Find out everything you need about Bowes Barn in Ouston, County Durham and whether this holiday rental is right for you.
This modern barn conversion on a working farm near Gateshead is ideal for a small group or family looking for a unique break in the North East of England.
Its elevated location next to the Angel of the North gives fascinating views of the County Durham landscape and the regional capital of Newcastle upon Tyne, all to be enjoyed on your private patio.
Visit nearby Beamish, the Living Museum of the North, to get a feel of how life was lived until recently in this part of the world, explore the paths, cycleways and countryside within easy reach, or visit the local cities of Newcastle, Sunderland and historic Durham.
Part of a two-building development in Riding Farm, a two-floor barn conversion sleeping three in two upstairs bedrooms, one double and one single, and a family-sized tiled bathroom with shower over bath, wash hand basin and WC.
Immaculately fitted out open plan downstairs living area, including dining for four next to the floor to ceiling windows overlooking the countryside, big comfy two-person sofa, sumptuous armchair around the coffee table, and wall mounted tv.
There is outdoor parking for one car, and the Angel of the North is almost your next-door neighbour, making for memorable breakfasts and evening meals al fresco under the big North Eastern sky.
For a group of three plus a couple of dogs, Beamish has a lot to offer. The area is crisscrossed with old wagon and train tracks converted into walking and cycle paths, and Bowes Barn is at a height where the first thing you do is go downwards. For keen cyclists, the local network links with major regional and national routes, including the Sea to Sea, which reaches the North Sea along the banks of the nearby River Tyne.
A walk, cycle ride or very short car journey west takes you to Beamish Living Museum, where you can step back in time and spend the day dressed in period clothes, travel on real trams along cobbled streets, and get involved in mucking out the farm or riding the ponies if you want to. You’ll also be able to pick up some fantastic locally, traditionally and organically produced preserves to enjoy in the evening or take back home with you. You might want to look out for No Place (yes, really) and pop into the Beamish Mary for a quiet drink. Take a train or drive to Durham’s unique historic university city, easily reachable within half an hour.
The coast is just a short drive to the east, including the superb beaches along the Durham Heritage Coast trail. Stop off in Seaham for a bite to eat and some legendary North-Eastern hospitality. Talking of which, if you fancy a night out, there’s a city and regional capital nearby rather famous for its party atmosphere. Just don’t wear a shirt.
Bowes Barn combines a lot of great holiday ideas and destinations in one. It is part of a working farm, so the owners will make sure you have everything you need. It’s a conversion that looks traditional while being equipped with everything the modern visitor needs. It sits on the edge of the countryside, while also being cheek by jowl with a very modern city. The transport links are phenomenal, as the A1(M) is right on the doorstep, overlooked by the Angel of the North. Alternatively, you can alight the national train network at nearby Newcastle, a 15-minute drive away, or fly to Newcastle International Airport.
Enjoy superb walks along signposted trails with your family or friends, including the four-legged variety, as you explore the County Durham countryside. Don’t miss Beamish Living Museum, which is a bucket list visit anybody should tick off (it’s even been in Downton Abbey). There are also miles of sandy (not shingle) beaches to enjoy, one of the many things with which the North East is blessed. The nearby historic University City of Durham itself deserves a day out in its own right.
This barn conversion cottage in Riding Farm offers a truly memorable holiday for a unique blend of old and new, urban and rural, historic, beautiful and convenient.
