RSPB Saltholme — Attraction in Billingham

Great reserve with good cafe too. It is always amazing to see such an abundance of wildlife with so much heavy industry nearby. There are three hides to visit on the main site (plus one near the car park) which are easy to include in a circular walk. Saltholme pools hide is a real must for first time visitors, lots of birds to see from the lower level and a panoramic view from the upper level with all of the local landmarks labelled. There are often knowledgeable volunteers in the hides to help you identify different species - on my last visit they were joking they weren't allowed a break until they had got at least 30 different birds on the daily sightings board! The cafe in the main building is upstairs with panoramic views over the main pond and does really good cake so I normally enjoy a slice with my coffee while continuing to watch the bird activity below. The cafe does close quite early though and often stops serving before the advertised closing time so you need to take care to avoid missing out. There is another free car park and seal view point just a few minutes drive from the site so I normally call in there too. Well worth a small detour if travelling along the A19, I often use this route instead of the A1 so I can call in to the reserve for a short walk and...

We often pop there to use the cafe and usually very good. Arrived at the weekend, after being totally prepared for Christmas, we decided to go out for breakfast and chill , no breakfast on only beans on toast or eggs on toast. Ordered beans and eggs on toast, asked for poached and we were informed they don't have a poaching pan so ordered 2 x fried eggs n beans on toast, asked for one of the breakfasts un buttered on toast she replied no problem. Ordered 2 x tea 1 black 1 white. No problem. Then gave us 1 x white tea and was told she hadn't charged for the black tea so we had to pay more. Then when breakfasts arrived both were buttered so we sent one back and asked for a refund as it would have taken too long to make another. I ate my breakfast but egg was hard and rubbery which was a shame as they were quality ingredients just poorly executed. 2 x teas were nice, all I can put it down to was they didn't care, as although the not having butter was a personal choice of not liking it, it could have been because he had a dairy intolerance so really need to...

Called at Salthome while staying at Whitby and wish we had not bothered. Wet areas surrounded by large banks which no access is allowed to so only very occasional viewing points or surrounded by thick thistles, pray tell what is the point. Only other wet area viewing is so far from the water you require a astro telescope to see what birds are there. RSPB reserves are for viewing the wildlife not blocking visitors views. Only saving grace to the day was a local chap who told us what we could see much more and locations if we left the reserve and ventured into the surrounding area which was a lot more than on the reserve. Salthome is nothing but a big children's play area, the worst RSPB site we have visited as members and will not be returning. I always thought the RSPB was about the birds not children's play which is were all staff there appear the amass to entertain little people. The visitors centre advertises way more than the...