The Caravan Club – September 2019

http://www.camc.com September 2019 Caravan and Motorhome Club Magazine 29

Valerie’s, where you can enjoy an all-day brunch

amid the splendour of 1920s glamour.

CAUSEWAY TO GO

A stay at Old Hartley would not be complete

howe ve r, w i t ho u t a s t r ol l to St M a r y’s I s l a nd.

A nature reserve, it is connected to the mainland

by a c a u s e w ay (a cce s s ible fo r a r o u nd 16 ho u r s

a day – you can find out about tide times at

whitleybayonline.com/tides.php or

facebook.com/stmaryslighthouse,

but keep an eye on local

information boards) which is

a very pleasant 25-minute

walk from the Club site. From the viewing

balcony you will be treated to glimpses of seals

and other wildlife, and, on most days, you can

climb the 137 steps to the top of the lighthouse.

You can buy souvenirs and refreshments on the

island while there are ice cream stalls and toilets

on the landward side of the causeway, too.

The fascinating city of Newcastle – packed with

shops, heritage sites and cultural highlights – is just

half an hour’s drive from Old Hartley but it

would have to wait for another day. We

decided to venture further north to

Alnwick and its celebrated castle,

which doubled up as Hogwarts in

Food & drink

Oriental Museum (Durham University),

Elvet Hill Road, Durham DH1 3TH

Contact: dur.ac.uk, 0191 334 5694

Culture

Seaham Harbour Activity Centre (paddle

sports), Seaham Marina, Seaham SR7 7EE

Contact: seahammarina.com, 0191 581 8998

Outdoor fun

For the family

“Durham itself and the Cathedral

are very popular. There is a park

and ride not far away which is great

for people in motorhomes. The city

has lots of great places to eat.”

David Tinnion

Site staff view

3 Durham Grange

Club site

Diggerland Durham, Langley

Park DH7 9TT

Contact: diggerland.com

Member offer available: camc.com/

greatsavingsguide

The ideal spot for anyone wishing to explore

the historic city or fantastic countryside – easy

access from the M1.

Pitches: 76 | Open: all year

Tent campers welcome.

Tealicious Tea Room,

88 Elvet Bridge,

Durham DH1 3AG

Contact: tealicious

tearoom.co.uk, 0191 340 1393

“The fascinating city of Newcastle is just

ha l f a n hou r ’s d r ive f rom Old Ha r t ley ”

TOURING UK SITES

“We are new to this site – we

chose it as we wanted to visit

Beamish Museum. You can

spend the whole day there.

We a re a l s o h o p i n g to v i s i t

Darlington Railway Museum

and then Lightwater Valley on

the way home.”

Janet and Robin Beaumont, caravanners

Member view

GREAT

SAVINGS

GUIDE

Above: on the front at

Whitley Bay

Right: checking out the

bug hotel at Durham

Grange Club site

Sara Winter / Alamy

DI D YOU KNOW?

You can find the most

up-to-date details of the

featured sites on the Club

website. Alternatively,

turn to the relevant pages

in your Sites

Directory.

Tyne Bridge