Heatherbrae is highly praised for its spaciousness, well-equipped kitchen, and stunning grounds with a variety of entertainment options including hot tubs and a tennis court. The property is ideal for large gatherings, offering both communal and private spaces. The picturesque location and responsive host add to the positive experience, although some minor maintenance issues are noted.
The majority of guests found Heatherbrae to be spotlessly clean, with high-quality linen and towels. There were no significant complaints about cleanliness, indicating a high standard maintained throughout the property.
The location is consistently described as stunning and picturesque, with beautiful views and grounds. It is also mentioned as a great starting point for local walks and close to nearby attractions, contributing to its high rating.
Guests found the bedrooms comfortable and the living spaces ample. There were some comments about cold rooms and a need for more showers, but overall, the comfort level was rated highly.
The property boasts a range of facilities including a well-stocked game room, tennis court, and hot tubs. However, there were several mentions of maintenance issues such as non-working kitchen burners, a broken dishwasher, and a slippery driveway, which slightly lower the score.
While some guests mentioned lovely additions and a courtesy text from the host, there is insufficient information to determine if these are consistent practices or one-off occurrences. Therefore, a score cannot be provided, and guests should note that such thoughtful gestures are not guaranteed.
Nestled on the edge of the charming town of Middleton-in-Teesdale, is the delightful property Heather Brae located in 2.5 acres of beautiful grounds.
Although a former luxury hotel, it’s been a holiday let for many years. This well-appointed, environmentally-friendly property using biomass and solar power, accommodation provides a fabulous space for large groups for family and friends alike to join and celebrate in style. As you will see from our visitor’s book when you arrive, which dates back >10-years, we are fortunate to welcome back guests year after year. The underlying feedback we receive from our guests is that the “pictures just do not do the property justice!”
We appreciate that time is a commodity that you just can never get back, and therefore we are committed to making your stay as pleasant and as memorable as possible, so your visit to Heather Brae becomes one of those timeless memories, shared with either your family or friends.
Heather Brae is located in the North Pennines, which was designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1988 for its moorland scenery, its mountains and the river Tees. We are also only a short drive from Barnard Castle and the High Force Waterfall and less than 40 miles from the Lake District National Park, so great for those varied days-out or visiting those English Heritage Sites such as Durham Cathedral, Durham Castle, Barnard Castle, or the Bowes Museum.
For those of you who want an activity-based holiday, this is an amazing place for walking, cycling, exploring, rock climbing, watersports, car racing, or enjoying a game of tennis on your very own tennis court. We are also collaborating with local partners to provide fly-fishing, shooting experiences and much, much more and we can try and help to organise these events if you contact us well in advance, subject to availability, of course.
We can build you a great package (given sufficient time). For those of you who want to just chill-out, there is a range of great eateries and hostelries and excellent farm shops for those who want to take advantage of the striking oak farmhouse kitchen or BBQ on our terraces. This can be followed by a relaxing time in our two hot tubs overlooking the Teesdale valley in our extensive grounds.
We have an abundance of outside seating, a rope swing, tree house and a football pitch to keep the children entertained. For those who want to take a rest from cooking, you can also arrange a private Chef experience, as we are an official partner of Dine and Dulge, who can cater for those special events.
For those of you who have a special dietary requirement and need to prepare your food separately, we have a second fully stocked kitchen in our annex. The annex also has its own living room for those people who may have to work, whilst others play.
When you enter Heather Brae, you will be greeted into an airy hallway, where you can place down your bags and take off your coats and make yourself feel right at home.
Wander into the peaceful snug, curling up on one of the traditional leather armchairs as you lose yourself in an enthralling book from our library, or gather with friends in the games room for some friendly competition playing pool.
Lounge on one of the many plush sofas located in the living room as you watch the flames from our open fire and catch-up with your nearest and dearest whilst music plays from the Smart TV.
Grab a bottle of wine from one of the wine drink’s fridge located within the pantry, or a beer from our beer fridge and take a seat at the dining table to map out your plans for the coming days, as the chef of the group takes to the striking oak farmhouse kitchen and prepares a mouth-watering three course dinner with the help of the impressive stainless steel range cooker.
Continue the evening out in the garden with a dip in the hot tub, admiring the outstanding views of the rolling countryside as the sun begins to set on yet another wonderful day in the Pennines.
When you begin to feel tired, carry yourself off to one of the many bedrooms available; with a total of ten bedrooms set over two floors, there is something to suit everyone.
Choose to stay in one of the luxurious super-king-size or king-size bedrooms boasting their very own en-suites where you can indulge in a rejuvenating shower or relaxing soak in the bath.
Guests have the option to stay in the spacious family bedroom, complete with both a super-king-size bed, two singles and the benefit of a tranquil en-suite bathroom featuring both a bath and a separate walk-in shower.
Discover an old housekeeper's lodge located on the second floor, home to a king-size bedroom, a double and a twin, as well as a chic bathroom and additional cloakroom for your convenience.
Prepare a hearty breakfast in the housekeeper’s kitchen with the help of the handy electric oven and hob, before heading through to the snug living area, settle into the sofas by the warmth of the woodburning stove as you catch a movie on the Smart TV.
Show off your tennis skills with a quick match out on the courts before grabbing your bikes from the storage area and heading out on a peaceful cycle.
Hop in the car and head for the nearby town of Barnard Castle where you will find an enchanting castle, impressive art galleries and the striking ruins of Egglestone Abbey.
Spend your days on scenic hikes through the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or enjoy a relaxing stroll along the Tees Valley Railway Walk, before exploring Summerhill Force and Gibson's Cave.
