Church Cottage

95 Customer Reviews

• "Lovely cottage every thing you need in the cottage for a lovely holiday, plenty of walks from the door"

  Reviewed by Carol5.0★Oct 2024

• "I’m going to start with the positives of which there are many."

  Great location, really close to the centre of Barnard Castle yet felt really tucked away & quiet. (Though do bring ear buds if you’re a light sleeper as the church bells ring every 30 mins through the night). The cottage kitchen is really well equipped - it has everything you could possibly need. Comfortable beds & sofas & the cottage feels really spacious yet cosy. However, when we stayed in September, it obviously hadn’t had a good deep clean for a very long time. The kitchen table felt sticky & the kitchen cupboards doors & radiators really needed a good scrub to remove tea stains & general kitchen grease & grime. There was thick dust on the fire surrounds & on top of the dressing table mirrors in both bedrooms & on the plug sockets & skirting boards behind the beds & sofas. In the bathroom, around the taps, bath & shower screen was absolutely filthy & I had to clean this before we could use it. There are lots of fake flowers & plants throughout the cottage which were also thick with dust. I did message the owners on departure & offered to send them pictures but they said they would go round & organise the cleaners to come in to do a deep clean. I really do hope so as this really spoilt it for us & it’s a real shame as the cottage itself is beautiful.

  Reviewed by Zoe3.4★Sep 2024

• "Beautiful cottage, very well equipped and comfortable."

  Ideally located in town with many good eating establishments and lots of lovely shops. Surrounding area has glorious scenery with plenty of attractions to visit. Thoroughly enjoyed our stay and would like to return again.

  Reviewed by Wilf4.7★Sep 2024

• "We would like to return next year for another week and possibly two in July/August and recommend it to friends."

  Reviewed by Michael5.0★Jul 2024

• "Lovely cottage nice and cosy, easy walking into Barnard castle, nice walks by the river and the woods, good pub grub nice and friendly and dog friendly too."

  Would visit again

  Reviewed by John5.0★Jun 2024

• "Lovely well equipped cottage , every thing we needed for an enjoyable stay."

  Well positioned for our break as we were able to visit historical places with out travelling to far. Beautiful historic town, good shops cafes n markets Hope to return in future vx

  Reviewed by Veronica5.0★Apr 2024

• "Absolutely loved it."

  Cottage lovely very welcoming. My dogs lived the walks.nice clean n quiet area..town 10 mins walk away.lovely shops.friendly people

  Reviewed by Susan5.0★Apr 2024

• "Barnard castle has a bustling high street, with many varied shops."

  Church cottage is well situated only 2min walk from high street. Cottage comfortable and well equipped. Only one small niggle was the fact that there is nowhere nearby to put recycling, other than that we had a great time .

  Reviewed by Ann4.7★Apr 2024

• "We had a lovely week at Church Cottage."

  Great location just 1 minute walk from the main street but very quiet at night. I would definately recommend this cottage

  Reviewed by Ruth5.0★Mar 2024

• "Had a great week again at Church cottage, lovely cottage in a lovely location, everything you need for a great holiday"

  Reviewed by Carol5.0★Feb 2024

• "Just completed our third stay at the cottage and enjoyed the week very much."

  beautiful, comfortable and cosy cottage in a great location. already looking forward to our next visit, that we booked before we left. Alan & Jackie

  Reviewed by Alan5.0★Jan 2024

• "Disappointing Stay."

