Hammer and Pincers Caravan and Campsite

View prices & book 7.4 125 reviews
View across the site
View across the site
Hardstanding and grass pitches
Pub at the front of campsite available for food and drinks
Beer garden
Play ground
Level grass pitches surrounded by fields
A general view of the site
Camping field protected by mature trees
1/49
Hardstanding and grass pitches
Pub at the front of campsite available for food and drinks
Beer garden

  • Family-run site at a County Durham pub surrounded by the countryside
  • Durham and Raby Castle, Park and Gardens both 25 minutes’ drive
  • Restaurant and beer garden on site; supermarkets five minutes' drive
There’s much to see and do in County Durham, so it’s only right that you pick a nice base to unwind after a day’s exploration. And a very good choice would be Hammer and Pincers Caravan and Campsite, a laidback spot barely five minutes’ drive from Newton Aycliffe and with one very important USP… It has pedestrian access to the Hammer and Pincers (open Wednesday to Sunday only; closed Mondays and Tuesdays), a pub with a restaurant and a spacious beer garden, where you can dodge any self-catering issues with a menu of good home-cooked food for lunch and evening meals. The site has well-kept grass pitches tucked in between the trees and surrounded by scenic countryside. There is a convenient facilities block with showers, loos and a washing-up. If you’re after entertainment, there’s an occasional schedule of live music events at the pub. A trainline runs along the bottom of the site, so there is some noise around the site. Supermarkets, shops and a train station are just over in Newton Aycliffe, five minutes' drive away. Here, you're only a 35- to 40-minute drive from the seaside towns of Hartlepool and Seaham, too. More inland, the boundaries of the North Pennines National Landscape are half an hour's drive away.

Site type

Touring caravan pitches 14
Tent pitches 10
Motorhome pitches 14
Open all year
Opens

Tourist board rating

Please note
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • The site does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Dangerous Dogs Act (i.e. XL Bully, Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro).
  • Discount cards and gift vouchers cannot be applied to bookings made via Pitchup.com.
  • Electricity is metered on site at £0.30 per kWh and must be paid onsite using a pre-paid topup card. Please note there may be noise from the train line running along the bottom of the site. The pub is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Languages spoken

English

No availability here for your search criteria

Reviews

7.4

Overall rating from 125 Pitchup.com customers

  • 31%
    10
  • 8%
    9
  • 25%
    8
  • 7%
    7
  • 7%
    6
  • 1%
    5
  • 4%
    4
  • 5%
    3
  • 3%
    2
  • 4%
    1
Location
 8
Value for money
 8
Accommodation
 8
Facilities / Activities
 7
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 8
Cleanliness
 7
Wifi
 6
Budget/backpacker

73% would recommend this site to a friend

70% would stay here again

What customers say

This campsite offers friendly, helpful staff and a popular on-site pub with good food. Facilities are generally clean, though some describe them as basic and in need of updating. The site is conveniently located for travel and provides a pleasant atmosphere. Noise from nearby trains is frequently mentioned, and some visitors noted uneven pitches.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews. Last updated 01/03/2026

Reviews page 1 of 13
Arrival date (latest first)

Quiet and good spot really friendly…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 8
Wifi
 No rating
Sharon S. 1 review

Electric optional hardstanding pitch

Liked Quiet and good spot really friendly

Recommend to friends Visit again

The staff in the pub were…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 7
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Lauren H. 1 review

Electric optional hardstanding pitch

Liked The staff in the pub were so helpful, the toilets were really clean. Our bsby really enjoyed it too

Recommend to friends Visit again

Loved my stay but due to…

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 5
Value for money
 7
Facilities / Activities
 5
Customer service
 8
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 6
Wifi
 No rating
Paula J. 1 review

Electric optional hardstanding pitch

Liked Loved my stay but due to my own issues had to leave early! Everyon on site are lovely and pub staff great! I was so far from toilet block with disabilities i could only stay one overnight!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Overall it was a good site. Just not a lot going on.

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 8
Value for money
 6
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 1
 Joanne C. 3 reviews

Electric optional hardstanding pitch

Liked Good location if you drive.
Just a couple of mile to the shop.
Quiet site.
Shower and toilet facilities are great for a camp site.
Owner were polite and helpful
Although next to the Trainline it wasn’t really as noisy as we were expecting.

Disliked Not much for the kids at all
Lots of permanent residents on the site
My child got told off by one of these for throwing a foam aeroplane..
Pub had a function on the weekend.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great place for a couple of nights stay.

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 9
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 8
Wifi
 No rating
Louise T. 4 reviews

Electric optional hardstanding pitch

Liked Super friendly staff . Easy to check in at the pub & get electricity organised.
Nice tidy site. People who seem to have more permanent pitches were also very friendly/chatty.
Barely noticed the train and definitely a nice quiet site overnight.
Anyone staying must eat at the pub, food is absolutely delicious.
Nice countryside walk into the village accessible just across the road from the site.
Look forward to visiting again if we are in the area.

Disliked Nothing, yes the bathrooms are basic but they perfectly serve their purpose .

