Barforth Hall Lodge

Rating
Sleeps 12
Bedrooms 6
Bathrooms 5
Pets Yes
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Features

Hot tub
Off road parking
Ground floor bedroom
Open fire
Garden / Patio
Cot available
Highchair available
Pub/shop < 1 mile
Washing machine
Dishwasher
Broadband / WiFi

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Miss Robinson
March 2020

“We went to Barforth to celebrate my sisters 30th as a family.”

We wanted a large cottage in the countryside - and that last exactly what we got! The cottage was amazing with everything supplied that we could have asked for! The owner was on hand to help us with anything we needed and was in contact with me before our arrival to ensure we had a stress free visit.

We wanted a large cottage in the countryside - and that last exactly what we got! The cottage was amazing with everything supplied that we could have asked for! The owner was on hand to help us with anything we needed and was in contact with me before our arrival to ensure we had a stress free visit.
Mr Dunn December 2019

“2 of the 3 cars we arrived in had to be parked on wet/boggy ground.”

Although one of the two log burners had been pre lit the dwelling was cold and felt damp. The electric storage heaters were all on pre-set temperatures that we were unable to change. Although we had both log burners going it was difficult keeping them alight as the logs felt damp/wet. There was dirty cutlery and crockery mixed in with cleaner items. Broken sink chains/plugs. Some locks on bathrooms failed to work. A curtain rail just hanging that we had to repair just to close the curtain at night although the hanging rail was perfectly obvious to see. Damage to a mirror in one of the bathrooms. Rugs/floor mats in the entrances and kitchen(s) in dire need of cleaning. Some Mattresses need changing as they are well worn. Overall the stay was disappointing, being let down by these points. It may be that we just chose the wrong time of year and after so much rainfall and bad weather we failed to see the farm and area at its best. I would imagine that springtime or summer would have been a far better time to have visited. Our almost £1500 for 3 nights was not money well spent on this occasion.

Thank you for your feedback. The parking area was a little wet that week as we had had lots of the wet weather the UK has had this winter The electric heaters are not storage. They are set in every room at 22 degrees. The instruction booklet is with the Lodge information, showing how each can be altered. On re-entering the property I noticed some had been altered by the guests to only work during daytime hours, which may explain why they didn't seem to be getting hotter. Rugs are constantly being replaced, some are only 8 weeks old. the 2 double mattresses and 2 of the singles have been replaced over last 2 years. Other mattresses will be replaced over coming year. We have not been told by previous guests there is an issue. All are clean and have protectors We will check locks on doors, thank you for bringing that to my attention. I've replaced the mirror that had had a chip in its frame. I'm so sorry if a curtain rail had been knocked off its bracket. We all missed it or caught it as we were finishing cleaning I had lit the lounge fire for the guests arrival. I used the kindling, fire lighters, free logs and woods we provided. It was really warm in there and the guests just needed to keep the fire going. There were several free bags left unused. if the guests had contacted me I could have told them of several places near us to buy there own fire wood if they were not happy with the free ones. Even on Christmas Day they can be purchased locally. For me its always beautiful here. especially if you enjoy the seasons the peace and outdoors We are continuously decorating and replacing where needed. Any of the above would have been sorted for the guests had they contacted us. We live only 100 yards away and had already spoken to them by email. Sykes owner relations
Mrs Council October 2019

“Whilst we did enjoy our holiday, we were disappointed in not being able to walk to the village.”

In the description of the holiday cottage, it was a mile walk to the village which was perfect after knee surgery and having small children with us and one of the reasons we booked it. However the only access to walk to the village were 2 bridges both of which were closed and had been for some time. This was not mentioned in the description and feel quite aggrieved that we were not informed beforehand.
Mr Jackson August 2019

“The cottage was nice but needed a good clean and some tlc, wood provided for the hot tub only lasted one night”
Mrs Bell July 2019

“The advert says that there is a shop and pub within one mile.”

