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Overview
A rare mix of country house grandeur and home comforts, set within the lush Capheaton Estate.
A unique opportunity to experience life at the heart of one of England’s oldest country estates
A far cry from the over-the-top glamour and high-stress world of the West Wing of the White House, the West Wing of Capheaton Hall is a laidback luxury family home set in a sprawling country estate in rural Northumberland. The prestigious Capheaton Estate has belonged to the Swinburne family since 1260, resulting in a remarkable legacy that the current owners, Willy and Eliza Browne-Swinburne, are continuing to nurture.
The estate encompasses 500 acres of woodland, walled gardens and landscaped parkland that extends down to a large lake as well as the historic Capheaton Hall, a Grade I listed Baroque-style mansion dating to 1669, and a small village. Having grown up in Capheaton Hall, Willy Browne-Swinburne is deeply committed to the ongoing restoration of the grand house as well as the maintenance of the estate’s gardens, woods and habitats.
The Browne-Swinburnes have transformed The West Wing into a welcoming family home adjoining their own home, inviting guests to share their passion for the surrounding grounds and kitchen garden. Indeed, guests are encouraged to enjoy the walled kitchen garden, picking up top tips on what to eat and how to grow it from Head Gardener, Jane Armstrong, who will even prepare a freshly-picked box of vegetables for you. While not nosing around the vegetable gardens and herbaceous borders, guests are also invited to enjoy the tennis court and croquet lawn (you’ll find the set indoors if it’s not already set up).
The West Wing itself is a regal stone property studded with soaring sash windows that look across the Capability Brown-style gardens of Capheaton. The ground floor comprises a convivial family kitchen with a dining table, a more formal dining area complete with a fireplace and piano, and a large sitting room with towering windows and a roaring fire set in an ornately carved stone fireplace.
Upstairs, two large double bedrooms feature en-suite bathrooms (one with a large walk-in shower and the other with a bath and shower attachment) while a further two twin rooms (one of which can be configured as a king-size bed) share a family bathroom with a clawfoot bath by the window. By no means just for children, don’t miss the opportunity to soak in the bath while lapping up those far-reaching views yourself!
In addition to strolls and games in the grounds of Capheaton Hall, guests can admire dozens of species of wildfowl and wading birds at Sir Edward’s Lake, a short walk from the house. Only slightly further afield, the splendid Belsay Hall, castle and gardens and National Trust Wallington house and gardens are both ten minutes’ drive away while keen golfers will find a wide choice of golf courses in the local area.
Property details
Ground Floor
Outside courtyard leads into an access hall with hanging rail.
Large utility room/boot room with sink, washing machine and dryer.
Cloakroom with basin and WC.
One step up to the kitchen:
Kitchen with Neff double oven and Neff five burner induction hob, large fridge/freezer x 2, dishwasher, microwave. Informal dining area seating six.
Dining room with dining table which seats eight guests, decorative fireplace, piano.
Drawing room with two generous sofas and two armchairs, library of books, open fireplace, Smart TV. Stairs from the dining room lead to the first floor bedrooms.
Inner hall with access to the garden.
Separate cloakroom with basin and WC and separate stairs leading to the first floor.
First Floor
Bedroom one with zip and link beds, which can be configured as a super king double or twin, as preferred. Side tables, chest of drawers, dressing table, large wardrobe. Views over estate parkland.
En suite bathroom with large shower with rainforest head, heated towel rail, basin and WC.
Inner hallway to:
Bedroom two with super king bed, side tables, chest of drawers, wardrobe. This bedroom looks out over the front courtyard.
En suite bathroom with bath and handheld showerhead, heated towel rail, basin and WC.
Three steps up:
Bedroom three with twin beds. Small wardrobe, dressing table. Views over estate parkland.
Bedroom four with zip and link beds, which can be configured as a king size double or twin, as preferred. Side table, wardrobe, decorative fireplace, chest of drawers. Views over estate parkland.
Family bathroom with roll-top bath, basin and WC.
Separate stair leading down to the inner hall.
Outside
Large outside courtyard leading into the gardens of the wider estate. There is outside seating and a charcoal BBQ. Guests have use of a croquet set (stored inside the property when not already set up on the lawn) and access to the tennis court, on request.
For guests interested in gardening, a tour can be arranged with Jane Armstrong, the estate's talented Head Gardener, who will explain all that is going on in the greenhouses, borders and vegetable beds. Jane can also supply homegrown vegetable packs, on request.
Parking
There is ample parking in the private courtyard to the side of the property.
Electric Vehicle Charging
For safety reasons, we do not permit electric vehicle or hybrid car charging at this property. If you’re travelling by EV, discover your nearest electric vehicle charging point here.