Recommend to friends Visit again

Nice flat pitch & small enough for our first trip to test new caravan

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 8
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 8
Wifi
 9
 Michelle G. 1 review

Electric optional hardstanding pitch

Liked Plenty of space
Electric hook up
Showers close by etc
Helped with our gas problem from the caretaker guy he was lovely x

Disliked Noise from pub
But once I fell asleep didn’t notice
Horses roaming free sometimes which set off my dogs lol

Recommend to friends Visit again

Good location off the A1M

Overall

3 out of 10
Location
 No rating
Value for money
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 3
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 3
Wifi
 No rating
Gary m. 13 reviews

Electric optional hardstanding pitch

Liked Friendly greeting on arrival and Pub food was delicious.
Just off the A1M

Disliked The feeling that we were on a Travellers Site, horses tethered in field, dogs barking and running free, the smell of weed wafting in the air.
Toilet and shower facilities poor.
Shame as such a contrast from the very friendly greeting we received and lovely atmosphere in the pub to that on the site.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Clean friendly site

Overall

6 out of 10
Location
 No rating
Value for money
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 No rating
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 No rating
Wifi
 No rating
Gary C. 1 review

Electric optional hardstanding pitch

Liked Not a bad site considering alot of travelers are sited here, owners friendly and helpful.

Disliked Toilet block needs updating as it's a shed was clean tho. Horses tethered on fence which I found abit dangerous when it's a dog friendly site. Electric needs changing either charge a little extra a night for electric or pay bill at the end instead of messing about topping a card up

Recommend to friends Visit again

great site, very friendly…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 8
Value for money
 7
Facilities / Activities
 6
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Anonymous

Electric optional hardstanding pitch

Liked great site, very friendly

Recommend to friends Visit again

Pub food is worth the stay. Basic site but priced well so no issue

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 5
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 5
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 8
Wifi
 No rating
Mike F. 1 review

Electric optional hardstanding pitch

Liked Easy arrival. Staff super friendly. Pub food was outstanding

Disliked Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Features

Dogs allowed

Campfires allowed

Leisure on site

Bar or club house Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Games room Indoor swimming pool Kids' club On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Play area TV room Take away Tennis Watersports

Amenities on site

Bath available Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Launderette Parent & baby washroom Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Public telephone Shower available Toilet block Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided Barbecues allowed Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all year

Utilities

Charging facilities Chemical disposal Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby

Type

Medium (26-50 pitches) Pub campsite

Nearby leisure

Cycling nearby Fishing nearby Golf nearby Restaurant nearby

Location

Hammer and Pincers Caravan and Campsite

Preston Lane

Newton Aycliffe

Co. Durham

England

DL5 6JH

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London BST (GMT+01:00)

GPS

54.60898°N
1.54143°W

Nearest transport

Coach
5.9 mi Dolphin Centre
9.7 mi Roseberry Road
9.7 mi Swan Hotel
Rail
1.8 mi Heighington Rail Station
2 mi Newton Aycliffe Rail Station
4 mi Shildon Rail Station
Ferry
12.7 mi Transporter Bridge South Side
12.7 mi Transporter Bridge North Side
26.8 mi Newcastle International Ferry Terminal
Airport
8.1 mi Durham Tees Valley Airport

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Local attractions

There are loads of outdoor activities to keep the family happy: golfers can be out on the greens within 15 minutes’ drive, and there’s much alfresco fun to be had on wakeboards or kayaking at the North East Wake Park (10 minutes’ drive). There are plenty of options of a cultural nature in the region too. Raby Castle, Park and Gardens (25 minutes) has tours of opulent interiors, fabulous gardens, a kids’ adventure playground and a deer park for family walks. Visit The Bowes Museum (35 minutes) for its important collection of Spanish paintings, and in summer, book tickets for the historic outdoor extravaganza ‘Kynren’ in Bishop Auckland (15 minutes). If the kids are not objecting to all the history, set off for Durham (25 minutes) to explore the UNESCO-listed cathedral and castle. However, if tiny tempers are getting fractious, make a detour to Adventure Valley (35 minutes) for an afternoon of blowing cobwebs away on the crazy golf course and go-kart track.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Crimdon 14.3 mi Sea GoodExcellentExcellentExcellent
Seaton Carew North 14.7 mi Sea N/AN/AGoodGood
Seaton Carew Centre 14.8 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Seaton Carew North Gare 15.3 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Seaham Beach 18.4 mi Sea N/AGoodExcellentExcellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Locomotion:The National Railway Museum at Shildon 4.2 mi

Durham Cathedral 11.4 mi

Durham Castle 11.6 mi

mima 12.6 mi

Captain Cook Birthplace Museum 13.5 mi

National Trust

Moulton Hall 13.4 mi

Ormesby Hall 15.1 mi

Mount Grace Priory 18.3 mi

Washington Old Hall 20.3 mi

Gibside 22.8 mi

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

Brafferton 1.6 mi

WINDLESTONE HALL 3.4 mi

Hardwick Hall Country Park (Durham) 4.4 mi

HARDWICK PARK 4.5 mi

Ceddesfeld Hall Gardens 4.8 mi

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Want to know more about camping in Co. Durham?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Hammer and Pincers Caravan and Campsite have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Hammer and Pincers Caravan and Campsite dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Hammer and Pincers Caravan and Campsite? There are loads of outdoor activities to keep the family happy: golfers can be out on the greens within 15 minutes’ drive, and there’s much alfresco fun to be had on wakeboards … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Hammer and Pincers Caravan and Campsite?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  12 p.m. –  11 p.m.
    Depart by:  11:30 a.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Hammer and Pincers Caravan and Campsite? From £22 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.