Rowan Cottage Byrness

Rowan Cottage is in Byrness, Northumberland. It's a detached bungalow, so everything is on one floor. That's useful if stairs are an issue. It looks out over Whitelee Fell, which is a National Nature Reserve. The views are very good.

It sleeps five people in three bedrooms. There's one bathroom, but it has a power shower which works well. The rating is 4 Star. It's comfortable and clean, not modern luxury. It's a former shepherd's cottage on a working sheep farm. You'll see and hear the sheep.

There's a multi-fuel stove in an inglenook fireplace. It’s the main source of heat besides the central heating, so you'll need to use it. They provide some fuel to start you off. The TV has a live feed from wildlife cameras on the farm. You can watch the barn owls and badgers on the screen. It's on a loop, so you just leave it on.

You're inside the Northumberland National Park. For walking, you're right on the Pennine Way. Kielder Forest is about a 20-minute drive for mountain biking and the observatory. The Roman Wall sites, like Housesteads, are roughly half an hour away. English Heritage has details.

For a day out, Lindisfarne is about an hour. Alnwick Castle and gardens are just under an hour. Newcastle and Edinburgh are both around an hour and fifteen minutes by car.

The nearest shops are in Otterburn or Jedburgh, which is just over the border in Scotland. Both are about a 15-minute drive.

Facilities: It has a dishwasher, washing machine, enclosed garden, and parking. Bedding and towels are included. There's a cot and highchair. It takes up to three pets. There's an electric vehicle charger.

You can book it together with Oak Cottage and Birch Cottage next door if you need more space.