The Caravan Club – September 2019

http://www.camc.com September 2019 Caravan and Motorhome Club Magazine 27

heart of a country park offering fishing, walking
and cycling opportunities means it’s great for
a longer stay, too.
Fol low i n g a ple a s a nt n i g ht, we to ok to t h e
motorway once again and headed for our first
‘proper’ stop at Old Hartley Club site. After
what had been a significant drive (roughly three
hours including a break), it was wonderful to
a r r i ve at t h i s p ic t u r e s q u e s i te w i t h i t s s ple nd id
clifftop position. We opted for a pitch (all are
hardstanding) in the bottom corner which, like
most at Old Hartley, boasted wonderful views
of St M a r y’s I s l a nd a nd i t s l i g ht ho u s e.
K e e n to e x plo r e, we to ok a t r ip to ne a rby
Whitley Bay, a traditional Victorian resort that
has benefitted from recent regeneration and
offers miles of sandy shoreline. There is a bus

stop a few hundred yards from the Club site

entrance with services running regularly

(around every 20 minutes) into town.

O ne s p o t of p a r t ic u l a r i nte r e s t i s Sp a n i s h

City – a seafront leisure and dining complex

with a fascinating past. Founded by theatrical

impresario Charles Elderton in the early 1900s,

it was loosely modelled on the great buildings of

Andalucia with a dome that quickly became the

talk of Tyneside (it was the second largest in

England behind St Paul’s Cathedral). Originally

home to ‘pleasure gardens’ and a series of

circus-style spectacles, the City has also served

as a barracks, a ballroom and a bingo hall.

Today, after a £10m refurbishment, it hosts

a variety of live events and festivals, as well as

some fine dining establishments, including

Healthy Prep Kitchen, 37a Newgate Street,

Morpeth NE61 1AT

Contact: facebook.com/healthyprepkitchen,

01670 631425

Food & drink

Culture

Newbiggin Maritime Centre,

Church Point, Newbiggin-by-the-

Sea NE64 6DB

Contact: nmcentre.org.uk, 01670 811951

Member offer available: camc.com/

greatsavingsguide

Outdoor fun

For the family

“The majority of visitors are interested in

historic houses and castles such as Cragside

and Alnwick Castle. Druridge Bay is about six

miles away, while the pub two miles away does

good food and is dog friendly.”

Michael and Sam Wilkie

Site view

Potland Farm

Cottage

2

Certificated Location

Whitehouse Farm Centre, North Whitehouse

Farm, Morpeth NE61 6AW

Contact: whitehousefarmcentre.co.uk,

01670 789998

Northumberland Coast Path (join at Cresswell)

Contact: northumberlandcoastpath.org

This attractive CL offers five hardstanding

pitches. It has fine views – look out for the

free-roaming chickens!

Open: all year

Contact: 01670 860035

Sites Directory & Handbook p428

“This is our third visit and we

re a l l y l i ke t h i s C L. We e n j o y

birdwatching and wildlife

photography and there are

some wonderful nature

reserves close by as well

as estuary towns and

wonderful coastline.”

Michael and Carol Powell, caravanners

Member view

GREAT

SAVINGS

GUIDE

Barter Books, Alnwick

Mike O’Carroll / Alamy