3.7★
Northumbria Coast and Country Cottages rating
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4 Guests
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2 Bedrooms
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1 Bathroom
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Pets Yes
Features
- Garden / Patio
- Pub/shop < 1 mile
- Washing machine
- Dishwasher
- Sky TV
Reviews & Ratings
* Based on a combined average customer score
53 Customer Review(s)
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Sandra 
“Made official complaint and await response from Sykes cottages”
- Sandra, December 2023 -
Andrew “The cottage is not fit for purpose.”
Mould and damp on the walls, needs fixing and money spending on it to get the mould and damp eradicated. Needs a deep clean, hasn't been cleaned properly for some time Mould and damp in bathroom, mould on ceiling of bathroom.Mould and damp on wall underneath bottom bunk bed.Not healthy for children or adults. Things broken and not working properly ie Rusty tin opener. Would not recommend this place to anyone. The owner needs to spend money on it to get it fixed. rusty tin opener.
- Andrew, September 2023This may be your opinion, but the cottage was thoroughly cleaned prior to your visit.To cure the damp from outside we have had the chimneys removed from all three cottages earlier this year. The cottage is very old & does suffer from condensation, especially if internal doors are left closed eg bathroom, we did however have a walkthrough inspection after you left, as I think you left some comments, & we agree there was a tad of damp on the bathroom ceiling caused by condensation & the small bedroom behind a chest of small drawers has a little condensation which was quickly removed, by Jess our housekeeper, we found no damp behind the bunk beds in the small bedroom, but did find a tiny bit on the botton landing, where a tile had become dislodged, this has now been replaced & all is well. There are two tin openers in each cottage & the one to which you are referring had been left in the bottom of the dishwasher by a previous visitor, but as they both open different types of tins we left it until we could replace it. The cottage is what it is, an old quirky building, requiring constant maintenance which is why Alan is always on hand ........ we do not pretend to be the Dorchester, we have only 3 stars & like to keep it that way, we provide a warm safe haven in rugged 'Wall' country , with dishwasher, washingachine.drier etc etc., we have a plethora of cosy towels & a modern downstairs bathroom. Our housekeeper is incredibly hard-working & she & Alan did the after inspection looking for the problems you mentioned, but could only find traces of condensation. Bests viv xx Property Owner
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Jane “We absolutely loved our stay at Bridge cottage.”
It is ideally situated on the edge of the town. Walks on the doorstep. Didnt use our car for 4 days. The cottage is cosy and quirky. Well equipped with everything we could possibly need. The washer dryer was a bonus especially after we got so wet on a walk. We will definitely return.
- Jane, September 2023This is lovely to hear, thank you so so much & so happy your dogs loved it - they are after all part of our families & deserve a holiday too .... Bests viv xxxx See you soon xx Property Owner
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Megan “Very strong smell off damp, mouldly and very dusty.”
Wallpaper hanging off where the damp is up the stairs and in bedrooms. Needs a good clean and renovation.
- Megan, August 2023This isnt damp but we do suffer from condensation, I do think your visit was quite last minute - actually the same day & although the cottage was cleaned & ready, we do always try to do a last look round, however on this occasion, I think Jess was either away or didnt have the time, however, this cottage has never really suffered from being dusty, but if it is breezy the bits of overhanging trees can blow in really quickly - Bests Viv & thank you for leaving it so tidy xxx Property Owner
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Angelo “The lady we spoke to before we got there was lovely, The garden was nice and the cottage was quite sweet, But inside there were problems, The oven was dirty inside and had tin foil inside and someone else's cooking remnants all over it, The shower has a very shinny floor and no grab rail, the toilet door would not shut at all , the best you could get is about a 3 or 4 inch gap open, it is very near the kitchen so when using the toilet with the door open while anyone in the kitchen about 4 feet away making food, , I could say more but my bigest complaint is the electrics.”
The light switch in the kitchen is very unsafe, It is all chiselled out all the wat around it and twice when i turned it on i got a blue flash from it, also once it did a loud hissing sizzling noise , also the heater in the hall outside the bathroom gave a blue flash as well, The fridge was old , very dirty inside and a lot of rust outside on it and would not fully open, all of this is just bad cleaning and neglect and could easily put right, This little cottage deserves better treatment
- Angelo, July 2023Hi - we had no idea the toilet door was a problem, as we don't check the doors closing in our lists .... somehow the door had twisted - perhaps from the prior visior , who knows. We had to have a joiner in to fix it, so thank you for pointing that out, had you mentioned it immediately we'd have aot someone in to fix this as its unacceptable to have an ajar toilet door. The bathroom floor is tiled with the correct type of flooring tile, but we do provide bathmats, we've never been asked for a grab rail, since your visit weve had the electrics checked & there is no problem with it. the fridge was replaced the day you left, but had you mentioned it we'd have brought the new one when you arrived, we just didnt want to disturb you. Jess checked the oven & found no bits of other peoples cooking & we do change the tinfoil every visit & there is even a roll of tinfoil kept in the kitchen. as mentioned before the cottage isnt any more than 3 star, but it is clean, warm & has many facilities for our usual clients who are generally walkers. Bests Viv & thank you so much for your feedback. Property Owner
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Veronica “Lovely quaint cottage in the middle of Hadrians wall, lots to do and see within walking /driving distance, village has very friendly pubs shops and amenities to meet all short break needs.”
