Dog-friendly Durham

Reading Room Cottages are lovingly furnished, traditional style cottages set on the historic Barningham Estate. Situated in the picturesque village of Barningham, the cottages are conveniently located next to a great local pub, where guests can enjoy delicious locally sourced food and drink to both eat in and take away. The cottages have been decorated in keeping with their surroundings, using a mixture of antique and contemporary furniture, giving it a traditional and natural aesthetic.
The cottages gets their names from their traditional function as a place where the inhabitants of the village could come and read the daily newspaper that had been delivered to Barningham Park – the home occupied by the Milbank family since 1690. Barningham village is a picturesque village situated between Richmond and Barnard Castle. It was named Durham Rural Community Council’s ‘Best Small Village’ in 2010 and is a tranquil conservation village, with a large village green, a church, a village bakery, shop and an active village hall.
The Reading Room Cottages are ideally situated for guests wishing to explore the beautiful Yorkshire Dales. There is a wide range of activities to pursue in the area including walking, cycling, fell running, birdwatching and wildlife spotting. Fishing and shooting are available by private request with the owners- seasonal walked up and driven shooting and stalking for individuals or groups can be arranged.
History lovers can enjoy the rich Bronze Age heritage that can be found at remote sites on Barningham Moor, including Chieftan burial mounds and the Cup and Ring Stones. Visit historic market towns including nearby Barnard Castle, offering many independent shops, cafés and restaurants, as well as a large supermarket. Other attractions in Barnard Castle include the Bowes Museum, Witham Arts and Cultural Centre, Rokeby Hall and The Chocolate Fair.
Historic Richmond is 12 miles away and is where you will find Richmond Castle and a large cobbled market square surrounded by shops, tea rooms, pubs and restaurants. Other attractions include Auckland Castle, Raby Castle, High Force Waterfall, The Forbidden Corner at Leyburn, Duncombe Park, Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Gardens, which can all be reached in under an hour. For special occasions, spa treatments are available at Middleton Lodge, 11 miles away, or the Morritt Hotel and Spa, 2½ miles. Shop 500 yards, pub and restaurant 25 yards.
These properties can be booked together to accommodate up to 7 guests.

A delightsome, semi-detached cottage sitting on a farm near Wolsingham, Durham. Hot tub. Woodburning stove. Shared indoor swimming pool and games room. Hamsterley 7 miles; Bishop Auckland 9.8 miles; Durham 14.6 miles

An exceptional stable conversion resting on the outskirts of Barnard Castle in North Yorkshire. Single-storey accommodation. Open-plan living. WiFi. Hot tub. Middleton in Teesdale 12.8 miles; Richmond 15 miles.

A wonderful cottage nestled in the village of Stanhope, County Durham. Contemporary finish. Ideal for families. Off-road parking. Luxury accommodation. Durham 22 miles.

A fabulous, single-story lodge located in Winston near Staindrop, County Durham. Open-plan. Hot tub. Smart TV. Beautiful views. Pet friendly. Private parking. Barnard Castle 7.2 miles; Durham 20.2 miles.

A wonderful, single-storey lodge resting in Winston near Staindrop. Hot tub. Pet-friendly. Private parking. Barnard Castle 7.2 miles; Durham 20.2 miles.

Overlooking the River Wear, these superb conversions of the barn, old byre and stables provide a wonderful holiday retreat. Surrounded by unspoilt countryside and is set in a haven of peace and tranquillity. Adjoining one another, they lie within an attractive courtyard setting, complemented by a fountain and shrubberies. All the properties have been tastefully refurbished and are full of character and charm, with shared use of lovely grounds, children’s play area, summer house and games room. The pretty village of Frosterley has shops and pubs, with walks in every direction along Weardale. Described as England’s ’last wilderness’, and possibly one of the best kept secrets, the Durham Dales are situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, made up of a wonderful blend of rugged upland, impressive waterfalls, fertile river valleys and wild flower meadows. Pleasant towns and pretty villages dot the area – the historic market town of Barnard Castle lies within easy reach, and boasts castle remains overlooking the town, as well as the Bowes Museum. Built as an impressive French-style chateau, the museum houses a magnificent collection of fine and decorative art. Other places of interest are Raby Castle, the ruins of Egglestone Abbey and Rokeby Hall. Hexham (with stately abbey) is a good day trip out, as well as the splendid cathedral city of Durham, 15 miles. NB: Refs 24969, 24970, 24971 and 23712 (also on the same site) can be booked together to accommodate up to 27 guests.

