Briar Barn in County Durham | Cottage With a Hot Tub

About Briar Barn

Escape to the enchanting Briar Barn, a 17th-century converted barn nestled in the heart of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This cedar-clad and stone beauty sleeps up to 6 guests in 3 cosy bedrooms, making it an ideal retreat for families, friends, or couples seeking a rural getaway.

The barn boasts a ground-floor bedroom for easy accessibility and includes a luxurious hot tub, perfect for unwinding after a day of exploring the stunning surroundings.

You'll find comfort in the rustic charm of the sitting room, complete with a woodburning stove and floor-to-ceiling windows that allow natural light to flood in.

Enjoy the convenience of off-road parking and a plethora of modern amenities, including a well-equipped kitchen/diner, broadband/WiFi, and a washing machine. The property welcomes two well-behaved pets, so your furry friends can join in on the adventure.

With its idyllic location, Briar Barn offers the perfect balance of tranquillity and comfort for an unforgettable cottage break.

Check Prices & Availability

At Sykes Cottages

Need To Know

Oil fired central heating and woodburning stove
Electric oven and hob, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, washing machine
42 Inch Smart TV in the living room which includes free Disney and Netflix
WiFi available
Each bedroom also has TV with Freeview
Travel cot available
Fuel and power included in rent
Bed linen, dressing gowns and towels included in rent
Ample off-road parking
Lawned garden
Hot Tub
Two well-behaved pets welcome
Sorry, no smoking
Shop and pub within 1.4 miles
Please note; Hot tub will be available for use from 1st June 2020

Cottages Near Briar Barn

Bilberry Nook Cottage

2 Miles

North of England » County Durham

Sleeps 4

Pets 1

Hot Tub

Bedrooms: 2

Delightful County Durham cottage, centrally located in the village of Westgate. Woodburning stove. Backing on to the River Wear and close to open countryside. Alston 14.3 miles.

View Cottage

[+] To Favourites

The Old Miners Hall

4 Miles

North of England » County Durham

Sleeps 14

Pets 1

Hot Tub

Bedrooms: 6

Beautiful stone-built property in the hamlet of Burnside. Woodburning stove. En-suites, Jacuzzi bath, hot tub. A superb property for a large family gathering all-year-round. Rookhope 0.5 miles.

View Cottage

[+] To Favourites

Parcel Cottage

5 Miles

North of England » County Durham

Sleeps 6

Pets 1

Hot Tub

Bedrooms: 3

This lovely property is located in a beautiful spot near the village of Eastgate in the stunning landscape of Weardale, part of the North Pennines Area of Natural Beauty.

View Cottage

[+] To Favourites

Hoodgill Barn

7 Miles

North of England » County Durham

Sleeps 9

Pets 1

Hot Tub

Bedrooms: 4

A spacious, stone-built, end of terrace cottage, set in a remote location. Outstanding countryside views. Lovely garden. Luxurious hot tub. WiFi. Woodburner. Middleton-in-Teesdale 3 miles.

View Cottage

[+] To Favourites

Woodlands View Stanhope Castle

7 Miles

North of England » County Durham

Sleeps 4

Pets 1

Hot Tub

Bedrooms: 2

A dramatic and delightful all-ground-floor property, set within the lands of Stanhope Castle, at the centre of Stanhope itself. Dog-friendly. Spa room. On the border of the North Pennines AONB. Durham 19.7 miles.

View Cottage

[+] To Favourites

Knights Corner Stanhope Castle

8 Miles

North of England » County Durham

Sleeps 6

Pets 1

Hot Tub

Bedrooms: 3

A beautiful cottage located in the village of Stanhope, County Durham. Open-plan. Pleasant views. Hot tub. Luxury accommodation. Durham 22 miles.

View Cottage

[+] To Favourites

Cosy Cave Stanhope Castle

8 Miles

North of England » County Durham

Sleeps 2

Pets 1

Hot Tub

Bedrooms: 1

This superb romantic cottage is located in Stanhope, Durham. WiFi. Hot tub. Off-road parking. Durham 22 miles.

View Cottage

[+] To Favourites

Arch Spa Stanhope Castle

8 Miles

North of England » County Durham

Sleeps 4

Pets 1

Hot Tub

Bedrooms: 2

Luxurious mews conversion in the County Durham market town of Stanhope. Within Stanhope Castle. Central location. North Pennines AONB.

View Cottage

[+] To Favourites

Corner Cottage Stanhope Castle.

