Newcastle Library

Two minutes from Newcastle's seafront sits a surprisingly well-equipped public library that proves far more useful than you might expect on a park holiday. The modern building feels properly local - think community hub rather than tourist attraction - but that's exactly what makes it work for families staying nearby. Free wifi runs reliably fast, which is a godsend when holiday park connections play up. The children's section sprawls across bright carpeted areas with low shelves packed with picture books and activity packs. Rainy day sorted. Staff know their stuff about the Mournes too - they've pointed me towards walking guides I'd never have found online and local history books that actually make sense of the area. The reference section holds detailed Ordnance Survey maps if you fancy planning tomorrow's hike properly. Generally quiet during morning hours, busier after schools kick out around 3pm. Computer access runs free for an hour at a time, handy for printing boarding passes or checking weather forecasts. Not somewhere you'd travel specifically to visit, but it's proved genuinely handy during stays at Murlough Cottage Caravan Park or Windsor Holiday Park. The toilets are clean, there's decent parking outside, and it beats sitting in a damp caravan when the weather turns. Sometimes the most useful stops are the most ordinary ones.