Excellent cottage
Such a lovely cottage, with big airy rooms, beautifully decorated, with large comfortable beds. Located just off the high street of one of the prettiest villages in the area.
A warm welcome from the hosts, with some very welcome baked treats, milk, and eggs.
Dog friendly with the yard close to the dog walks.
Lots of places to visit, very pretty villages, and castles, and nearest town Barnard Castle is lovely, recommend a visit to Beamish Museum and nearby Raby Castle
Lovely cottage in a beautiful location
Our must have things when we book a cottage are that it has to be dog friendly, have good wifi, a log burner, put and shop within walking distance and stunning surroundings.
The Back House does not disappoint on any of these points. The owner, Judith, was so welcoming and friendly and it's obvious that a lot of thought and details has gone into the decor of this beautiful home.
On our arrival Judith had left us a lovely homemade cake and scones, fresh free range eggs from their own chickens, milk and prosecco - we were spoilt!
There was even a dog bed and bowls for the pooches.
The cottage was spotless which is so reassuring in the current Covid climate.
There is a secure area outside the back door where you can let your dogs out, it is a paved area with no grass which our dogs aren't used to but they soon got the hang of it and it wasn't an issue at all.
Staindrop and the surrounding area are stunning, there's so much to see and do and plenty of off lead walks for the dogs.
There are a few shops within a short walk of the cottage - Spar shop, newsagents, butchers, and also a pub which unfortunately we couldn't make full use of as the second lockdown came into place whilst we were there.
There's so much we haven't had chance to explore yet in this beautiful part of the country and we will certainly make a return visit to the Back House to continue our adventure.
What a find !
We (mum, dad, two teenagers and our dog, spent 6 nights at the Back House, it was so comfortable we'd happily have stayed forever. This is a beautifully appointed, spotlessly clean and very well equipped cottage. On arrival were met by Judith who'd provided the most generous welcome treats ever, freshly made brownies, a delicious Victoria Sponge cake, fresh eggs from the farm and a lovely bottle of sauvignon blanc and organic milk in the fridge. Albeit we were in relaxation mode the area offers much to explore and we found ourselves wandering to Bernard Castle, (where there are loads of interesting shops, cafes and restaurants) Raby Castle, the Beamish Museum and Hamsterly Forest. We hardly scratched the surface, which is why we'll be paying the Back House another visit next year.
Amazing!
Wow - what an amazing place! We absolutely loved our week staying at the Backhouse.
With the recent covid restrictions we were a little apprehensive about going on holiday but with all the practices owner Judith has put in place in regards to her guests safety, we knew all was going to be OK. The place itself is beautifully decorated, comfortable and immaculate with everything you need for your stay - including some extra special treats!
The location is fabulous too with walks from your doorstep or only a short drive away, High Force, Barnard Castle and Teesdale are all within a short driving distance.....a beautiful part of the country.
We're already planning our next stay here!!
Perfect in every way, hard to leave behind
Stayed for the second new year running and loved it just as much. Judith & Richard have maintained the highest standards and are the perfect hosts. The cottage is absolutely immaculate with everything you could possibly need at your disposal, in fact we think theres even more crockery, cutlery and utensils available since last year which shows constant monitoring and improvement. On arrival we were met by Judiths lovely welcome pack including delicious home baking, the mince pies and chocolate roulade were especially delicious, we could move in permanently haha.
It was really ovely being able to see the new born lambs again, both Judith & Richard are so accommodating and you would definitely be hard pushed to find a better cottage with such lovely caring owners, we will definitely be booking to return again.
Fabulous
My sister & I had a wonderful week here.You're made to feel very welcome,the cottage is spacious with themed rooms.The village is lovely with walks from the door and is a great location for exploring Raby Castle,Hamsterly Forest,High force Waterful and Beamish.The welcome pack is amazing, probably the best we've ever had.We would'nt hesitate in recommending this cottage.
Stunning Holiday Home
Back House Staindrop is owned by a lovely friendly couple, who will help you with any requirements if needed.
