Cromer House Barn in the heart of Frosterley village, Frosterley, County Durham

County Durham. Sleeps up to 2

Our cosy converted 18th century barn, full of character and charm, provides high quality accommodation for two. As a green business, the conversion has been done in the most eco way possible given the age of the building. The barn has its own secluded wildlife friendly garden area, adjacent log store/laundry room, off road parking and good local amenities all within a few minutes walk.

Ideal for romantic breaks, as well as walking and cycling, the barn provides an excellent base for exploring the unspoilt landscapes of the Durham Dales and the stunning Northumberland coast, as well as visiting the historic city of Durham, Hadrian's Wall, and the attractive market towns of Barnard Castle and Hexham.

Downstairs the barn has a well-equipped kitchen (including fridge-freezer, dishwasher and microwave), a dining area, and wet room. Towels are provided (one large bath towel and one hand towel per person).

The upstairs studio accommodation includes a 5' kingsize bed, comfortable sofa and two armchairs, television with Freeview and DVD player. The barn has free wifi, but mobile coverage is not great in Frosterley, as we are right under the mast. It seems to be best on Vodafone and O2, but is still patchy. In the Barn, we find it's best if you give your phone a few minutes after arrival to pick up the signal, and then it should be fine for calls and apps. The signal is best upstairs.

We have installed a highly efficient wood-burning stove in the upstairs studio area which also provides downstairs central heating and hot water. Free logs are supplied. Additional hot water and heating is supplied by a solar panel and an electric immersion using a thermal store.

A travel cot can be provided free of charge if required.

Adjacent to the barn is a laundry room and log store, which can be accessed through an internal door downstairs. This houses a washing machine, tumble dryer, drying rack, ironing board and iron, as well as a supply of logs for use during your stay. The room also opens directly on to part of the garden via bi-fold doors and in warmer weather can be used as sheltered sun room, as it catches the morning sun. This external access also means the room can be used to provide secure undercover cycle storage.

We are a non-smoking establishment.

There is off-road parking for one car. Access to the barn is across cobbled and semi-paved paths through a courtyard garden (please see the photos). The property is not accessible for wheelchairs.

The barn enjoys good local amenities, including a very good Co-op supermarket, two friendly pubs, and an excellent fish and chip shop. The Black Bull at the west end of the village is a real ale pub, with guest beers and a restaurant, while the Frosterley Inn is a friendly pub at the east end of the village. We are also close to the Weardale Railway and the village playing field. All are within approximately 5 minutes walk.

Walking and Cycling: Weardale is ideal for walking and cycling. You'll find information leaflets and route maps in the barn. There are several walks around Frosterley, but many others further up the dale in the villages of Stanhope, Westgate, St John's Chapel and Cowshill. A whole range of cycle routes take in our local villages as well as the nearby town of Bishop Auckland, Edmundbyers and Killhope, plus a range of mixed ability cycle tracks in nearby Hamsterley Forest.

Places to Visit: For culture and the arts we're 30 minutes from Kynren and Bishop Auckland castle, 40–45 minutes from Newcastle and Gateshead – for the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, the Sage Gateshead and the Tyneside Cinema – as well as Durham with its beautiful cathedral and castle. Raby Castle, Beamish Open Air Museum, The Bowes Museum, Locomotion National Railway Museum, Killhope Lead Mining Museum, and the waterfalls at High Force and Low Force are all within a 40–50 minutes drive. We're about an hour's drive from the Durham Heritage Coast, which stretches from Sunderland, through Seaham to Hartlepool. Further afield for longer days out are Alnwick Garden, the National Trust property Cragside, the spectacular beaches at Druridge Bay and Bamburgh, Kielder Water and Holy Island.

Located in Bishop Auckland, this vacation home is in a rural area. Killhope Lead Mining Museum and Weardale Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's attractions include Hall Hill Farm and Eggleston Hall. Discover the area's water adventures with fishing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with mountain biking and cycling.

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