Barnard Castle CC site is half a mile from the town that gives it its name - a rare phenomenon at CC sites bearing a town’s name. I took 14 minutes to walk to the centre using the footbridge over the strikingly attractive Tees, glistening in the sun, and the footpath up the hill to the castle. It is a peaceful site set between the B6277 and a wooded area leading down to Deepdale Beck with a sinister looking young offenders institute beyond that (although this is little in evidence). It is a pleasant setting with much greenery, and on two levels, but there are no views as trees dominate the scene. My serviced pitch was good, but they faced a six-foot hedge; so there’s not even a view of the rest of the site. I was disappointed with that. They are also near the toilet block; this is often so, presumably for logistics, but, given the premium (one adult just shy of £25 per night), they should be in the best places. Two of them are next door to the block with all the comings and goings and noise of hand blowers that that entails. Even the lovely warden who greeted me suggested I avoided these. The road is not that busy and this cast not the slightest negative for me, but I know some find even a trace of traffic noise an anathema and, if in this extreme category, you may be discouraged. But you can choose a pitch further away from, and below, the road. I don’t have dogs, but I walked the super dog walk with mown paths in an adjacent field. TV reception here was the best I have had since the digital era began. I’m serious. Not a hint of loss of signal, at any point, and the full raft of Freeview channels including superb HD reception - and this through my own Status aerial after trying unsuccessfully to make use of the TV point on the electric stand. 4G here is excellent and definitely better than your average CC WiFi experience so I did not test the WiFi here. Being near the town is the attraction of this site, especially for those with motorhomes and no means of transport. It is a delightful little town set on a hilltop and with some good shops. Little remains of the castle, but it is worth visiting nonetheless. I also visited the Bowes Museum; this requires a lot of time to do it justice but if you like ceramics and art it is well worth it. The main bus routes from the town go to Darlington, Bishop Auckland and Middleton in Teesdale – this latter bus passing the site. There’s some good cycling too for those with the energy but inevitably there are hills! If I had a car, visiting the region for a week or two, I would choose to prefer the nearby Richmond Hargill House site to this one; it is a much prettier site, with a bright open aspect and beautiful views. But it is 4 miles from Richmond, with a limited bus service, and the somewhat intrusive A66 is a nuisance for some, if not for me. You pays your money and takes your choice! I was content here, at Teesdale Barnard Castle, albeit that, in my view, the site comes up short of exceptional.