Guests say
Walworth Castle Lodge is a well-received holiday rental with guests praising its spaciousness, comfortable furnishings, and the added luxury of a hot tub. The large garden is a hit with pet owners, and the proximity to the hotel offers convenient dining options. The staff are consistently described as friendly and helpful, contributing to a welcoming atmosphere.
Most guests found the lodge clean and comfortable, though a few noted areas where cleanliness could be improved, such as under furniture and around windows. The presence of dog hairs and the condition of cleaning equipment were mentioned, suggesting occasional lapses in thoroughness.
The lodge's location is generally praised for its beautiful surroundings and proximity to local attractions. It is described as remote and peaceful, ideal for a relaxing stay. However, some guests noted it is not within walking distance to many pubs or restaurants, requiring car travel for exploration.
Guests frequently commented on the comfort of the lodge, highlighting the spacious rooms and cosy atmosphere. Some concerns were raised about mattress comfort and noise from a nearby road, but overall, the lodge is seen as a comfortable retreat.
The facilities, including the hot tub and kitchen equipment, are generally appreciated, but several reviews point out maintenance issues such as problems with the shower temperature, heating, and appliances. The need for technological updates, like Wi-Fi improvements and smart TVs, was also mentioned.
While some guests were delighted with welcome baskets and the provision of a Christmas tree, others noted the absence of such gifts and basic amenities like soap. As the inclusion of gifts is inconsistent across reviews, it cannot be guaranteed and thus a score cannot be provided.
About this property
This single storey cottage was once the charming gate house to the imposing Walworth Castle, near the thriving market town of Darlington, in County Durham. Set within beautiful 18-acre grounds of fabulous lawns and woodlands, this stone-built cottage still retains lots of its charm with a castellated stone structure. Perfect for families, friends and couples alike, this heart-warming accommodation has been thoughtfully decorated to reveal a high quality finish throughout. The entrance is through a gate at the front and down a pathway taking you to a small porch, where immediately inside you will come to a cloakroom. Next the kitchen presents itself with sleek granite worktops, modern, integrated fixtures and contemporary colourways.
The living room comprises a lovely set of patchwork sofas, a gas fire on the wall, and adjoins the TV room, which boasts French doors leading to the outdoor space. Take some time to gather your thoughts in the conservatory with a good book, or get together with the family in the dining room for a sociable gathering over dinner. Indulge in the luxurious hot tub after a tiresome day walking the fabulous Dales, positioned on the patio, it nestles in a private spot next to the garden furniture. Walworth Castle is a stunning Grade I listed, 12th century castle, playing host to a fabulous three-star hotel, benefitting a lovely bar and restaurant, serving delicious drinks and afternoon tea, as well as a scrumptious dinner menu.Walworth Castle Lodge is located within walking distance to Walworth Castle Birds of Prey centre which is the number one tourist attraction in County Durham.
Nearby, Darlington offers an abundance of well-appointed amenities and is well-known for its railway connections. The wonderful city of Durham is situated to the north, with its majestic cathedral and castle waiting to be explored. The surrounding region offers beautiful countryside rich with classic Dales landscape of dry stone walls, rivers and valleys. This charm-filled cottage is ideal for those seeking adventure among the Northern Dales.
Walworth is a small scattered village in the borough of Darlington, in County Durham, centred by the 16th century Walworth Castle and Park, and the surrounding area known locally as 'The Gateway to the Dales'. An easy drive from Walworth will take you to nearby Teesdale, which has a host of excellent visitor attractions and stunning scenery on its doorstep. The Dale is home to the stunning waterfall of High Force and great walking along The Teesdale Way. Barnard Castle and Bowes offer historic castles and stately homes, with Eggleston Hall and Gardens - a Georgian country house, Rokeby Hall and Park and Raby Castle being just three such examples. A short drive north will take you to the city of Durham, which oozes charm and offers lots to see and do.
Accommodation
All ground floor.
Three bedrooms: 1 x king-size double (one with en-suite bathroom with spa bath, separate walk-in shower, basin and WC), 1 x double, 1 x twin.
Shower room with walk-in shower, basin and WC.
Kitchen with breakfast bar.
Dining room.
Sitting room with gas fire.
TV room.
Conservatory.
LGP gas heating with gas fire.
Electric oven, gas hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, washer/dryer, TV, WiFi.
Fuel and power included in rent.
Bed linen and towels included in rent.
Ample off-road parking.
Large enclosed rear garden with patio, lawned area and hot tub.
Two well-behaved dogs welcome.
Sorry, no smoking.
Shop 5 miles, pub 15 mins walk.
Note: This property has a check in time of 5pm.
Note: Road noise may be heard.
Note: Bookings arriving after 14/11/2019 will carry a good housekeeping bond of £150.
On arrival, a pre-authorisation of this amount will be placed on the card at reception.
Please note: No dogs under the
dangerous dog act of 1991, are permitted at this property.
