The northernmost steading on the old Walworth Castle
estate, bought by an ancestor of Rita’s
husband in 1775, North Farm has
been completely renovated and extended and can now
accomodate a house party of up to 14 in great comfort, with gallons
of hot water and seriously powerful showers. Besides countless
excellent walks and wild swimming spots, the area abounds
in sites of historical and cultural interest, and you are
within easy reach of three of the finest medieval buildings in
England – Raby Castle, Auckland Castle and Durham Cathedral.
Price based on 7 night stay. Property also available per night.
The northernmost steading on the old Walworth Castle
estate, bought by an ancestor of Rita’s
husband in 1775, North Farm has
been completely renovated and extended and can now
accomodate a house party of up to 14 in great comfort, with gallons
of hot water and seriously powerful showers. Besides countless
excellent walks and wild swimming spots, the area abounds
in sites of historical and cultural interest, and you are
within easy reach of three of the finest medieval buildings in
England – Raby Castle, Auckland Castle and Durham Cathedral.
To the south and west of the house is a pretty walled garden, ideal for containing young children, with views towards the Richmond Hills. To the north the large arched windows of the kitchen survey the lumpy contours of a buried medieval village – a scheduled ancient monument – now permanent pasture used for grazing cattle and sheep, and to the west the stone farm buildings, where the games room is located.
Three spacious reception rooms run along the south front of the house and parallel to these are a large Plain English kitchen/dining room, a hall and a laundry – all with views over the fields and medieval stone barns to the north of the property. The bedrooms are all decorated in Rita’s trademark relaxed style, with plenty of good books and pictures throughout. This is a very much a family house. Has been featured in Elle Decor and House and Garden.
Housekeeper and cook available by arrangement.
Three of the bedrooms vie for ‘master’ status – two with Super King size beds, the third a King. Two rooms can be made up as doubles or twins. The sixth is a cosier (4ft 6) double or a more luxurious single, and the seventh a smaller twin room.
Of the five bathrooms, two have walk-in showers, one has a bath and separate shower, and two have baths. One shower room on the ground floor next to a sitting room with a large day bed that can serve as an optional eighth bedroom if required.
Annabel loves this charming, beautifully decorated farmhouse. Its great location means you are surrounded by fabulous walks and scenery and also not far from the coast.
Five minutes' drive from North Farm is a path running along the River Tees from the coast to the remote moorland of Cumbria. There are several excellent picnicking and swimming spots upstream from Winston.
The Lake District is just over an hour away, and energetic guests can head for Ullswater after breakfast, climb Helvellyn (3,117ft) by its most exhilarating route, and be back at North Farm in time for cocktails.
Nearby are two of England’s prettiest market towns, Richmond and Barnard Castle (don’t miss the remarkable Bowes Museum), and the stunning medieval city of Durham, dominated by one of the finest Romanesque cathedrals in Europe.
