Little Birks

For those seeking a peaceful, romantic escape, Little Birks (a reduced occupancy version of Birks Stable Cottage) is hard to beat with its tranquil setting within the Northumberland National Park, between Hadrian’s Wall and the Scottish border. This is a beautiful, rugged and sparsely populated area of the country famed for its pristine gold tier dark skies – it is located within Northumberland’s International Dark Sky Park – which make it one of the best places to layer up and admire the stars and the Milky Way. For all its blissful isolation in the upland hill farming Tarset valley, the property is a mere twenty-minute drive east of Kielder Water and ten minutes’ drive west of the historical market town of Bellingham, with its pretty ivy-clad stone cottages, charming pubs and 11^th-century St Cuthbert's Church.

Little Birks, a one-bedroom offering of Birks Stable Cottage, is an ideal escape for those looking to enjoy the space and comfort of a larger property as a couple. Formerly used to serve as the kitchen and laundry for the main house at The Birks, the cottage is built from soft golden sandstone punctured by tall sash windows, the cottage has been recently renovated and benefits from underfloor heating throughout and a walled patio garden, which makes a sun-drenched spot for morning coffee or pre-dinner drinks.

Stepping into the hallway, you’ll find the kitchen to your right and dining area to your left, flanked on two sides by large windows. The sitting room, which also boasts dual-aspect windows, leads off from the dining area and is warmed by a large fireplace with an ornately carved mantlepiece. Decorated with carefully selected antique furnishings and overlooking the patio garden, the sitting room is an idyllic place in which to relax, read and recuperate. The kitchen features a range cooker and standalone fridge/freezer, with additional appliances found in a separate utility room.

Handily all on one floor and suitable for guests with limited mobility, the cottage comprises of a double bedroom, which features a large ensuite walk-in shower room and a separate, additional WC.

If you’re after an active holiday, walkers, runners and cyclists alike will find countless trails and routes to explore in the larger Tarset valley and on the shores of Kielder Water & Forest Park, England’s largest forest and Northern Europe’s biggest man-made lake. And if you’re up for a challenge, Kielder also hosts a well-attended annual mountain bike race and marathon.

For more gentle pursuits, Little Birks is an easy ten-minute drive to the waterfall walk, Hareshaw Linn, starting from Bellingham Village. Anglers can enjoy boat and bank fishing on Kielder Water as well as trout and salmon fishing on the nearby North Tyne and Rede rivers. Golfers meanwhile have the 18-hole Bellingham golf course on their doorstep. Dating to 1893 and known as Northumberland’s friendliest 18-hole golf club, the par 70 Bellingham course delivers changes of direction and elevation, pretty streams, towering specimen trees, deep ravines and sweeping views across the North Tyne valley.

Finally, as forementioned, Little Birks sits within Europe’s largest International Dark Sky Park, making it a prime spot from which to enjoy unparalleled stargazing. With only two streetlamps in the entire Tarset valley, you’ll be able to soak up views of thousands of stars, the Milky Way and Andromeda Galaxy from the comfort of the cottage garden. Alternatively, get more technical with your stargazing by visiting the Kielder Observatory or dropping into the Battlesteads pub in Wark, which boasts a Dark Sky Observatory and is just under 7 miles away.

ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATION
Little Birks is a discounted, reduced occupancy version of Birks Stable Cottage, sleeping 6, which is bookable for guests who require use of all three bedrooms. When booking Little Birks, only the bedroom on the ground-floor of the property will be made available for use during your stay.