Ashlea

Ashlea comes ready for a self-catering stay. The kitchen has an electric cooker, dishwasher, fridge, freezer and microwave, so you can cook as much or as little as you like. Bed linen, towels, Wi-Fi and electricity are all included, along with initial logs for the woodburner in the living room. Everything is on the ground floor: a living room with a 42-inch TV and Blu-ray player, a separate kitchen and dining area, a conservatory, two bedrooms (one with a kingsize bed, one with two singles), a shower room and a separate toilet. Outside, there's an enclosed garden with patio, garden furniture and a barbecue, plus private parking for two cars and a bike store.

The cottage sits within a working farm surrounded by open countryside, with a public footpath crossing the fields behind for walks along the Deepdale River towards Barnard Castle. Hamsterley Forest, with its woodland trails and play areas, is within reach for a day out. Durham itself has weekly markets, restaurants and shops; Bowes Museum and Barnard Castle ruins are both nearby. The location suits walkers and cyclists exploring the Durham Dales and North Pennines. Note that there is a fenced stream in the garden, roughly 110 yards away. No smoking.