Tag Archive for: holiday cottage

Escape to the charming village of Dufton in rural Cumbria

 

Dufton Village

Dufton Village

Seeking relaxation and a reset in nature for your next holiday?  Then look no further than the beautiful village of Dufton in the Eden Valley.

Shepherds View is an award winning 5 Star Gold holiday cottage for couples set on the edge of the village, so that you can enjoy peace and seclusion, whilst at the same time being a few steps away from all that the village location has to offer.Hanging baskets at Shepherds View

Dufton itself is a typically attractive Eden fell side village with a layout of houses, back lanes and crofts set around a green.  Its name is probably Anglo Saxon meaning ‘settlement where the doves are kept’, and despite a lead mining history, sheep farming remains the dominant industry.  The village nestles in the shadow of the Pennines, 3 miles from the traditional market town of Appleby with its array of local grocery stores & tea shops, and Norman Castle.

Rural Dufton life

Rural Dufton life

Sunset at Shepherds View

Sunset at Shepherds View

At Dufton Barn Holidays we feel a holiday should be about the experience you have as much as the quality of the cottage you stay in – after all experiences are what memories are made of.

With a breath-taking view you look out of the feature window toward Cross Fell, the highest point of the Pennines.  In the Spring enjoy the sight of the lambs cavorting in the field below, or fabulous sunsets setting across the high fells throughout the year.  As well as all the detail that makes up this 5 star property, including underfloor heating and a jacuzzi bath, we provide a luxury hamper of carefully selected Cumbrian products to excite your tastebuds.

High Cup Nick

High Cup Nick

View from Dufton Pike

View from Dufton Pike

To help you explore the village and the surrounding area you can enjoy using over 15 personalised walks from the doorstep, of differing abilities, including the magnificent High Cup Nick and nearby Dufton Pike.  Or you can choose to explore the beautiful woodland of Dufton Ghyll, with its gurgling streams and plethora of wild-life including Red Squirrels and occasional deer, blanketed in snowdrops in February and bluebells in the Spring.  If you have brought your bicycles then meander along quiet country lanes with magnificent vistas all around you.

Bluebells in Dufton Ghyll

Bluebells in Dufton Ghyll

Meadows around Dufton

Wild flower meadows

If you’re in the mood for a treat then take a 2 minute stroll to the Stag Inn to enjoy a refreshing ale in the beer garden overlooking the Pike, or a deliciously wholesome meal in their restaurant, and in the Spring and Summer months enjoy a snack at the Post Box Pantry Café, all of course with a warm Cumbrian welcome.

However you choose to spend your holiday we are certain you will leave more refreshed and relaxed than when you came, and with many happy memories of this beautiful area to take away.

 

4 great reasons to make Shepherds View the base for your next staycation

As we all get used to the new norms of a post lockdown world there has been a massive surge in people looking for staycations in the UK. Many have turned to the standard honey-pots of Devon and Cornwall or the Lakes, which can only lead to an increase in these areas of visitor numbers and indeed prices. It’s time to think again and look a little further afield at an area of equal beauty, but far less crowded, the Eden Valley on the eastern edge of Cumbria.

Shepherds View could be just what you are looking for and here are 4 great reasons why:-

1. Stay In!

You don’t have to be big on the outdoors to come here. We’ve got the Visit England 5 star gold award for a reason. If your idea of a good holiday is finishing off some books in peace and quiet then why not sit in our feature window with a glorious view changing in front of you by the hour. We are complimented on our well-equipped kitchen so you won’t have to remember to bring with you any of your essential kitchen utensils. Take a well-earned soak in our jacuzzi bath and enjoy one of the hydrotherapy programmes, or binge watch a couple of series on Netflix with the log burner keeping you toasty. Whenever the weather allows then we have a private garden for you to sit and relax in as well.

Did we mention the bed? The superking with Hypnos mattress is frequently mentioned by guests and is designed to give you a great nights sleep ready for tomorrows adventures (or relaxation)!

2. Leave the Car!

You don’t have to drive anywhere if you don’t want to. There are numerous walks from the door of differing lengths and ability, and we’ve written them up for you so that you get a flavour of our beautiful area. Of course, you might want to walk up the jewel of the Pennines, High Cup, but we’ve got you covered on this one as well, even suggesting a quieter alternative route to the more popular way. If cycling is your thing then we have safe storage for you, and we’ve drawn out some of our favourite cycle routes for you along the quiet lanes linking the pretty fellside villages.

3. Take the Car!

If you want to explore then Dufton is such a great location to drive out from. Ullswater, with all it has to offer is only 25 minutes drive away, and Keswick on Derwent Water only 45 minutes. Similarly, if you want to go to High Force in Teesdale then you are only 45 minutes drive as well, and the Eden is also on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Other than travelling into the Lakes many of these routes are less busy and so you can expect a much more pleasant journey. Finally if you want to get your eyes tested then Barnard Castle is only a short trip east along the A66!

