Old Hartley Club Campsite
close panel
Log in to write a review
We stayed here during the third week of April, and it is just stunning. Thanks to the gently sloping nature of the site, and the no awning rule, each pitch is able to have a sea view. We were lucky enough to have one at the very front and had a 180o view which included St. Mary's Island. The wardens were friendly and kept the site immaculate and pretty, with floral displays. They were very helpful too, when we found we had a problem with the car, recommending the excellent local garage. The reason we give four ticks for the facilities and cleanliness, is only due to the dated facilities, the shower stalls are not the roomiest, but that is just a small niggle, and won't stop us returning. There are certainly a lot of members who do, as we discovered when chatting to others. It's about 40 minutes into Whitley Bay, and the same to Seaton Delaval Hall, (NT), which is well worth a visit. The pub next door to the site is very reasonable too, (the Delaval Arms). You, and your dog, won't regret a visit here.
Beautiful Location
Just spent the weekend at Old Hartley and as most people say the views are excellent, check in is straight forward with very friendly and helpful wardens. The pitches are well laid out with plenty of space between the caravans. Camper Vans would need levellers but this was not a problem with our caravan. If you use a satellite dish for TV you will get a signal no matter where you park on site. The Deleval Arms is just outside the site and serves very reasonably priced food, dogs are welcome in the bar but not in any of the eating area's. This has now become our favourite CC site and have already booked for later in the year
Dave Spence
Reviewed on 11/05/2015 09:52
Special sea view
When the Caravan Club boast that Old Hartley is the best view on the network, they have to be right. The assistant warden was waiting ready to log us in and allocate a pitch. We elect number 14, looking out to sea, standing on slightly higher ground.
The whole site slopes towards the cliffs, which given the headland shape, provides a panoramic view from Seaton Sluice down towards Tynemouth. St Mary's Island stands majestically in the centre. Formerly a coast guard station with working lighthouse beacon, it is now owned by the county and used as a social resource for school trips, education, and of course as a nature reserve. Here a plethora of seabirds dress the rocks, rock pools team with crabs, seals lift their noses on the rising tide, and Harbour porpoise flash in formation as they follow the fishing boats.
With out motorhome we roll forward onto levelling blocks, as the pitch drops away slightly to the front. This is a 'no awning' site, so the pitches are narrow, but serviceable. The slope of the site allows each pitch its own view out to sea.
Unlimited walks extend in either direction, but the trip through to Seaton Sluice is favoured. Take tea at the little tea shop there - another reason why you will want to return to Old Hartley.
Amazing!
Wow! What an amazing location. We were lucky enough to get a pitch on the front row overlooking the sea, which provided an ever changing landscape outside our window. Great walks in the immediate area and lots to do a little further afield. Alnwick Castle and Gardens were well worth a visit, as was the theatre in Whitley Bay.
Facilities on site may be quite old but they were immaculate and perfectly adequate. The whole site is well kept by the very pleasant and accommodating wardens. Will definately return in the future.
Sue29
Reviewed on 01/05/2015 08:25
Great site
Stayed here for three nights this week. Terrific views and good walks or cycle rides to nearby attractions. We did not use the pub nearby so can't comment, we like to cook on site. TV reception good. Showers fab, wardens friendly upon check in gave choice of pitches on marked map. If you are near to the hedge on right of site you will hear car and people noises but that didn't bother us, but would make me choose a different row next time. We did have a free night voucher but would happily return if up that far north again in future.
mollymushroom
Reviewed on 25/04/2015 20:48
is the view worth it?
The view is wonderful if you can see it through all the tightly packed vans,cars and visitors cars (which shouldn't be on site but nobody bothers). The sloping pitches are not a problem, if you're not sure what to do, ask! The pitches are so close together it is impossible to get any outside space to call your own. We have our own dogs but took care not to walk them across other pitches or soil other pitches, unlike many dog owners on the site. Cars fly around the site in between the pitches and park where they like. The proximity to the airport and road make plane and vehicle noise very intrusive.
But if you strike lucky and have one of the 8 pitches on the front row you will have the view , be as far as possible from the road and just have to put up with the planes.
Martinthebiker
Reviewed on 25/04/2015 20:42
Needs a bit of work, but lovely site.
The site is lovely with wonderful seaview, its all been said before so won't repeat. There is some noise from the top road also overflying airplanes but not too much. The site needs some money spending on it to do away with the grass strip in front of every pitch. The pitches are setback so you have to drive over the grass to get to them, some are set low down in a hollow. This can be awkward trying to get off a pitch that is uphill on wet and slippy grass, if the gravel area was extended to the edge of the road it would make a getting on and off pitches easier and would stop the grass being ruined for other users. Come on CC spend a little bit of money on this almost perfect site.
Spectacular Views
I stayed on this site Friday to Monday at the end of March. It is a lovely clean site with a slope such that virtually every pitch gets a wonderful view out to sea encompassing St Mary's Light House as well, brilliant. I cannot comment about the usual wardens as they were on holiday, but the relief warden was very nice in every way. My sister and her husband who stay here many times each year speak very highly of the current wardens. The local pub just outside the site entrance is just that 'a local pub', very nice, warm, friendly and dogs are allowed. From here you can walk North along the beaches to Blyth and South all of the way to Tynemouth Priory, which we did, and it was great. There are also many inland walks that can be completed as well. The metro is not too far away and this gives you access to Newcastle, Gateshead and everything imbetween. Enjoy!
What a lovely view
We enjoyed a lovely few sunny days here whilst we visited National Trust properties. Sloping site provides terrific views of North Sea and St Mary's Lighthouse. Wardens are very helpful. Facilities are spotless and showing their age a bit and one can but wonder what coastal erosion will do to the site's prospects in the long term. Pitches are mainly sloping but fine for our purposes. Will visit again if in the area, just need to book well ahead I suspect because site was full. Great site
Excellent site views
Arrived at 12:09 and found a few pitches to choose from. All have a sea view, but stayed at top of site in case of bad weather. Site is uneven but just one wedge levelled us out. Even though by tea time the site was full, you never saw anyone and no noise. Excellent site for walking and bike riding with loads of things to do within 30 minutes drive away.
Ann Bolton
Reviewed on 19/04/2015 19:20