Old Hartley club site

JD6620
JD6620 Forum Participant Posts: 202
100 Comments
edited January 2017 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

We are planning a trip to the North East this year.  One of the sites we are thinking of is Old Hartley.  Reading some of the reviews a lot of people mention how unlevel the pitches are.  We have a 6.7m motorhome and I'm a little fussy about getting level.  Are the pitches really that bad?  Also looking at the photos on the site page it looks very cramped.  Any advice re this site appreciated.

Comments

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,073 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #2

    It's a nice site, but very quirky compared with other Club Sites. No awnings of any kind allowed. Pitches are hard standing, but you have to drive over some grass to access most. We saw some big MHs when we stayed last couple of times, they didn't seem to have any problems, and Wardens are very helpful, in this instance, could be wise to heed any advice, rather pick your own. Facilities block is small, but great showers. Location is the draw, great views, great walks, lots to see and do, and good public transport via Metro. Good for dogs, good for cycling. If you go onto Site webpage, you can look at site layout and some pictures. Hope this helpssmile

  • Longtimecaravanner
    Longtimecaravanner Forum Participant Posts: 642
    edited January 2017 #3

    We were asked to look closely by motorhoming friends when we stayed there in 2014 and we thought that they were quite uneven. Many caravans had a lump of wood under their jockey wheels. Although the view out to sea is lovely it is spoiled by the 'chicken wire' fencing between the site and footpath between the site and the sea. Having been delighted to get a sea front pitch when we arrived it turned out to be a mixed blessing as all the people using the foot path peered in the van!

    The pictures on the site details are a very fair reflection of how crowded it is.

  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
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    edited January 2017 #4

    Yes it has a fair "Slope" possibly suits caravans better as far as front to back levelling is concerned.  As another poster has mentioned, no awnings are allowed  The site has good views and is close to the shore. Is also close to the town and the surrounding area is good for walking and cycling.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,073 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #5

    I probably did a review for it, could have vanished into the ether though now. Privacy? three good strides in any direction will get you onto next door pitch. But for us the location, and the fact we only intended a short stay meant it was worth staying. Gets very busy at weekends, queuing to get in, and out, as gate is only one vehicle width. Some pitches are more spacious, others seem very hemmed in.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,872 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #6

    I suppose the real problem is that the site is situated on a cliff and has quite a slope, as K points out,  that makes it more difficult to have level pitches. Our only visit was with our then caravan which even on the hardstanding needed levelling. I would like to return with the motorhome. Perhaps best to time your visit at a less busy time in order to have a choice of pitches. Some pictures of the site here

    David

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited January 2017 #7

    Not sure when the 'less busy time' time is. We were there in 2013. Arrived on Sunday 1st September for 4 nights and it appeared full every night

  • JD6620
    JD6620 Forum Participant Posts: 202
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    edited January 2017 #8

    Thanks everyone, very helpful.  I have also found a youtube video of the site as well.  We would be visiting mid week so hopefully would be a bit quieter.  The location looks ideal as we love being by the sea.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,073 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #9

    Certainly lovely for sea, lulled to sleep by the waves. You can sit and watch some great sea bird life all around, plus seals and if you are lucky maybe porpoises.  A howling gale might prove interesting as well, if your luck is out! We liked it, quirky, different, but good location and great public transport/cycling if you choose to leave MH on site. Cheap as well, I think it is only around £3.00 on Metro into Newcastle city centre.

  • frabro
    frabro Forum Participant Posts: 16
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    edited January 2017 #10

    We stayed on this site in May last year mid week. The site was very busy and although we arrived at just after 1200 there were two outfits In front of us. Our van is a 6.25m twin axle so not that manouverable . There are a significant number of pitches that the outfit would have fitted on fairly easily but they were all taken, mostly by motor homes. The first available pitch we tried , by driving into it nose first behind the car we could not fit on as the slope was so great that the rear of the van would have grounded before the van was on the pitch. Fortunately I was able to reverse it back off the pitch with our automatic tow vehicle, would have probably burnt the clutch out with a manual. The pitch we ended up on required the van's  nose to be all of three feet of the ground on many blocks to get it level . While the views are nice we would not use the site again for the problems set out in the foregoing . While it is not policy for

    wardens to reserve pitches , I have been on sites where wardens have, based on the size and weight of the van (1800kgs) , pre allocated us a suitable pitch. Old Hartley is a site where such a policy would make sense . 

  • geordie01
    geordie01 Forum Participant Posts: 108
    edited January 2017 #11

    We stopped there 10 yrs ago when we first got our MH and although the pitch we got was fairly flat the drive onto it over grsss was not it was quite steep and we had a hard job getting back off when it had rained.

    Never went back but then again it is only 3 miles from home.

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,585
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    edited January 2017 #12

    As Kennine says the site has a fair slope being on a hillside. There is a possibility with a motorhome that you might struggle to find a free pitch to suit you.