Rather disappointed
We chose this site because we wanted to visit the general area which is very attractive and this site is located on the edge of the village of Newcastleton with off road walks for the dog nearby. We were also influenced by very good reviews for the site but we felt the site in general and our pitch in particular ( 15A ) left quite a lot to be desired. Contrary to other reviewers, I did not think the pitches were well spaced out and ours was quite crammed. As it’s number implies, it appeared to have been squeezed inbetween two other pitches to increase the site’s capacity ( something which seemed as if it might have been done elsewhere on the site ). The ‘squeezing in’ of extra pitches affects the electricity supply. Ours went off at 6am on the first morning whilst my wife was using her hairdryer. This has happened before on sites with low amps and can be easily rectified by flicking the trip switch back up in the electricity box supplying the site. However, the box next to our site could not be opened - it was locked. The warden’s office did not open until 9am and although the site information sheet included an out-of-hours telephone number, we could not get a phone signal anywhere on the site so that was no use. In the end I managed, with brute force, to prise open the door of the electricity box sufficiently to reach the trip switch and re-set it but the episode left me distinctly unimpressed. When I reported the matter to the warden, she said there is only a 10 amp supply to our pitch which I told her people should be made aware of before they are given the site. Anyway, I would advise anybody visiting the site to avoid pitch 15A.
On the plus side, the site is well maintained and is certainly a convenient location on the edge of the village although the village’s facilities are a bit basic. There are also good walks direct from the site into woodland although the path from the middle of the site goes up some steep steps and then requires a scramble up a very steep and sometimes slippery slope to reach the main woodland path. My wife could not make it up the slope and I think others would also struggle. There is an alternative path at the northern end of the site and which also leads down the river where there is a bridge leading to other walks on the other side of the river.
