Well this was an interesting weekend away, it all began on Friday night …
A telephone call from the campsite booked on Wednesday (Pecknell Farm CS) stated an overbooking had occured on their behalf resulting in a non-electric pitch only being available for the weekend 🙁 . Not wanting to tramp it for the weekend a new site had to be found and rather quickly! A list of 3 were drawn up rather sharpish and the following morning, Cath made contact and booked us in at Potland Farm CL, last pitch remaining, phew!
So things are going swell until we reach the A19/Coast Road junction where I had forgotten that major roadworks were underway and the place was heaving with traffic. A quick diversion through Norham Road pursued, job done I thought. We tried to pick up the A19 at the Holystone roundabout but alas, that was closed for repairs too! Second diversion underway, via Backworth and all of its road humps in glory! Never mind, we eventually picked up the A19 and found our way to the campsite.
The campsite is next door to another one, so you have to find the correct entrance, the one with bollards! Upon entry we were greeted by a very pleasant and chatty host who directed us to pitch #5, our home for the weekend. Following our friendly greeting we were left to set-up. Caravan positioned and levelled, I went to find water and was once again was collared by the owner and participated in another lengthy chat about the site and its clients 😐 . When I eventually returned to the ‘van we erected the new awning and again were very impressed with it. We had the new carpet this time which made a big difference. We settled down for a nice meal (in the awning) and retired for the evening.
Sunday, what a glorious day! We got up late (well I did at least) and meandered about following breakfast. Tables and chairs outside we set about relaxing and enjoying the outdoors on what was a most brilliant and welcome ‘Indian Summer Day’. We were then met once again by the owner for a pleasant chat, but grass cutting duties ‘cut’ this event a little short this time! Following this, we headed for a little stroll, not too far, enough to reach a little railway branchline which was most pleasant! Heading back we enjoyed our Sunday lunch and retired for the evening again.
Facilities on site are perfectly adequate. Toilet block has one toilet and sink, with a shower being built as we speak. Very clean and well maintained. Fresh water, grey water disposal and CDP all located within the same vicinity, no complaints anywhere here. Entrance is on a slope, so exit needs a little attention. Plenty of space for kids to roam, all pitches hard standing.
Monday and time to leave again. For the first time we had to take the awning down as well as our usual pack-up routine. Despite there being a lot of due around making the awning very wet indeed, the total strip-down time only increased by half an hour. Very impressed I was, certainly worth the small amount of extra time to do this and have the awning up for the weekend.
Return journey was smooth and we soon had the ‘van back in storage. Now in storage a building is being erected, what could it be? My guess is a shop, but we’ll have to wait and see!
- Date: 26th September 2015
- Nights: 2
- Pitch #5
- GPS: 55.206640, -1.593726
