Tag: holiday cottage

The Perfect Place

Posted on December 6, 2024 by - Northumberland, St Oswald's Farm

We know when you’re planning your holiday to Northumberland you want to the find the perfect place to stay. You want to enjoy fantastic days out but then look forward to returning to lovely comfortable and cosy accommodation where it’s a pleasure to relax and enjoy some downtime. Here’s our top 20 reasons why staying at St Oswald’s Farm is the perfect choice if you’re looking for the very best Northumberland experience.

  • We’re centrally located for exploring the whole of Northumberland with many of the superb attractions within an hour’s drive
  • Ideally positioned on the ‘military’ road to enjoy the magnificent Roman sites including The Roman, Army Museum, Chesters, Vindolanda, Corstopitum and Housesteads – all less than a 20 minute drive
  • Unique location built of top of Hadrian’s Wall itself and adjacent to the battle site of Heavenfield and the idyllic St Oswald’s Church (anyone a Vera or L J Ross fan!)
  • Only a short drive to local amenities in the local town of Hexham and the pretty village of Corbridge
  • Hugh choice of local pubs and restaurants for all tastes and budgets if you’re looking to dine out
alt="the perfect place for enjoying Hadrians Wall - Vindolanda at sunset"
Magnificent Roman sites
  • The farm sits on the edge of the stunning Northumberland National Park and under the darkest starriest Northumberland skies and with local observatories only a short drive away
  • A rural, peaceful and quiet location in the heart of the Northumberland countryside
  • Lovely doorstep walks offering spectacular views of the surrounding area
  • Small family run business on our working farm
  • We’re friendly owners and we live on site – we’re here to help but in no way intrusive
alt="View with cows and mist St Oswald's Farm view the perfect place"
The perfect place for enjoying countryside views
  • One bedroom – perfect for couples or solo travellers
  • No other cottages on site and you’re free to walk around our farm
  • Every guest receives a warm and personal welcome by us
  • Heavenfield Cottage is a real home from home with luxurious touches and attention to detail
  • Well equipped kitchen for a true self-catering holiday
alt="the perfect place for indulgent bath"
The perfect place to retreat back to each day
  • Easy to use website, booking and payment system or we’re always happy to help.
  • Excellent communication from booking through to arrival and a digital guidebook to help you get the most from your stay
  • Dedicated parking with sole use of the EV charger
  • Walker and cycle friendly with cycle store, boot store, drying cupboard and lots of handy extras
  • Lots of guidebooks and walking routes provided

At St Oswald’s Farm we strive to ensure everything is just how you’d want it to be, we want you to enjoy your stay and we want you to feel welcome and hope you love St Oswald’s Farm just as much as we do.

To find out what previous guests have had to say please take a look at some of reviews here or for more information about Heavenfield Cottage and to see all our availability and prices or to book please go to www.stoswaldsfarm.co.uk

We look forward to welcoming you here!

Christmas in Northumberland

Posted on November 7, 2022 by - Northumberland, St Oswald's Farm

December may not be the obvious month to visit Northumberland but there are so many reasons to put England’s most Northern County on your Christmas go to list. Whether you’re looking for a pre Christmas break, a festive shopping trip, a place to relax and unwind or somewhere to spend a truly special Christmas or New Year then look no further.

St Oswald’s Farm is the perfect base to enjoy the wonderful Christmas markets and events that take place across the North East each year. Living North takes place each year in Newcastle which is a huge 4 day event and with others closer to home such as Brocksbushes Fair, the Tynedale Gift Fair and The Sill Christmas Fair to name just a few. The local town of Hexham holds it’s annual Christmas Market on the 2nd Saturday of December each year with over 50 seasonal stalls laden with gifts, locally produced food, festive wreaths and much more, all dotted around the historic Market Place and throughout Hexham Abbey. Enjoy mince pies, mulled wine and with carol singers and live music ensuring the event is all a Christmas market should be.

Corbridge Late Night Christmas Shopping evening and Christmas Tree Festival takes place at the end of November each year and is such a special event that the whole village participates in. St Andrew’s Church in the Market Place is packed with ‘trees’ from so many local groups, shops and organisations. As anyone who has visited Corbridge before will know the shop windows are always lovely and at this time of year they step it up to another league, there can be no better place to get into the Christmas spirit.

alt="Christmas tree festival welly tree"
Corbridge (image Ian Wylie)
alt="christmas tree festival plant tree"

Of course Christmas shopping doesn’t have to be all about the markets and high streets, you could always opt to escape to the comfort of your own festive cottage and spend a day in your PJ’s in front of a log burner with a warming drink in one hand whilst the other hand shops online for the those perfect gifts. We’ll even supply you with a list of some of our local makers and businesses.