  Having read previous reviews we thought as we had not visited Barnard Castle that Church Cottage would be an ideal place to stay to celebrate my wife’s 65th birthday. However, I cannot understand how many positive reviews could be given as our experience is completely different. Upon our arrival on a cold January day, we found that the cottage was extremely cold, and the heating turned off plus there was a terrible smell coming from the kitchen. Investigating we found that the smell was coming from both the fridge that had not been thoroughly cleaned and a broken freezer that had just been left with offensive discoloured fluid inside. On contacting the owner, he did come round immediately and said that he had put the heating on for just 30 minutes that day as some people like properties to be cold on arrival but on a cold winter’s day in an old property I said it was not acceptable and the heating was turned off not on a timer. He did clean the fridge also stated that he was aware that the freezer had broken but why he had not replaced it was baffling as the cottage had not been occupied before we arrived. He did arrange for a replacement freezer which came the following day but unfortunately that was too late for us as my wife who is a coeliac had prepared several meals for the week which were frozen and had started to defrost before the replacement came and some had to be thrown away. I managed to turn the heating on, but it took 2 days to get the cottage up to a comfortable and acceptable temperature. We also found that whilst on the surface the cottage looked clean, we found that upon closer inspection there were issues, mould on the bath sealant, around the window and on the non-slip bathmat. All the window frames in the cottage also had not been cleaned for what looked like a long time as there was a build-up of dirt and fluff on every surface. In addition, we found the oven and grill pan was not particularly clean and the baking/oven sheets unusable. We were unable to find any cleaning products to do basic cleaning up for any spills that we made and why none were provided was mystifying and we had to purchase our own. We were not enjoying our stay and did not feel that we could celebrate my wife’s birthday properly so decided to leave early and advise the owner of our reasons. What I need to understand is how Sykes managed to give this property a 4-tick rating and whether they do any follow up review rating as things change within a property as it appears they don’t and without it gives customers a potentially misleading rating as my rating for this property would be between 1-2 ticks.

  Reviewed by Philip1.9★Jan 2024

• "Absolutely gorgeous cosy cottage in a perfect location."

  We thoroughly enjoyed our week in church cottage and would highly recommend, owners are great! very helpful, will definitely be booking again!

  Reviewed by Amy5.0★Dec 2023

• "We absolutely loved the cottage."

  Very comfortable and well equipped. Our only comment is that the bathroom could do with some attention.

  Reviewed by Gill4.7★Dec 2023

• "We had a lovely stay at Church Cottage before Christmas."

  The property is warm and cosy, perfect for winter nights. The cottage had everything we needed to feel comfortable, helping us make great memories of our time in Barnard Castle. We would recommend the high street for shopping (McNab's bookshop is great!) and The Coach & Horses for food. As two quiet people, this was a perfect holiday in a beautiful cottage. Everything was provided for and we couldn't have asked for a better stay.

  Reviewed by Laura5.0★Nov 2023

• "Recently returned from our third visit to this clean and comfortable cottage."

  The location is wonderful - main street shops and river walks on your doorstep. Plan to make another visit to this cottage in the near future.

  Reviewed by David5.0★Nov 2023

• "We had a lovely stay in church cottage."

  The cottage was very comfortable. There was plenty of room.The kitchen was very well equipped. We slept very well each night. Two suggestions would be, a empty kitchen cupboard would have been useful for our groceries. There was no room in the cupboards and had to leave everything on the table. We walked most days and enjoy an evening cooking and settling down for some tv time but there was no smart tv for us to catch up with Netflix/prime/ I player. There was a dvd player with plenty of dvds but the dvds were very old and we had seen most of them already. Other than that definitely recommend staying here.

  Reviewed by Jennifer3.4★Sep 2023

• "Lovely cottage everything you need and in a good location"

  Reviewed by Carol5.0★Sep 2023

• "What an amazing place to stay , attention to detail in the cottage was awesome , comfortable, home from home catering for all the home comforts ."

  Nice to be 30 seconds away from the town which had everything you could need on holiday to being 10 minutes away from walking along the river Tees and some stunning scenery. . Such a peaceful, beautiful cottage . We will definitely be re visiting.

  Reviewed by Helen5.0★Aug 2023

• "It would have been handy for us if there had been simple instructions for using the cooker and the dishwasher rather than having to search through an instruction booklet."

  A lovely property which lived up to our expectations and the owner was very helpful.

  Reviewed by Karin4.7★Jun 2023

• "Lovely cottage."

  Second time we’ve stayed.

  Reviewed by Paula5.0★May 2023

• "Beautiful cottage in a lovely peaceful location with plenty of shops and restaurants."

  Stayed with husband and 3 children and wished we booked for longer. Lots of things to do in and around Barnard Castle. Cottage was lovely and had everything we needed for stay, only brought teabags and milk with us. Owners did not disturb but were on hand to help quickly which was perfect. Would love to return.

  Reviewed by Holly4.7★May 2023

• "This is a really lovely cottage very centrally located in Barnard Castle with free parking very close by."

