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6 Guests
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3 Bedrooms
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3 Bathrooms
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Pets No
Features
- Off road parking
- Open fire
- Garden / Patio
- Cot available
- Highchair available
- Washing machine
- Dishwasher
- Broadband / WiFi
Reviews & Ratings
38 Customer Reviews
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"Blake Hall is a stunning property set in an equally stunning location."
We enjoyed a fabulously comfortable and peaceful week and would love to return. Highly recommend a visit.
We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed your stay. Thank you for leaving the property so clean and tidy. It is much appreciated. Property Owner
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"This is the nicest holiday cottage I have ever stayed in its not just a home ..."
This is the nicest holiday cottage I have ever stayed in its not just a home from home, its better than you own home, we could not fault anything from the location to the standard of finish, we were pleased that the sofas are now a plush velvet and not the leather ones on the website, as I am not a fan of those, it was so well done
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"The cottage is very well appointed and was spotlessly clean."
It had everything we needed including fantastic views.
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"Excellent in every way."
Fantastic cottage internally and externally. Great location with fantastic views. I would highly recommend it. We mat owner of cottage Liz and Keith, they are very helpful. Big thank to Liz and Keith. Kishor & Nina
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"Fantastic location lovely views from all the rooms, great walks near by."
The best equipped kitchen we have ever stayed in the last 30 years, so eating in was a pleasure. The cottage has been finished off to a very high standard. Even when it was torrential rain and really cold outside the cottage was warm and extremely cosy for the six of us as we celebrated the new year. We will be going back in the summer months for the good weather and to sit outside of the fabulous patio area. Great relaxing time was had by all.
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"An amazing place…."
The inside tastefully decorated by the owners, the outside stunningly landscaped by nature. A spiritual settings. The cottage was spotless, spacious, warm, well equipped and maintained. Liz and Keith, the owners, were lovely, helpful, friendly but not intrusive. The information about the cottage and the area that they provided was useful, straightforward, fluff and gobbledygook free and easy to understand. We like our holidays to be restful and peaceful and away from the hustle and bustle of the big towns. The remoteness of the area certainly provided that. However, Barnard Castle and other locations for restaurants, supermarkets and every other shopping needs were just a short drive away. This is a holiday cottage that we will return to again and again. After all, there aren’t t many places that I’ve visited where I got a kiss and a hug from the owner. (Sorry Keith, I am better looking than you, Liz said).
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"This is our second stay at Blake Hall and just as wonderful as our first."
The owners have taken the time to make a superb accommodation in a fantastic location. We give them a very high recommendation to any one we tell. Looking forward to coming again.
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"Perfect in every way."
Location, owners attention to detail, one of the best, maybe the best hired cottage we have stayed in. Can't wait to return.
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"The property is beautiful, wonderfully converted in an idyllic location."
Everything needed to self-cater was provided, we didn't want for anything.
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"We loved the barn and enjoyed our holiday."
I was impressed with the high standards and especially the cleanliness of the place. I'm particular about cleanliness and always wash everything in the kitchen before I use it. How refreshing that for once I didn't have to do that, everything was spotless. We loved everything about the barn, the quality in every room especially in the lounge, was outstanding!!! We have been booking cottages for 30yrs now but this one is by far the best, you will not be disappointed. The propriater thought of everything, not just in the kitchen but everywhere. Fabulous walks straight from the doorstep, very private, you can just sit in the kitchen and enjoy the view and watch the wild life and the walkers in the distance. Loved every minute and would love to go back.
We are pleased you enjoyed your stay and appreciated the wildlife. Property Owner
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"Beautiful well equipped and comfortable accommodation in peaceful setting."
Immaculately clean. Nice quality bed linen which is always a good sign
It is nice to know that our guests have felt comfortable in the cottage. Property Owner
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"If you're looking for peace and quiet with walks from the doorstep, then this certainly fits the bill."
Lovely clean and atmospheric property
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"Wonderful place to stay, everything we could possibly need."
