County Durham’s The Aspens Holiday Cottage Wins Praise As Uk’s Best-rated Rural Retreat: A New Area Of Interest For Tourists

Published on September 10, 2025

A vacation cottage successful County Durham, conscionable a stone’s propulsion from Middleton-in-Teesdale, now ranks among Britain’s champion agrarian escapes, boasting thing but five-star visitant reviews. Called The Aspens, nan pad wins guests complete pinch jaw-dropping views, top-notch location comforts, and a serene outlook complete Grassholme Reservoir. Sip vino connected nan terrace arsenic you soak successful nan scenery, each portion of nan North Pennines National Landscape, an area that Natural England itself has marked arsenic ‘wow-worthy’ for really pristine it is.

A uncommon five-star record

According to reviews collected connected Sykes Holiday Cottages since 2019, The Aspens has secured more than 60 ratings, each azygous 1 awarding nan spot nan maximum 5 stars. Guests consistently highlighted nan cottage’s location wrong a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), mixed pinch modern features specified arsenic underfloor heating, a basking tub, and wood-burning stove.

One visitant successful wintertime was quoted arsenic saying they had recovered nan cottage nan champion vacation location they had ever stayed successful wrong nan UK, remarking that its secluded countryside position offered total peace. Another impermanent commented that evenings successful nan basking tub, pinch a position of star-filled skies supra Grassholme Reservoir, made nan enactment peculiarly memorable.

What makes The Aspens special

The Aspens accommodates up to 4 group and a dog, offering 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Its elevated mounting extracurricular Middleton-in-Teesdale allows unobstructed views crossed moorland, woodland and reservoir landscapes.

The tract is promoted arsenic a nature lover’s paradise, according to location tourism body This is Durham, which describes Middleton-in-Teesdale arsenic a cleanable guidelines for exploring Teesdale and Weardale. The municipality besides gives entree to the Pennine Way National Trail, 1 of Britain’s astir celebrated long-distance footpaths highlighted by National Trails UK.

Holidaymakers are choosing cottages for illustration The Aspens arsenic portion of a increasing inclination towards staycations, a activity underscored by VisitBritain information indicating much travellers opting for countryside escapes complete overseas travel.

A weighted summation to Durham’s visitant economy

The Durham County Council destination improvement scheme identifies agrarian retreats arsenic cardinal to nan section economy, pinch outdoor leisure and accommodation supporting some tourism and conservation. Known for its waterfalls, upland walks, and acheronian skies recognised by the North Pennines AONB Partnership, nan region plays big to visitors successful hunt of quiet luxury and unfastened landscapes.

The Aspens complements this inclination pinch prices starting astatine 910 Euro for a seven-night stay. Its precocious request is reflected by constricted readiness during autumn and winter, traditionally quieter times that nan cottage continues to pull bookings.

Alternative stays nearby

Travellers seeking options wrong nan aforesaid area person pointed to West Pasture Cottage, besides adjacent Grassholme Reservoir, priced from 547 Euro for 7 nights and allowing up to 2 dogs. Reviews of that cottage picture nan surrounding scenery arsenic stunning.

In Middleton-in-Teesdale itself, West View , The Old Chapel, a converted chapel pinch 4 bedrooms, has go different notable property. It serves larger groups of up to 8 group and has been sounded arsenic 1 of nan much unsocial rental options successful nan Durham Dales.

For those preferring caravans, sites specified arsenic Mickleton Mill, Leekworth, and Daleview present a different style of agrarian leisure, pinch prices and accommodation varying to suit short stays and longer breaks. Nearby, Airbnb listings astir Hury Reservoir connection budget-friendly alternatives, pinch immoderate starting astatine conscionable complete £400 for 5 nights.

Guests stock their impressions

Over respective years, guests person offered consistently glowing accounts of their stays astatine The Aspens. One visitant successful January described it arsenic a lovely comfortable detached cottage successful an idyllic position, noting nan expertise to group disconnected connected walks straight from nan doorstep. Another who stayed successful November said it struck them arsenic an absolutely delightful holiday, emphasising some nan comfortableness and earthy surroundings.

Such comments underline nan worth holiday-makers are placing not only connected accommodation but besides connected nan ambiance created by nan location. Many person said that nan operation of cosiness indoors and chaotic beauty outdoors makes nan spot guidelines out.

A retreat into bid and nature

In caller years, pinch expanding request for agrarian tourism experiences, County Durham has seen properties for illustration The Aspens emergence successful fame among those looking for backstage retreats. The operation of luxury item and unspoilt countryside surrounding Grassholme Reservoir has fixed it a beardown reputation.

For visitors, escaping mundane busyness to beryllium beneath nan region’s internationally recognised acheronian skies, aliases to bask nan tranquillity of Teesdale landscapes, has go cardinal to nan appeal. Guests person many times expressed really nan spot gave them not conscionable a spot to stay, but a mounting successful which to pause, recharge, and reconnect pinch nature.

Bottom Line

As autumn and wintertime approach, The Aspens continues to beryllium viewed by galore guests arsenic nan cleanable equilibrium betwixt comfortableness and wilderness , a spot where, successful their words, they recovered beautiful chaotic countryside on pinch a lukewarm occurrence and 1 of nan astir comfortable night’s slumber nan North East could offer.

Image Credit: The Aspens Holiday Cottage