Castle House Cottage

Castle House Cottage began life as a brewery and inn in the 1700s, though it has since become a quietly situated holiday home in the hamlet of Hartley, a mile from Kirkby Stephen. The cottage retains period features—exposed stonework on the stairs, a galleried bedroom with beams—while offering modern essentials: wifi, a bathroom with both bath and shower, and a kitchen with electric cooking. Electricity is included, as are bed linen, towels and parking for two cars on site.

The layout spreads across two floors. Downstairs holds an open-plan living and dining space with a 40-inch TV and a kitchenette; upstairs, a single bedroom contains a kingsize bed and a 3ft single, with a full bathroom adjoining. The enclosed garden has a patio and seating area, plus a BBQ. One dog can stay free. The cottage suits couples or small families exploring the Yorkshire Dales, Upper Eden Valley or the North Pennines; Merrygill Viaduct (Northern Viaduct Trust walk entrance) is within reach, and the Lake District is accessible too. The village itself borders a beck, and a 12th-century castle site overlooks the fell beyond.