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Gate House
Allendale - Northumberland
Description - Availability - Location - Bookings
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Description
Gate House is a stone-built one-bedroom cottage, on the outskirts of Allendale Town, in Hexhamshire, Northumberland; about 11 miles south-west of Hexham, on the B6295
It is situated about 5 minutes walk or a short drive from the village square, in a quiet community around the mill at Bridge End. Although it is on the road, for it was originally the tollhouse to the Bridge here, there is not much traffic. Only local traffic seems to use the road – maybe something to do with the steep hill and narrow entrance to the square! There is a parking space for one car.
The cottage is comfortably equipped to sleep two, with twin pine beds in the bedroom. However, if you are prepared to make up the bed, there is a bed-settee in the living room, which sleeps one or two. N.B. from the bedroom you have to go through the livingroom to get to the bathroom.
Pillows, duvets, sheets etc. are all provided and the twin beds are made up for you.
Both rooms are reasonable size – bedroom 10ft. x 13ft. and living room 14ft. x 13ft.
A dining table and chairs for four are in the living room.
There is a modern kitchen, with ceramic hob electric cooker, fridge-freezer, toaster, kettle, full range of pans, crockery and cutlery enough for four. Unfortunately there is no room for a washing machine or dryer – so have a holiday from the washing! Tea towels are provided.
There is a small shower room with shower, basin and WC, heater, heated towel rail, but no bath. Please bring your own hand and bath towels – also towels for swimming if you wish. There are swimming and leisure pools at Haltwhistle, Hexham and Prudhoe, or you can try river-bathing in local rivers, the Tyne and the Allen.
Heating is by storage heaters, and electricity is included in the price. We just ask you to be careful, as you would at home, especially not leaving the towel rail on by mistake!
There is also an open fire. Coal and kindling may be bought at the Co-op, in the village square, and there is a sawmill at Langley where bags of logs can be bought.
Windows are double glazed, and the rooms are very light with double aspect windows to the two main rooms. The gatehouse keepers had to keep a watch out for all those carriages and carts coming into and out of the town!
There is a radio/CD player/tape player provided – but radio reception is rather difficult; with perseverance you can get some channels! TV reception is very poor and we do not have a set in the cottage. There are some books and games. Local maps are provided for you to borrow, and there are lots of brochures about things to do and places to visit - far more than you could possibly fit into a week!
Sorry, but no pets allowed, and no smoking in the cottage. (Guide dogs by arrangement.)
Weeks Available, Prices and Making a Booking
Gate House is available over Easter and from May to early September each year.
All lets begin on the Saturday listed.
A list of dates available and prices may be found on the Bookings Page.
Getting to the cottage
Follow this link for a location map.
From the A69 (Newcastle to Carlisle road)
Take the A686 just East of Haydon Bridge, signposted to Alston.
After 2.5 miles turn left onto the B6295 (shortly after the Langley Castle Hotel and Langley Sawmill).
Go across a staggered crossroads.
Then join the B road (B6304) from Hexham, following the signs to Allendale.
Just after Catton the road forks. The main road goes straight on, but we suggest you take the right fork (to Thornley Gate), down to and over the River Allen.
At the crossroads after the river, turn left towards Allendale, and go down the hill.
Gate House is on the right-hand side, just beyond a minor road (where the road bends left shortly before the second bridge over the Allen and up into Allendale.)
If your journey brings you up the M6 Turn off the motorway at junction 40 taking the A66 East to Brough, then after nearly a mile take the A686 through Alston and towards Hexham. If your journey brings you up the A1 This route will bring you onto the A689 (for Alston). Public Transport
Have a happy holiday! "Thank you for the use of the cottage. It was absolutely lovely; we had a great time" (Veronica & Mike S) "We had a lovely stay in Gate House; it really suited my mother and I perfectly. We have had reasonable weather and visited Alnwick, Cragside, Wallington, Hadrians Wall and Hexham. A really good change for us. Thank you so much" (Jane C & her Mum) "This is a real home from home. We had fantastic weather and had wonderful walks right from the front door! Can we come back next year?" (Mike & Jenny F) Top of Page - Description - Availability - Location - Bookings
you may like to take the A686 Penrith to Haydon Bridge road. This is said to be one of the best driving routes in Europe! (From Penrith it takes about one hour to get to Allendale.)
Turn right at the Elk's Head at Whitfield onto a minor road, signposted to Allendale.
This becomes the B6295 at Thornley Gate (the crossroads mentioned in the last paragraph.)
Go straight on, down the hill, and Gate House is on the right hand side, just beyond a minor road (where the main road turns left shortly before the mill and the bridge over the Allen.)
Turn left onto the A68 (for Corbridge) shortly after joining the A1(M) Durham Motorway, and follow the signs for North Pennines / Weardale. (From the motorway it takes about one hour to get to Allendale.)
At the top of Weardale the road turns right onto the B6295 for Allenheads and Allendale.
When you come down into Allendale, go past the Methodist church, then turn left into the village square (signposted to Whitfield).
Past the Allendale Inn the road goes down a steep hill, The Peth.
Immediately after crossing the river, the road bends right. Gate House is then ahead of you after the mill on the left, just before the road bends right again.
There are good public transport connections to Allendale.
You can get to Hexham by train or bus, and then to Allendale by bus.
There are frequent trains stopping at Hexham, and several buses a day (starting at Hexham railway then bus station) up to Allendale.
Follow this link for local bus services.