this is not possible to get to. the nearest village is a 6 mile drive and that's wear the pub and shop are. you cannot walk it with children. the cottage was not very clean on arrival. With sweet rappers and dirty tissues still in draws and socks and old food on the sofa and a grubby fridge and a general grubby kitchen and utensils.The bridges that your advert says you can walk over to get into gainford are all there . infact there are 3 bridges all within 2 miles of eachother. we walked to all 3. non of them are useable. all been blocked off with 8 foot iron fencing and look like they have been for many years so you cannot get to any village by foot.The owners didn't seem to know this but the villagers and farming locals did. the hot tub was nice but didn't have any chlorine tablets in the pot so after 3 days the water was slimey and pond like so therefore unusable after that.The actual place was beautiful. the scenery was stunning. the children liked the sheep ,llamas and cows.lovely to see them when you open the front door. the water pressure is a little low but not a major problem. the kitchen could benefit with a couple more pots and pans but that's all really. We had a lovely holiday and within an hour's drive there is quite a bit to do. I would highly recommended beamish museum . That is a full day out with lots for all ages to enjoy. If you could walk to the shop/pub as advertised and the cottage was cleaner then the holiday would of been amazing.

The nearest shop and pub walking are Eppleby village 3 miles walk from Lodge on bridle path and country road and pub at Winston village 2 miles on bridle path. Gainford is just 1 mile away when bridge is open The fishermen were using one bridge but it has been closed recently, not by us and we are unaware who closed it. We have been informed there is to be a river crossing re-opened by Durham council, but do not know when this will be. Pre arrival all guests are sent an email instructing them to read all hot tub information pre using it. They are asked reply to confirm they will do this The hot tub information (which is in all cottages )instructs guests that a sterilizing tablet has been put into the water and should last 7 days. The hot tubs are filled with fresh water for the arrival of every guest. During extreme heat like last week I imagine after a few days the water may develop a film. The hot tubs have a plug just like a bath, so can be emptied and re-filled if necessary. The outside tap has a hosepipe attached. There would probably have still been some of the sterilising tablet in the bottom of the tub as they take a week to dissolve if the water has not been heated Alternatively, as we live just 100m away one of us would have gladly provided a new tablet. myself, my son and husband all carry mobiles and always reply asap. We definitely had passed on our phone numbers as I was texted when you arrived to say "The Lodge was beautiful Im so sorry if there was a drawer overlooked by the cleaners. Recent feedback has been good but I will remind them to be extra vigilant, as will I. We will purchase more pans etc as there may have been some breakages during this busy period . Once again, thank you for your comments. Sykes owner relations
Mr Gillings June 2019

“We stayed here as a large family with 3 generations and it worked wonderfully well.”

Beautiful setting and lovely stat
Mrs Wilcock April 2019

“We had a truly amazing time.”

Location is very rural and just what we hoped for. Cottage contained everything we needed, very spacious and comfortable - layout worked really well for large family, large dinning room and lounge to all get together - spread out bedrooms and bathrooms so you aren't on top of each other. Hosts fantastic - available when needed. The children loved all the animals, playing with the sheep dogs, seeing the goats, horses and even feeding the lambs. Local pub and chippy well worth a visit. The Lodge is real find and excellent base for travelling out to explore the Dales.
Mrs Burton March 2019

“Peaceful scenic location.”

The lodge is lovely and spacious. The kitchen is somewhat unusual as it is in two sections however it wasn't a problem and was very well equipped. Some of the bathrooms were a little dated however everything was clean. Our grandchildren loved the alpacas and pygmy goats that are on the farm. The owners were welcoming and informative and kindly lent us their compressor as we had a flat tyre. We shall most certainly return to Barforth Hall.
Martylow January 2019

“Brilliant Pre Xmas Trip”

We stayed here just before Xmas and it was beautiful. The location is great, very peaceful and the lodge is perfect for big family get togethers. The hot tub takes some getting going but we soon got the hang of it and it is well worth the effort. There are also lots of friendly animals near by, from horses to llamas (careful they spit!) And the owners couldn't be more welcoming. We will definitely be back soon and maybe try out one of the smaller cottages.
Miss Greenwood December 2018

“Key factor in choosing was disabled friendly but, although it had a wet room and was mostly on one level, you couldn’t get a wheelchair into most of the rooms and the wet room and several other rooms were down small steps.”