Beautifully furnished. For our US friends, one from Los Angeles and two from Seattle, a total contrast to their homes. Their first visit to Teesdale and our 5th and it didn't disappoint, the wonderful birds all around and the flower meadows, England at it's best.
Pleased to hear you enjoyed your stay and watching the abundant wildlife. It was a pleasure talking to you all. Property Owner
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"Blake Hall was amazing, and looked even more amazing in person."
The location was very rural but that was perfect for us. Blake Hall was the perfect place to spend a wk, we walked everyday, would love to go back and would highly recommend
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"Blake Hall has everything you could wish for."
As other people have said it is the very best we have ever stayed in. All standards are second to none and it's position for exploring is perfect, from the Dale's to North York moors to Cumbria and the Pennines its all with in easy driving distance. I,m sure when you walk in to Blake Hall you'll go WOW. And Keith and Liz are two lovely people.
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"A really lovely stay thank you!"
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"Excellent in all aspects."
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"This property is one of the most cleanest comfortable property we have ever stopped in."
The owners are on hand if necessary, but not intrusive. The make sure you are comfortable and have every thing you could possibly want. The welcome pack is very generous. We really enjoyed our stay. If you like peace and quiet, lovely countryside views and nature this place has it all in abundance. Would highly recommend this property.
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"This property is one of the most comfortable, clean and has lovely facilities that we have ever stopped in."
We are definitely going to return. The owners could not have been more helpful when Storm Arwen hit us on the middle weekend of our two week stay. They checked we where okay each day and gave us everything they could to make this part of the holiday as comfortable as possible without having any power or communication. Unfortunately we did leave early as we could not find out when power would be reconnected. Such a shame as we had such a lovely first week holiday at this fantastic property. It is a shame we did not get the response we hoped for from Sykes and there recommended insurance policy that we took out.. Sykes could learn a lot from the owners of the properties on how to communicate and treat loyal customers. So 5 starts plus to the Owners of Blake Hall and zero minus to Sykes and there lack of care.
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"We have stayed at many cottages over the years, and we can say with all honesty that this cottage is the best so far."
It has been refurbished and equipped to a very high standard and we could not pick fault. The owners were friendly and obliging. Would recommend to anyone.
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"Property was immaculately clean and furnished comfortably."
Lovely walks available straight out the door with wonderful scenery and nature all around. Our stay was a complete switch off and recharge.
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"Wow, wow, wow!"
!! Blake Hall must be one of the best places we have ever stayed in. Beautiful cottage in stunning location. We wanted to stay in all the time because it was so good. Keith and Liz definitely go the extra mile, including ordering, collecting and delivering our daughter’s 30th birthday cake for our arrival.
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"The cottage was beautifully clean and far exceeded expectations."
Wonderfully comfortable beds, cosy lounge, fabulous kitchen. Lovely welcome pack with biscuits and chocolates and milk. When the kettle broke the owner dropped a new one in later that day. I always think having soap at all the sinks and dishwasher tablets and washing up liquid and loads of spare toilet rolls is a real sign of a well presented cottage especially during the pandemic it is a sign that the owners really care about keeping everyone safe. Thank you so much.
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"The house is the best starting point for hill walking we have used in over forty years, everything about it was excellent."
The underfloor heating was perfect. The weather we had was not brilliant for summer so it was a good place to stay if the weather was too poor for walking. The wildlife was amazing. We saw lots of different species that we have seldom seen before, both on the ground and in the air. It was also good to see the people walking northwards on the upper parts of the Pennine Way. The owners are lovely people and could not have been more helpful. We hope to go back there again before long.
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"This is a beautiful property in an excellent, isolated position."