If shopping just isn’t your thing then the winter months are the perfect time for getting wrapped up and heading out for a walk in the beautiful Northumberland countryside and with the trees stripped of their summer foliage the views take on a whole new appearance. The winter landscape that stretches for miles and miles is stunning and if you catch them wearing a hoar frost then you’re in for a real treat.

alt="view with haw frost"

If you’re looking to escape over the Christmas holidays then Heavenfield Cottage is the place for you with every luxury you’d come to expect from a 5 star property but yet with all the comforts of home so your Christmastime can be truly relaxing. You’ll arrive to find the cottage decorated and looking beautifully festive so all you need to do is unpack your bags, pop your presents under the tree and relax. On Christmas Eve there is even the opportunity to walk over Heavenfield to St Oswald’s Church for a candlelit service and let’s be honest you can’t get much more magical than that!

alt="St Oswald's church in snow at Christmas"
St Oswald’s Church holds a candlelit Christmas Eve service (image Ian Wylie)

We offer a 7 night stay over Christmas so you can spend a whole week of leisurely days in front of the log burning stove, binge watch TV, indulge in a bookfest or take long soaks in the deep double ended bath before wrapping up in a fluffy bathrobe. Or if Christmas for you means getting outside we have that covered too with lovely walks from the doorstep and as evening falls with our amazing dark skies overhead there’s nothing nicer than simply heading out onto the patio and looking up for a star studded show.

Maybe it’s time to put the magic of Northumberland on your Christmas list!

EV Charging

Posted on August 10, 2022 by - Northumberland, St Oswald's Farm

If you’re thinking of holidaying in Northumberland but are unsure as you have an electric vehicle then worry not. We’ve made sure that you can travel to Northumberland and enjoy a great holiday using your electric vehicle with total confidence when you stay with us here at St Oswald’s Farm. You can rest assured that you can charge your vehicle at any time, day or night as Heavenfield Cottage has it’s own dedicated Type 2 EV Charger right beside the cottage and within a short and easy reach of the parking area.

  • alt="EV Charger outside holiday cottage"

Unlike some holiday homes we don’t restrict you to specific charging times and the charger is for your sole use for the duration of your stay with us. We don’t charge an upfront payment and you will only pay for the electric that you use and we will always only charge you at our current standard tariff. The EV Charger has a meter attached to it which you are free to check, however for added convenience it is also linked to an App on our mobile phones which makes it really easy to calculate your electricity usage. At the end of your stay we will let you know what you have used and provide you with a detailed print out of the units used each day should you wish. Payment can just be made at the end of your stay by either cash or by card using our handy card reader.

Booking to use the charger during your stay is easy too, just tick the box on the form when you book online and that’s it, all you then have to do is remember to bring your own charging cable. There are also charge points located around Northumberland should you need to ‘top-up’ during your days out and locations of these points can be found here.

You will enjoy a great holiday in Northumberland with the reassurance of knowing you car is always fully charged and we’ll do the rest to ensure you go home from your stay fully recharged! We look forward to welcoming you and your car here very soon.

Dining Out

Posted on December 1, 2021 by - Hadrian's Wall Area Attractions, Northumberland

The beauty of a self catering holiday is undoubtedly that you can pack your slippers and enjoy making yourself well and truly at home, and of course you have the choice of whether to rustle something up in the kitchen after a day of sightseeing or to opt for dining out!

This is the first of a series of blog posts on dining out and we’re starting off our fantastic Northumberland offering of great places to eat with our local pub!

The Crown Inn in Humshaugh is a true country pub in every sense of the word, set in a lovely quiet village, with local cask ales, home cooked food, live music evenings and they are also renowned for their classic vehicle events. This family run pub has a lovely outdoor dining area, real fires, seasonal menus and you will receive a very warm welcome. And all just a 5 minute drive from St Oswald’s Farm.

The Crown Inn
The Crown Inn at Humshaugh

There’s an array of eateries in the local town of Hexham and if Indian cuisine is your dining out option then look no further than Zyka, a modern boutique restaurant offering exquisite food all expertly prepared under the watchful eye of celebrated chef Khaled Miah. This is no ordinary Indian curry house, but a fine dining experience.

alt="rice dish at zyka"
alt="outside restaurant at night"
Zyka in Hexham
alt="zyka plate of food"

A 30 minute drive over beautiful moorland and you will find The Lord Crewe Arms in the picturesque village of Blanchland. The village and the building are steeped in history, and you will find the setting not only picture perfect but awe-inspiring, this together with a a culinary offer that is second to none makes The Lord Crewe & Blanchland definitely worth a visit.