8 Miles

North of England » County Durham

Sleeps 2

Pets 1

Hot Tub

Bedrooms: 1

This courtyard cottage is situated in Stanhope, Durham. Open-plan living. Luxurious rooms. Durham 22 miles.

View Cottage

[+] To Favourites

Castle keep at Stanhope Castle

8 Miles

North of England » County Durham

Sleeps 7

Pets 1

Hot Tub

Bedrooms: 4

A delightful castle apartment nestled in the market town of Stanhope, Durham. Sauna. En-suite. Spacious rooms. Durham 22 miles.

View Cottage

[+] To Favourites

Helpful Info To Get More From Your Stay

What do guests love about this accommodation?

Guests have been captivated by the immaculate condition of Briar Barn, its beautiful location, and the high specification of its decor and facilities. The hot tub is frequently mentioned as a highlight, providing a warm and enclosed space to relax with stunning views. Comfortable beds, essential amenities, and thoughtful touches like a bottle of Prosecco and biscuits add to the charm of this cosy retreat.

Getting there

To get to Briar Barn, if travelling by car, take the A689 through the scenic Weardale area. For rail travellers, the nearest train station is Bishop Auckland, from which you can hire a taxi for the final leg of your journey.

Nearby Essentials

During your stay, you'll have convenient access to a selection of nearby amenities, including some of the area's tastiest takeout options. Click any of the postcodes for a map along with handy driving instructions and the fastest route from your accommodation.

Service	Distance (miles)	Postcode
Pharmacy (Stanhope Pharmacy)	9.9 miles	DL13 2UL
Train station (Bishop Auckland)	19.4 miles	DL14 7TL
Pub (The Blue Bell Inn)	1.4 miles	DL13 1QW
Dog walk	Weardale Way	within walking distance
Supermarket (Co-op Food)	1.4 miles	DL13 1QF
Indian takeaway (Spice Island)	9.9 miles	DL13 2UL
Chinese takeaway (Golden House)	9.9 miles	DL13 2UL
Italian takeaway (Buon Appetito)	7.4 miles	DL13 1QF

For families with Kids

This destination is a haven for families with children, offering ample space for outdoor play and exploration. The nearby Weardale Way provides a scenic backdrop for family walks, and the local village, with its friendly atmosphere, is perfect for leisurely outings. The spacious garden and the presence of farm animals in the surrounding fields add an element of rural charm that children are sure to love.

Is Briar Barn A good location for couples?

For couples seeking a romantic retreat, this destination offers a serene setting with breathtaking views and luxurious amenities, including a hot tub. Nearby, you can enjoy intimate walks along the Weardale Way or visit the charming village of St John's Chapel. For a special day out, explore the historic market towns or dine at one of the local inns, providing the perfect backdrop for creating cherished memories together.

Dining and Cafes

For a delightful dining experience, visit The Blue Bell Inn (DL13 1QW) or enjoy Italian cuisine at Buon Appetito (DL13 1QF). For a cosy café atmosphere, the Chatterbox Café is a short drive away.

Within walking distance of your cottage

A short walk away you'll find charming local shops, inns, and pubs, including the welcoming Blue Bell Inn, as well as picturesque walks along the Weardale Way.

Quickfire FAQs

Does the accommodation include a hot tub?

Yes, the accommodation features a luxurious hot tub, providing a private and serene space to relax and enjoy the picturesque views of the surrounding countryside.

Is the property pet-friendly?

Indeed, the property welcomes two well-behaved pets, allowing your beloved animals to accompany you on your peaceful retreat in the beautiful North Pennines.

What type of heating is available at the property?

The property is equipped with oil-fired central heating and a woodburning stove, ensuring a warm and cosy atmosphere throughout your stay, regardless of the weather.

Are there any parking facilities?

Ample off-road parking is available at the property, providing convenient and secure space for your vehicles during your countryside escape.

Does the property have internet access?

Yes, broadband/WiFi is available throughout the property, allowing you to stay connected and share your memorable experiences with friends and family.

Are there any walking or cycling opportunities nearby?

The property is situated within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, offering a plethora of walking and cycling routes right on your doorstep, perfect for nature enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers.

Briar Barn Reviews

Had a lovely chilled weeks stay at the barn. Just what we needed. The barn had everything we needed. My daughter loved the hot tub. The open fire and real Christmas tree made it feel Christmassy.

