“Lovely cottage with modern amenities and plenty of space”
We stayed at Houghton North Farm Cottage while we were visiting my parents and family. We wanted somewhere we could hold a first birthday party for our son, so we needed somewhere with enough space. The cottage was very well apointed, and looked like it had been decorated/renovated quite recently. The huge sliding door in the kitchen (more of a moveable glass wall really!) was impressive, and both bathrooms were beautifully finished. We were impressed by the lovely solid wood furniture in the cottage, which seemed to be of a high standard. We had enough space to accomodate about 15 family members for the birthday party. The cottage is on a working farm, and the owners were friendly and pleasant when we arrived. Once we were booked in, they pretty much left us alone to get on with it, which suited us perfectly. The location suited us perfectly - close enough to Newcastle to be convenient for visiting family, but far enough out to feel more peaceful. It would be a nice base from which to visit places in the Tyne valley and along Hadrian's Wall. The only slight negative I can think of is a lack of outdoor space. There's a small concrete "yard" just outside the kitchen, but no grass area or garden. It wasn't a problem for us at all, but some people may miss having somewhere nicer to sit outdoors.