PPPN £35
Distance: Miles
Vane House is a historic home of charm and character in an ancient market town, surrounded by superb open country. Barnard Castle, in the heart of Teesdale, boasts a spectacular Norman ruin and the world class Bowes Museum. Nearby are moated Raby Castle and England’s highest waterfall, High Force. Much loved by poets and painters, Teesdale remains ‘a wonderful place to be a walker’, with romantic rivers and wide skies. It offers country inns, local markets and excellent produce. The Pennine and Teesdale Ways are close by, as are outstanding cycle routes. Durham and York, both cathedral and university cities, are within an hour’s drive and the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales are easily reached.
A listed building marked by a blue plaque, Vane House retains many original features, including an eighteenth-century weathervane and pine panelling. Over the past four years, it has been lovingly renovated to the best modern standards and completely redecorated and refurbished. Insulated from the street by deep stone walls, both the light and spacious bedrooms look onto our broad south-facing garden, with its lawn, rose-walk, box hedges and seductive ‘sitouteries’. This is a perfect setting for events such as weddings and anniversaries, or just for resting and de-stressing.
Guests love the house for its comfort and elegance. Antiques, books, paintings and rugs add interest to each room and there is a small gallery of contemporary work by local artists. The bedrooms are beautifully appointed, with excellent beds, Egyptian cotton sheets, towelling robes, and toiletries. Both have private bathrooms and are equipped with radios, hair-dryers, information files and generous hospitality trays. The guest sitting-room, where breakfast is served, opens onto the sun terrace and there’s a log fire for cool evenings, as well as a digital TV, DVDs, puzzles, magazines and maps. Children can enjoy books and games, plus a special quiz.
Vane House achieved ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ on all counts from the Quality in Tourism inspector, who especially praised the high standards of presentation and cleanliness and the genuine but unobtrusive hospitality offered by the resident owner. Breakfast gained an ‘excellent’ for its range of fresh fruits, juices and yoghurts, locally sourced fish, eggs, meat and cheese, organic tea and coffee, baked goods and homemade preserves. A full English breakfast is available on request and we are happy to cater for vegetarian or special diets.
Access Barnard Castle from the A1M or M6 via the A66. Vane House (DL12 8EN) is at 57 Galgate, a Roman road which now enters the town from the north-east as the A67 from Darlington (the nearest railway station on the east coast mainline). Arriva buses stop on Galgate, 100 m from Vane House, and there is onstreet parking. Please plan to arrive between 4 and 6 pm, if possible, and to leave between 10 and 11 am. Guests may come and go as they please; well-behaved dogs are also welcome. We know all the best sites, walks and restaurants (including dog-friendly ones)!
Rates: From £35 per person per night.
Children are welcome.
No smoking. Pets are allowed.
Off street parking.
Wi-fi/internet access.
4 Star VB.