Beautiful stunning property, set in a quaint village.
The property has lovely luxurious furnishings and three very comfortable super king size beds.
WiFi and Netflix available to watch a film at your leisure.
On arrival you receive lots of lovely treats and essentials to help u start your holiday off with a warm welcoming feeling.
I cannot thank the owners enough myself my fiancé son and his girlfriend all had a lovely week. Including our four legged family member milo, with an outside sitting area to unwind in
A must stay 10/10 x
Holiday
Just wanted to say a big thank you for letting us stay in your stunning cottage. The cake and scones and the rest of the welcome pack was a lovely surprise, the village was lovely and the pub and locals were so friendly. Barnard Castle is a lovely place and we loved highforce waterfall. We would highly recommend anybody looking for a cottage to stay there. After staying for a week it was so hard to leave as we loved every minute and once again a big thank you to Judith and Richard.
Holiday
Wanted to say a big thank you for our weeks holiday, the cake and scones were most welcome and very much enjoyed, the cottage is one of the nicest we have stayed in could not fault anything.
Will recommend and definitely return
Excellent Stay.
We have stayed in many holiday homes, but this is by far the best! The accommodation is immaculate, the kitchen is equipped with everything you could possibly need, The three bedrooms are furnished beautifully as indeed is the whole house. The owners Richard and Judith are really lovely people so kind and friendly, the homemade cake is so good you just have to try it! Fresh free range eggs, milk and country butter awaits their visitors. This accommodation is not to be missed!!! They have some Suffolk sheep, and we were lucky to help with some lambing, which was a long life dream, so dreams do come true when you stay here! Thank you so much Richard & Judith for a truly amazing stay.
Wonderful stay
Just returned from a lovely weekend at the Back House & cannot wait to plan our next visit.
We travelled as 4 adults and a dog, the house has plenty of space, its beautifully decorated and has all the amenities we needed & more...we loved the theme of each room, the dog bed & towel was a lovely touch too.
The village is very pretty with a pub (dog friendly) in walking distance. Raby Castle & tea rooms are also only a short stroll away.
Judith & Richard were wonderful hosts!
We will be back!
Perfect in every way, hard to leave behind
Just returned home after staying here for new year, On arrival we were met by the lovely Judith who showed us around and explained everything, Judith really made us feel welcome and the food welcome pack was an absolutely lovely gesture, the home made scones were scrumptious and the prosecco nicely washed them down . The cottage is perfect in every way, it just feels so homely, everything you could possibly want is provided and it is all of excellent high quality. The bedrooms are all lovely and the actual beds are unbelievably comfortable, we can honestly say weve had the best nights sleep weve ever had, even the dog loved the provided dog bed. Judith & Richard farm sheep and during our stay they were lambing, they invited us to see the new born lambs which was a lovely gesture & experience. The location is absolutely perfect whether you just want to sit and chill out or if you want to get out and do some walking & exploring. Weve stayed in numerous cottages over the years and have to say this is definitely the best one yet, as per the above title its perfect in every way and so hard to leave behind, weve just rebooked for next (this) new year, cant wait for it to roll round.
Great location and comfortable property
The Back House was in a quiet location, nearby are local shops and tea rooms.
Accommodation was exceptional, well furnished with themed rooms, beds very comfortable ( super king).
The welcome pack was luxurious, prosecco, local butter , cheese, eggs, tea , coffee, wonderful victoria sponge, scones ......yummy.
Smart tv with netflix.
Visits to Eggleston Gardens, Raby Castle, Bernard Castle and lots of local walks especially good with Zelda our black lab.
Even the weather was kind with glorious early Autumn sunshine. Well recommended.
Perfect pet friendly cottage
My brother and I together with his dog had a wonderful stay at the Back House.
It is a fabulous property, very spacious, beautifully furnished and decorated, very very clean and very dog friendly.
We were slightly worried before we arrived as there is a review on Trip Advisor claiming it is not suited to dogs. This is incorrect.