Cottage was well equipped but in need of the damp walls addressed and a wee paint job. Shower not designed for amble build people as door is static n gap between sink and door is a squeeze. Nice garden with patio sets n flowers made sitting out a night enjoyable with the bottle of wine left by the host. Had a lovely 5 days enjoying an Internet /satellite free time on our return from our adventures.
- Veronica, April 2023Thank you so much for the positive feedback Veronica, & as you pointed out - we do have that slightly problematic wall, but as we have had the chimney stack removed & sealed, it should resolve itself during the warmer months. Paint job on the cards & shower is a tight squeeze, with hindsight we should have put the door on hinges - will try to get thhis done ....... Bests viv xxx Property Owner
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Tracey “Filthy hasn’t had a proper clean in a very long time have photos if owner would like to see them”
- Tracey, September 2022would love to see photos - to show our housekeeper ... xxx Property Owner
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Gillian “We were very pleased with the arrangements as at the very last minute we were relocated next door .”
This was due to an issue left behind by previous holiday makers. The Hollie cottage was excellent and suited our needs well. Thankfully there was a dog towel as we completely forgot ours, first time away with my sons dog! The local charity shop helped out too! The only problem was working out the cooker as choices had been worn away! We had a comfortable stay, lacked nothing other than perhaps better weather! This was a return visit to the cottages and was as good as the last one, 15 years ago.
- Gillian, April 2022thank you so much Gillian, I do think you were one of my first visitors from way back - will try to sort out the cooker directions - too much scrubbing!!! Bests viv xxxx Property Owner
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Karen “Very disappointed.”
Strong smell of damp. Wallpaper hanging off walls and ceilings. Cobwebs, fly poo, dead flies stuck on blinds. Clear signs of damp. Paint on bed sheets. Radiator hanging off wall. Locked in bedroom at 2am in the morning door handle broken. Awoken at 4am following morning fire alarm going off. Opposite a busy road and builders yard ...noisy. outside entrance uneven steps dark trop hazard lighting not working. Absolute nightmare. I have given the owners fair and reasonable opportunity to appropriately compensate us but they have chosen not to and instead are now suggesting the bedroom door may need to be replaced although yesterday they said it was fine? The cottage if you can call it that needs an overhaul I could go on but safe to safe would not recommend under any circumstances
- Karen, March 2022This was a very last minute booking & our housekeeper went out of her way to pop down & give it a freshen up (having stood empty for a few weeks), this happened to be the hottest weekend so far this year, & occasionally if it is extremely wet outside there could be very rarely a slight odour, but as she had entered the premises she detected no damp smell. As it was very warm she opened a few windows to let the warm air circulate, left fresh milk & bottle of wine in the fridge. There could possibly have been a corner of wallpaper in the kitchen where it joins the wood paneling, this is on a corner & does have a tendency to be brushed past. We had no prior knowledge of a radiator hanging off the wall but it would appear that it may have been accidently knocked, as it is next to the offending door. The bracket had been bent giving the appearance of the radiator being slightly lopsided - this has now been rectified. As I live 50 miles from Haltwhistle, I totally depend on my housekeeper - who lives 2 mins away & her phone number in is the guest book, to problem solve if they can, which was why i wasn't sure of the door lock. The bedroom door isn't an actual lock, but the mechanism had become stuck apparently - this has never been mentioned by any prior guest or the housekeeper. I was assured that it as totally fine once the screws had been replaced by a local joiner (although, I was willing to replace the door, had it been dangerous). This is a country property, as is my own house, I am aware that cobwebs can be removed in the morning & re-appear in the afternoon. The flies stuck in the blinds could have happened overnight, as there are very tiny flies often up there as it is next to a burn. My housekeeper always wipes the blinds as part of her routine, but as the cottages are cleaned as soon as possible after guests leave, then when she went down to do a freshen-up she could have missed these. I have no notion of what fly poo is? There are only smoke alarms in this property, as it is all electric, the batteries were renewed at the beginning of the season, so I have no idea why they would bleep, unless someone had been smoking or burning toast or the batteries had been faulty........ Lisa could find no sign of paint on the bedsheets & as we have oodles of spare bedding they certainly would not have been used had paint been on them. There are two bypasses in Haltwhistle, so although the road is outside it is only used by local village traffic. The road is clearly visible on the images of Bridge Cottage. As for the builders yard - the back of it adjoins the road opposite, so most of the business is done from the opposite side of the yard. It is not open weekends. I can only apologise for her early awakening @ 8.30am on Monday morning. The steps to the rear of the cottage that she mentions are the same rustic type used at Cragside and many country walks, however ours have PIR lighting as well as solar lights. I did offer a 10% reduction & Sykes did return her booking fee. I can say not more than this & I will never again take a very last minute booking due to the extra costs incurred from this particular booking. At least the two previous clients have both loved Bridge & Haltwhistle even though they had some of the worse storms ever. Property Owner
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Alan “We had a fantastic break at Bridge Cottage, tooked away in the corner of Haltwhistle.”
