Find out everything you need about The Folly in Belsay, Northumberland and whether this holiday rental is right for you.
A double-fronted Georgian detached home surrounded by stunning countryside that has stabling providing the option of BYO horse.
Set well back from a country lane, yet only a 20-minute drive from Newcastle, it is the perfect getaway for visitors to the area who want to get away from it all without being too far away from the action.
It is a period property that is immaculately presented, keeping many of its early 1800s features. There’s an open fire in the living room and a wood burner in the kitchen’s inglenook. Its box room’s camp bed and day bed in the twin bedroom provides the option of having two more guests.
The entrance hall leads into a sitting room with plush sofas in front of an open fire. The bespoke eat-in kitchen has a wood burner and benefits from a utility room with a washing machine, tumble dryer, an extra sink and a separate WC.
There two bedrooms, a king-size and a twin. The twin has two singles and a day bed giving the option of another guest, and the box room has a fold-up camp bed too. The bathroom includes a tub and a walk-in shower.
Outside there is private parking, plush garden furniture, a covered games area and stabling is available if you wish to bring your own horse.
On the outskirts of the historic village of Belsay that has a delightful coffee shop, The Blacksmiths, that has a wood-burning fire when it’s chilly and outside seating, great for having a cuppa or a refreshing drink on warm days. Famous for its egg and bacon pies, it is open from 10 am to 5 pm every day. Travel 3.5 miles out of Belsay to the up-market destination pub, The Beresford Arms. Despite its locally sourced culinary delights, it is reasonably priced, with the average cost of a main course being £12.95.
Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens has a Regency country pile, thought to be the first British mansion to be built entirely in the new Greek Revival style. The enchanting 30-acre Grade I listed gardens boast a 14thC castle ruin with many features such as the old cooking range and fireplaces still intact. There is the Quarry Garden with its own microclimate, producing a profusion of exotic plants. It has the most extensive rhododendron collection in the UK and if you are feeling energetic, take the Crag Wood waymarked walk. Every June, the grounds play host to the internationally renowned Belsay Horse Trials.
Cullercoats Bay, a quaint old fisherman’s village, has a soft sand award-winning beach enclosed by piers and is about 16 miles east of Belsay. It makes for a fun-filled day out and you can enjoy North Sea cod and chips overlooking the bay.
You might be in a quiet location set back from a country lane, but the area offers up a variety of things to do. The historic town of Morpeth is under 10 miles away and has an award-winning zoo, and this neck of the woods has its fair share of medieval castles, archaeological sites and country parks. The Folly, however, is so self-contained that it might be that you just want to park up, unpack, and enjoy this unique holiday home without venturing any further.
Walks could include one into Belsay village, two miles from The Folly to stock up on provisions. Set aside a day to do the Shaftoe Crags trek passing Devil’s Causeway for panoramic views across one of the country’s best-preserved landscapes. You will see evidence of Iron Age forts and Roman settlements and at the top, on a clear day, you can see as far as the Northumbrian coast and the Simonside Hills.
The great thing about The Folly is that it offers first-class accommodation for a large family or group of friends, as well as stabling for your horse by prior arrangement. The outdoor space presents a picture-postcard Northumbrian countryside setting and on the terrace, you can take in the tranquil setting.