The owners, who live nearby, clearly care for it very well - it was absolutely spotlessly clean and very welcoming. The heating system (a silent ground source heat pump providing heated floors throughout), combined with superb insulation, make this a cosy place to be, whatever the weather is like outside. The fact that Ecover products are provided and used throughout give a further indication that the owners are committed to high standards - the same is true for the towels, bedding and kitchen equipment. The woodburning stove is also very well chosen and has an effective guard for those with young children. The property has obviously been refurbished to a really high specification rather than down to a price and this is reflected in all aspects. I particularly liked the huge kitched table - my children like board games / jigsaw puzzles, so it was ideal. If you are looking for somewhere away from the crowds and appreciate neutral colour schemes, oak and slate floors, plenty of space and the confidence that a fully equipped and clean property awaits you, then look no further. I'd return in a heartbeat.........
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"Blake Hall was a beautiful and immaculate cottage."
The views are outstanding as is the surrounding area. We couldn’t have hoped for a more welcoming, cosy and comfortable stay. Liz and Keith are to be highly commended.
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"If you like peace and quiet with walks from the doorstep, this is a wonderful place to stay."
The property itself is very well proportioned and secluded, and the owners are very helpful Great holiday!!
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"Fantastic cottage in beautiful location."
Blake Hall has been designed to a very high standard with everything we needed for a relaxing holiday. There are really good walks from the doorstep and plenty of places to visit in local area. Lovely welcoming owners who were really helpful.
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"The most beautiful accomodation, so high spec, beautifully clean and comfortable we didn't want to leave."
The welcome pack was a really lovely treat. The walks straight out the door are great (straight onto the Pennine way) and the local villages are really nice. We really enjoyed how remote the location was yet not at all stranded as the owners are just up the road at the farm and there's a landline. Under floor heating throughout is amazing!! The water is so soft my skin feels like I've been at a spa. We had a great time.
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"Fabulous barn conversion."
No expense spared and done to a very high standard. Very spacious, everything you need. Had a fabulous weekend with friends.
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"This is a beautiful barn conversion in a remote location, the interior is exactly as shown in the photos - high spec furniture and decor and quality appliances."
It is the very best holiday home we have ever hired!
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"We left this beautiful place with heavy hearts."
A truly lovely cottage in a fabulous location. The cottage has everything you could wish for and so much care has been taken to ensure a great holiday.
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"Blakes Hall is a wonderful place to stay with every need considered."
Although the actual cottage is remote the A66 is easily reached within a few minutes. I would thoroughly recommend this lovely cottage and would book again. Oxfordshire
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"Blake Hall is the most wonderfully incredible place."
Everything, and I mean everything is provided for. It is the most beautiful, comfortable rental we have stayed in and we are incredibly grateful to the owners. There was never a dull moment with the wildlife outside as the sheep were always giving something to laugh about. Thank you so much.
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"Blake Hall is absolutely lovely and probably the best cottage we have ever stayed in."
The rooms are all large and well decorated and the kitchen especially was huge and well equipped with a giant sized table taking centre stage, in fact even though it was as lovely as the rest of the cottage, we hardly used the lounge as we did most things in the kitchen, we were out most days walking and on return cooked dinner. Plenty of games in the cupboard for the evenings if you are gamey people but we just played our own Rummikub :-) The beds were all very comfortable and the bathroom/shower facilities all first class. Our hosts Liz and Keith were great and very helpful if ever we needed anything. As it says in the description it is remote but that suited us as being interested in astronomy and the stars, we were able to see lots at night when the skies were clear. Next time though we would go a bit later in the year so that it gets darker a bit earlier. There are lots of walks in the area and in fact the nicest one we did started right outside the house so no need to drive, and also lots of things to do and see locally. A great cottage, Doug, Oxford
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"Blake Hall is a lovely place to stay."
Beautifully quiet in a lovely location. Yes it is remote and up a single track road, but really just a few minutes from the A66 and Barnard Castle. If there was anything we would change, and it is a small thing, we would want more than 6 mugs instead of a lot of cups. It is so annoying when all the mugs are in the dishwasher but that is our personal preference.
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"Beautiful barn conversion in a stunning location."
Ideal for getting away from it all. Perfect for walking and watching wildlife right on the doorstep. Comfy beds in all rooms and huge kitchen/diner with lovely views beyond.
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"The kitchen was particularly lovely and very well equipped."