Babies & Children
Babies and children are welcome and a travel cot and highchair are available within the property.
Important - there are two large ornamental ponds in front of The West Wing and a hidden pond with open water in the woods close to the tennis court, therefore children must be closely supervised at all times.
Additionally, many of the windows on the first floor are at floor level and are original timber sash windows with panes of original glass, which would break easily if a child were to fall into them. Guests are asked not to leave children unattended at any time.
Dogs
Two dogs are welcome but must be kept to the ground floor area of the property only. They are not permitted on the furniture or upstairs in the bedrooms. They should be kept on leads and under control when out and about in the wider estate.
Guest amenities
Bed linen and towels are provided for guests along with hand soap in the bathrooms. A hairdryer is provided in the principal bedrooms.
Wi-Fi & Mobile Coverage
Fibre broadband is available. Mobile reception is generally good but due to the thickness of walls, signal strength may vary between rooms and may be weaker on the first floor of the property.
Heating
Bio-mass and oil-fired heating throughout which is thermostatically controlled. There is an open fire in the sitting room with logs supplied.
Guest Privacy
The West Wing is part of Capheaton Hall, which is used as a wedding venue. While The West Wing will be unavailable in the event of a wedding, it is possible that a guests' stay could overlap with the setup/dismantle of a marquee in the parklands to the front of the property before/after a wedding. Please contact us prior to booking if you have any concerns.
Additional Accommodation
The School House, Capheaton sits next to the Lakeside Cottages and sleeps 6 guests.
Location
The West Wing sits on the Capheaton Estate, in the village of Capheaton, Northumberland. The 100-year-old Village Hall made from green corrugated tin stands proudly on the side of the road into Capheaton. Stop by on Saturdays and Sundays for a light lunch of soup and sandwiches, or a hot frothy coffee and slice of a delicious homemade cake. It is a huge hit with cyclists passing through, particularly as all roads to Capheaton are uphill – well deserved, we think!
For groceries, there is a small village shop and Post Office in Belsay (5.5 miles), as well as The Blacksmith’s Coffee Shop; a characterful café, set in a former Blacksmiths, with original features still intact. It is well-known in the area for serving freshly prepared breakfasts through to afternoon indulgences and is open every day with seating indoors and outdoors.
There are Waitrose and Sainsbury supermarkets in Ponteland (12 miles) and on Friday mornings, you can visit the Ponteland Country Market, held in Merton Hall, which sells anything homemade, home-baked or home-grown. Ponteland has a couple of lovely restaurants too, including neighbourhood restaurant, Eleven, which offers ingredient-led, flavour-driven dishes, or family-run restaurant, Mambos, where you can enjoy an array of Mediterranean cuisine.
Restaurant Hjem, in Wall (13 miles), was recently awarded Northumberland’s first Michelin Star and comes highly recommended (essential to book in advance).
A little further afield sits the pretty market town of Hexham (18 miles), characterised by its cobbled streets and historic architecture. The Hexham Farmers’ Market takes place on the second and fourth Saturday of every month with a vast array of local producers offering plenty of choice for all. Hexham has numerous cafés throughout the town centre, offering a wide range of lunch options or simply a coffee and cake stop. A variety of pubs and restaurants offer international cuisine from Mexican to Greek, as well as Indian, Chinese, Italian, and award-winning French bistro, Bouchon Bistrot. There is also a Waitrose, Marks & Spencer, and Tesco in Hexham.
Or, travel to the city of Newcastle (20 miles) for a huge selection of shopping, bars and restaurants to indulge in.
Activities
Sitting in the heart of the Northumberland countryside, the cottage is the perfect base to explore the wider area. Starting right on the doorstep, guests are welcome to wander the Capheaton estate, including the walled Kitchen Garden. Keen gardeners will be in their element here, with Head Gardener, Jane, on hand to answer any questions about the beautiful and productive garden.
Capheaton is situated just four miles from the Reivers Cycle Route, one of Northumberland’s top routes. If you fancy joining it part of the way, bikes can be hired and delivered to you through Boards and Bikes. Or, why not rent a surfboard or kayak and head to the Northumberland coastline. For novices, lessons can be booked through Northside Surf School in Amble or Longsands Surf School in Tynemouth.
For some family fun, why not play Tarzan for the day and head to 'Go Ape' (8 miles) to swing through the trees and experience some exhilarating zip wires!
You can enjoy plenty of outdoor adventures in over 13,000 acres at nearby Wallington Hall (3 miles), with gentle woodland strolls to more extensive hikes, or take your bike and explore the Dragon Cycling Trail, a safe family-friendly route where you may be lucky enough to spot one of the resident red squirrels in the woods.
