Haggerston Castle

Abandon Hope all ye who enter here! Regrettably, I found it less than 'perfect for a family holiday in a 'safe' environment' as the HAVEN web site declares; correspondingly I won (yes won, it was a battle!) a refund for the inconvenience, stress and anxiety as a result of my short break there. Short break? More like losing grip on reality!
On a 4-day visit, I had to change caravans once, had a sleepless night because a carbon monoxide alarm sounding and my daughter got injured in a swimming pool accident. After this incident we learned that HAVEN do not have a statutory duty to provide first aid so they do not.
So, if your aspirations for entertainment are limited to beer and crisps for the adults and slot machines for the kids, you will be entertained. If you don't mind paying cash to get your cash from a cash machine you will like that too as most of the hire equipment calls for a cash deposit. If your in the habit of replacing the bed in your childrens room with some tables and chairs and eating your Chinese takeaway in the 'newly created restaurant ambience' - you'll enjoy the on site Chinese restaurant. If, on the other hand you fancy half decent surroundings, use the restaurant at the golf course - but bring cash or your chq book - no debit or credit cards accepted.
The 'new for 2010 swimming complex' looks like the 'hi-de-hi old one' with a lid and some additional changing rooms. Happy Camper - NOT!

this is a fantastic place...if you want to dump your kids and spend your entire time drinking...otherwise it's generally awful. There is only one play area for the entire site which can only be accessed by walking through the arcades and two bars. the swimming pool is tiny and you have to queue for ages. Caravan we stayed in was tatty. Not recommended

Awful, not impressed at all. Our caravan wasn't clean. Surfaces were covered in smudges saucepan handle fell off when we were cooking. Outside there were no seats and ground was littered with fag butts. Bar meals were horrid and the swimming pool system is a nightmare. You queue for ages in a tacky arcade to get in then get to spend an hour before having to get out again. We left after 2nights. the only positive thing I can say is that its in an idyllic part of England.

We actually went to Haggerston Castle on our Honeymoon but we stayed in a caravan. We loved it then. We have been back since with children and the facilities are very good for a campsite - indoor and outdoor swimming pool, spa area, shop, Chinese take away, bars, (quite horrid) amusement arcade. Possible to do very nice days out to Lindefarne, Hadrian's Wall or shopping to Newcastle.