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.

Keswick

28/08/2013

Our trip this time took us to Keswick as the title suggests and a site that we have tried for some 4 years to book into but has always been full on the the dates we required.  At last we got a reservation. 

The place is Castlerigg Hall caravan and camping park. Just 1.5 miles from the town of Keswick in Cumbria, just north of Derwent water. Castlerigg Hall is set in an elevated position in a scenic area just outside Keswick. Castlerigg Hall enjoys exceptional panoramic views of Derwentwater & Bassenthwaite Lake set against a dramatic backdrop of the surrounding fells.

 

Our pitch had views across the valley and down to Derwent water. A quick look round the site which was very tidy and well kept revealed two impressive toilet blocks.  There was a restaurant on site and a small shop that was well stocked with gifts and provisions. Certain pitches have full services and some even have views as well. There is also free wifi but only available in the campers kitchen – I have just bought a wifi extender which I have been trying out.

41dBm Mini Desktop WiFi USB Booster Planar Antenna Set

 

Compared to the limited laptop wifi which could only just pickup 1 bar if the wind blew in the right direction from our  pitch, the  extender offered me a choice of 6 wifi zones most with full signal, of which 4 are private and required the pass key, the others were the sites own and the other sites wifi across the road and up the hill. So I can now sit on my pitch and use wifi.  My next thing is to try and get the wifi on the laptop to hotspot to my phone and the other devices, but so far not much luck.  Any suggestions welcomed by email.

 

We had a sandwich for lunch and then walked down to Keswick using the footpath that runs just past the site.  Narrow in places where weeds could do with some trimming and steep sloping sections which need care. This brings you out on to  Springs Road then turn on to Ambleside road and you arrive in the south east of town.

The pedestrianized area was busy with tourists and the cafes along the street were busy. Weather was sunny and warm. After a coffee to refresh us all we headed for Derwent water and a ride round the lake on a launch. 

 

We headed back in to town but shops were closing.  We opted to have a meal instead of cooking when we got back.  We toyed with the idea of a taxi or bus back to the site but decided to walk off the calories!

29/08/13

As the weather looked better than the forecasted downpour for the day we decided to go to visit the Lake District Wildlife Park some 15mins outside Keswick, it actually took longer thanks to taking the wrong turn and heading in the opposite direction, slight misjudgement with the satnav.

Arriving at the site there was plenty of parking but some care needed to be taken on the grass verges in case of catching low hanging motorhome bits on the bumps.  Entry to the park was slightly pricey at £33 for 4 adults – adults are from 14 years of age.  The site is quite extensive with a good selection of animals, most in good size cages. 

Gibbon at Lake District Wildlife Park.

Funny moment when gibbon on the swing!!

Our favourites were the gibbons, of which one was continuously putting on an aerial show. 

 

The bird of prey display was excellent and we went to both performances.  As well as the fantastic birds, the show was made more entertaining by the keeper who was knowledgeable and witty.  On site there was a small cafe which we didn’t try and a gift shop.

We got back to the site and had  a bbq for tea.

 

30/08/13

Decided on a restful day. Opening the blind in the morning once again revealed our fabulous view from the pitch. Breakfast at 10 was BBQ sausage and bacon butties. Monopoly was demanded by youngest daughter (groan) so after a quick game the laptop came out and draft blog for the trip started.  Got some funny looks from passers by – maybe it was me sat with my laptop or the wifi booster or possibly the large glass of wine! Or maybe it was because it was spitting with rain?  By teatime the rain was a bit heavier so we decided to try the evening menu at the on site restaurant.

31/0/13

Our final full day and we opted to go in to Keswick via the bus, number 555, from the stop at the end of the road.  10 minutes later and £15 lighter for a return ticket for 3 adults and a child we arrived at the very busy bus station / Booths car park. 

There was a market on in the main pedestrianized area with some very interesting items on sale. We then headed to the Puzzling Place which advertises its opening times as 11am till 5pm – or 10am as their website is a bit puzzling to say the least!  We arrived at 11am and hung around for 20+ minutes but the door remained locked? Puzzling indeed – enquiring with the local shops around they all said that it was open but not very regular with the opening times. We gave up and headed off to get some BBQ food and jump on the bus to return to the site.

Old Hartley / Whitley Bay

23.08.13

Our tip to Old Hartley Caravan Club site  was a 2 hour journey up the A19 and through the Tyne Tunnel (£1.60 each way for Monty). We then took a scenic route off the A19 on to the A1058 to drive along the  coastal  road running through Cullercoats, Whitley Bay and onto Old Hartley.

Arriving at the site reception,  we were warmly greeted by the warden, who informed us of the available and best pitches.

