The Old Chapel Retreat Staindrop

The Old Chapel Retreat is on the main street in Staindrop. It's a big converted chapel that sleeps twelve. There are six bedrooms and four bathrooms, so it's good for big families or a group of friends.

It's got a 4 Star rating. It's comfortable and well equipped. The main thing is the space - it's a big, open place. There's a games room upstairs with a pool table. Outside, there's a fully enclosed courtyard with a barbecue. You can park on site.

The village itself is quiet. There's a shop and a couple of pubs just up the road. One of them does food. Raby Castle is a short walk away - you can see the wall from the end of the street. It's a proper medieval castle with a deer park. The Raby Castle website has details on opening times and events.

Barnard Castle is about five miles. It's a market town with shops, cafes, and the Bowes Museum. Durham is seventeen miles. The cathedral and castle are worth seeing. The Visit County Durham site has information for both.

If you want to go further, the North Pennines are on your doorstep for walking. Beamish Museum is about half an hour's drive. For a day out, you can get to the Northumberland coast or parts of the Yorkshire Dales in under an hour.

Inside, it's kept a lot of the chapel character. There are some original stone walls and floors. The stairs are fine, but they are the original chapel stairs, so they're quite tall. Something to be aware of if anyone has mobility issues. There is a bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor.

We take up to three well-behaved dogs. All bedding and towels are included. There's a cot and a highchair if you need them. The kitchen has a dishwasher and there's a washing machine in the utility room.

For planning walks or trips into the North Pennines, the North Pennines AONB site is useful.