Although the weather was wet and windy it didn't stop us from creating brilliant memories. We would be happy to return one day. Definitely recommend.
- Alan, February 2022amazing feedback & from a horrid weather weekend - thank you so so much xxxx Property Owner
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James “Fabulous stay.”
Will definitely be back in the future.
- James, October 2021thank you so much & love to hear this response - we do try so hard to keep our premises immaculate xxx Property Owner
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Melinda “The cottage has a feeling of being uncared for.”
It is certainly not recently refurbished and needs a good deep clean. The fire in living room didn’t work, the fridge had broken shelves, the shower drain was dirty , our bed was not fitted together so it moved about, generally worse cottage we have ever stayed in.
- Melinda, July 2021The fire in the living room did actually work & is still in use, the instructions which are quite simple are in the introductory folder, the bed was less than two weeks old & may just have needed re-tightening, there was one shelf in the fridge missing as the previous occupants had broken it - this was replaced a week later for the next occupant - unfortunate but i would not have thought a dealbreaker, likewise the drainage cap had been removed & was then replaced a week later - it is pretty impossible to remedy damages within the few hours of a turnaround - so sorry it was so horrific & \I wonder why you didnt contact either me or Lyn for instructions or complaints... Property Owner
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Sarah ““Visited the property in October, unfortunately there were a couple of issues in regard to damp and cleaning at the property including a damp smell throughout.”
This was reported to Sykes and the owners who dealt with the issue satisfactorily. I do think the property is in need of some TLC and understand the owners have taken the feedback on board”
- Sarah, October 2020 -
Marion “A lovely warm and cosy cottage.”
Good bed and we slept like logs. Having said that we did notice the traffic on Monday morning but had to get up early anyway. The only real problem was the shower which was totally inadequate. I couldn’t wash my hair at all. With such a large walk in shower why don’t the owners upgrade to a more powerful unit?? On that basis only we won’t be staying there again
- Marion, October 2020we are so looking into the showergate 'thing' & will be upgrading, but it is so so difficult in listed properties .... xxx Feedback so so so much appreciated Bests viv xx Property Owner
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Andrea “Haltwhistle is a lovely all the people we met were very friendly”
- Andrea, March 2020thank you so very much Andrea this is so appreciated xxx Property Owner
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Alicia “Very convenient for town centre & Hadrians Wall.”
Nice old cottage, well equipped and with a secluded parking spot, with a gate, round the back where there was also a seating area. Only criticism is the old mattress - very uncomfortable.
- Alicia, November 2019old mattress replaced immediately bests viv & thank you so much for the feedback xxx Property Owner
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Chris “Kitchen very small, not enough worktop space for food preparation.”
Bathroom very cramped. Shower was fine, but wash basin and toilet crammed together. Anyone large would really struggle. Off road parking space ok, but overhung by laurel bushes that needed pruning. Car was covered in pigeon droppings and sticky substance from trees.
- Chris, September 2019Hello, Thank you for your feedback. I am sorry for the inconvenience of the parking area, however, there were other areas across the burn & bridge that are avaiable after unloading - these laurels are cleared back 2 x a year so probably were due just after you left, so i do apologise about that. The kitchen is small but that is obivous from the images & description. These cottages are what they are - originally one up one down, but now have 2 x up. This also includes the bathroom, again which is small, we recently had an architect complete the plan in detail ensuring enough space to shower. The toilet & washbasin in a fixed unit & the washbasin tiny to enable the shower to be incredibly accessible, he advised as long as the shower area was substantial, most guests don't spend much time in other areas of the bathroom. We appreciate your comments and hope that there were some positive aspects to your holiday as well. Many thanks. Property Owner
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Kerry “A lovely compact cottage, very well equipped.”
