Haven holidays

[Dizzy321]

We went to Northumberland in September. Didn't stay at Haggerston but not too far away.

We went to:
Alnwick Castle & Gardens (Highly recommend)
Bamburgh Castle
Seahouses
Holy Island (not worth going to be honest) cost a fortune to go around the castle & walked around in about 20mins. Just a load of Edwardian furniture. Was really disappointed.
You can get a boat ride to the Farne Islands to see the Seals.
You have Berwick & Alnwick for shopping.

ETA: For Alnwick Castle & Gardens, buy the ticket online before you go. You save 5% & print out the ticket. You don't then need to queue when you get there. The tickets were £25 each (for both Castle & Garden) but when you get there you can 'unlock' the ticket which means you can go back as many times as you like within a year. It's a doable drive from Teesside to go to Alnwick for the day.

thanks very much for the info hun....I will get the ticket and print before we go what is there? x

 

[lindseymw]

The Gardens are basically well gardens. There are fountains that the kids can play in so take a swimsuit/change of clothes if its warm. Theres waterfalls as well. Loads of places to explore.

In the Castle grounds, you have the castle itself to have a look around. When I went they had a 'Knights' quarter where they had outfits for kids to dress up as a medieval knight/lady. Outfits for the adults if you want to dress up. I did, but DH didnt. You could also make soap as well. Joshua loved getting his hands in the mess.

They also had Broomstick training for the kids where they shot the Broomstick training in Harry Potter.

Theres a huge grassy area with picnic tables. I would advise taking own food in as it was very expensive. £20 for 2 sarnies, 2 bottles of coke + 2 kids sarnie lunches!

 

[Dizzy321]

The Gardens are basically well gardens. There are fountains that the kids can play in so take a swimsuit/change of clothes if its warm. Theres waterfalls as well. Loads of places to explore.

In the Castle grounds, you have the castle itself to have a look around. When I went they had a 'Knights' quarter where they had outfits for kids to dress up as a medieval knight/lady. Outfits for the adults if you want to dress up. I did, but DH didnt. You could also make soap as well. Joshua loved getting his hands in the mess.

They also had Broomstick training for the kids where they shot the Broomstick training in Harry Potter.

Theres a huge grassy area with picnic tables. I would advise taking own food in as it was very expensive. £20 for 2 sarnies, 2 bottles of coke + 2 kids sarnie lunches!

Very useful info, thanks x

 

[tallybee]

I haven't been to Haggerston Castle in YEARS (it had Bradley Bear as a mascot last time I was there, so it must have been about 17 years ago lol) but I have been on camping holidays in the area. There's loads of little seaside towns, like Bamburgh and Seahouses with beaches and chippies and the like so there's loads to do locally to keep wee ones occupied. Personally, I can't recommend Lindisfarne enough although I am very much into my Viking stuff lol.

Rockley Park is brilliant, I've been there 3 times with my family. I'd recommend trying out the beach at the park - it's not that big but handy if your kids are smaller and just want to play in the sand a bit, and Sandbanks beach in Poole which is freakin' GORGEOUS although it does get busy quickly during school holidays so I'd say plan what day you're going to go and make a day of it. There's a bus that goes into Poole from the park every hour or so and, there's a massive Asda which is obviously cheaper than the park shop/takeaways.

Apart from Rockley Park, Primrose Valley is really good too (near Scarborough/Filey), been there a few times (my mum and dad really like their caravan holidays/my dad refuses to go abroad lol).

Yeeeaaaah we went as kids when Bradley Bear was the thing!

Took the kids 3 years ago and they loved it. (they would have been age 5 and 3 at the time)

DH was trying to show off to the pony ride people by saying he was an ex jockey (true) but they put him on an unpredictable mare and he fell off and did his ankle in and I had to push him about in a wheelchair

 

[Dizzy321]

I haven't been to Haggerston Castle in YEARS (it had Bradley Bear as a mascot last time I was there, so it must have been about 17 years ago lol) but I have been on camping holidays in the area. There's loads of little seaside towns, like Bamburgh and Seahouses with beaches and chippies and the like so there's loads to do locally to keep wee ones occupied. Personally, I can't recommend Lindisfarne enough although I am very much into my Viking stuff lol.

Rockley Park is brilliant, I've been there 3 times with my family. I'd recommend trying out the beach at the park - it's not that big but handy if your kids are smaller and just want to play in the sand a bit, and Sandbanks beach in Poole which is freakin' GORGEOUS although it does get busy quickly during school holidays so I'd say plan what day you're going to go and make a day of it. There's a bus that goes into Poole from the park every hour or so and, there's a massive Asda which is obviously cheaper than the park shop/takeaways.

Apart from Rockley Park, Primrose Valley is really good too (near Scarborough/Filey), been there a few times (my mum and dad really like their caravan holidays/my dad refuses to go abroad lol).

Yeeeaaaah we went as kids when Bradley Bear was the thing!

Took the kids 3 years ago and they loved it. (they would have been age 5 and 3 at the time)

DH was trying to show off to the pony ride people by saying he was an ex jockey (true) but they put him on an unpredictable mare and he fell off and did his ankle in and I had to push him about in a wheelchair

awww haha

we have done haven twice with the kids and they loved it! they still talk about it, more than when we went to Florida lol!

 

[Dizzy321]

Isnt it bradley bear now?

 

[lindseymw]

If I get chance later, I'll post some pics of the different places if you want?

 

[Tasha]

Isnt it bradley bear now?

It is. Him and Rory x

 

[Dizzy321]

Isnt it bradley bear now?

It is. Him and Rory x

Thought so! lol x

 

[Dizzy321]

If I get chance later, I'll post some pics of the different places if you want?

Aw yes please, that would be good! get me even more excited lol x

 

[lindseymw]

Bamburgh Castle
https://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t374/Lindseymw85/20120905_101211.jpg


Alnwick Castle & Gardens
https://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t374/Lindseymw85/20120904_121350.jpg
https://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t374/Lindseymw85/20120904_134414.jpg
https://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t374/Lindseymw85/20120904_145519.jpg
https://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t374/Lindseymw85/20120905_151231.jpg
https://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t374/Lindseymw85/20120905_153716.jpg
https://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t374/Lindseymw85/20120904_104135.jpg
https://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t374/Lindseymw85/20120904_112337.jpg


Holy Island Castle
https://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t374/Lindseymw85/20120906_102649.jpg

 

[Dizzy321]

Oh wow! it looks gorgeous! it will hopefully be nice weather at the begining of August

your little boy is cute too

 

[lindseymw]

Thanks hun

We went first week of Sept, it was scorchio!

Me & DH have decided that Bamburgh Castle is our next home. We just have to figure out how to take it! If we own it before next August, I'll let you in.

 

[Dizzy321]

Haha looks real nice though, my mum will enjoy it too
Really hope the weather is nice for us, that makes anything better I think xx