  After some years absence we had forgotten what a lovely town it is and it was very quick to walk to The Bowes Museum which is just down the road and drive to Raby Castle, High Force and pretty villages including Gainford and Romaldkirk - we particularly recommend The Rose and Crown at Romaldkirk for eating out. Thank you very much to Ashley the owner who came around very quickly when we could not work out how to use the central heating - greatly appreciated. We recommend Church Cottage very highly and will definitely book again when we are next in the area.

  Reviewed by Rosie5.0★May 2023

• "Loveley cottage."

  Perfect size for four even though we were only two. Everything provided that you’d need. Smelt clean on entering which was nice. Location super. Quiet position in church yard with shopping around the corner and river walks just across the play meadow. Ideal for both family and couples. Recommended to all

  Carol, Thank you for your comments and kind words. We are pleased that you enjoyed your stay and hope to see you again. Kind regards, Angela and Ashley. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Carol4.1★Apr 2023

• "We had a wonderful stay at Church Cottage over the Easter holidays."

  It is a beautiful cottage; very comfortable, warm, and welcoming with lots of stylish, homely touches. Parking was not an issue with on street parking and a car park very close by. (Parking charges are very reasonable). It was lovely to have Barnard Castle on our doorstep for a week. Would definitely stay again.

  Reviewed by Malley5.0★Apr 2023

• "Kitchen cleanliness was unacceptable."

  Crumbs in fridge, bread bin and cutlery draw, and stale water in the kettle. Owner turned up at cottage with toilet rolls and washing up liquid 3 hours after check-in. Why was this not provided at change over? Two days later we put the grill on and found previous guests bacon-fat foil still under the grill. How gross was that?? We told the owner who was equally horrified and came over to rectify. In the bathroom the shower screen seal was disgustingly black. The whole cottage needs a deep clean. I struggle to see how previous guests found the cleanliness acceptable

  Thank you for your feedback, as I discussed with you we are always grateful on how improve stays for valued customers. That said however, this review is a little harsh, especially given the fact that I happily and immediately rectified the issues you had, apart from the crumbs of course as you managed to remove yourself. The ‘stale’ water in the kettle will have been fresh that morning as I’m sure the last guests will have used it before leaving, however due to your comments I ensure the kettle is empty now. I realise that washing up liquid and new toilet rolls should be available on arrival and ordinarily ensure it is, however, I only realised that we did not have any whilst cleaning on the day, unfortunately I did not have any cash to buy any so had to go home to get my purse and returned as soon as I could with the items. As you said in the review I was mortified that the grill pan was dirty and came around at your earliest convenience, the cleanliness and hygiene of Church Cottage are extremely important to us. As I explained my daughter had cleaned the kitchen that day, and regretfully I can’t have checked the kitchen as thoroughly as I should have. Again, I’ve taken this on board and discussed it with her. I can ensure you that the oven had had a deep clean just a week before our stay with all contents and the door being removed and the whole unit, and contents thoroughly cleaned. I’d like to add that we've run Church Cottage on Sykes for the last 8 years, and always cleaned and tidied it to a high standard as we would expect others to do the same when we holiday anywhere. We clean and maintain the cottage ourselves so we can ensure its cleanliness and tidiness, giving it a deep clean once a month, or whenever required after a guests stay . Previous guests have given excellent feedback as you may have seen in the visitor’s book in the cottage, and other comments on the Sykes website with many guests returning. If this feedback deters other people considering staying we are happy to discuss it with new guests directly, Angela - 07818005948. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Debra2.5★Apr 2023

• "Really pretty cottage in a beautiful location."

  The cottage was beautifully clean and prettily furnished. It had everything we needed in the kitchen, and more! We had a wonderful four night stay and the weather was very kind to us. The dog missed her garden, but there were plenty of walks nearby and it was quite safe to walk around late at night. Even met some late-night dog-walkers! Highly recommended and will definitely return next year. Only downside, and it was very minimal, the mattresses were quite unforgiving and it took a day or so to get used to them. Other than that, an excellent visit and very highly recommended.

  Reviewed by Denise4.4★Mar 2023

• "A lovely clean and comfortable cottage in a perfect position."

  This was our 2nd visit- enjoyed it so much that another booking has been made for later in the year. Highly recommend.