It is a great property for dogs, you just have to put on a lead to walk them rather than letting them run loose which is what the other guest must have wanted to do.
The rabbits that were mentioned are feral so they will be hopping about in the countryside, the previous guest seemed upset there were rabbits running around in the paddock next to the house.
There are miles of lovely walks from the back door and the dog enjoyed the stay as much as we did! He was provided for and supplied with a bed, blanket and towels by the Owners.
Judith and Richard were very good hosts and Jeanette their lovely helper as very kind. When I lost my mobile Judith helped me contact my daughter.
We liked the village Tea Shop , it is good value with a decent menu. There is lots to do round and about.
Definitely plan to return.
Dog owners please be aware......
I cannot fault the cottage itself, and the welcome pack was excellent.
My issue with this property is that the immediate outside space is not enclosed. The door to the outside opens straight onto the yard, which then leads onto the car parking area. I left after one night. Wandering about a farmyard in my night clothes late at night and first thing in the morning is not my idea of a relaxed holiday. During the day there were loose chickens and rabbits running around at the far end of the yard.
The private patio is enclosed, but not attached to the property, it is just a penned off area in the corner of the yard.
I drove over 300 miles and spent a lot of money; I hope this review might prevent others making the same mistake.
Because this was my error, neither the owner nor Sykes offered any refund,
Poor show really, but you live and learn.
Beautifully decorated cottage, exceptionally clean.
We couldn't believe how gorgeous this cottage was as we stepped through the door! As you progress through each room the themes are complimentary to each other. Kitchen: geese, Living room: Highland cattle, Hallway and Landing: Hares, Bathroom: Pheasant, 1st Bedroom: Sheep, 2nd Bedroom: Foxes and 3rd Bedroom: Stags. In the kitchen was a most welcome basket contain: bread, cheese biscuits and crisps, the fridge contained: organic milk, butter, cheese and a bottle of wine. To top it all a lovely homemade chocolate cake and scones were also left for us. The bathroom contained lavender toiletries and each room had a pile of white towels with lavender bar of soap on top. The beds were extremely comfortable (fantastic night's sleep) and the whole cottage was immaculately clean, Communication with owners (Judith & Richard) great, they are there if you need them without being intrusive, Jeanette an absolute gem. Would definitely stay here again.
Lovely cottage and location
What a great cottage!
Judith and Richard made us very welcome and provided helpful hints on local sights and attractions.
The cakes, wine and snacks provided on arrival were splendid and very welcoming.
The cottage was of a very high standard and had everything we needed for a great holiday.
We would happily return again in future.
A super restful and re-energising cottage situated in a beautiful village.
If, like me, you are seeking a location to rest, relax and re-charge then look no further than the Back House. The accomadation is superbly appointed with a very welcoming and helpful owner. There are some wonderful walks around the village and surrounding area and some have been helpfuly mapped by the owner. There are loads of nearby attractions to visit, such as: Barnard Castle, Bowes Museum, Kinren- in the summer, Raby Castle and loads more. The house itself is super clean and spacious and very importantly- dog friendly.
Beautiful Pet-friendly Cottage
Richard and Judith have done a marvellous job setting up The Back House as a beautiful holiday rental. Everything in the cottage is of an excellent standard and they have not missed anything that a visitor might need. The welcome pack was the best we have found at a holiday home and thought Judith's baking sublime. The village is near Barnard Caste and Teesdale with Durham and Richmond also nearby. We went with our dog and also found the house very suitable for him with plenty of walks on your doorstep.
Brilliant, relaxing week.
My family and I have had the pleasure of being the first guests to stay at The Back House, and we cannot recommend it enough. The cottage is finished to an amazing standard and offers extremely comfortable accommodation. Judith and Richard have been marvellous hosts, always attentive when needed, but allowing us to relax and and be up to our own devices without intrusion. If any of the guests to come, and they would be foolish not to, are greeted by Judith's delicious baking, they will be fortunate indeed. We would thoroughly recommend the back house and can say, if we were staying in the area again, would definitely book it if it is available.