 

The site is perched on a grassy cliff top overlooking the lighthouse on St Mary's Island. No awnings allowed on site which aids in better views for all.  Certain pitches will need levelling ramps. The site is well maintained and the facilities are modern and spotlessly clean. We pitched with a view straight out to sea and a good view of the lighthouse.

We set off on foot in search of sustenance. Approx 15mins walk from the site via the main road or 25 mins via the cliff top walk to Seaton Sluice you will find a corner shop, Premiere – equivalent to a small Spar which stocks everything you might need.  For those who like a pub or two you’ll love the area.  At the top of the site is the Delavel Arms, then walk past the Premiere shop and you will find 3 more pubs. Careful if walking back along the coastal path if you have been visiting the local hostels!

We decided to have a fish and chip supper on the first night at Harbour fish and chip takeaway and restaurant in Sleaton Sluice.

The large fish was huge,the size of the oval plate! Washed down with good old Newcastle Brown Ale  - no longer brewed in the area but at Tadcaster in North Yorkshire. The restaurant was well decorated with a nautical theme. We took the coastal route back to burn off a few calories.

During the night it rained quite heavily and we woke up the following morning to thick fog obscuring the lighthouse. Undeterred, after breakfast we set off to walk to St. Mary’s lighthouse. This can only be accessed at certain times when the tide is out so check opening times before visiting. If visiting by car there is a large pay and display car park with toilet block and food/refreshment vans. Walking across the causeway you can peer in the rock pools left behind at the sides. As we reached the lighthouse the fog was beginning to thin so we decided to climb the 137 steps to the top of the lighthouse.

The last few steps were the worst as they were more like climbing a ladder. From the top you get a good view of Whitley Bay Beach (and probably a lot more on a clear day).

 

 

From the lighthouse we walked along a promenade and down onto the beach. The fog cleared and the sun came out as we walked along.

We walked quite a distance to the far end of Whitley Bay, enjoyed a latte at a beach front cafe and then noticed that the weather was taking a turn for the worse so we decided to catch a bus back to the site. (There is an excellent bus service, the 308 or 309 can be boarded 10 mins from the site which will take you right in to Newcastle – we only used the service to get back from the far end of Whitley Bay to the site). We got back to the site and then the rain set in again.

As mentioned there are several pubs to choose from for eating - one offers £5.95 carvery, the others varied in price and pub fayre.  As it was raining we decided not to venture far so we went for tea at the Delavel Arms at the top of the site. The pub food was excellent and tasty, the price was great and the staff friendly.

Sunday morning was foggy again and sadly it was time to pack up and set off home but we decided to drive down to St. Mary’s car park for an hour.

 

Motorhomes can park here as long as you pay for the spaces you occupy.  We purchased two one hour tickets and sat and enjoyed the views.  Twenty minutes in a traffic warden van arrived and two wardens got out and started checking for tickets. 

(Traffic warden checking for tickets)

This caused a sudden panic and ten cars and one german motorhome drove off? Chatting with the traffic warden he was happy to see we had purchased two tickets to cover the two bays we occupied. Time up we left but we would certainly like to come back soon.

Thirsk racecourse caravan club site

 

June 21st-25th / July 19th-21st & 26th-28th / August 9th-11th

 

Thirsk Racecourse Caravan Club Site is managed by The Club on behalf of the Racecourse. Whilst staying here you'll be pitched within sight of the main stand and have the famous turf stretching out before you. A 5- minute walk from the caravan park and you will find yourself in the lovely cobbled market town of Thirsk, with its quaint shops, secluded side streets and rich local atmosphere.

Conveniently situated midway between the A1 and the A19.

Thirsk is a small market town and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire. Part of the North Riding of Yorkshire, it is 8 miles (13 km) south-south east of the county town of Northallerton.

Thirsk is a popular tourist destination close to the North York Moors. It has some small and medium sized businesses, and is known as the home of author James Herriot and birthplace of Thomas Lord, after whom Lord's Cricket Ground is named. It is also well known for its racecourse. The course is a left handed oval of about 1m2f with a 3f finishing straight and a 6f chute. The present course opened in 1923, but racing had taken place on the old course over 200 years earlier.

Thirsk Market days are Mondays and Saturdays when the south side of the Market Place has a variety of stalls selling everything from fruit and vegetables, candles, computer games to health food, clothing. On most bank holiday Mondays the whole market place is almost filled by stalls and can be very busy.

Webcam view of the market place in Thirsk

Cod Beck is the river that flows through the town and there are lots of ducks to feed by the water's edge. The racecourse holds several race meetings each year.

There are plenty of eat in or take away places in the town about 5-10min walk. A Tesco and Lidl superstore are just near the site entrance and a Tesco petrol station is nearby. The racecourse is right next to the site and on race days you have to move to the rally field just up the road.

We like this site, as is apparent from the recent trips because of the handiness to the town and the area. The wardens are excellent - very friendly & helpful. It is clean and well maintained.