  David, Thank you for your kind words. We are pleased that you took the opportunity to stay at the cottage again, if you have any feedback at all we'd love to hear from you, and look forward to seeing you again. Kind regards, Angela and Ashley. Property Owner

  Reviewed by David5.0★Mar 2023

• "Wow! We loved this cottage, excellent location, very quiet with everything we needed for our week stay."

  We will definitely book again.

  Christopher, Thank you for your kind words, we are pleased you enjoyed your stay and look forward to seeing you again. Kind regards, Angela and Ashley. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Christopher5.0★Jan 2023

• "A good comfortable quiet house in a great location."

  David, Thank you for your kind words, we hope you enjoyed your stay and hope to see you again. Kind regards, Angela and Ashley. Property Owner

  Reviewed by David3.8★Jan 2023

• "The cottage was lovely and cosy with everything needed to have a wonderful relaxing break."

  The location is perfect for browsing the shops in the beautiful town and also for access to walks along the river. The church bells are lovely to listen to and made New Years Eve very special. The only down side was that all the pillows are feather which is not great for those with allergies and should be made clear on the listing as it meant a dash to the nearest supermarket to buy lots of new pillows. Fantastic cottage with attentive owners. Would definitely stay again.

  Kerry, Thank you for your kind words, we are pleased you enjoyed your stay and hope to see you again. We do have anti allergy pillows available in the cupboard at the top of the stairs for guests to use, I will ensure the listing and guest book reflects this. Kind regards, Angela and Ashley. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Kerry4.1★Dec 2022

• "Great little cottage in perfect location."

  Darren, Thank you for your feedback, we hope you found the cottage satisfactory and that you enjoyed your stay. Hope to see you again. Kind regards, Angela and Ashley. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Darren5.0★Nov 2022

• "Excellent holiday in a lovely clean and comfortable cottage."

  Tastefully decorated- everything provided to suit our needs. Enjoyed it so much that we have booked again.

  David, Thank you for your kind words, we are pleased you enjoyed your stay and hope to see you again. Kind regards, Angela and Ashley. Property Owner

  Reviewed by David5.0★Nov 2022

• "Very nice cottage in a great location, quiet position but only yards from the town centre."

  Very well equipped and comfortable. Lovely town and area. We would be be very happy to come back to Barnard Castle and to stay in Church Cottage again. Mike & Georgina.

  Reviewed by Mike5.0★Oct 2022

• "Lovely cottage , have been before and will definitely go back"

  Reviewed by Carol5.0★Sep 2022

• "Lovely little cottage sanctuary cosy, peaceful and so quiet (apart from the beautiful church bells which is the kind of noise I can live with) That said it is situated in the hub of the delightful Barnard Castle which is totally done proud by its friendly locals and positive sense of pride about the place."

  Church Cottage is situated just off the main area of the town which provides a wealth of independent shops and lovely eateries and just a short walk from the opportunity to explore the river Tees. Parking is close ,plentiful and free for the most part but very reasonable (£1.50 per day) in nearby car park. Leave the car parked up for a few days and explore the castle, the antique shops and visit the magnificent Bowes museum and then enjoy a cocktail or two in an establishment just a short walk away on an evening .

  Reviewed by Jackie4.7★Jun 2022

• "Lovely cottage and lovely town"

  Reviewed by Paula5.0★May 2022

• "Lovely cottage in a great location - central yet quiet."

  Well equipped with everything needed for a self-catering stay. The owners were very helpful. We had a wonderful holiday!

  Reviewed by Louisa5.0★Apr 2022

• "Great cottage , very quiet and relaxing stay"

  Reviewed by Anthony5.0★Apr 2022

• "Beautiful cottage for a break in the area in a great setting."

  Very close to the town centre without being bothered by any noise. Well appointed with everything we needed (including baby things) and very comfortable beds too. We used the log burner no problem and really enjoyed our stay. Will hopefully be back in the next year or so, thank you.

  Reviewed by Mia5.0★Mar 2022

• "Sadly I had to leave the cottage after just three days because I got Covid and felt too unwell to stay."

  The owners were very understanding and helpful, and even offered to deliver food to me if I felt able to stay. In my unwell state and rush to get home I forgot to empty the rubbish for which I am very sorry! I loved the cottage and location and plan to return so that I can have finally have the retreat that I had been planning.

