Alice

A pleasant stay, always warm and bright at this time of year. We visited Vindolanda and the Wall of course. On our return we slept in a bed with clouds for duvets. We couldn’t really ask for more.

MG - March 2023

We absolutely loved our stay here and felt right at home (so did our greyhound!). Check-in was easy and we really appreciated that some local information and the cottage hand book had been emailed ahead. There were a few goodies and a birthday card greeting us on arrival, which was a lovely touch. The cottage is beautifully furnished (we particularly enjoyed the selection of books), and clean. There was a welcome box for our dog (some biscuits, bowl, toy and bed), which again was a lovely touch. The area is very quiet and peaceful with plenty of opportunities for walks but is close enough to local amenities (Ponteland is just down the road) and is a fantastic base for exploring. We enjoyed visiting Alnwick, Wallington, Belsay and Cragside. Also there are some great fishing lakes nearby. If you’re here on the weekend there’s a lovely (dog friendly) coffee shop in the village hall- just a short walk away. We would definitely recommend and would book again without hesitation.

EL-B – February 2023

We stayed here for six nights with friends and 3 dogs and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The accommodation was superb, finished to a high specification, very clean and made cosy with a log burner and sheepskin rugs. Just perfect to come back to after a day out exploring. Would highly recommend!

GB – December 2022

Luxurious & beautifully appointed cottage, set in the fabulous grounds of Capheaton Estate. We will definitely come back. What a luxurious time we had staying in Alice. We particularly liked the extra touch of fluffy bath robes & large bath sheets. Thank you for the welcome pack of goodies, the wine was particularly good. Both we & our friends commented on leaving that we would stay again. Thank you for allowing us to explore your estate, we loved our first taste of Northumberland

TK – October 2022

Alice Cottage in Capheaton was an absolute delight to stay in - a beautiful cottage in a beautiful location. We absolutely loved our stay at your beautiful cottage - it was exactly as described. Your notes & recommendations were really helpful. We’d definitely recommend you as a place to stay.

AG – October 2022

Had a great week at the end of September. Accommodation was great, amazing beds and we loved having a log burner! The cottage is in a lovely, peaceful rural area. We had a daily dog walk up to the hall and had the pleasure of meeting Jane the gardener. If you like gardens make the effort to go and see the walled kitchen garden. We visited National Trust places Wallington and Cragside. Spent an afternoon at Morpeth which still has a host of independent shops and the bagpipe museum if that’s your thing! We visited the Blacksmiths coffee shop in Belsay which is only 10 mins drive away. If you’re at Capheaton the last Thursday of the month I recommend a trip to the fish and chip van that visits.

JG – September 2022

We (4) stayed in the cottage 'Alice' over the Christmas period. The location is quiet and restful. You are treated to a tranquil view of swans and other fowl on Sir Edwards Lake. There is a boathouse by the lake which we were allowed to visit. It is a lovely location to see wildlife and try to film them. The cottage is on the end of the little terrace. It has ample parking at the rear with easy access via a small gate and enclosed garden to the back door. A tap is located on the wall at the back, which proved very helpful in cleaning muddy boots or dog before entering the cottage. The cottage has a large kitchen/lounge area with a log burning stove and underfloor heating. The walls are tastefully hung with pictures. The bedrooms are spacious and warm. The main bedroom has an arched brick ceiling . The en suite bathroom has a lovely rain shower which can deliver a strong downpour. It is a spacious bathroom and a pleasure to use. The second bedroom has lovely views at the back of the property over the surrounding fields to the woods beyond. It has a separate bathroom next to it. The beds were firm but lovely to relax on or sleep on. The kitchen is fully fitted and comes with a fridge/freezer capable of storing all the food for us, needed to do the Xmas day meal. The washing machine came in useful . The cottage information folder has full instructions on how to use the items as well as a comprehensive guide to the area. The price might seem high but once you see the cottage and interior, you will see it is a fair price. We were pleased to see the owners are keen on recycling waste. If going to Belsay, try the Blacksmith Cafe. All food is freshly cooked on site and was a great find. We will be returning to Alice in the future. Summer time would be better.

MU - December 2021

We had a lovely stay! Set in a beautiful location with plenty to see and do nearby. Perfect for the dogs and lot's of lovely walks!

MY - October 2021

Fabulous, so much to see in the surrounding areas. So clean.

JD - September 2021

We thoroughly enjoyed our home away from home visit to the lakeside cottage, Alice. A perfect spot for peaceful breaks with plenty of on the doorstep walks for us with our two dogs. The cottage was a short drive from cafes and restaurants in Belsay and Ponteland. Contactless check in worked really well but the estate manager was on hand to support with answers to any questions if required. The log burner and smart tv was a welcome retreat each evening once tired legs returned from long walks! Very comfy beds and fabulous power shower or bathtub to choose from!

AM - September 2021

Beautifully decorated, very comfortable with a well fitted out kitchen. The welcome wine was very welcome and all the dog things were a very nice touch. The location was so peaceful but near enough to pubs/restaurants. Belsay Hall was great in the sunshine and only 10 mins away. We will be back!

SW - May/June 2021

We stayed for a week in Alice from 15th May 2021 and it proved to even better than the photos. Alice is spacious and yet cosy (even without lighting the wood burning stove) with wonderful underfloor heating, masses of hot water, good shower, enormous beds and with a well equipped kitchen. On arrival the accommodation was spotless. The interior was stunning with the vaulted red brick ceilings, beautiful soft furnishings, old books to browse and interesting object d'art. There was ample parking and beautiful views over the meadows at the rear of the property. we visited the Estate's walled garden where we received a warm welcome again from Jane - she is always so knowledgeable and helpful and in Summer/Autumn there is bountiful fruit, vegetables and herbs to be had. (Whilst the Estate is very dog friendly, note that they are not allowed in the walled garden for obvious reasons!) Our labrador was well catered for with a dog box providing all the essentials needed to keep a dog happy (toy, treats, towel, bowl and 'pick up' bags plus a dog bed if your pooch is only small). We all enjoyed the peaceful walks through the Estate (dog on lead due to lambs etc) and down to the private Lake which is stunningly beautiful, particularly early in the morning so don't forget to pack your binoculars. There are many places to visit, with several nearby National Trust properties and country parks, and Louise helpfully provided contact details of restaurants, shops, supermarkets, vet etc. If you love to eat fresh seafood, the one hour drive to Amble on the coast is well worth it. The Fish Shack down at the harbour is dog-friendly with indoor and outdoor seating - the food was delicious and the restaurant well organised and Covid-proofed - booking definitely recommended as it is very popular. Willy, Eliza and Louise were all so welcoming and nothing was too much trouble.
PM - May 2021

I write this review hesitantly - as I may not get a chance to book it again! In a word - HEAVEN. It was an absolute treat to stay in 'Alice', one of Willy's newly converted properties on the Estate. It felt a real privilege being 'first in' to the cottage (and also slightly daunting). We were very comfortable, and the beautiful interior and furnishings definitely enhanced our stay. From opening the back door and seeing the 'dog' box, complete with dog treats, to the enormous (and fabulous) map of the Northeast on the wall, from the bottle of white wine chilling in the fridge, even to the eco loo paper in the bathrooms; each little detail made us smile or confirm our decision that we'd found somewhere special to stay. The property lies in the middle of the Capheaton Estate, with stunning views down to the lake. The spring sunshine showed it all off to perfection, and the newborn lambs and calves were very friendly neighbours. This is a very special place to stay. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
KM - April 2021

Luxury, comfort, space and spectacular views. And the tea room nearby!

SY - April/May 2021