Immaculate property in a beautiful location, decorated and fitted out to a high specification. Would 100 recommend to both groups and families

Georgia

Just returned from Briar Barn and we absolutely loved it, so cosy with the Christmas decorations and everything you need for a weekend stay. Lovely gesture from owners too of bottle of Prosecco and biscuits which we greatly appreciated. Hot tub was lovely and warm and loved the fact it was enclosed. Beds super comfy and had majority of essentials already there that were needed, definitely recommend and we will be booking again

Beautiful property. The inside was decorated so well for Christmas. Lots of great facilities inside which made our stay enjoyable. Gorgeous area with some great walks from the door. Our only criticism was we couldn't use the hot tub due to the amount of chemicals in it. We tried it the first night but our throats were burning with the amount of chlorine. It was ashame as that was the reason we booked the property but we still had a lovely stay.

Michelle

Third time here and it was as great as ever. Highly recommended if you are staying around here. We just love it. Perfect x

Stephanie

Beautiful place to stay, perfect for weekend getaway family or friends. Everything available and facilities. Lovely bottle of prosecco and biscuits on arrival. Would definitely recommend and be back!

Elizabeth

There were 5 of us staying for a weekend and celebrating a special occasion. We absolutely loved this cottage. Its very isolated and high up! The views are beautiful. The hot tub was well needed and the view from the hot tub was gorgeous. The beds were comfy and the kitchen was so handy. Plenty of space for two cars and more. The cottage was clean and great communication with the owner. Would recommend this cottage.

Claire

Briar Barn was absolutely fantastic, beautiful place in a beautiful setting ... Briar Barn was absolutely fantastic, beautiful place in a beautiful setting everything you need was provided, wish we had booked a longer stay

Had such a wonderful stay! The property looks exactly like the photos, its stunning. Very comfortable and has everything you need. Our dog loved laying in front of the log burner, and we loved the hot tub!

Thoroughly enjoyed our stay the whole barn and hot tub area were so well maintained. Great value for money

Michelle

2nd time staying, with our third time already booked before we had even started this one. ..........the area, the property.........just amazing. Cannot fault it. The hot tub is amazing and a great end to the day after exploring. If you are looking to stay in the area, book this place, you wont be disappointed x

Hayley

Fantastic property in a beautiful place. We will hopefully return later in the year.

Nicholas

Great property! Very clean and top notch facilities. Would stay again

Briar Barn is absolutely stunning we spent Christmas here with the family and we ... Briar Barn is absolutely stunning we spent Christmas here with the family and we all enjoyed everything the barn is tastefully decorated with everything you need log burner made it cosy and the hot tub was a great hit with all the family thanks to Steven for the Prosecco and chocolates would definitely recommend a stay here

Frances

Myself and three friends visited for the weekend and had an amazing time. The house is very clean and well presented and the Hot tub is lovely. Will be looking to return.

Great place for a group of friends. Lovely walks nearby and small village of St John's Chapel approx 1 mile away if you forget any supplies it has 2 pubs and a Co Op store. Beautiful log burner to keep us warm and an added bonus of the hot tub being in its own shed with a bar and seating supplied. Great touch.

Mollie

We had the most amazing stay at Briar Barn! Such a beautiful home with amazing views. We will definitely be looking at another stay here in the near future. Everything was perfect. Thank you so much!

Catherin

We had a lovely stay at Briar Barn and the surrounding countryside was spectacular. We found that the kitchen could have been explained in the description as being windowless and below ground level. The outbuilding that had the hot tub in was used daily a fantastic addition.

Briar barn was the perfect base for our week away. It was spotless on arrival and had everything we needed for our stay. We do recommend an iron & ironing board as there is a cupboard available, but we were prepared as wed seen other reviews. Hot tub was fabulous with amazing views down to the river beyond. We recommend the following Slit Wood walk from Westgate Circular walk from the barn, via the riverside, to Westgate. Where we had an amazing Sunday carvery at the Hare and Hounds Alston circular walk, ending near railway Buon Appetito Italian restaurant in Wolsingham The Bluebell in St Johns Chapel. Super friendly especially as we visited for their jubilee super club and were made to feel so welcome. Takes about 25 mins to walk to the pub On the whole a super week but you are a little isolated so would need a car to travel out of the area. Thanks again Emma C and family

