Down a lane in a hamlet with views to the Weaver Hills, find an old piggery characterfully converted, with a pitched roof swathed in creeper. You get your own garden and access to the owners’ alongside yours – a great plus: there’s summer croquet, lawn tennis, and a pretty orchard to wander. Inside is one open space, cosy with wood-burner and surprisingly lofty. Expect masses of open brickwork and stone, antique furniture that’s solid and well-worn – Windsor dining chairs, a lovely old trestle table – new sofas, a box of maps, an overflowing bookcase. More rustic and quirky than luxurious or stylish, this is a great little place for those seeking big views and peace: you are on the edge of 170 acres grazed by rare-breed cattle and sheep. Rustle up something delicious in your brand new kitchen – you’ll find a treat from the nearby farm shop in your welcome pack – then settle in for the night. There’s a lovely old four-poster in the little oak-panelled bedroom, and, up a few steps, a snug twin – plus beams to duck. The charming owners will pop in once you’ve settled, and know the area like the back of their hand. Alton Towers is two miles away but, for walkers, the Peak District National Park is the greater draw. Chatsworth and Haddon Hall are enticingly close.
Thanks for creating a gorgeous and peaceful place to come back to after endless days of beach walks, castles, big skies and great food. We've fallen in love with Northumberland and will definitely be back. All the walks in the little books are great (Happy Valley, Craster, Holy Island). Alnwick Castle is the best we've ever been to (not just for Hogwarts fans), and Alnwick Brown Ale is worth the trip on its own