Christmas Cottages In County Durham

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Sally - Verified booking

  Our must have things when we book a cottage are that it has to be dog friendly, have good wifi, a log burner, put and shop within walking distance and stunning surroundings.

  The Back House does not disappoint on any of these points. The owner, Judith, was so welcoming and friendly and it's obvious that a lot of thought and details has gone into the decor of this beautiful home. On our arrival Judith had left us a lovely homemade cake and scones, fresh free range eggs from their own chickens, milk and prosecco - we were spoilt! There was even a dog bed and bowls for the pooches. The cottage was spotless which is so reassuring in the current Covid climate. There is a secure area outside the back door where you can let your dogs out, it is a paved area with no grass which our dogs aren't used to but they soon got the hang of it and it wasn't an issue at all. Staindrop and the surrounding area are stunning, there's so much to see and do and plenty of off lead walks for the dogs. There are a few shops within a short walk of the cottage - Spar shop, newsagents, butchers, and also a pub which unfortunately we couldn't make full use of as the second lockdown came into place whilst we were there. There's so much we haven't had chance to explore yet in this beautiful part of the country and we will certainly make a return visit to the Back House to continue our adventure.

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• Nadia - Verified booking

  My brother and I together with his dog had a wonderful stay at the Back House.

  It is a fabulous property, very spacious, beautifully furnished and decorated, very very clean and very dog friendly. We were slightly worried before we arrived as there is a review on Trip Advisor claiming it is not suited to dogs. This is incorrect. It is a great property for dogs, you just have to put on a lead to walk them rather than letting them run loose which is what the other guest must have wanted to do. The rabbits that were mentioned are feral so they will be hopping about in the countryside, the previous guest seemed upset there were rabbits running around in the paddock next to the house. There are miles of lovely walks from the back door and the dog enjoyed the stay as much as we did! He was provided for and supplied with a bed, blanket and towels by the Owners. Judith and Richard were very good hosts and Jeanette their lovely helper as very kind. When I lost my mobile Judith helped me contact my daughter. We liked the village Tea Shop , it is good value with a decent menu. There is lots to do round and about. Definitely plan to return.

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• Katherine - Verified booking

  My holiday at brookside byre was great.

  This was the second time i have stayed here and would do again. The little extras provided like arriving to a home baked cake and milk in the fridge just make it that bit special. The underfloor heating keep it warm if a bit hard to figure out to start with. The kids took full advantage of a tv in each room but also loved feeding the chickens. My only complaint is a personal preference as i like a softer bed and the beds are definitely on the firm/hard side but my husband was happy as he likes firm. My parents came and joined us for a few nights and again was perfect as all on one level so no problems with stairs and a seat for the shower is provided. A footstool in the living room i think would have made it even better but i really am getting picky. Thankyou for a lovely stay i hope we get to come again in the future its a lovely place to visit.

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• Richard - Verified booking

  We recently stayed at this Cottage and were extremely disappointed with our experience.

  From the start, we encountered numerous issues that were never resolved, despite contacting the host. There was no WiFi, the hot tub displayed an error message and had a broken lid, and the TV didn’t work. The cleanliness was very subpar—from a filthy shower curtain, too cleaning items like a rusty dirty mop and bucket left to great you on arrival. Additional inconveniences included a washing machine that moved around the kitchen when in use and a clothesline that had to be retrieved from a bush. After three days, none of these problems were addressed, and our stay was significantly affected. We expected a comfortable, clean, and well-maintained space, but unfortunately, this was far from what we experienced and due to the nature of the issues we decided to end our stay 4 days early. I cannot recommend this property based on our stay.

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• Gillian - Verified booking

  This is the best cottage I have ever stayed in.

  It is scrupulously clean, comfortable and charming. The bedrooms are lovely and super-comfortable and the wood burner in the sitting room is a gorgeous feature. The kitchen is big enough to feel spacious for chatting and cooking and is extremely well-equipped. Everything has been carefully and prettily decorated. Although the garden area is relatively compact it is still a sweet spot for sitting or eating outside. The surrounding area is wonderful with so many interesting and beautiful places to visit. The holiday was made very special by the extremely kind welcome from Judith, who provided delicious home-made cakes, organic wine and milk, fresh eggs from the farm and many other thoughtful touches. She really went the extra mile to make my stay a happy one. I am already looking forward to going back! Gillian

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