‘Smitten with seasonal simplicity and sense of place, our food is a culinary collaboration between heritage and landscape.  Guided by the evolutionary imagination of Emma Broom and faithful to the cultures of the north; expect heavenly patchwork feasts, dainty dishes and the occasional fix of comfort food, cooked to the highest order- of course’ –Lord Crewe Arms

alt="Lord Crewe Arms back garden with rose trees"
The Lord Crewe Arms
alt="Lord Crewe huge stone fireplace"

If you find yourself at Steel Rigg and enjoying the walk to the iconic Sycamore Gap or you’ve been discovering the delights of Vindolanda and find yourself in need of refreshments then The Twice Brewed Inn is a must and just a 2 minute drive from the Steel Rigg Car Park and 5 minutes from Vindolanda. Enjoy real ales together with classic but quality home cooked food in front of warming log fires.

alt="steak and chips"
alt="pizza and pint"
Twice Brewed Inn
alt="plate of food at Twice Brewed"

The Beaumont is an independent Victorian townhouse hotel in the centre of nearby Hexham, which sits within sight of Hexham Abbey and with the Abbey grounds directly opposite. The open plan restaurant with open kitchen offers an exemplary ever changing seasonal menu using locally sourced ingredients and was recently reviewed favourably by food critic, Grace Dent.

alt="Dining out image of The Beaumont Hotel in Hexham lit up in the evening"
The Beaumont Hotel in Hexham

Our local offer of places to eat is second to none, there is something for everyone and with all tastes and preferences catered for. So many of our restaurants and pubs source the finest of local produce and champion all that is great about the North East through their carefully prepared food whilst all the time ensuring that you have the very best dining out experience when you stay in Northumberland.

Stay on a farm

Posted on November 4, 2020 by - Northumberland, St Oswald's Farm

St Oswald’s Farm is where we live, its’s what we are and it’s what we do. But what is it like to stay on a farm, to be a guest here, to come and stay in a holiday cottage on an actual working farm?

A stay here is just what you would expect from a stay in a luxury holiday cottage, it’s welcoming, it’s relaxing, it’s ultra comfortable and it’s peaceful and most importantly it’s your special break from your everyday.

alt="stay on a farm outside image of heavenfield cottage"
Heavenfield Cottage

Heavenfield Cottage allows you to enjoy everything you want from your holiday, lazy mornings, day trips, visitor attractions, meals out, leisure time, long soaks and time to enjoy your book. However a stay on a farm perhaps also gives the opportunity to see the countryside in a unique way and take a glimpse into a way of life.

Our everyday views

We have over 750 acres of ‘back garden’ to enjoy, there are stunning walks and views to die for without even leaving St Oswald’s. The scenery, the birds and the wildlife around us are fantastic and depending what time of year you visit you may be lucky enough to spot a curlew or lapwing, you may be here when the cotton grass is out or when our preserved hay meadow is in full bloom.

Cotton grass
Wildflower meadow

Any walk you take you will undoubtedly see our animals, John’s beloved sheep as they go about their daily business and during the Spring and Summer months you will see our lambs, thousands of them as they play. You can admire our cattle grazing and visit the hens that provide you with your welcome hamper eggs! You can even collect some eggs if you wish..do just ask us.

Dot & Sky…always keen to be busy
Happy chickens

You will see our dogs hard at work. Sky, Dot & Bea are an integral part of the day to day running of the farm and always keen to do their job. You may see them rounding up the sheep whilst out in the fields listening for John’s call, well almost always listening for John’s call. They are more than eager to please and they don’t care about the weather or the mud and can normally be found within a few yards of John! Although they have been known to wander off in search of a tummy tickle!

Dot, always keen to have her tummy tickled

I don’t think anyone could stay here without seeing the beauty that living on a farm brings or the time and dedication that goes into farming, the love we have for our animals and for where we live. Our guests are able to see at first hand John’s comings and goings as he gets on with his everyday routine.

alt="stay on a farm heifers of different breeds in a field with blue skies above stay on a farm"
Our ladies enjoying summer days

One of the questions John is most frequently asked is “do you get a day off”? The idea of a day off to John is odd, he doesn’t think about days off, and in answer to the question, no he doesn’t not unless we actually go away and leave someone to look after everything on the farm.

John would however tell you that he does get the odd day off, but what he means is he gets up earlier to do all his work before he goes away for the day and then works late when he gets home to get everything done that needs to be done. That’s John’s idea of a day off! I’ll let you decide if you think he’s right.

