The Old Rectory

The Old Rectory, set on the banks of the South Tyne river next to the 18^th century St Jude’s Church of Knaresdale and just paces from the border between Northumberland and Cumbria, is affectionately described by its management team as being “in the middle of nowhere and the centre of everything.”

It’s a charming and accurate description: the property offers a genuine sense of remoteness thanks to its rural setting yet is just over six miles north of the popular (Cumbrian) market town of Alston and only 35 minutes from the historical town of Hexham, home to Hexham Racecourse. Furthermore, the property is a scenic 40-minute drive from the Lake District National Park, reached by crossing over wild moors teeming with grouse and deer. Yet the bustle of the Lakes feels many moons away as you sip a drink in the Old Rectory’s peaceful gardens and contemplate the rugged beauty of the North Pennines AONB that encircles the property.

The Old Rectory, known to date to the 1700s, is a sizeable six-bedroom property set amidst lush pasture on a meander of the South Tyne river. The acclaimed Edinburgh-based interior designer Emily Smoor of interior design studio, Fantoush, has transformed the house into a stylish country retreat for large groups of family, friends or colleagues. Each room, from the bedrooms to the large open-plan kitchen and dining room, boasts its own personality thanks to Emily’s clever blend of period features, upcycled antiques, eclectic artworks, designer Pooky lamps and OKA soft furnishings. By creating these layers of interest, together with carefully selected paints and Scandinavian wallpapers in a range of organic colours reflective of the earthy tones of the surrounding fell and moors, the interiors are at once calming and intriguing.

After approaching The Old Rectory by a tree-lined country lane that hugs the curves of the river, visitors pass through the lovely fan-light front door (inspired by the famous No.10 Downing Street door) to discover an inviting sitting room, two spacious en-suite bedrooms and the light-filled kitchen and dining room. Surrounded on three sides by windows and French doors that lead to an enclosed garden and topped with a vast rooflight, the dining table comfortably seats 12 guests and affords sweeping views of the surrounding countryside.

A further three double bedrooms are found on the first floor: one boasts a romantic roll-top bath in the bedroom while the other two share a charming cornflower blue and fresh green family bathroom with a roll-top bath and large shower. Each of the bathrooms is stocked with indulgent, sustainably made products from the Cumbrian company, The Bath House. The final double bedroom is set below the eaves on the second floor and promises sweet dreams below a canopy of leafy Sandberg wallpaper in soft blue hues.

Groups seeking additional bedrooms are invited to also make themselves at home at the four-bedroom Kirkstyle Inn which is The Old Rectory’s next-door neighbour. This lauded gastropub has flourished in the hands of restaurateur Nick Parkinson and Head Chef, Connor Wilson; combining extensive experience of running restaurants with talented skills in the kitchen, to create an acclaimed field-to-fork dining destination that serves a seasonal menu of local game, meats and vegetables entirely sourced from within a 50-mile radius.

Guests staying at The Old Rectory can not only sample the delicious food in the atmospheric Kirkstyle Inn but are also able to enjoy it in the comfort of their holiday home, adding breakfasts, home-cooked meals for arrival and more exclusive catering options on request. Additional concierge services such as shooting tours, fishing trips, guided nature or city tours, and wine and whisky tastings are also available for those seeking to capitalise on everything this diverse area has to offer.

The nearby Kirstyle Inn has a further four bedrooms of a similar quality and style for larger parties wishing to holiday together (subject to availability).

Exclusive to guests at The Old Rectory and in collaboration with the neighbouring Kirkstyle Inn, C&C invites you to sample the best of the region’s larder through a personalised chef and sommelier-led dining and wine pairing experience. Over the course of the evening, you’ll enjoy a menu designed for you from a selection of seasonal ingredients in the comfort of your holiday home, alongside delicious wine pairings introduced by the Kirkstyle’s sommelier. Visit our Epicurean Experiences page to find out more.