Foxglove Cottage

Foxglove Cottage suits couples or small families after a quiet spell in the countryside. It has two double bedrooms—the second one with a fold-out single bed as well—and a bathroom upstairs. Downstairs, a living room with an electric woodburner opens onto the kitchen, where you can cook properly or grab something quick at the breakfast bar. Everything needed for a self-catering trip is here: the essentials are covered, plus a coffee machine and games for quieter afternoons.

The cottage comes with its own back garden and patio area, fenced for privacy, with furniture for sitting outside. One pet stays free. A pub lies within a mile's walk, and the village itself has the character of a proper County Durham settlement. Parking is available on the road outside. No smoking inside.