Nearby points of interest
- Bowes Museum
- Barnard Castle
Reviews (46)
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Sarah
First thing no one really wanted to show us around as they seemed to be in the middle of sorting a wedding but a lady did in the end. No welcome pack with info such as how to work the over complicated appliances. We had stayed in the smaller cottage 2 yrs previous and had a welcome hamper and the manger call on us twice to make sure all ok but nothing this time. The place was freezing I pointed this out the the guy sorting the hot tub his reply was âif no one tells us we canât fix itâ I was telling him but it never got looked at all week. So here are the good points and things I think could be improved on Good: Location, castle grounds, size of the property, hot tub and generally well equipped in the kitchen and large garden. Needs work on: Welcome pack/Info Soap in toilet More outside lighting at the front, we had to use a torch to get to the cars. Black bin was almost full when we arrived so we had to leave bags next to the bin which must have looked a right state. Heating needs looking at and one of the radiators in the TV room didnât work at all which was pointed out to the maintenance man and a electric heater was provided!. They all need bleeding as some are hot in just parts. The fire makes an absolute racket when itâs windy and it doesnât even work it just makes noise and causes a draft. We called the castle to sort the fire out but no one knew how to fix it so we were given 2 more floor heaters! Itâs only by reading reviews on here we can see this isnât a new issue. Needs a really good clean not just a dust and vac I put my hand down the side of the sofa to find the tv control and the sofa was full of food and wrappers. I had to move the dinning table to get a childâs toy and oh my god the state of the floor under the table itâs not had a proper deep clean for a long time. Shower in the master bedroom runs hot then cold just a bit of a nightmare. If both showers are on the master shower seems to suffer and the water pressure is like a drip. Weâre just really disappointed with some of these things and Iâm very unlikely to revisit or recommend which is such a shame. I could go on as the list is endless but the main issue are above.
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Elizabeth
Although the living space and the main bedroom are spacious, light and airy, some of the furniture, the sofa in one of the lounges is in need of an upgrade and neither TV is wifi enabled. The kitchen must have been very nice when it was first fitted but the vinyl wrap is coming off one of the drawers, the dishwasher only has half of the racks it should have, the cupboard doors are missing off the washer/ dryer, the hob is decidedly tatty and not over clean. In addition, the kitchen is relatively poorly provided for; there are virtually no serving dishes, there is no large saucepan, and the cooking utensils keep coming apart in the middle. We had a problem with the wifi which was virtually un-useable; it did improve slightly when we pointed this out to the manager and something was done about it, but at no point could you stream anything. There was no wifi out of sight of the actual hub. Unfortunately, there was a fire at the local transmitter, meaning no TV service. This was not the fault of the hotel, but it did mean that, as there were no smart TVs, we could not stream anything either. This lodge needs it's own router and it's own system, it should not be part of the hotel system. We had a problem with the shower in the main bedroom en-suite, which was resolved after a few days, but meant that for much of the stay, all 6 of us had to use the main bathroom shower which had no window and became very damp. The lodge is right next to a road, and 2 of the 3 bedrooms have no double glazing. The windows are constantly covered in condensation and the road noise at night is considerable. It is odd that the 2 rooms that most need double glazing do not have it. These rooms are also quite small and cramped. One couple has a spacious, double glazed and well appojinted room, with a massive en-suite whereas the other has a small, cramped room with single glazing that is hard to open to air the room, and only one bedside table. The twin room only has a small bedside table for storage, and the wardrobe lacks drawers or shelves for storing clothes. This could easily be remedied. The large garden is a great space for kids to play and the hot tub is large and a lovely place to relax .The garden furniture is a bit shabby, the [plastic rattan is uncurling, but provides a space to enjoy the sunshine. ```````````````` We enjoyed our stay at the lodge but felt that perhaps more had been done for 'show' in phots than for the genuine comfort of the guests.
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Angela
It is fabulous! Once the gatehouse to the stunning castle, you immediately relish the beauty of both castle and lodge alike, then you appreciate how they are ideally located for exploring the surrounding area. Local towns, beaches, numerous other castles and quaint villages all within 20 - 40 minutes. Archers ice cream parlour 5 minutes in one direction and Ulnaby Medieval farm shop 5 minutes in the opposite, both well worth a visit. The lodge itself is luxurious, amazingly beautiful, very tastefully decorated and equipped with everything you could need from bed linen and towels to toiletries, dishwasher tablets, washing up liquid and tea towels. A lovely welcome pack with tea, coffee, biscuits etc a bag of ice in the freezer and a bottle of wine included. To the rear, the hot tub, very private and kept at a fabulous 38âC with lights glowing in various colours. Simply perfect! You feel more relaxed again knowing that your dog(s) is safe in the secure and lit gardens surrounding the property, food bowls and even a doggy welcome pack are included. Staff in the hotel are very welcoming upon your arrival, they invite you to bring your dog(s) into the front lounge and bar during your stay. The maintenance gentleman is very kind and knowledgeable of the local area too. EVERYTHING IS PERFECT - Except - Sykes state the property bond, £150, will be debited after your holiday if the property is not left as desired BUT, it was actually debited upon arrival. The £150 bond was refunded very quickly, within hours of our return home.