  Reviewed by Caroline5.0★Mar 2022

• "Comfortable cosy cottage that everything we needed for our break."

  Owner was attentive & responded to a query we had.

  Reviewed by Sarah5.0★Feb 2022

• "Super cute cottage in a perfect location!"

  We rented the cottage for 2 nights. Everything was as the listing said it would be, no nasty surprises. Which is always a bonus on a short trip away! It had everything we needed and the shops are just a short walk away for the extras. We really appreciated the log burner being loaded and ready to light quickly as it was a cold January weekend. Just a little heads up for future guests…(this is in no way a criticism) bring tea/coffee/milk as there’s no welcome pack or provisions. Not a problem for us as I always take it but could be a little annoying if you don’t arrive prepared. We had a lovely time in Barnard Castle, it’s a beautiful little town with endless cafes and great walks. We’ll definitely be back!

  Reviewed by Sherrie5.0★Jan 2022

• "Church House is excellently placed near the centre of Barnard Castle on a quiet path opposite the church."

  With cheap and plentiful parking nearby. Well-placed for the Bowes Museum (10 minutes walk) and Town Centre shops and eateries.

  Reviewed by Philip5.0★Jan 2022

• "Had a fantastic time at Church Cottage, everything we needed was there."

  Lovely and cosy and was a great surprise that the Christmas decorations were up and looked beautiful. It was a nice touch that Ashleigh called round to make sure everything was good and that we didn't need anything to make our stay any more comfy. It is a beautiful cottage done to an excellent standard. Well done both of you and thank you so much for a great stay .

  Reviewed by William5.0★Dec 2021

• "Lovely cottage in a perfect location."

  The property was clean, warm and very homely. The house was decorated for Christmas which made it feel even more special. The owners were friendly and responsive on WhatsApp. Just perfect, thank you.

  Reviewed by Emma5.0★Dec 2021

• "Church Cottage is a gorgeous cottage based in Barnard Castle."

  It was extremely comfortable and had everything you could possibly need. The cottage was warm, cosy and tastefully decorated. It was lovely to look out over the church and graveyard. We loved hearing the church bells which ring out every quarter of the hour and on the hour throughout the day and night. We loved the walk from the cottage along the river and the castle and Eggleston Abbey which is along the walk were stunning. Highly recommended.

  Reviewed by Sam5.0★Oct 2021

• "Lovely cottage."

  Location is perfect for exploring the town and wider area. Hosts were so helpful and responded and fixed any minor problems we encountered. Parking across the road (sometimes you might be lucky and find a spot for free) is not too expensive (a couple a quid a day if I remember correctly). Def recommend.

  Reviewed by Robert Alan James4.7★Aug 2021

• "In a beautiful setting, the property was so tastefully decorated and was stunning!"

  Reviewed by Alison5.0★Jul 2021

• "We absolutely loved this cottage - so conveniently situated and so comfortable."

  Reviewed by Susan5.0★Jun 2021

• "Great cottage , lovely town, great walks from the door"

  Reviewed by Carol5.0★Jun 2021

• "An immaculately presented, well-equipped 2U/2D stone-built house in an excellent position."

  Quiet but 2 mins walk to the High Street, 5 mins to the river, about 10 mins to the Bowes museum (excellent lunches, very popular) or to the castle. The house is on the edge of, and overlooks, the churchyard. The church bell strikes the hours and the quarters. Main rooms are quite roomy and comfortable, second bedroom (twin beds) is OK but has less room. The town does get (very) busy on fine weekends but we had no difficulty in parking. Kitchen would benefit from brighter lighting.

  Reviewed by Richard4.7★May 2021

• "Really enjoyed our week at Church Cottage Barnard Castle last year."

  The cottage location was perfect as although minutes from the town centre it was in a peaceful position by the church & grounds. The only drawback was there wasn't private parking but we parked on the road nearby without difficulty. Lovely cottage & Town to visit & hope to return in the future. The owner was very helpful too.

  Reviewed by Elizabeth3.8★May 2021

• "Lovely property which has had a sympathetic restoration to enhance its grade 2 listing."