4. Eat Out!

We are lucky enough to have a great pub, the Stag, in Dufton. Only a 2 minute walk from the cottage if you don’t feel like cooking then you can’t go wrong here. The pub has a great reputation for good wholesome food and great beer, and what could be better after a long walk or bike ride!

Eden Valley breaks by Train

No car, no problem!  If you want to leave the car at home and are looking for a perfect place for your holiday or short break then you need look no further than Shepherds View in the Eden.

With our location close to Appleby-in-Westmorland (3 miles away) access couldn’t be easier.  Appleby is on the famous Settle-Carlisle line, which gives connections to both East and West Coast Mainline rail networks, and regular trains from both Leeds and Carlisle.  As an alternate route you also have the option of Penrith (14 miles away) which is also on the West Coast mainline – if you prefer the next stop after Penrith is Carlisle where you can connect to Appleby!

The beauty of our location is that once you are in the cottage you can be self-sufficient for as long as your stay!   Order your grocery shop on-line with most major supermarkets delivering to the area.  We have a fantastic pub, The Stag, a 2 minute walk from the cottage serving hearty Cumbrian dishes and in this years Good Beer guide.  For those that want to be active there are plenty of great walks for all abilities right from the doorstep.  This includes High Cup Nick, nicknamed ‘Grand Canyon of the North’, and featured by Julia Bradbury as one of her best walks with a view https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PBz0UMJoLI .  In addition, this is a fantastic location for cycling with quiet country roads or for the really serious the murderous Great Dun Fell climb.  The Eden Valley is less well known than the neighbouring Lake District but just as charming and far less crowded!

Finally, with enough notice, we would be happy to pick you up and drop you off at Appleby at the start and end of your holiday.  Please contact us for further information.

Perfect getaway holiday in the valley of Eden

Ask most holiday makers to point to Cumbria on a map and they will inevitably pick out the Lake District. But the Eden Valley? That’s another matter and much less well known, which is its great appeal.

The Eden Valley has all the green valley charm and the cutesy cottages of the Lakes, but without the main holiday detractor of hordes of people. It is also the ideal holiday destination to slow down the pace and explore locally, or a perfect base to make the short trip to the North Yorkshire moors or the North Lakes region. To those that have discovered this little known tranquil and peaceful paradise it is a favourite place visited time and again.

The Eden Valley takes its name from the River Eden that follows a meandering 80 mile route from its source at Mallerstang to the Solway near Carlisle, close to Wallsend and the end of Hadrians Wall. Along with dramatic scenery, pretty market towns persist with Kirkby Stephen, Appleby, and Penrith along the route. The Eden region includes the Pennines to its North and East, including an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and is bordered by the Western Lakes fells, Ullswater and the Howgill fells to the South.

There is plenty to do and explore, many jewels to discover and memories to make. Take a relatively gentle (by Lake District standards) hike up High Cup Nick described as the ‘Grand Canyon of the North’ and featured by Julia Bradbury in her walking series. Search out some history – castles abound or visit one of the finest stone circles in the North, Long Meg and her daughters, or the Nine Standards Rigg, or even Shap Abbey. There are event venues like Rheged, Acorn Bank, Lowther Castle and Dalemain to visit, or let someone else take you on a trip on the Carlisle to Settle railway, or Classic Coaches tour or a cruise with Ullswater Steamers. Bring your bike and cycle along the quiet lanes of the Upper Eden – visit the chocolate factory at Orton – or simply find a coffee shop to while away some time and enjoy the Cumbrian Crack!

What about the weather, after all you are in Cumbria? In fact, due to its position surrounded by fells the Eden has a microclimate of its own. If its raining with you then it could still be dry 5 miles away, and it’s not unreasonable to chase the good weather. In truth, whilst Keswick averages 58 inches of rain a year, Penrith and Appleby match the same level of rainfall as Cornwall at around 36 inches!

As the Cumbrian’s say, why not take a ‘Deekabout’ at the Eden for yourself and find out what it has to offer – answers on a postcard!

Book now at Shepherds View for these great local events!

There’s a lot going on in August and September in the Eden Valley.

Why not book your break to coincide with one or more of these fantastic local events and have a 5 star holiday with a difference!

18th/19 August – Cumbria Classic Cars at Dalemain Mansion
25th August – Dufton Agricultural Show and Sheepdog Trials
30th August – Crosby Ravensworth Show & Vintage Rally
30th to 2nd September – Penrith Arts Festival
8th Sept – Alston Flower Show / 200th Orton Farmers Market
14th to 16th Sept – Appleby Beer festival at the Midland Hotel
22nd to 30th Sept – Ullswater Outdoor Festival
22nd Sept – Over 50s show at Rheged
29th Sept – Judy’s affordable vintage fair at Rheged