Gallows Hill

Liked Nothing

Disliked This is a grubby little site located a few meters from the very busy A66 which makes it very noisey. Despite having booked and paid the full booking fee, when I arrived the gates to the site were padlocked so I could not access it. I phoned the number on my booking form three times but there was no answer. I left a message but noone called me back. There was a house next to the site so I knocked to see if anyone could help but noone answered. Having waited half an hour I concluded this was a pitchup scam and left. In order to leave the site I had to retrace my steps back up the A66 against the flow of traffic on the grass verge. This is a problematic site to access if you are on foot or, as I was, on a bicyle. Having left the site I made my way to Barnard Castle and booked into a hotel at the cost of £115 on to of my already paid camping fee. About half an hour after booking into my hotel I received a text message from the site owner giving me the access code for the padlock!! I messaged back explaining what had happened and got a reply saying, more or less, that it was my fault I hadnt received the code before I did and that everyone else had. They must have all arrived after I left (about 6.30pm) because there was noone on it while I was there. On top of all that, there was no apology or any offer of a refund.

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From the manager: The text was sent at 1pm and the proof is attached, shame you can't read basic instructions - when I checked, the code was entered in the lock so it could easily have been opened

I'm so sorry being with my mother in hospital meant I couldn't answer your call, but you had the instructions every other guest had over the weekend - they all managed but you couldn't. What do you think that means?

Threatening me with bad reviews and reporting us to pitchup wasn't a great idea. I don't put up with threats, I just feel sorry for whatever accomodation had to put up with you for the night. If you couldn't get out of the entrance with a bike please take care on your daily chores, if tractors, trailers, caravans cars and other bikers can do it I really worry for you. Take care buddy, don't come back :p

Liked Good circular walk to Barnard Castle via public footpaths from site.

Disliked Toilets/showers (in container) were not kept clean, no paper in ladies on the first morning. Overrun by kids screaming, slamming doors and running hot taps while I attempted to have a shower (shower runs cold when taps are running).
Close to A66 but road noise was drowned out by the constant noise from unsupervised kids. Most of the other people on the site seemed to be a large group camping in half a dozen tents. One night had someone shining a torch/laser into the van.
Fire pits allowed but didn't feel like sitting out.
Felt safer the previous night when we were pitched by the side of a road in a Cumbrian village.
No washing up sink, people washing barbecue equipment in the washbasins, no Elsan waste facility, told to pour it down the toilet ... therefore no way to wash the waste tank out afterwards.
£2.50 per night for the dog on top of the £20 for the pitch seemed reasonable until we saw what we were getting for the price, very basic site.

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Liked Lovely site with amazing views. Its about a 50minute walk into barnard castle but all downhil, through fields or quiet roads. Lovely little pub in Boldon run by a local gentleman which is only a five/ten minute walk.

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Liked Nice site with great views. Well kept facilities with hot running water. Good walks into Barnard Castle direct from the site. Lee the owner left out stoves for us to light fires under a glorious starry night. Second time I've stayed here, this time with friends.

Disliked Location close to the dual carriageway but made up with the views.

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Liked Helpful info received from the owner before arrival and was communicative by text when I couldn’t find the tap or didn’t know where to park. (The are two taps despite a previous reviewer saying there are none).

I thought I’d hate the noise of the A66 but overnight it didn’t disturb me.

Seems quite level everywhere.

Lovely views looking north

Disliked Maybe I misunderstood the description but I booked this thinking it was going to be gravel rather than grass as it had rained so much and I didn’t want to get stuck. There’s a gravel-ish track but all pitches are on grass. I stayed in the track tbh as only me there.

Disappointed that the site is quite scruffy and in need of some tlc, so I thought the price too high.

The A66 noise meant I didn’t want to sit outside.

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Liked Very handy position for stop on way home . Site is being renovated and shows a lot of potential

Disliked Toilet block very cold and couldn’t get hot water in the ladies

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Liked Straight to find and stay at!

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Liked Flat pitch, amazing view. Can walk to Barnard Castle in 50 mins from the site.

Disliked Toilets and shower could do with an upgrade, they are very basic and hot water in short supply, very noisy as off A66. Need a watering can to fill water up as no access to tap other than on foot.

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Liked Quiet site.
Friendly host

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Liked Lovely location, great view. Short drive to major locations.

Disliked No sleuce sink.
Could have steps down to toilets from pitch 2.

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