Book a stay at Heatherbrae for an unforgettable group holiday to the fantastic Middleton-in-Teesdale.
The charming Pennine town of Middleton-in-Teesdale is located in the centre of Teesdale, in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, nestled by the banks of the River Tees. This bustling town is bordered by beautiful walking scenery, including high open moorland and charming forested valleys, and it offers a decent selection of stores, pubs, and restaurants. Among the most breathtaking sites in the area are the surrounding waterfalls of High Force, Gibson's Cave, and Cauldron Snout. The local market town of Barnard Castle is accessible and provides a full range of amenities.
Ground Floor:Large farmhouse kitchen / dinner with dual aspect wide-ranging views over the dale – tables can seat up to 26 people.
SMEG Range cooker with electric oven and gas hob, electric oven and hob, fridge, fridge/freezer, microwave, 2 x dishwashersUtility / laundry room with washing machine and tumble dryerBoot roomWine fridgesWCSitting room with open fireSnug with woodburning stove and libraryGames room with pool table.
Upper Floors:Ten bedrooms and 6 bathrooms1 x second-floor super-king-size (zip/link, can be twin on request) with TV and en-suite walk-in shower, basin and WC, 1 x super-king-size with TV, 1 x second-floor super-king-size with TV, 1 x second-floor king-size with TV, 1 x double with TV, 1 x family room with king-size and a single with trundle with TV, 1 x family room with super-king-size, single and cot with TV and en-suite bath, walk-in shower, basin and WCBathroom with bath, shower over, basin and WCShower room with walk-in shower, basin, and WCSecond-floor bathroom with bathSeparate WCCloakroom.
Annexe: 1 x super-king size with TV, 1 x double with TV, 1 x twin with TVBathroom with bath, basin, and WCSeparate WCOpen-plan living space with kitchenette, dining area and sitting area with woodburning stove.
Fuel and power included in rent and starter pack of wood and kindle for stove
BT Fibre To The Premises 900Mbps.
13 x TVs/Smart TVs and WiFi, selection of books, pool table.
No smoking inside the building – smoking place available on the terraces.
Bed linen and towels includes in rent – professionally laundered.
Enclosed rear garden with lawn, furniture, two hot tubs, barbecue, and a tennis court.
Tree house.
Terraces.
Rope swing.
Bike storage shed.
Off-road parking for 10 cars.
Two cots, a third cot is available by prior request, two highchairs.
Additional Z-Beds are available upon request.
Pets: We know for those of you with pets, that going away can sometime be challenging as you want to take them with you, so we after several requests we have changed our policy and welcome pets, but these must remain on the ground floor only.
As we live in a farming community, anyone with large or energetic dogs or dogs likely to stray off the property must be kept on a lead whilst in the garden.
You can also arrange deliveries from major supermarkets, please contact the owner for more information.
Pet allergies: If anyone who has already booked and has pet allergies, or wants to book in future, please kindly contact me and we will make special preparation prior to your visit to ensure that you enjoy your stay.
Food & Drink: The village is <1 mile away and has a range of shops, a hotel, pubs and eateries and take aways.
Very reputable farm shops close to Barnard Castle with excellent range of fresh produce.
Local craft brewery who can deliver – please contact the owner well in advance of your arrival date.
Executive chef can be provided for those special occasions, please contact the owner well in advance of your arrival date.
Note: Please be considerate of neighbouring properties, the hot tubs are available in the evening, but please be mindful of the noise after 10pm.
Note: Groups under the age of 25 are welcome but only with prior approval from the property owner, so please contact Sykes before you book.
Note: We would welcome both hen parties and stag parties, only with the express pre-approval of the property owners and following a telephone discussion, please therefore kindly contact Sykes before you book - special booking conditions “may” apply, depending on the booking party - please kindly follow the guidance otherwise the good housekeeping bond may be withheld; and you may be asked to leave the property where there are serious complaints - whilst we want everyone to have a thoroughly enjoyable stay, and hopefully be a returning guest, we also value the relationships with our neighbours and kindly ask that guests follow our guidelines.
Note: We have additional pull-out singles and z-beds, and have catered for up to 28 guests with these beds being deployed in existing bedrooms.
Mike
Very warm and comfortable and able to make use of all the facilities, tree house, tennis court, hot tub & pool table. Stunning views from the front. It is an older house with character & any issues were promptly sorted by the owner Julian
Angela
The house was not only lovely but equipped us with everything we needed. All room were comfortable and clean and views were beautiful. Need another occasion to stay again!
Jon
Rather than feeling like a welcoming holiday home, it resembled a tired, neglected hotel. The pre-arrival information was overly detailed to the point of being overwhelming, creating an unwelcoming atmosphere before we had even arrived. Upon arrival, we were further let down by the lack of a welcome pack, and the bathrooms were missing basic essentials like shower gelâan oversight that should never happen. One of the hot tubs was out of order, which was disappointing for everyone, and the oven was broken, completely ruining our plans for a pre-arranged family Sunday lunch. The owner, unfortunately, was full of excuses for these issues, but had not informed us before the stay nor offered any solutions while we were there. In addition to these frustrations, there were various health and safety hazards. A disabled hearth in the kitchen was still poorly positioned, causing several guests to cut their shins on it. This was a serious hazard that should have been properly addressed. Overall, the property was a significant letdownâfar from how it was described, and it lacked any sense of care or attention. It certainly did not provide value for money, and the overall experience left us feeling deeply disappointed.
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