My 4 best friends all now in our early 50s have known each other since primary school and have been going away once a year for a weekend break in the UK for years now. Its our yearly treat, but thanks to the Pandemic, we have lost the last 2 an a half years! So when we found this great little find we couldnt wait. Our weekend was well overdue! From start to finish the communication with Steven the owner was brilliant. Especially when I got lost on arrival, the sat nav takes you to a barn just down from the barn itself. But take screen shots of the barn pics with you to help recognise it! The black chimney on it was the best give away. The barn was amazing. So clean and very well equipped, everything you need and more. The beds were all so comfy, great pillows and lovely fresh bedding too. Highly recommend taking a few towels per person as ones supplies are a tad small, and you have to remember you need them for the hot tub too. Log burner was fab, plenty supplies of logs too, which made the room very cosy on an evening. Lots of board games and DVDS for those long quiet nights. Although main TV in lounge does not have a DVD player, just the bedrooms, they did have Netflix and Disney channels along with the normal tv choices. Fab find was also the blue tooth link from your phone to the hot tub. So you can have a soak and listen to your tunes too. Perfect! Hot tub was the most fun part of our trip, great set up in a lovely converted shedbar, ideal warm and comfy seating also for when you get a bit too hot and want to step out for a bit. If we had to pick any negatives, there would only be a couple, one being that there is no iron or ironing board, And two, the bedroom windows dont keep the light out, especially the roof windows that have no blinds, so be prepared for early morning wake up in the springsummer months. Views from the barn are amazing, and we had a nice stroll into the local village which is only a mile away, lovely tea rooms and local pub along with a great well stocked coop! This weekend was just what we all needed and more, would highly recommend and we have already agreed to booking up again in the near future, but for anyone showing any interest, book it! You wont be disappointed!

Excellent property, very well equipped , great location cation

Kathryn

Lovely barn conversion in a tranquil area. Dog walks along the bank of the stream just beautiful. Grab a nice coffee at the Chatterbox Cafe. Thank you x

Rachel

Back from a fabulous stay at this cottage! Amazing cottage with even more amazing views. Thank you

A lovely barn conversion offering fabulous views from the lounge and upper bedrooms. Attention to detail is firstclass. Fabulous hot tub and rattan furniture under cover. Spacious and modern kitchen, with lots of space to store food and utensils brought from home. Immaculate throughout. Walks from the door. Would definitely recommend.

Michelle

Absolutely perfect, best place we've stayed in x

Gaynor

The property itself we could not fault, Beautifully renovated to a very high standard, however, it would befit from having larger TVs in all rooms Im deaf and struggled to read the subtitles, even with my glasses on winter stay. Larger, comfy mattress on the beds would also make this property perfect. I have fibromyalgia and found it difficult to sleep in the double beds. Running a bath was also a task, with the property runs on oil heating, it took a long time to run a bath as you need to run the tap very slowly. There were no issues with the shower and ensuite, there was always plenty of hot water for a shower. Steven was a great help, answering any questions that I had day or night. There is a lovely walk a long the river and a great shop coop just a short drive away in st.Johns chapel. You can get everything you need for your stay there, including fire wood. We found using the instant fire lighting logs, the easiest way to light the log fire. I would advise taking your own towels as the ones at the barn are very small and the extra blankets we took came in handy too. My husband took our Amazon fire stick, which was great to watch films on. All tvs have DVD players attached, there are also games and DVDs at the property. The property itself has all of mod cons you could wish for in the hot tub is amazing. Be aware that the property is set over three floors and can be tiring if you have mobility difficulties. Briar Barn is a beautiful, idilic, cosy property and would would recommend to anyone looking for a relaxing get away.

Jennifer

The barn was outstanding well equipped and squeaky clean. Beautifully presented, a lot of thought and effort has been put into the build, fixtures and fittings. Only teeny thing I would say, is an outside light would be great for going to the hot tub when it's dark. Otherwise, I'm hoping to come back at some point, even if it's just for the fantastic view out of the living room window!

Michael

Lovely converted barn in an idyllic location.

Alison

A stylish barn set in picturesque surroundings. The area is quite remote and the nearest large supermarket is 16 miles away. I had my weekly shop delivered my Tesco which I recommend. The beds were super comfortable and the shower powerful. We loved the hot tub especially the fact it is housed in a wooden shed. We experienced high winds and storms during our week so it wouldnt have been so pleasant without it!!! As previous reviews keep saying the property desperately needs an iron and ironing board. After reading previous reviews I knew to take mine which is ridiculous! Also the kitchen which is in the basement needs a TV or a radio as I felt lonely down there cooking on my own!

Lovely Barn full of all the things you could need to make tour stay comfortable. Comfy beds and plenty of space. Hot Tub was a welcomed extra and a lovely was to unwind. A good base for surrounding areas we visited Barnard Castle, Beamish Museum, MIddleton on Teesdale and highly recommend Lord Crewe Arms for Sunday Lunch at Blanchkland. Bluebell Inn at St John's Chapel was very welcoming and cosy with the Weardale Way at the back of the barn for lovely walks.