I find this more and more - disabled friendly is not properly checked. I expect better of Sykes. The hot tub is unusable as, in cold weather, the access is treacherous (again up steps) and the tub is just a large wooden tub with a fire under it so no way of regulating and takes a ridiculous amount of time to heat. I note this was stated in a previous review which you said you would amend and you haven’t. It may as well not be on the features as it’s unusable. The cottage was cold on one side, the heaters in the bedrooms did not work effectively and in our room never worked all the time we were there. Insufficient wood for fires was supplied presumably so we could then be charged for buying extra. When the fires were going, it was warm but that heat didn’t reach the left side bedrooms (this is obviously two cottages that have been turned into one). The furniture is poor in the living room, far too big and does not seat the numbers the place is supposed to accommodate. The suite needs replacing, especially the recliner chair. The TV in there is ludicrously huge and cannot be watched from all the chairs. Good facilities in the kitchen but again both fridge areas down steps. Some of the walks are inaccessible in spite of the (misleading) guide in the cottage. The llamas spit and are not friendly although the goats are - not a problem but should be mentioned. I didn’t deal with the owners but was told they were very nice. However, we encountered a quite rude young woman as we’re were leaving the property and she was arriving who seemed totally unwilling to give way or sort the congestion issue. It’s very isolated and we were worried about the access in the bad weather we encountered, lots of pot holes in the track to the farm buildings and cottages. Wouldn’t go back.
Mrs Burbanks December 2018

“We spent Christmas 2018 here and it was fantastic.”

The owners were very approachable and very kindly left us a lovely welcome pack. We initially had an issue with the water on one side of the cottage but they immediately explained how to use the system and after that we had no problems. The cottage is well equipped and spacious. There are plenty of rooms for everyone to have their own space and the communal areas are big enough to accommodate everyone together. The kitchen is split into 2 and we had initial concerns but we had nothing to worry about. We managed to cater for everyone easily including cooking a Christmas dinner for 12 people and 2 dogs! The views from all areas of the cottage are stunning and it was nice to take a walk around the local area. It is only about a 15 minute drive from Barnard Castle which is a lovely place and we highly recommend a trip there. The cottage is situated in a peaceful place with no through traffic so everyone in our party was relaxed and slept well. A big thumbs up from us and we would love to go back there.
Mr Whitworth November 2018

“The hot water system is inadequate for ten people.”

There wasn’t a cloth or any cleaning materials to clean a toilet or a spill, no dishwasher tablets. No hand wash. Outside security lights not working. Only a couple of loo rolls. A bucket of dirty water and a mop was left in the middle of one of the “kitchen” floors when we arrived.There needs to be a proper working kitchen, not the mish mash that is just the two kitchens knocked into one with neither being functional, having to go into different rooms to a fridge. On the plus side the beds were clean and comfortable. The location was fine with ample parking and was in a nice quiet location and the garden was secure. Having stayed in many cottages over the years this had the least facilities and home comforts and as such was very over priced. They need to up their game. Glad it was only a long weekend as we all agreed we would not want to stay a week. A pity as it has potential.

Many thanks for voicing your grievances regarding this property, unfortunately, due to the size of Sykes’ portfolio of properties, we can't visit every property on a weekly basis. That said, your words have given us cause for concern with our standards at this property and we are now investigating the matters raised. We do value all feedback and visit our properties on regular intervals where necessary. If you wish to discuss or elaborate more on the issues raised, please feel free to contact the Sykes office on the details below, quoting your booking reference number and any other information that may assist us in providing the best possible outcome and customer service. Our lines are open 7 days a week from 9am until 7pm. Sykes owner relations
RosieDavis1 October 2018

“Absolutely FANTASTIC”

I loved my stay at this cottage and so did all of my family. The scenery is gorgeous and there is so many places to explore and adventure like the river tees which is an amazing walk and old ruins. We all felt so at home and we have visited multiple times with the family as it’s a great get away for everyone to relax. Therefore I strongly suggest this place for anyone to visit X
Mrs Barnes October 2018

“We had a lovely holiday.”