  Situated in a quiet location overlooking the church and ancient graveyard yet in the town centre a great place for visiting Barnard Castle and the surrounding area The cottage is warm and cosy, and despite its age has plenty of room with good sized bedrooms. It has no private outdoor space, however that was not a problem for us. Parking is on street yo the rear but very hit and miss as to whether you can find a space, we used the long stay car park over the road and just paid for the week. The only improvement for us would be a proper mirror in the bathroom. One warning if you are tall be prepared to dodge the light units in the kitchen, especially the unit next to the oven and hob. All in all a great cottage and contact with the owners was great and they are happy to provide local information.

  Reviewed by David4.4★Sep 2020

• "We have stayed in this cottage numerous times and simply love it ."

  It's a mixture of old and modern and very tasteful. Various places to park about 1 mins from the cottage - free on road or car park £1.50 for 24hrs. Tons of dog walks on hand and everywhere except dogs practically. The owner only calls once just to check your all ok and is able to answer any questions. The town centre is 1mins walk away - a very busy town normally ( until Covid 19 ) - but that will be the same everywhere . Even when closed just go enjoy the remarkable scenery there.

  Reviewed by Gary5.0★Mar 2020

• "Church View is a conveniently situated close to all the main facilities in Barnard Castle, including the Bowes Museum."

  The location is peaceful being next to St Mary’s Church. There is ample parking facilities near by. The cottage itself is well equipped, comfortable and clean. This was the second time we had the privilege to stay here. Barnard Castle has good access to major road networks if you wish to explore the Yorkshire Dales, Moors, Teasdale and the Lake District. Major centres such as Newcastle, Durham, Harrogate and Leeds are within easy driving distance.

  Reviewed by Peter5.0★Mar 2020

• "Lovely comfortable cosy cottage."

  Ideal for a long weekend. Comfortable bed and pillows.

  Reviewed by Angela4.1★Feb 2020

• "The cottage is very thoughtfully restored and decorated, and the situation is peaceful yet convenient - really loved it!"

  The owners were friendly and most helpful.

  Reviewed by Frances5.0★Jan 2020

• "The Cottage is ideally situated to all the amenities and has a great 4 mile round walk to Eggleston Abbey."

  Church Bells are a welcome sound and the Church is quaint and welcoming. The second bedroom has limited room as it accommodates the single beds which leaves little room for movement and beware of the screws that the cupboard door has on the door handles as they caught my dress and jumper when removing clothes from the cupboard!!!

  Reviewed by Annunziata4.4★Dec 2019

• "The owners had taken time to decorate the cottage, making it very festive for our Christmas stay."

  Church Cottage is centrally located and 5 mins walk from all the shops, bars and restaurants. We parked the car up and didn't move it for the week. We did loads of walks from the front door. The Bowes museum is a 5 min walk away and a must see. If you don't like the sound of bells then the clue is in the name - Church Cottage is 20yds from the bell tower. We had a fantastic time.

  Reviewed by Stephen5.0★Dec 2019

• "Church Cottage is a very comfortable, well equipped cottage in a peaceful location within easy walking distance of Barnard Castle town centre and its shops, pubs and restaurants etc."

  It is situated off the road with great views of the church and the countryside beyond the church. The cottage is well furnished and decorated and exceptionally clean throughout. There is parking available either in the nearby street or car park. Our stay was to fill in between house moves but this is a great location to explore the Yorkshire Dales, Teesdale, North Yorkshire, County Durham and the Lake District. The A66 and the A1M at Scotch Corner are just a short drive away.

  Reviewed by Peter5.0★Nov 2019

• "Church cottage is a good size for 2 adults or 2 adults and 2 younger children."