Avid anglers can spend their day fishing on the nearby River Tyne, known for its superb wild trout fishing. Book a wonderful day's fishing at one of the local beats through helpful, FishPal.
Vallum Farm and Restaurant (10 miles) is an incredibly popular spot with a fantastic patisserie and deli, or why not try your hand at something new with Vallum artisans (booking required), such as craft beer and pie tasting, ice-cream making, cheese making, or cooking experiences. For children, there’s an outdoor play paddock and wildlife walks with other seasonal events.
Cragside House and Gardens offer a captivating day out for the family where you can discover the first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity. Crammed full of gadgets developed by Victorian inventor, innovator and landscape genius, Lord Armstrong, Cragside is truly a wonder of its age. The adventure playground with its network of paths and tunnels will be a huge hit with children, and the gardens here are an absolute delight.
A fifty-minute drive will take you to the Kielder Water and Forest Park, with something for everyone, including water sports enthusiasts, cyclists, walkers, naturalists, artists, families and photographers. A highlight is the star gazing treat at the Kielder Observatory where you can view the outstanding dark skies of the Northumberland National Park.
The stunning beaches of the Northumberland coast are an easy day trip, including the iconic Alnwick Gardens and Alnwick Castle (30 miles), home to the Duke of Northumberland. With its rich history, exquisite art, beautiful gardens, and film location for Harry Potter, there is plenty of wizardly magic and mayhem to keep all ages entertained.
Finally, a trip to the city of Newcastle (19 miles) with its amazing Millennium revolving eye bridge and the fantastic glass Sage building for music. Admire the wonderful architecture of the northeast’s most eminent architect, John Dobson, or perhaps take in an evening of arts at the wonderful Theatre Royal.
C&C experiences
We invite you to enjoy the most coveted and exclusive local experiences available in the North of England and the South of Scotland on your next Crabtree & Crabtree adventure.
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Children and families
Here at Crabtree & Crabtree, we like to think we’ve pulled together some rather nifty ideas to keep tots to teens happy and entertained during your stay.
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Fishing
Welcome to the realm of the king of fish, the mighty River Tweed. Every year thousands of Atlantic Salmon make their way up river, an annual odyssey that is one of nature's miracles.
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Historic houses and castles
With more stately homes, castles and historic sites here than you can shake a proverbial stick at, visitors are quite simply spoilt for choice.
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Wildlife
Our region is home to outstanding scenery which boasts emerald forests, pristine lochs and rivers, heathery hillsides, sweeping moorlands as well as a picture perfect coastline.
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Walking
From the lush green uplands to shimmering sea, the area boasts a hugely diverse and enticing landscape that is perfect for exploring on foot. From gentle rambles to long-distance hikes, there are a vast array of trails and waymarked routes for newbie walkers or experienced alike.
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Golf
There are 40 golf courses in Northumberland, and another 21 in the Scottish Borders offering visitors an incredibly wide and varied range of golfing options.
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Adventure Sports
If you love a challenge or just crave a little excitement away from the day-to-day bustle of working life, we have lots to offer - whether it be watery pursuits, muddy blasts or thrill seeking, adrenaline-charged adventures.
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Shooting
For sheer variety alone Northumberland and the Scottish Borders are irresistible to any gun.
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Cycling & mountain biking
Whether you ride fast or slow, on-road or off-road, there is something uniquely special about enjoying some outdoor time on two wheels. Here in the region we have something for everyone from high-energy mountain biking blasts to gentle forest paths the whole family can enjoy.
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Ancestral history research
Crabtree & Crabtree know that tracing the history of your family can be a wonderful journey of discovery. Here are our top tips for starting your family tree.
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Additional housekeeping
Award yourself a real break and let us provide a pair (or more) of helping hands.
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Dog sitting
Our experienced dog sitters will look after your furry friends whilst you are out exploring.
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Wine delivery
Crabtree & Crabtree have teamed up with Corney & Barrow one of the longest established independent Wine Merchants in the UK to offer a bespoke service.
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Holiday photography
Family holidays, reunions and honeymoons kindle priceless moments that deserve preserving.
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Availability
- Two dogs are welcome.
- Typical arrival day: Friday or Monday with the additional option of Wednesday in low season.
- Arrival time: 4pm
- Departure time: 10am
"For all the grandeur of the Capheaton Estate and adjoining Capheaton Hall, The West Wing has the reassuringly relaxed feel of a family home. "Willy and Eliza, owners of Capheaton Hall & Estate
