Squirrel Lodge Knowesgate

Squirrel Lodge is in Knowesgate, about two miles outside Otterburn in Northumberland. It's a detached wooden lodge on the edge of a big 500-acre private estate. The ground is elevated so the deck wraps around it, and you get views straight into the old woodland.

It sleeps six. Four bedrooms, one bathroom. Two of the bedrooms, both with single beds, are on the ground floor along with the bathroom. That's handy if someone doesn't want to use the stairs. The stairs themselves are fine, they're just a fairly steep lodge staircase. Upstairs are the two double bedrooms.

The living space is all open plan. There's a corner sofa, a Smart TV, and the kitchen has a breakfast bar. The main thing people ask about is the hot tub. It's on the deck under a pergola. You're in the middle of nowhere, so the night skies are very dark and good for stargazing. We get red squirrels around the lodge quite often, which is where the name came from.

It's part of an estate, so there are woodland trails for walking right from your door. There's a tennis court you can use and a small pond with ducks. There's also a bar and restaurant on the estate itself, which does evening meals. It's less than a mile from Le Petit Château wedding venue, so a lot of guests book for weddings.

Otterburn village is two miles away. It has the Otterburn Mill shop and a cafe. Bellingham is about six miles and has a few pubs, cafes, a golf course, and walks along the River North Tyne.

Within half an hour's drive you can get to Kielder Forest for the cycling and the observatory, Cragside House near Rothbury for the gardens, or the Garrison town of Hexham. The Northumberland coast, like Alnwick and its castle, or the beaches at Druridge Bay, are about 40 minutes to an hour away depending on traffic.

For facilities: it's got a washing machine, WiFi, parking for two cars right outside, and a hot tub. Bedding and towels are included. A travel cot and highchair are there if you need them. You can bring up to two dogs.

Useful links for planning: Northumberland National Park, National Trust Northumberland, and Visit Kielder.