The location was perfect although it was unfortunate that there is a plant yard directly opposite which made late starts impossible. The cottage did smell rather damp, although it was obviously well cleaned.
- Kerry, August 2019with the age of the properties - there is an occasional smell of damp if there has been persistent rain, we always try to keep a small window open to allow a draft through the cottage , however if someone is cooking without a window/or the fan operating it can suffer from condensation ... we do state in the intro file to have some airflow if cooking .... xxxbut a lovely review & we thank you xxx Property Owner
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Jan “Very enjoyable stay at Bridge cottage.”
Well-equipped Cottage, well -situated for walks, visits to Hadrian’s Wall and Vindolanda. Plenty of shops and places to eat close by in the town. Considerate host who provided great information and a warm welcome including milk and chocolates.
- Jan, February 2019 -
Jean “Great location!”
We have a dog and there was a lane on the side of the terrace, by the stream that led one way to the river and the other up to Hadrians wall. The walk to Cawfield on Hadrians wall is a really pretty walk by the stream, up to Cawfields, on the wall. Cottage was ideal for us, Every facility you would need, lovely comfy bed, and tiled floor so easy to clean after the dog! Would definitely return, and recommend.
- Jean, December 2018 -
Elizabeth “The cottage is in a good location for walking the dog, for take a ways and a good pub.”
It is rather tired and lacks Wi-Fi connection, but it was warm and cosy and we had a lovely walking holiday.
- Elizabeth, October 2018 -
Tracey “Good accommodation.”
Ideally located for walking holiday.
- Tracey, July 2018 -
Kevin “Good value for money , very nice cottage .”
No complaints .
- Kevin, June 2018 -
Susan “There were many things that we felt let down on mainly the cottage was damp on the ground floor, to the point were we had to remove slugs that appeared.”
The shower room was cold and very poor water pressure, it was hard to wash with water flow. Owner was friendly and welcoming,a mobile contact would have been useful.
- Susan, April 2018 -
Evelyn “Had a lovely holiday cottage really cosy would recommend”
- Evelyn, March 2018 -
Dianne “LOVELY COTTAGE, VERY COMFORTABLE AND VERY RELAXING.”
HAD A GREAT TIME. GOOD LOCATION
- Dianne, March 2017 -
Mike “Please note that mobile phone reception in the house can be poor.”
My O2 could not get anysignal inside (although it did 5 yards from the front door!). Network 3 was fine both in & outside the cottage.
- Mike, November 2016 -
Megan “Lovely area and beautiful natural surroundings.”
Very friendly and helpful owners
- Megan, October 2016 -
Clive “The area was wonderful and Haltwhistle made an excellent base.”
- Clive, January 2015 -
Tonia “The cottage was placed perfectly for touring the area we wanted, we even ventured over the border into Scotland and down to The Lakes.”
The cottage was exceptionally well equipped, and perfect for our needs.
- Tonia, September 2013 -
Martin “We loved the general area, particularly Hadrian's Wall, the walking and the beauty of the landscape.”
- Martin, September 2012 -
Catherine “The cottage is in a great location for exploring Hadrian's Wall and is well equipped.”
- Catherine, May 2012 -
John “The cottage is in a fantastic location for walks and sightseeing.”
Plenty of local shops. Great pub nearby cooking great home cooked food.
- John, August 2011 -
Marion “The property was cosy and it began to feel like home.”
There were a lot of facilities in Haltwhistle and so close to dramatic scenery and sites of Hadrian's Wall.
- Marion, August 2011 -
Jill “Nice relaxing little cottage, small kitchen and lounge but big enough for the two of us and our little dog.”
- Jill, July 2011 -
Michael “Bridge Cottage was set in an ideal place with easy access to Carlisle, Newcastle, Hadrians Wall & the surrounding countryside.”
The cottage was very well equipped & comfortable. Parking at rear was convenient. Although on a main road in Haltwhistle, we heard very little noise. A perfect holiday cottage.
- Michael, June 2010 -
Lynn “A lovely cosy welcoming cottage.”
It was ideally located for many places of interest. After being out all day the cottage was a welcoming haven of tranquility.
- Lynn, April 2010 -
Lorraine “Good location Haltwhistle - a great village with friendly folk and close to many tourist attractions.”
- Lorraine, December 2009 -
Claire “A lovely cosy cottage in a nice area for walking.”