Cottage was warm and welcoming and owners very helpful. Minor improvements.; Could do with some table mats, serving spoons (non slatted) and one or two smaller pans. I think pets are welcome although it said not on the details. Didn’t affect us but wondered if it might increase bookings for the owners if this was clear.
Mr Tuckwell August 2018

“Have put complaint in and sent photos in it is wrong photos of cottage on ...”

Have put complaint in and sent photos in it is wrong photos of cottage on website don't match my photos feel robed of week we can't get back
tracypringle23 January 2018

“Lovely break”

Just returned from a great few days here. There’s lots of space and all you need for a relaxing break. Lovely surroundings and beautiful countryside. It snowed whilst we there and was picturesque. The owners were welcoming and helpful ensuring we got back onto the main roads safely.
LKT_9 January 2018

“Perfect place to get away from it all.”

This was our third visit to Barforth and our second stay at The Lodge, where we spent a great New Year with the family, including our grandchildren. The location is amazing, tucked away in the countryside with fantastic views. The Lodge is very spacious with ample room for everyone to spend time together. It was clean and tidy and had everything needed for a self catering stay. There were games and DVD's supplied too. We received a lovely box of chocolates along with our welcome pack, which was a lovely gesture. The fact that it is dog friendly is great too, it meant my daughter could bring her dog along, he had a great time investigating the countryside. We all had an amazing time as we did on our first visit back in May. We will definitely be back for another visit (if not 2) this year. The owners are so friendly and always happy to help if needed - I cannot recommend enough.
dominiquef413 January 2018

“Beautiful!”

Stayed at the lodge with friends this week and had a wonderful time! Was really clean and comfortable and great value for money for a 12 bed cottage. Loved using the hot tub, even in the cold weather. Beautiful views and surrounding countryside and loved being able to see all the farm animals! Owners were lovely and welcoming. Would definitely stay again :)
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Barforth Hall Cottages

Gainford 6 miles. These charming cottages are set in a beautiful rural location in the grounds of Barforth Hall, six miles from the village of Gainford and eight miles from Barnard Castle. They form part of a group of former farm buildings and provide an excellent base for touring this unspoilt and historic area. Featuring a variety of accommodation, these ground floor cottages provide wonderful holiday homes for couples, families and groups of friends who want to relax and discover County Durham and the Yorkshire Dales. The cottages are an ideal base for animal lovers as there are horses in stables next door, and just across the entrance is a small paddock, which is home to a family of alpacas. Footpaths spread off in every direction straight from the door, including a lovely trail which meanders along next to the river, or you can pop to the pretty village of Gainford, home to a shop and pub. There are plenty of opportunities for cycling, hiking and touring in this beautifully scenic area, with Hamsterley Forest, the deer park at nearby Raby Castle, or you can discover the waterfalls at High Force and Cauldron Snout. The market town of Barnard Castle, with cobbled streets and the Bowes Museum, is within reach, plus a short drive brings you into the heart of Durham, with its majestic cathedral standing high above the River Wear. These lovely cottages provide well-equipped accommodation in a wonderful countryside location.

The property

This single-storey, detached cottage provides the perfect base for a group of friends and large families to get together and enjoy a break in the great outdoors.

It features a spacious sitting room with a 50" TV and a cosy woodburning stove, ideal for sitting round to catch up on old times and enjoy the odd round of drinks.

The separate dining room also features a woodburning stove, as well as a TV and a sitting area, ideal for a smaller group to enjoy a chat and share a bottle of wine.

The six bedrooms are individually styled and decorated, and provide flexible sleeping arrangements for whatever group size is required.

There are two bathrooms, a shower room, wet room and a separate cloakroom, ensuring that guests have all the facilities to enjoy that well-earned break in the country.

Outside, the spacious grounds have an Italian masonry-style barbecue and a wood-fired hot tub, making it a great place to chill, enjoy the country views and just reflect on another great day out.

Whether you stay close to home or head out to explore Teesdale and beyond, this is a family cottage to be enjoyed at any time of the year.

