Haggerston Castle for Easter weekend

bigburd

Hi, I just wondered if anyone has been and if they can give us any tips or advice on what to do/places to eat etc. I've got teenagers and little ones going. Thanks in advance. It's a Haven campsite btw.

vfm

Hi
Haggerston Castle is a nice well laid out site with lakes. The only down side for us was that it wasn't within walking distance of a beach. However the beaches at Bamburgh are beautiful and well worth the 15 minute drive, the little ones we took loved it. There is also the Castle in Bamburgh and some nice tea shops. Seahouses which is a further 5 minutes drive is more of the seaside place with amusements and plenty of places to eat. On Haggerston itself there was a good indoor swimming pool, bouncy castles etc. They also hired bikes which were good fun for riding round the park on. There was plenty of entertainment particulary for little ones (we took a 3 and 5 year old). Overall we had a good time, hope you do.

ceewash

I agree with previous reply. We went in summer and the only down side was that the facilities were packed. It is a very large site and so we were glad to be on the outskirts. It was quite a few years ago when it used to be part of the British Holidays group. I do recall being disappointed at all the extras we had to pay for but maybe this has changed. The surrounding area is beautiful and my kids enjoyed the deserted beaches and the castles. Berwick was good for places to eat.

springchicken

Hi ,we stayed in Haggerston castle last easter .It is a lovely site ,one of the best we have been too and we have stayed at a few.
The lake in the middle of the site is really picturesque and at easter all the swans and their signets nest on the side of the bank there. No bird flu puns please!!
There are lots of things to do there with a trip to the beautiful Lindisfarne island a must.This is only 5 mins away but check first what times you can cross the causeway!!
We also went up to Edinburgh for the day when we fancied a change from the quiet ,its about a 45 minute drive away.
Its a brilliant site for teenagers and children ,loads for them to do ,with good nightlife too you will definately enjoy yourself.

chin_2

I've been to Haggerston countless times, from when I was a teenager right through to now that I'm married with my own kids, and I agree with the other posts.

I'd add that Alnwick Castle and Gardens are worth a visit (30/40 minute drive south of Haggerston). You do need to pay to enter but might be able to turn up some sort of discount if you search online. The castle is very impressive and some of the Harry Potter scenes from the first film were shot there (Harry's first flying lesson being the most memorable). The gardens have recently had a massive regeneration and now include a maze garden, water garden, and huge treehouse feature.

scottishnellie

Alnwick Castle has lots of things going on Easter Sunday (Dragon Egg Hunt etc) https://www.alnwickcastle.com

And The garden info should be here https://www.alnwickgarden.com

The teenagers would probably love this!

Becles

You must go to Seahouses for a meal. Buy fish and chips, then eat them out the paper sitting on the harbour watching the boats go in and out. That's the best meal in the world - ever!

I second all the other suggestions. You can also take boats from Seahouses to the Farne Islands, where you can see many sea birds and seals who live there. One boat docks on the Inner Farne where St Cuthbert's body was originally buried. There is still a small church on the island in his memory even though the islands is not inhabited now. St Cuthberts body was since moved and is now in a shrine in Durham Cathedral (another brilliant place to visit if have time). This company runs trips and I can recommend them:
http://www.farne-islands.com There is also general information about the islands there.

The Farnes also have a fascinating story about Grace Darling. She was a young woman who lived with her father in a lighthouse on one of the islands. During a nasty storm, a ship crashed into one of the other islands. Grace managed to find the strength and courage to row a cobble (small rowing boat) backwards and forwards through the treacherous waters to rescue the sailors. When you see the islands yourself, you will understand how brave she was to do this. It's an amazing story and both my children really enjoyed learning about her in history at school. There is a small museum dedicated to her life in Bamburgh. It was closed for refurbishments last time we were there, so do check it has reopened before you travel there. It was free admission with voluntary contributions to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, although I don't know if that will change after the refurbishments.

Do the children like nature? If so, look for a signpost on the A1 to the village of Ross. It's a couple of miles south of the turning off for Lindisfarne. You have to park your car on the grass verge just before the village. Walk through the village, then over some farmland. Then you have to walk about a mile through some sand dunes, although the path is well signposted all the way. It's worth it when you get to the beach. It's a fine expanse of clean golden sands with lovely clean sea - perfect! You have views of Lindisfarne to the north and Bamburgh Castle to the south. It's my favourite beach in the world! As you have to walk to get there, very few people go so it's not uncommon to have the whole beach to yourself. There are no facilities there, so make sure you take a picnic. Don't go in the water - the temperature is blinkin' freezing all year round!

I love Northumberland. We're lucky enough to live in County Durham, so we often drive up on day trips.

Have a lovely holiday