Just returned from our first visit to this site with our grand children.The site is well located and laid out and doesn't feel cramped.Some parts feel a bit lacking in character and could probably do with more shrub and tree planting to break up the open areas. The washrooms were good.The only members of staff we interacted with were a very friendly and helpful lady, whose name I didn't get but she wore glasses and I had a discussion with her about the ludicrously impenetrable hard standing which bent 5 of my screw in rock pegs,and an elderly chap who chastised our young grandkids for tapping a shuttlecock on an open grass area behind our van.I can understand not wanting kids battering footballs around pitches, but come on a couple of little kids tapping a shuttlecock between them?Even our neighbours commented on that when they saw it and thought it was OTT We were on serviced pitch 47 and never in all our travels have I come across anything like it.There was about an inch or so of gravel and then the base beneath it was virtually like concrete. Absolutely ridiculous.I bent 5 screw in rock pegs trying to pitch our porch awning.Quite often you'll come across bases where you'll hit a large lump of aggregate but usually moving the peg a few inches solves it.This pitch was universally solid and it wasn't the only one as a very friendly chap who happened to have a heavy lump hammer which he lent me said.He had helped several people whose heavy rubber mallets had proven useless. When we stayed at Barnard Castle not long after it opened we had the opposite problem where the hardstanding pitches were so loose our jockey wheel sank in 6 inches. Levels are another issue. Some sites have pitches that are so far out of level they must have been laid by blind drunks. How can a club which is supposed to be aimed at caravanners and motorhomers not have professionally qualified clerks of works to supervise whoever lays these hardstandings?Another puzzle to me was the large playing field which stated no dogs were allowed. What puzzled me was that this field was also the tent field. Is it the case that on this site, if you are staying in a tent you cannot take your dog? On the subject of dogs,I did not like the dog field.It was a decent size but was completely unkempt.Long straggly grass, thistles and nettles with a few paths cut through them.This made it impossible to see where your dog was and exposed the dogs to grass seeds and other debris which can cause problems to noses, ears and even between paws.West Ayton has a great dog field which is kept mowed and is excellent for dogs to run and play. Finally, reviews. I don't take a great deal of notice of reviews on the club site anymore as far too many just give blanket 5 star reviews without seemingly reflecting on what 5 stars actually means. 5 out of 5 means perfect. Jobsworth wardens should be called out too. Maybe too many members love rules? UK Campsites reviews are generally more subjective.