Wl56 Haven Haggerston Castle Holiday Park

The caravan was comfortable and pleasant, and our part of the park was quiet. The kids disco and Tiger Club were a hit with our child, and the staff we met were friendly. Inside Wetherspoons was clean and the staff there were polite, too. But the site looked run down in places, with broken equipment around the park, and the outdoor Wetherspoons seating was very dirty. We had booked a swim, only to find the pool closed. We were already concerned about cleanliness, so didn't book another session. When we arrived, bird droppings covered the windows and patio. My husband had to get a mop and bucket and clean them himself so the family could use the outdoor space. We drove to the main complex in the evenings because it was about a 20-minute walk. There was a queue for the evening entertainment, something we hadn't encountered at other sites. Ordering through the app was slow, so going to the bar was quicker if you could. The poor condition of the site and the patio meant we wouldn't come back or recommend it, though it didn't ruin our break. I don't usually leave reviews, but wanted to share what our stay at Haggerston castle was like.

The Thursday bingo host had my mum and me laughing out loud, so definitely give it a go if you visit. We also went to the pottery, where the women were really nice. We had a lovely week overall, and all the staff were kind. The caravan was mostly clean, though there were a few things left behind by the previous tenant, including sweet wrappers and a toy. The shop shelves were largely empty, as if it hadn't had a delivery in weeks, so we couldn't buy souvenirs or gifts apart from Seaside Squad merchandise. Quite a few places were shut during the week or had reduced hours, which was frustrating. We'll come back, but next time we'll book a weekend instead of Monday to Friday.

There are lots of lovely places to explore nearby, and the park itself looks nice, with most areas in good shape. Our caravan was lovely, quiet, close to the main facilities, and had everything our family of seven needed. The soft play was closed for “maintenance”; we were told it had been that way for months, and it looked dirty and gross. The Nisa shop was handy, but the takeaways were expensive, small, and awful tasting. Wetherspoons was okay, with quick service and ordinary Spoons food. Nothing special, but better than the other food.

We paid around £30 extra for a dog friendly caravan for three nights, but there were no decent places to walk the dog. The only place dogs could go was the Wetherspoons veranda, and it rained throughout our stay, so eating outside wasn't much good. If you're bringing a dog, take a driver and go to Lindisfarne Inn, about a mile away. It's dog friendly, serves fresh food, has no feral children, and the prices fit the service. The booking confirmation showed we had a dog, but on the second morning my mother in law spotted a sticker on the kitchen cupboard saying “no pets allowed in this caravan.” We only have a small Jack Russell, and he stayed on a blanket on the sofa, but anyone with allergies could still be uncomfortable. Charging extra for dogs without providing places for them to walk or go indoors beyond the caravan is disgusting. The double bed mattress felt about 20 years old, with worn out springs. On the plus side, the carpet and upholstery looked recently cleaned, and there was plenty of clean crockery. Food and drinks were, as expected at places like this, overly expensive.