  The situation is very good as Barnard Castle is a pretty and pleasant town. We actually enjoyed the church bells (not very audible through closed windows) and had no noise from birds at all. Parking is fine as well. Shops close by, so really a plus. The setup of the cottage is good, with good-sized rooms throughout. Only a hall is missing for hanging up coats and leaving shoes. The kitchen was well-stocked, unfortunately previous visitors have displayed a lack of understanding of cooking utensils as all medium-quality non-stick pans were scratched. Dishwasher, fridge and washing-machine worked well, we did not need the freezer. The extractor fan is of the noisy type and does not work well at all, but there is a second window above the sink. The bed had boards for springs and a simple and to our taste not comfortable mattress (you could feel the springs and metal frame through the coverings). The mattress was clean and did not look very old, probably simply did not have the right quality to start with. The 3-2-1 seater combo suffered from a similar problem: very uncomfortable to sit in. To summarise: this could be a great little cottage in an attactive location, but it needs a bit of investment. As decent sleep is essential for a good holiday and comfortable sitting when spending time in the cottage, we know what we would change first. With these changes in place we are very happy to recommend Church cottage. [Please do not publish: Could you tell the owners that the front left hot plate of the cooker does not seem to be working? At least we could not make it work.]

  Reviewed by Rainer3.4★Oct 2019

• "Lovely cottage in a nice location in a great town, did not use the car all week, plenty of walks, fishing, shopping."

  Reviewed by Carol5.0★Aug 2019

• "There are a few minor points with this cottage but nothing that is important enough to make it anything less than a really good cottage in a great location."

  The Bed in the Main Bedroom is a bit too soft and squidgy for our taste, the shower head is a bit to fierce, and there is nowhere to hang coats up, other than those three items really good cottage.

  Reviewed by Tim4.1★Jul 2019

• "A great cottage with everything you need for a most comfortable stay."

  Reviewed by Mark5.0★Jun 2019

• "Lovely comfortable cottage in a very peaceful location"

  Reviewed by Jean5.0★Jun 2019

• "The location of the cottage is exceptional because although it it very peaceful and private it is right in the centre of town, with beautiful walks and all facilities on the doorstep."

  The owner is very friendly and helpful, and we would love to return for another relaxing break.

  Reviewed by Susan5.0★Jun 2019

• "The cottage is lovely, in a wonderful setting right in the centre of Barnard Castle."

  The owners are very helpful and popped around to see if everything was okay.

  Reviewed by Christine5.0★Jun 2019

• "Parking better than we expected."

  Location is noisy during the night. Church clock bongs every hour. The rooks in the churchyard trees set up a nonstop racket from 3am

  Reviewed by Margaret3.8★May 2019

• "A lovely cottage in a perfect location."

  Would highly recommend it to others.

  Reviewed by Dot5.0★Apr 2019

• "Excellent location & the sun shone all week"

  Reviewed by Mark5.0★Mar 2019

• "The cottage was perfect."

  The owner Ashley even came over to make sure we were ok and to see if we needed anything. The cottage was well placed for all amenities with a two minute walk to Barnard Castle.

  Reviewed by Kenneth5.0★Feb 2019

• "An exceptionally clean cottage which was very quiet and cosy."

  Everything was provided, from towels and blankets to wood for the fire. The owners are available at any time of day and are very welcoming. Nothing is too much trouble. This is an idyllic little cottage which really is home from home. I will be returning soon!

  Reviewed by Laura5.0★Feb 2019

• "Hospitality of owners, nice personal touches."

  Beautiful cottage in perfect location for town.

  Reviewed by Stephen5.0★Jan 2019

• "A minor issue that the cups provided were chipped on the rim most possibly due to inefficient stacking in the dish washer previously."

  Reviewed by David5.0★Dec 2018

• "The cottage was wonderful ."

  Really nice and modern inside with lots of things thought of . Easy on street parking but if full long stay car park opposite at only £1.50 for 24 hours. One minuite walk to town centre to vast selection of shops, pubs and places to eat .And the local walks are for your dogs amazing. Loved it.

  Reviewed by Gary5.0★Oct 2018

• "Church Cottage is a very comfortable and deceptively spacious accommodation."

  The location was great, very quiet as it is right by St Mary's Church (as the name would suggest) with only occasional footfall outside. Yet it is essentially in the heart of Barnard Castle. All the town has to offer, including the Bowes Museum, is within a short walking distance. It's a great place and would happily recommend both Church Cottage and Barnard Castle.

  Reviewed by Steven5.0★Sep 2018

• "Lovely cottage ,lovely town great walks from the door ."

  Reviewed by Carol5.0★Aug 2018

• "Location in the centre of Barnard Castle, comfortable accommodation, excellent service from owner."