Nestled away in the tiny hamlet of Knitsley, just south of Consett and in the heart of County Durham, The Old Stables, adjacent to the owner’s home, are tucked away in the most beautiful of locations. Private, peaceful and semi rural yet still easily accessible to major road networks, these terraced holiday properties (refs 30710, 30711 and 30712) offer guests quality finishes yet still remain cosy, comfortable and welcoming. Each property is unique and desirable has views across some of the most beautiful countryside that County Durham has to offer. Situated in the owner’s grounds, guests will find the properties private and extremely well-maintained and presented. On arrival, guests will find a welcome pack consisting of local produce from the nearby farm shop. All on one level and perfect for guests of all ages, friends, families and couples will be able to book one property that sleeps four or all three properties can be booked together for larger groups and extended families. With so many attractions and plenty to explore, see and do in the area, The Old Stables can cater for every need. There is even the opportunity for guests to bring their horse along too with prior arrangement with the owner, as there is a paddock and stables on site. Perfect for walkers, ramblers and cyclists of all levels, guests will find that there are many established public footpaths, cycle paths and bridle ways that lead from Knitsley and in to the heart of County Durham and through the Durham Dales, where the scenery can only be described as breathtaking. The Old Stables are also perfect for guests wanting to visit the cathedral city of Durham, which is only 10 miles away. Durham offers plenty to see and do including a theatre, leisure centre, garden centre with coffee shop and children’s entertainment, and many historic attractions, including Durham Castle, Durham Cathedral and the city walls. The River Wear runs through the city and guests can enjoy a romantic boat trip or relax by the riverside. Filled with top quality restaurants, bistros, cafés and bars, the city is thriving at night and is there is often street entertainment to enjoy, including the Lumiere Festival, jazz festival, book week, arts week and many more. The thriving city of Newcastle is less then 20 miles away and perfect for a great night out. The banks of the River Tyne are bustling with bars, restaurants and bistros, and there is definitely something for all tastes. A little further afield, but still within an easy drive from The Old Stables, guests will be able to visit and enjoy Barnard Castle, Raby Castle, Bowes Museum, High Force and Low Force waterfalls. The excellent visitor attraction of Beamish is another must see and once again, is only 10 miles away. 13 miles away, is the Metro Centre, a great shopping complex. Each property offers a well-furnished living room with great views across the surrounding grounds, a well-equipped kitchen, two double bedrooms with Egyptian cotton bed linen. Shop and pub serving food ½ mile.

This charming, detached former Hemel, close to the owners’ home, lies just 1½ miles from the historic village of Lanchester and only 10 miles from Durham. Lanchester is steeped in history dating back to the 12th century and it has a large village green which sits in the middle of some charming properties, with 3 village inns and eateries to hand. Cyclists will be eager to explore the quiet country roads or take the Derwent Valley Railway Path east to the outskirts of Durham, or west to join the Waskerly Way and on to Weardale. A walk can be taken along these footpaths, the section just south of Lancaster skirting the river Browney being a particular highlight. Corbridge is a mere 15 miles away with super pubs, tea rooms and shops, then carry on to Hadrian’s Wall to visit the Roman forts or a little further to Hexham, with its beautiful abbey. Enjoy Durham with its river walks, fine cathedral, bijou wine bars, traditional pubs and plenty of retail therapy. Alnwick Castle where part of the Harry Potter films were made takes approximately 1 hour, where you can visit the enchanting water gardens and treehouse, and stroll along the cobbled streets. Drive a little further north and follow the Heritage Coastal Route to come across Seahouses and Bamburgh, and the enchanting Holy Island or Lindasfarne, making a great day trip. Come back and relax at this holiday cottage, admiring the views outside after a day’s exploring. Consett 3 miles. Children’s play area 1½ miles. Shop and pub 1½ miles, restaurant ½ mile.

Situated in a rural and secluded position, this delightful holiday home complete with open fire offers cosy and welcoming accommodation with excellent views over open countryside. Some 3 miles from Stanhope, which offers a good selection of shops and pubs and in the heart of Weardale providing footpath walking direct from the door. This farmhouse is centrally placed for exploring the Yorkshire Dales, Northumberland and the Lake District, offering attractions to suit all age groups. There is also Hamsterley Forest which is ideal for walking and cycling. Climbing, horse riding, fishing and swimming are all available in the local area. Shop 0.75 miles, pub and restaurant 0.5 miles.