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Mellwaters Barn - We would like to welcome you into our cottages to look round each cottage and see what we have to offer in the way of space and comfort. We live on site and pride ourselves in making sure that you will have an enjoyable holiday in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
It is ideally situated for visiting Beamish, Durham Cathedral, York Minster, Bowes Museum and the Lake District which are all within easy driving distance. From Mellwaters Barn there are several good country pubs / restaurants serving food in the locality. Local activities include walking, cycling, golfing, fishing etc.
Wake up to peace and tranquillity of England’s wildest countryside where wildlife is plentiful. There are beautiful quiet country roads to drive on through magnificent scenery. Mellwaters Barn is an old traditional stone built dairy and granary that has been converted into 4 spacious and light self-catering cottages situated on a working farm. Beautiful clean air and spring water these award winning cottages are designed for a perfect relaxing holiday.
Mellwaters Barn is situated on a working farm off the A66 in beautiful Teesdale near Barnard Castle. The Barn dates back over 100 years and is situated in the centre of the Steading with magnificent views down the valley to Bowes or up towards the moor. This is an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with beautiful walks including the Pennine Way which runs along the western edge of the farm. We are also in the first British European Geopark. The farm has purpose made footpaths for ease of walking and these make up part of the Bowes loop of the Pennine Way.
The approach to Mellwaters Barn from the A66 is down a farm lane and across a Grade II listed Packhorse Bridge. At the far western edge of the farm is God's Bridge the best example of a natural bridge in the UK and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Also on the farm is another SSSI in the Trough where there is scree and limestone paving visible when the Sleightholme Beck is not running very fast.
Whatever the time of year we are happy to accommodate you starting on any day of the week, for 3 to 7 days or longer. We are a family business and see many of our visitors on return visits to enjoy the facilities at Mellwaters Barn.
All the cottages have level entry front doors and parking is either at the front door (Blue Tit and Kingfisher) or a few metres away (Robin and Wren).
Finishing Touches:
There are nearly 7 kilometres of footpaths within easy walking distance of Mellwaters Barn, designed not only for wheelchairs or ‘buggy’ use but to enable all our visitors to enjoy the magnificent views that we have from various points on the farm. Many visitors have found a morning or evening stroll either down to the River Greta or Sleightholme Beck very relaxing.
In addition points of historical interest with the remains of settlements dating back over several thousand years are clearly visible in certain lights. Also limestone paving is visible in the Sleightholme Beck, whilst the River Greta has the best example of a natural bridge (at God’s Bridge).
There are purpose built footpaths on the farm, including one up to God’s Bridge (the best example of a natural bridge in England), to enable all our visitors to enjoy the magnificent views that we have from various points on the farm. Other points of interest are the old lime kilns, and other settlements of archaeological interest.
For lovers of birds we have a very wide variety of birds on the farm including waders such as common sandpiper, oystercatcher and redshank, warblers, pipits, woodpecker, kingfisher, dipper, heron etc. Birds that nest on the farm include curlew, lapwing, oystercatcher, woodpecker, grey wagtail, swallow, house martin and of course the garden birds such as song thrush, blue tit, goldfinch etc. In all there are over 38 species of birds on our farm, the majority of those on the RSPB amber and red lists.
For botanists we have a good range of wildflowers in the hay meadows and pastures including the early purple orchid, yellow viola, violets especially at God’s Bridge, barren strawberry, dog rose, cowslips, marsh marigold, meadow sweet, meadow saxifrage, primrose, wild strawberry, wood anemone, cuckoo flower, foxgloves, lady’s bestraw, lady’s smock etc.
Finally if you are very lucky you might see an otter on the River Greta or Sleightholme Beck.East Mellwaters is a commercial farm where we breed both cattle and sheep, spring is of course one of the most interesting times with approximately 500 lambs.
Going off the farm Bowes village is about five minutes drive to the East where Charles Dickens stayed and featured in his book Nicholas Nickleby. The Bowes Museum and market town of Barnard Castle are fifteen minutes away, with High Force (the highest waterfall in England) about thirty minutes on from Barnard Castle.
We are situated in the North Pennine Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with magnificent views, a lot of bird life and wildflowers such as the Blue Gentian and the Teesdale Violet. In Teesdale there are marked walks along the Tees for those interested in wildflowers. You also have the circular walks round Bowes village.
The drive over the moor to Alston is magnificent especially in good weather as is the drive to Keld via Tan Hill and to Arkengarthdale. A short drive again with lovely views is over the Stang (from the A66 at the foot of Lamb Hill signposted to Reeth) to Arkengarthdale.
A day out on the Lakes is also possible from here and a trip on one of the pleasure boats on Ullswater makes a very enjoyable day out.
Going about an hour to the North over the moors you come to Hadrian's Wall with all it's points of interest.
Tel 01833 628181
www.mellwatersbarn.co.uk
County Durham self catering holiday cottages