Note: This property can be booked with Refs. 915731, 927830 and 927831, together they sleep 21.

Summary

All ground floor
Six bedrooms: 2 x king-size double (one with TV), 2 x double (one with TV), 1 x twin, 1 x twin with 3 x single and 2 x single (suitable for children up to 10)
Two bathrooms with bath, basin and WC
Wet room with walk-in shower, basin and WC
Shower room with shower, basin and WC
Basin and WC
Kitchen with dining area (seats 6)
Dining room (seats 4) with woodburning stove and sitting area (seats 2)
Sitting room with woodburning stove.
Electric central heating with woodburning stoves
Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, washing machine, dishwasher, 4 x TVs with Freeview, DVD, WiFi, selection of books, games and DVDs
Fuel and power inc. in rent
Fuel for hot tub and woodburning stoves
Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
Cot and highchair on request
Off road parking for 5 cars
Bike storage
Spacious garden with wood-fired hot tub, furniture and BBQ
Two well-behaved pets welcome
Sorry, no smoking
Shop and pub 1 mile
Note: There are riding stables next to the cottage and stabling can be arranged at additional cost through the owner
Note: Access to the property is via a one-mile narrow track, which is a bit rough in places, but isn't pot holed or rutted
Note: The tables in the dining room and kitchen can be combined to seat 10-12 people
Please note the wood burning hot tub can take up to 5 hours to heat up and needs to started and maintained by yourself during your stay, you need to stay with the fire once it is lit
More information is available in the property.

About the location

GAINFORD

Barnard Castle 8 miles; Darlington 8 miles; Richmond 13 miles.

Gainford is a pretty village in Teesdale, standing on the River Tees at the boundary with Yorkshire. The village offers a scattering of Georgian houses set on an unspoilt village green, as well as a newsagents/general store, fish and chip shop and a pub, and is close to spectacular waterfalls, sweeping moorlands and magnificent castles. There is also one Michelin starred restaurant within easy reach of the village, giving the opportunity to dine out in luxury. Ancient market towns dot the area and the historic town of Barnard Castle lies within easy reach, boasting castle remains overlooking the town, as well as the impressive Bowes Museum. Built as an impressive French-style chateau, the museum houses a magnificent collection of fine and decorative art. Other places of interest close to Gainford are the ruins of Egglestone Abbey and Rokeby Hall, High Force, Cauldron’s Snout, Derwent Reservoir, and Hexham with its stately abbey, as well as the magnificent cathedral city of Durham. A little further afield the Yorkshire Dales National Park, North York Moors, Lake District, Northumberland National Park and the coastal towns of Whitby and Saltburn are all within easy driving distance.

Region Information

Yorkshire Cottage Holidays

Note: It may be possible to arrange matching changeover days for this property with the others in the group, if they are being booked together. Please contact Sykes for more information.

This property offers the following short breaks:

Winter
Off-season
Last minute
Christmas

Barforth Hall Lodge

Gainford near Barnard Castle, Yorkshire Dales - North (Ref. 919938)

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“We went to Barforth to celebrate my sisters 30th as a family.”

“2 of the 3 cars we arrived in had to be parked on wet/boggy ground.”

“Whilst we did enjoy our holiday, we were disappointed in not being able to walk to the village.”

“The cottage was nice but needed a good clean and some tlc, wood provided for the hot tub only lasted one night”

“The advert says that there is a shop and pub within one mile.”

“We stayed here as a large family with 3 generations and it worked wonderfully well.”

“We had a truly amazing time.”

“Peaceful scenic location.”

“Brilliant Pre Xmas Trip”

“Key factor in choosing was disabled friendly but, although it had a wet room and was mostly on one level, you couldn’t get a wheelchair into most of the rooms and the wet room and several other rooms were down small steps.”

“We spent Christmas 2018 here and it was fantastic.”

“The hot water system is inadequate for ten people.”

“Absolutely FANTASTIC”

“We had a lovely holiday.”

“Have put complaint in and sent photos in it is wrong photos of cottage on ...”

“Lovely break”

“Perfect place to get away from it all.”

“Beautiful!”