Denise

We really had a great time the house was wonderful. It was great having the hot tub its view was stunning watching the horses and wildlife while sipping wine. Also got great pleasure out of the log burner . We will definitely be booking to go back .

Glenis

An amazing location, with wonderful views. The horses in the field were lovely. Beautiful barn, good quality appliances and furnishings. Just a few things to improve it handwash, iron, ironing board, a few more pans for cooking. Other than that...Perfect

It is a great place to stay in a great location. The hot tub the icing on the cake. The only downside was being reminded to be out for 10am by the owner whilst still enjoying our holiday

This property is fantastic we stayed here for 1 week from 30th July till 6 august the property exceeded expectations lovely finishing touches the hot tub was great with fantastic views plenty of walks lovely walk into st johns chapel to golden lion for Sunday lunch which was spot on for lovers of nature and wildlife this property was amazing deer goose stoat chickens sheep horses of course the rooster and last night a kestrel landed in garden if you are looking for a relaxing chilled out Holiday with plenty of places to visit in this area of outstanding natural beauty in a fabulous high end finish barn conversion look no further than Briar barn which is a credit to its owners thank you Steven and Vicky we will be back. .......

Nicola

What a great place! ! A barn conversion done to a very high standard mixing contemporary with the old features from the original building. Hot tub was a lovely touch which the kids in particular loved. Situated ideally to venture both locally for walks or to travel further afield to places like high Force waterfall and Barnard castle which we really enjoyed. We would highly recommend and may return very soon.

Beautiful cottage in its location, furnishing and its decoration. Very recently converted from lovely stone barn building. High quality finishes including linens and stunning lighting. A few practical comforts conveniences needed for future such as iron, ironing board, washing basket, hooks on doors. Great base to explore countryside around it walks from the doorstep include beautiful river walk to local friendly pub The Blue Bell Inn. We had a really good stay, despite a noisy wake up from the cockerel each morning! The Allen family

Alison

One of the best holiday cottages we have stayed in. Lovely personal touches like biscuits, prosecco and dog blanket upon arrival. Washing line and pegs very useful. Very well equipped kitchen. Very comfy beds, amazing powerful shower. Lovely area of the country, we visited Dememse picnic area and High Force waterfall which are both well worth a visit.

Rebecca

We had a wonderful stay at Briars Barn. The Barn itself beautifully finished to a really high standard an interior design triumph. It had everything you needed in the kitchen to cook should you wish to and the bedrooms were comfortable and well appointed. The views and scenery were amazing. The log burner and the hot tub were welcome additions and helped us to thaw out from the walks in the sleet and snow in May!. The village was a short walk away and the villagers were friendly and welcoming. We sat out at the village pub a couple of evenings. Great location for exploring the area by car and great walks on your doorstep with access to the Weardale Way at the bottom of the road. A great few days and we will definitely book again.

Jonathan

The cottage is exceptional. Immacualte and every detail has been thought of. The furnishings are beautiful and the cottage is dog friendly which is a plus. Hot tub is a great addition with a perfect view over the fields full of lambs! Location is lovely and easy access to some lovely walks etc. We visited Durham, Barnard Castle and Raby Castle. We would definitely recommend to others and stay here again. Our experience with Sykes however was a different matter and the customer service and refund process needs to be massively improved. We eventually visited the cottage in April after our original booking for new year was cancelled due to covid restrictions, Sykes took 4 months to refund the original booking and communication with them was fraught after very long wait times to get through and vague email responses this has put us off using them again as any issues would be a nightmare to resolve going off this experience.

Leave a Review

Attractions Near Briar Barn

While there'll be plenty to keep you entertained an Briar Barn itself, if you plan to get out and about and see some of what County Durham has to offer, here are some of the nearby attractions you can enjoy during your stay. Please note that some of these activities and days out are paid and it's always a good idea to book in advance to secure your place where applicable.

Found a special day out near your cottage? Please let us know and we'll add it so that other visitors can enjoy it too!

Go Ape Northumberland - NE48 1NT

about 22 Miles

Go Ape! has really taken off and become one of the most popular attractions in the UK. The Northumberland course is set in the stunning grounds of Matfin Hall. Described as a high wire forest adventure this really is one for the more daring as the course takes place right up in the tree tops. Giant tree top obstacle courses include ladders, bridges, tunnels and some of the country's best zip lines. You will be provided with all safety equipment and training on site.