Old Harley Whitley bay, July 2010. jewel in the crown

I tried to put this on the review page of the site, but it failed   so i am trying here

OLD HARTLEY, WHITLEY BAY

I am from Whitley Bay originally so love to return to the site and my childhood haunts.

The site is small in relation to most but is never empty, my only gripe is that the club should upgrade the pitches to make them flat (you need lots of blocks on the sloping pitches), without spoiling the site.

Apart from the above you have fantastic views out to sea and St Mary's Lighthouse, there are walks from the site along the cliff tops to the Lighthouse and beyond along the links to Whitley Bay, if you walk further along the prom you eventually arrive in Tynemouth with viws across the Tyne and the impresive Priory, You can also take a safe bike ride along the same route.

The 308 & 309 Bus route from outside the site take you into Whitley Bay and Newcastle and are very regular.

Another walk/ride that has never been mentioned is accessed by walking out of the site straight across the roundabout and about 200 yards down the road on the right is Hollywell dene, this is a wooded walk and leads onto waggoners way (old railway line) which goes into Monkseaton (a suberb of Whitley Bay) where there is the Metro station and shops.

The Spanish City (used to be part of a fair ground when i was a child) Large white dome which can be seen from the site. has just been awarded £30m for regeneration. so i hope it is for the better, and attracts more visitors.

For people in cars you have a vast amount of places to visit all along the coast both north and south, Beamish museum is near Durham and you are not far from Roamn settlements inland.

I could go on and on but it is for each person to explore and discover why it is such a fantastic site.

When you have walked all day there is the Delaval Arms pub just outside the site where you can get a meal and a friendly pint, the locals bought it when it was under threat of closure, so they make you welcome.

Enjoy but dont tell anybody about this site because it is hard to get on! (oops to late)