Positioned on Pond Farm close to Bishop Auckland in County Durham, Teesdale Cheesemakers’ glamping huts are one of many extra distinctive lodging choices in North East England.
Nestled in two acres of woodland a stone’s throw from Cafe Cheesedale, the place goats and different animals graze close by, there are two dog-friendly, adults-only shepherds huts with wood-fired scorching tubs.
We stayed in a single day within the luxurious huts on a press journey with This Is Durham so I assumed I’d share my full evaluate of Teesdale Cheesemakers’ lodging right here.
For an in-the-moment glimpse of our keep, take a look at my Durham spotlight on Instagram — my username is @danniellelily.
My evaluate of the Teesdale Cheesemakers’ shepherds huts in Durham
The Teesdale Cheesemakers are a pair who began making cheese of their utility room and went on to win greater than 50 awards with their vary of soppy, semi-soft and crumbly cheeses. The Teesdale dairy has been of their household for 4 generations.
Their tagline is ‘cheese and tranquility’, and that’s definitely apt. Sandwiched between the market cities of Barnard Fortress and Bishop Auckland, the smallholding is off-grid which means there’s no Wi-Fi.
For anybody for whom these phrases strike panic in your chest, worry not: your telephone’s knowledge does work do you have to want it.
We relished the prospect to change off and absorb the Durham Dales’ breathtaking pure magnificence, bathed in golden autumnal hues presently of 12 months.
Ash shepherds hut
Constructed domestically, Ash shepherds hut has a raised ceiling which suggests you’ve obtained extra space overhead than you’ll in a standard shepherds hut. This makes an enormous distinction since you don’t really feel in any respect cramped!
Ash has a double mattress, sitting space, en-suite, and a kitchen comprised of a small fridge, tea and low making services, a two-ring hob, a sink, drawers crammed with cooking utensils and ample workspace to arrange a meal for 2.
There’s space for storing on your baggage beneath the workspace and a spot to hold your garments.
The en-suite toilet is surprisingly spacious, with scorching operating water and respectable bathe.
Exterior, there’s a beautiful veranda with a fold-out desk created from outdated farm fencing, so you’ll be able to sit outdoors having fun with espresso or a wine and cheeseboard.
If you happen to don’t need to cook dinner in your hut or eat at one of many native pubs, there’s additionally a bbq and picnic space onsite. This could be so good within the hotter climate!
I used to be happy to study that the huts had been designed with sustainability in thoughts.
The pillows and duvets are natural wool, the mats on the ground are created from recycled supplies (plastic bottles and saris), and photo voltaic panels gasoline your lights and so on.
There’s a generator too, as a result of this is North East England. Ours gave out at round 9pm and darkness descended, however as soon as our eyes adjusted we discovered it actually magical!
There’s a heater which we turned on instantly and whereas we waited for the house to warmth up, I stuffed the recent water bottles which can be supplied.
After all, cheese is all a part of the expertise.
You’ll discover a small tasting board in your fridge subsequent to the milk, however for an actual deal with I like to recommend ordering the meat and cheese platter so you’ll be able to pattern a few of Teesdale Cheesemakers’ hottest merchandise.
The couple additionally supply experiences like cheese and wine pairings, dairy excursions and cheesemaking days in case you’re on the lookout for one thing to entertain you throughout an extended keep.
The wood-fired scorching tubs are one of many fundamental points of interest for visitors. They take round two hours to warmth up and as soon as they do, they’re merely blissful.
Soaking within the heat water beneath the celebrities is my concept of true luxurious!
Within the morning once we woke as much as the sound of birdsong, the bathtub was nonetheless heat sufficient for a dawn dip earlier than a stroll all the way down to the stream.
The cafe opens at 10am so we visited the goats and took a stroll across the native space earlier than we headed in for breakfast.
Even in case you’re not staying over, I like to recommend popping into Cafe Cheesedale for a chunk to eat in case you’re exploring the native space. After our go to, I rapidly added it to my information to the finest locations to eat in County Durham.
Other than all issues cheese, they’ve an exquisite store crammed with domestically produced merchandise.
I left laden with native honey, kefir and low however there’s a lot extra I might have purchased!
The cafe serves cooked breakfasts. I went for ‘The Desmond’, which has two of every little thing, and the bacon was legit probably the most completely cooked bacon I’ve ever eaten.
The smaller cooked breakfast is named ‘The Valerie’ and the proprietor educated us as to why that was.
I did a ballot on Instagram and only a few folks obtained the reference! Do you get it?
I like to recommend choosing up some desserts too. We introduced house a lemon crumble slice and a few biscoff cheesecake, which had been each unimaginable.
Have to know data about Teesdale Cheesemakers shepherds huts
There’s a two evening minimal keep however a one evening reserving is out there at the next charge in case you enquire.
You may deliver one canine with you for stays within the huts however you’ll have to allow them to know whenever you e-book. The cafe can also be dog-friendly.
You’ll have to deliver your individual toiletries, together with bathe gel. Hand cleaning soap, bathroom paper, towels and bedding are supplied.
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