There was a welcome pack including a bottle of wine - thank you very much. Absolutely no complaints but a suggestion of a couple of rugs in the living room may make it a little cosier?? The position, if you want to be away from it all, is perfect and the views spectacular. A most enjoyable weekend of walking.
Summary
- Three bedrooms
- 1 x king-size double with en-suite shower room with shower, basin and WC, 1 x super king size double bedroom (zip/link, can be twins on request), 1 x twin
- Bathroom with bath, shower, basin and WC
- Ground floor shower room with basin and WC
- Kitchen/diner
- Utility
- Sitting room with woodburning stove.
- Ground source underfloor central heating with woodburning stove
- Double electric range oven and induction hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, washer/dryer, Smart TV, WiFi, selection of books and games
- Fuel and power inc. in rent
- Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
- Travel cot, highchair and stairgate available
- Off-road parking for 4 cars
- Lockable bike storage
- Enclosed patio with furniture and BBQ
- Sorry, no pets and no smoking
- Shop and pub 3.5 miles
- Note: Please can guests always remove outdoor shoes in the utility room and bring alternative indoor footwear
- Note: The property is quite remote and the roads are unlit
- Note: Owner provides logs for woodburning stove sufficient enough for one evening, the logs will be stored in the garden shed.
The property
A spacious, stone-built barn conversion in a tranquil and rural setting, a stone's throw from the pretty village of Bowes.
Converted from a 200-year-old agricultural barn, in the heart of farming country, Blake Hall features salvaged timbers from the renovation in the door frames and kitchen table.
Warm, hand finished timber floors add to the sense of character and history of this property.
With underfloor heating powered by ground source heat pump throughout and a modern woodburning stove in the sitting room, Blake Hall is the perfect country escape.
It appeals to those looking for peace and quiet, great walking and cycling adventures, displaying glorious views across adjacent fields and hills from every room.
The ground floor oozes quality and comfort and boasts a sizeable, farmhouse kitchen/dining room with patio doors to the garden, perfect for entertaining in the summer, allowing a breeze to drift through.
The hand crafted kitchen table takes centre stage and is an impressive addition to this interior space.
The utility offers a useful space to store shoes and boots, with washing facilities to make your stay a comfortable one.
Overlooking the patio and with simply lovely views, is the sitting room with plush sofas to curl up on, a woodburner and wall mounted, Smart TV.
The master bedroom upstairs consists of a sumptuous king-size bed with a beautiful en-suite shower room.
Next to this is the sizeable family bathroom.
Lastly, the first floor is complete with a twin room and a further double bedroom with quality oak furniture.
This glorious barn conversion is the perfect place to escape to, and from which to explore Bowes, Barnard Castle, Teesdale and the wider area.
It really has it all; peace, tranquillity and vast skies that seem to go on forever.
The nearby market town of Barnard Castle is a delight with its historic ruins atop an escarpment, overlooking the river and its quaint cobbled Victorian shops.
The famous Bowes Museum is always worth a visit with its world-class collections of textiles, glass and silver.
For those who like to feel the wind in their hair, why not explore High Force waterfalls and the famous Raby Castle Deer Park?
Blake Hall has something to offer all year around.
Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £100.
About the location
BOWES
Barnard Castle 4 miles.
The pretty village of Bowes is situated amid the unspoilt countryside of Teesdale, in County Durham. The village boasts a traditional old pub and has a long history dating back to the Romans. Its most famous landmark is Bowes Castle, built on the site of the original Roman fort soon after the Norman Conquest. Bowes also has a significant connection with Charles Dickens and Dotheboys Hall in the heart of the village is believed to have been the inspiration for Nicholas Nickleby. Nearby is the market town of Barnard Castle, whose medieval ruins still tower over the river and are well worth a visit. The town itself boasts cobbled streets, yards and back lanes that were originally laid in the 12th Century. Within easy reach are the Bowes Museum, Pennine and Teesdale Ways, the River Tees and the magnificent waterfalls at High Force.