January and February is calving time and during March and April a stay at St Oswald’s Farm will mean seeing lots of activity, you will undoubtedly see lambs born and can feed lambs if you would like to. It’s a busy time of year for us but we’re always more than happy to answer any questions that you may have and you are more than welcome in the lambing sheds. We love that people are interested to know about our way of life.

Not a bad view from the office
Silage time wrapping bales
Night shift – lambing time

If you happen to be here at the start of July you might witness John shearing his own sheep, and there’s even the odd chance you might witness me wrapping fleeces, please feel free to have a go, the lanolin is great for your hands!

Of course the summer months are also about making silage and hay for the winter. The tractors, machinery, the mower, the baler, the wrapper are always great to see in action. In fact the distant sound of the bale wrapper in the fields is for me a real noise of summer and it always feels comforting to know that our fodder for the winter is being safely wrapped up for our stock.

alt="stay on a farm John shearing a ewe on a clipping trailer in the sun at shearing time"
Shearing time

Staying on a farm is without doubt a pleasure, it’s all a holiday should be with perhaps just a little added extra, a real experience of the countryside and a small yet real glimpse into farming life.

If you would like to experience a stay on a farm and enjoy the best of our countryside and all that Hadrian’s Wall has to offer, then we’d love to welcome you here. For all availability, prices and details of Heavenfield Cottage then please go to our website. Or if you’d like our monthly updates from life on the farm then we’d love if you signed up to our newsletter .

We look forward to sharing St Oswald’s Farm with you!

Stay and Golf

Posted on October 8, 2020 by - Northumberland

If golf is your game then a stay in Northumberland means you will quite literally be spoilt for choice with nearby courses offering everything from scenic and picturesque to wild and remote and even some internationally renowned. Our courses are varied and offer something for everyone and Northumberland promises courses suitable for all abilities and budgets. So whether you’re looking to just try your hand at golf or just give your clubs an airing whilst holidaying in Northumberland or if you’ re hoping for a different course and different challenge each day, then we can definitely oblige.

Stay and Golf in Northumberland

Allendale golf course sits amongst the hills in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and at it’s highest point reaches 1374ft and is one of highest courses in England. It’s position ensures a remote yet beautiful aspect with fawn and fauna in abundance so don’t be surprised if the odd hare or deer takes interest if you’re nearing the rough.

The picturesque North Tyne Valley is home to Bellingham golf course, a highly regarded 18 hole, 70 par course which provides breathtaking views over the valley and towards Kielder. With a mix of par threes, long par fives and some challenging par fours, you’re assured variation until the very last putt.

alt="Tynedale Golf course in Hexham"
Tynedale Golf Course, Hexham

The local town of Hexham boasts not one but two courses, Tynedale a 9 hole course that sits neatly on Tyne Green, it provides a small tree lined and almost flat course. To the west of the town you will find Hexham Golf Club which is set in acres of pretty countryside overlooking the River Tyne. The Club offers a stunning and memorable venue, with what is said to be the best opening hole in the County and then follows up with a challenge on every green. If you want to brush up on what’s in store hole by hole, their website provides top tips and even ensures you know where to enjoy the best views.

alt="Hexham Golf Club"
Hexham Golf Club course – image credit Hexham Golf Club

Northumberland also lays claim to championship courses, Slaley Hall, a 36 hole golf complex with their USGA standard, multi championship ‘Hunting Course’ and set on higher slightly windier ground their ‘Priestman Course’ which has hosted many European Tours. Both Hunting and Priestman offer a challenging but scenic round.

alt="Slaley Hall"
Slaley Hall

Matfen Hall lies only a 15 minute drive from St Oswald’s and boasts a stunning 27 hole Championship course across beautiful classic parkland incorporating some challenging water features and is regarded as one of the finest courses in Northumberland.

Further East along the Tyne Valley you will find not one but two Lee Westwood courses in the grounds of Close House near Wylam, the Colt Course and the Filly Course alongside a 9 hole Yearling course. Close House was developed by local businessman Graham Wylie who has ensured it has a place on the global golf map and and has hosted the European British Masters and is the only PGA Academy in the North East of England.

Wherever you choose to play you will be sure of a warm welcome to the course and of course to the 19th hole, you will be playing surrounded by vistas that are so staggeringly beautiful you might struggle to keep your eye on the ball! Book your stay in Heavenfield Cottage, take your pick from our fantastic golfing offer, arrange those tee off times and enjoy golf Northumberland style!