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Overview
A quirky cottage on the Capheaton Estate with sweeping lake views.
One for those seeking a slice of traditional rural life with a dash of contemporary style
Alice sits at one end of a row of three restored lakeside cottages that make up one of the oldest properties in the Capheaton Estate. This prestigious estate in rural Northumberland 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 aces 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-styled 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 trio of traditional stone Lakeside Cottages is set near to the main gate to Capheaton Hall, a tranquil location with unbroken views of Sir Edward’s Lake and the lush woods surrounding it. If you step into Alice, you find yourself in a welcoming, fire-warmed open plan sitting, dining and kitchen space topped by a remarkable vaulted ceiling. Deep blue kitchen cabinets and sofas dotted with brightly coloured cushions blend with an eclectic mix of old maps and contemporary prints to achieve an informal yet stylish feel, which continues through the entire cottage.
Leading off from the living area is a large master bedroom topped by an exposed brick vaulted ceiling and decorated in delicate pink tones that contrast beautifully with select pieces of antique furniture. Dual aspect views to the lake and surrounding countryside, together with a smart ensuite bathroom, complete this lovely room.
A second bedroom and bathroom are found in the contemporary timber and glass rear extension that has leant this ancient stone cottage a new lease of life. A large picture window virtually spans an entire wall of the spacious double bedroom (which can also be configured as a twin room), affording sweeping views of the surrounding countryside, while the bathroom offers a bath with handheld shower.
The enclosed lawn and gravel back garden provides a sheltered spot in which to enjoy the peaceful surroundings and guests are welcome to enjoy walks around the Lake and visits to the gardens at Capheaton Hall (subject to estate permission). For days when you’d like to explore slightly further afield, the splendid Belsay Hall, castle and gardens and National Trust Wallington house and gardens are both ten minutes’ drive away and keen golfers will find a wide choice of golf courses in the local area.
Property details
Ground floor
Access into a small porch with hanging rail and bench seat.
Open-plan living space with vaulted ceiling, comprising:
Kitchen with electric oven, induction hob, microwave, slimline dishwasher, full size fridge/freezer, washer/dryer.
Dining space with seating for four.
Sitting room with large sofa, pair of armchairs, wood burner, Smart TV, selection of books.
Bedroom one with fixed super king bed (hotel quality mattress), bedside tables, dressing table, wardrobe with storage space, armchair and alcove with hanging space.
En suite shower room with walk-in shower (rainforest head), heated towel rail, large basin and WC.
Bedroom two with a zip and link bed, which can be configured as a king size double or twin beds, as preferred. Bedside tables, dressing table and window seat.
Bathroom with bath with handheld mixer, heated towel rail, basin and WC.
Outside
Small patio area to the rear with outdoor seating for four and enclosed lawned garden. A barbecue is not provided.
Parking
There is ample parking on the gravelled courtyard to the rear of the cottage.
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, however, please note that a travel cot and high chair are not provided.
Dogs
Two dogs are welcome, but they are not permitted in the bedrooms or on the furniture. The garden is enclosed by a wall and gate. It is important to note that the land around the cottage is farmland with livestock therefore dogs must be kept on leads and supervised at all times.
Guest amenities
Bed linen and towels are provided for guests along with quality hand soaps in the bathroom. A hairdryer is provided in each bedroom.
Wi-Fi & Mobile Coverage
Fibre broadband is available. Mobile reception is generally good.
Heating
There is underfloor heating throughout and a wood burner in the sitting room, with an unlimited supply of logs.
Guest privacy
The cottage sits in a row of three terraced cottages. Lakeside Cottage - Alice sits at the end of the row, next to Lakeside Cottage - Emily, followed by Lakeside Cottage - Edward, which are both available as holiday lets.
Additional Accommodation
There are two other holiday cottages located in the same row as Lakeside Cottage - Alice; Lakeside Cottage - Emily, sleeping 2, and Lakeside Cottage - Edward, sleeping 2.
The School House, Capheaton, sits further up the same road and sleeps 6 guests.
The West Wing, Capheaton is just 10 minutes' walk from the Lakeside Cottages and sleeps 8 guests.
Location
The cottage sits in the village of Capheaton, in the heart of 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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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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Shooting
For sheer variety alone Northumberland and the Scottish Borders are irresistible to any gun.
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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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Reviews
"We had a fabulous time at Alice. The cottage is stunning, it is fabulous that as visitors we are able to walk around the Capheaton Hall estate especially down to Sir Edwards Lake and it is so well placed to travel to many beautiful places in Northumberland. Willie gave us a personal tour around his stunning garden. We will definitely return and feel quite sad we have returned home and I will certainly miss the joyous sounds of the geese as they fly to and from the lake. I would not hesitate to recommend any of these three cottages."
The Kenia'sAvailability
- 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
"Waking up after a sound night’s sleep to admire the vaulted brick ceiling above before pulling back the curtains to reveal the morning mist rising above St Edward’s Lake."Louise, Estate Co-ordinator Capheaton
