Bents Park, South Shields, September 2010

Because of work and family commitments it was a while before we could go to our next rally.  We arrived at Bents Park to find a massive park area right on the sea front.  What a fantastic venue and there seemed to be hundreds of motor caravans there but we later found out it was only 89.  The location didn't have a room but there were local toilets with hot water which were very well maintained.  Just across the road several pubs and the local food were sampled.  The pub called the Whistler set in a part of a train carriage had  offers on the Sunday Carvery and those were well attended.

The local area had a beautifully maintained public park with large children's play area and boating lake.  A walk through the park lead to the town centre and a range of shops and open air market days. The sea front has promenades and amusement fair and arcades. In the other direction, the beach and sand dunes were a dream to walk with stunning sunset views.

The group have two massive tents which people can take over their chairs on an evening and have a chat and a short quiz game.  Hot Pie and Peas were delivered on evening, but mostly people just talked and shared a drink or nibbles.

This was a holiday rally which means it was on for five days, you don't have to book but just turn up and stay for how ever many nights you want to.  There were simple games of quoits if people wanted to join in during the day and the children had fun making kites.  There was a planned visit to Souter Lighthouse but we gave it a miss.  We stayed for three nights then our family come up and met us at South Shields before we had a family holiday in Northumberland.

We headed off to a traditional Camping and Carvanning club site near Seahouses and Beadnell as my daughters had camping tents.  As we arrived on site and paid our fees, we were escorted to a pitch in the middle of the field. Yet again, we had no facilities available as there were no electric points.  It didn't seem any  better maintained that the stunning area of Bents park we had just left, yet it was triple the cost per night!

A week in Northumberland and apart from everyone chasing our Granddaughter Daisy around.  We went to Seahouses and Craster.  We bought Craster Kippers, although we refused to let them be cooked in our motorhome and let the daughters cook the kippers in their tents.  Then we all set off and  visited the beautiful Alnwick gardens. 

We explored Bamburgh Castle and walked the coastal route.

Then we all finally ended up at the Holy Island of Lindisfarne.  That location is highly recommended for anyone to visit.  there is an ethereal quality to the place that cannot be defined, perhaps it is the hundreds of years of monastic prayers.  The virtual tour of the Lindisfarne gospels was brilliantly set up and we discovered a beautiful little enclosed church garden in the village.

The National Trust property Lindisfarne Castle is tiny with really unusual little rooms.  The walk up can be a bit steep but well worth the visit.  It is promoted as the smallest castle owned by the National Trust.