  Reviewed by Ken5.0★Aug 2018

• "This Cottage is up with one of the best we have stayed in , its only downfall is not having a Garden , it’s a lovely large 2 bedroom Cottage with everything you need for a great Holiday , Barnard Castle’s shops are maybe a 100 yards from your front Door , river walks within a 10 minute walk ."

  .. ideal Don’t let my 1st comment put you off , we’ll be back Phil Rogers

  Reviewed by Phil4.7★Jul 2018

• "As we had forgotten to fill in the Guest Book, we say great cottage, great weather, great position and great time."

  Highly recommended. My uncle had owed the cottage for 22 years and we had a good childhood memories and the family gathered here to see the awe of the transformation to this cottage. Glad that it is staying within the family in a way. Many thanks Ashley and Angela.

  Reviewed by Kevin5.0★Jun 2018

• "The cottage was wonderful and the owners were very helpful and eager to make our stay enjoyable."

  Reviewed by Christine5.0★Jun 2018

• "We loved the location."

  It was novel and enjoyable being right in the precincts of the church, despite the bells (and the rooks!) The accommodation was comfortable, the kitchen was well kitted out. We would definitely use the cottage again.

  Reviewed by Kevin3.8★May 2018

• "Couldn't fault hol Only wish hadn't booked Initally through Homeaway felt ripped off Won't do again Big mistake"

  Reviewed by Denise4.8★Feb 2018

• "The cottage is beautiful, even better than the pictures which is saying a lot."

  Brilliantly well equipped, the log burner was even set up for us on arrival so we only needed to put a match to it. Would highly recommend to all friends and family, and will definitely book to stay again.

  Reviewed by David5.0★Feb 2018

• "Church Cottage is not only a beautiful, well appointed cottage, it’s location is incredible."

  It’s quiet and yet very close to the town centre in Barnard Castle. An ideal base both for the town and the delights of the surrounding countryside which is steeped in history. Barnard Castle itself is a delightful town with a wide range of shops and a very surprising number of good/very good restaurants. We are already studying our diary to find out when we can go back, particularly to Church Cottage.

  Reviewed by James5.0★Jan 2018

• "We thoroughly enjoyed our stay."

  The location was perfect, close to town but on a quiet alley at rear of church. The facilities were good, & logburner made the house cosy during a very cold snap. Bedroom was lovely, bed very comfortable. The owner came to call on us to make sure we were settled, which was nice of him. Would return, as it met our needs, & we could take our small dog.

  Reviewed by Angela5.0★Dec 2017

• "The photos don't do the cottage justice."

  It's a very cosy little cottage that has many personal touches which gives it a very homely feeling. It is centrally located in Bernard Castle but without any of the noise. The view over the graveyard is tranquil and just relaxing. In addition to all.the traditional features the cottage has one of the best showers I have encountered in a rental property. I will definately book it again for my next trip.

  Reviewed by Michaela5.0★Nov 2017

• "Lovely cosy cottage , great location for walks pubs and shops."

  Reviewed by Carol5.0★Oct 2017

• "Church cottage was brilliant."

  Will definitely be booking up again was great location right in the middle of Barnard Castle.

  Reviewed by Jodie5.0★Oct 2017

• "Lovely location and cottage, with access to lots of lovely scenery and walks."

  Would recommend to friends and family.

  Reviewed by Claire5.0★Jul 2017

• "Beautiful cottage and amazing location, didn't use the car apart from once."

  Everything is walking distance, lots of fantastic walks. Barnard castle is full of wonderful kind people and lovely shops.

  Reviewed by Charlotte5.0★Feb 2017

• "Great central location in the town but quiet as well, good walks from the doorstep without having to drive and also many place to visit nearby, cottage was warm and very comfortable with everything we needed, thoroughly enjoyed our stay."

  Reviewed by Gary5.0★Jan 2017

• "The cottage was lovely and cosy."

  Really well located for walking into Barnard Castle town centre with all its amenities. The owners popped along to say hello and we were welcoming and friendly.

  Reviewed by Kate4.8★Nov 2016

• "It was lovely that there were so few rules regarding the dog; we've stayed at other holiday properties where despite pets being 'welcome' we've had to take the dog with us when we've gone out which is not practical and meant we couldn't relax."

  Reviewed by Melanie5.0★Aug 2016

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