Bellingham

Camping for the wettest snowiest Easter in years was not our best move. However the friendliness and helpfulness of this superb site more than mitigated the weather. The drying room and large refuge area were well used. It is walkable to the village. It is not too big. The shop is well stocked with necessities and local produce so you can order rolls etc. The fish van comes weekly. We had forgotten our tarpaulin and had problems with the cooker, but site staff went out of their way to be helpful and all were always cheery. Altogether fabulous.

• Towing: Easy
• Location: Country
• Suitable For: Families,Older couples,Groups,Active break,Peaceful break,Younger couples
• Friendliness: 5
• Cleanliness: 5
• Facilities: 5

We arrived on a Thursday and the site was quiet, however it quickly filled up on Friday and Saturday (so I'd recommend booking early). When we booked this site we felt it was a tad on the expensive side, but once we arrived and saw the facilities it made more sense. Extra facilities and high standards abound. More than ample showers, toilets etc. to cope when the site is busy. The communal areas are a good size and the kitchen well equipped. Being able to put our wet clothes in the drying room was a real bonus. A separate games room means there is something to do indoors. The friendly staff have a fantastic knowledge of the local area and things to do, including being able to supply maps for cycling and walking. This is a well positioned site for outdoor activities and site seeing or just a relaxing break. The site has a good shop and there are a good variety of shops in the village, next time we visit we aren't going to bother shopping for food before our trip.

• Towing: Moderate
• Location: Country
• Suitable For: Families,Older couples,Groups,Active break,Peaceful break,Younger couples
• Friendliness: 5
• Cleanliness: 5
• Facilities: 5

David and Joanna are great hosts. Friendly and helpful. They sorted me out when my electrics failed. In conditions of -5 degrees that was pretty important. David provided me with an extension for electrics and spent the Saturday with my water container in his office thawing it out. Full marks. The site has flat standing, excellent facilities and is in the most stupendous countryside. I was there for the Dark Skies weekend and it was fabulous. I would give this site more than 5 stars if I could.

• Towing: Easy
• Location: Country
• Suitable For: Families,Older couples,Groups,Active break,Peaceful break,Younger couples
• Friendliness: 5
• Cleanliness: 5
• Facilities: 5

I would definitely recommend this site and I will go back again. This is possibly the best campsite I've ever stayed on. It was easy to find and really well laid out. All of the staff were extremely friendly and helpful, and very knowledgeable about the local area. The facilities are absolutely superb. The showers & loos were spotless, but the best of all was 'Wansbeck House' - a well-equipped kitchen, drying room, games room and large social room. We took advantage of this as there was one night when it was very cold, wet and windy, so we were glad to take refuge in there and make a proper meal in a proper kitchen. The location is lovely, quiet and sheltered, and right on the edge of the Kielder Forest, where there's lots of outdoor activities for walkers, cyclists and fishermen. The local village of Bellingham is a short walk from the site and has a couple of good dog-friendly pubs - we had a good meal in the Cheviot - a Co-op shop, a butcher, a bakery and a Chinese takeaway, which I believe will deliver to the campsite. About 20 minutes drive away is the historic market town of Hexham, with lots of independent shops, and interesting places to visit such as the old Gaol and the Abbey. Then, of course, there is Hadrian's wall. There's two forts close by, Housesteads and and Chesters Roman Fort and Museum, where you can learn about the history of the Romans in the area. My favourite excursion was to Cragside, a National Trust property about 45 minutes away. It's a fascinating house - the first in the world to be powered by hydro-electricity but, for me, the grounds were the best part - such a beautiful landscape of woodland, a maze and lakes. You'll need a whole day to see it, and even then, you'll want to go back again.

• Location: Country,Secluded
• Suitable For: Families,Older couples,Peaceful break
• Friendliness: 5
• Cleanliness: 5
• Facilities: 5