- Claire, August 2009 -
Emma “The property had lots of personal touches (cushions, ornaments, a well stocked crockery cupboard!”
) that made you feel like you were at a friends house!
- Emma, May 2009 -
Eleanor “The cottage was very well equipped, in a nice little village, with wonderful walks all around.”
We picked a car up at the airport, drove to the cottage and didn't use the car until the day we drove back to the airport!!!! We would go back again Haltwhistle was so convenient AND you can get there by train.
- Eleanor, May 2009 -
Mary “We had a wonderful time at Bridge cottage, the cottage was very cosy and comfortable and there were plenty of brochures about that helped us choose where to go.”
- Mary, April 2009 -
Mr Armstrong “Excellent base for touring far north of England and Southern Scotland.”
Facilities in cottage were very good and a well thought out decor was pleasing.
- Mr Armstrong, July 2008 -
Allison “Central location within easy access to all the places we wanted to visit.”
- Allison, March 2008 -
Christine “Brilliant dog walking.”
Cottage very comfortable.
- Christine, October 2007 -
Robert “The weather was very good so we were able to visit lots of places.”
It is a beautiful part of the country, and we would like to go back sometime.
- Robert, June 2006 -
Martin “Central location for excellent access to many areas between coasts.”
Great walks.
- Martin, October 2005 -
Elizabeth “Very cosy warm cottage”
- Elizabeth, October 2005 -
Gillian “All round brilliant!”
Excellent!
- Gillian, July 2005 -
Ann “Excellent location for a car-free walking holiday.”
Good public transport and lots of good walks straight from the door. Good area for wildflowers and birds. Friendly town.
- Ann, May 2005 -
Wendy “Beautiful surroundings, convenience for walking Hadrian's Wall, friendly neighbours and people in general in village.”
Welcome pack items left by owner. Plentiful supply of towels.
- Wendy, April 2005 -
Sheila “Very close to Hadrians' Wall and central for touring area.”
Good for walkers. Good facilities in area.
- Sheila, February 2005 -
Mrs Soyannwo “The scenery and landscape in the area was spectacular.”
It was also very quiet and peaceful. The cottage was very cosy and clean.
- Mrs Soyannwo, October 2004
Summary
- Two bedrooms: 1 x king-size double, 1 x adult bunks
- Ground floor shower room with shower, basin and WC
- Well-equipped fitted kitchen
- Cosy sitting room with dining area and feature electric stove.
- Electric night storage heaters with electric stove in sitting room
- Electric cooker, microwave, fridge, washer/dryer, dishwasher, TV with basic Sky, video, DVD player, stereo/CD player
- All fuel and power inc. in rent
- Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
- Small walled patio area with garden furniture
- Off road parking for 1 car with additional roadside parking also available
- One well-behaved dog welcome
- Sorry, no smoking
- Shops and pubs (serving food) 5 mins walk.
The property
A cosy 19th century end-terrace cottage, set in a rural position on the outskirts of the popular market town of Haltwhistle.
Refurbished and decorated to a high standard, the property offers comfortable and well-equipped accommodation, including a fully-fitted kitchen, sitting room with dining area, and a pretty, walled patio garden - perfect for eating alfresco.
The surroundings are in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, in the heart of Hadrian's Wall Country, and provide excellent walking and fishing (there is fishing on the North Tyne 2 minutes from the property).
The cottage is also located on the spectacular burn gorge walk, which leads to Hadrian's Wall.
With the amenities of Haltwhistle close by, as well as access to attractions such as Alnwick Castle and the Heritage Coast, this makes a truly great base for a family holiday.
Note: This property can be booked with Ref. 6796 and Ref. 10490 to accommodate 12.
View on map
About the location
HALTWHISTLE
Hexham 17 miles.
Known as the 'Centre of Britain', this small market town is a great place from which to explore both Northumberland and Cumbria. Haltwhistle boasts a good range of shops and pubs - one of which, The Black Bull, is a real ale pub serving good food! There is an excellent leisure centre with heated open air swimming pool and cycle hire in the town, with pony trekking nearby. One of the best preserved stretches of Hadrian's Wall is only a mile to the north with various museums, forts and milecastles to be seen. There is even an ongoing 'dig' at the nearby site of Vindolanda. This truly is magnificent walking, riding and cycling country, with the Pennine Way and various bridleways and cycle routes passing rivers, forests, castles and of course, Hadrian's Wall. Visitors will enjoy this location in all weather and all seasons – a regular train and bus service from the town to Newcastle, The Metro Centre and Carlisle, means that you can leave the car behind and enjoy!
This property offers the following short breaks:
- Winter
- Off-season
- Last minute
- Christmas