supermarket is located in the centre of the town along with a Co-op and many small shops. It also marks the entrance to Teesdale which offers spectacular scenery following the river up to High Force and a series of other waterfalls to its source beyond the Pennine Way and Cow Green Reservoir.

 

Above, the view from the bridge on the 10 min walk from the CC site.

Old butter market above.