Aside Without Potential
We spent three nights at the Old Hartley Site at the end of September/ beginning of October with this being our first visit. On arrival the wardens gave us a warm welcome and a site plan with the spare pitches highlighted but the appearance didn't look like the club standard that I have become familiar with. It consisted of very small hardstandings dotted around the sloping grass site quite close to each other and with none having direct access from the tarmac road.
We chose a pitch right at the front with a commanding view of the seascape and St Marys island which was very impresive. The site plan showed a service point (SP) close by at the front south east corner of the site but this was not the case. There are only bins and a fire point at this location meaning a long drag up the bumpy hill to the toilet block for water and emptying. Very heavy going with a full wastehog. I would have chosen a different pitch had I know the site plan was incorrect and the only service points were at the top of the site. Be aware.
This is a site with all 59 pitches rated as hardstanding without awning but they not much bigger than a snooker table and all slope by varying amounts. The wardens help by providing leveling blocks on the steeper pitches with some caravans looking like they are ready to be launched into space. Ours wasn't too bad with the back legs barely down and the front at full extension. Like many others, our caravan overhung the hardstanding at both ends and only had the axle actualy on the pitch. Access to and from the pitches involved driving or walking over the grass which became rutted and muddy following some heavy rain on our first day. OK for hippos but not not my expectation of a hardstanding pitch were you would think you could keep your caravan mud free. However, the sun and wind did dry the ground out quickly on the following day.
The toilet block has a pleasant stone built appearance and is kept clean and tidy by the wardens. Surprisingly it has very large toilet cubicals but really small showers. Perhaps the builder had the plans upside down. . . The fittings in the mens are showing their age though with corroding chrome on the shower pipes and the single wash basin cracked which was noted by a reviewer in April. That's 6 months ago! This needs only simple basic maintenance to put right, I can't think why it appears to have been neglected.
So far I may appear critical but this was my first impression. The site has lovely views from most pitches and some great walks along the cliff paths. It is in a prime location with a lot of attractions around. With the club making some massive investments and improvements to some sites (twice at Bridlington and Knaresborough) why has this site with so much potential been overlooked and even routine refurbishment not applied
Would I stay here again?
As it is, no.
If given some TLC, yes.
