Guests say
Cross View Cottage in Alston is highly praised for its comfort, cleanliness, and prime location. Guests appreciate the well-equipped facilities, cosy atmosphere, and the property's proximity to local amenities. The unique charm of the cottage, with its room-per-floor layout and thoughtful touches by the owners, has made stays memorable. While the steep stairs are noted, the overall experience is one of satisfaction and enjoyment.
Guests consistently describe the cottage as spotlessly clean and beautifully kept, contributing to a welcoming and comfortable stay.
The cottage's central position in Alston's Market Square is highly regarded, with easy access to local shops, pubs, and scenic attractions, though parking can be challenging during peak times.
Reviewers find the beds very comfortable and the living spaces cosy, especially with the addition of a wood-burner for the cooler evenings.
The property is well-equipped with modern amenities and a kitchen that exceeds expectations for self-catering. However, the absence of handrails on steep stairs is a noted concern for safety and ease of access.
While guests express gratitude towards the owners and mention the welcoming feel of the cottage, there are no specific references to gifts or special tokens of thoughtfulness that would warrant a score in this category.
About this property
This inviting, mid-terrace cottage sits within the town square of Alston, the highest market town in England, amidst the great scenery of the North Pennines. Cross View Cottage is a spacious, bright, and cheerful south facing accommodation set over five floors; this beautiful character cottage has been decorated tastefully and retains many original features as well as contemporary comforts. Ideally located on the Alston Front Street, Cross View Cottage is a great base for families seeking a much-needed break with a variety of fabulous amenities on the doorstep. The kitchen/diner is sure to inspire those budding chefs, appointed with an electric oven and gas hob, microwave, coffee machine (pods), kettle, toaster, fridge/freezer and even a dishwasher, so washing up will be a breeze!
Serve a home-made feast at the extendable six-person dining table or treat yourself to a local takeaway after a long day of exploring. Move up to the first floor where an inviting sitting room is the perfect place to sit back and unwind, enhanced with a traditional woodburning stove set on a large stone hearth, and a flat screen TV & Apple TV for on-demand entertainment; the charming sofa doubles up as a small double bed. Continue to the second floor to find the first bedroom, hosting two single beds and a feature fireplace, served by a gleaming bathroom with bath and shower over.
Up a final flight of stairs leads you to the master double with an adjacent shower room. When you’re ready to explore, the charming market town of Alston has much to offer; browse quirky independent shops for a gift to take back home, explore the Heritage & Transport Museum and uncover a great range of historical transport displays, before popping into a local pub for some tasty grub and a well-earned beverage. A not to be missed seasonal attraction is the friendly heritage South Tynedale Railway, why not enjoy the delicious food, desserts and drinks in their Crossing cafe before hopping on for a scenic ride.
Start your morning with freshly made goods from the traditional bakeries before embarking on a day of exploration within the scenic North Pennines AONB, a real haven for ramblers with glorious walking trails and cycling routes around the Pennine Way and the Coast-to-Coast Route, which passes straight through Alston, or head out to Northumberland and the Lake District National Park further afield. Cross View Cottage is a little gem fit for a memorable family getaway, whatever time of year.
Alston is England's highest market town, located in the North Pennines in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty surrounded by a distinctive scenery of moorland, hills, rivers, and waterfalls. This beautiful town, with its cobblestone alleys and odd nooks and crannies, was the setting for ITV's Jane Eyre and Oliver Twist plays. Alston and the North Pennines have long inspired artists and writers; W H Auden, the poet and writer, adored the area, and it continues to inspire the craftspeople who live and work there today. The town has a variety of unique shops, including fine crafts and galleries. Take a ride on the South Tynedale Railway, which runs from Alston to Slaggyford, on one of the carefully restored steam and diesel engines through the lovely countryside of the South Tyne valley. The River Tyne is also known as one of England's best salmon rivers, with day-ticket fishing accessible in the area. The Killhope Lead Mining Museum in the North Pennines used to be one of Europe's wealthiest lead mining centres, and it's a terrific family day out with interactive exhibitions. The A686 is rated as one of the best drives in the world by the Automobile Association, and northern Cumbria, County Durham, and Northumberland are all within easy driving distance.
Accommodation
Over five floors.
Two bedrooms: 1 x third-floor double, 1 x second-floor twin, 1 x sofa bed in the living room.
Second-floor bathroom with bath, shower over, basin and WC.
Third-floor shower room with walk-in shower, basin and WC.
Kitchen/diner.
First-floor sitting room with sofa bed
Heating with woodburning stove.
Electric oven and gas hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer, coffee maker.
Flatscreen TV with Apple TV, WiFi, a selection of games and books.
Fuel and power included in rent.
Bed linen and towels included in rent.
Free public parking in the town centre.
Sorry, no pets and no smoking (ideal for those with pet allergies).
Shops, supermarkets, post office, ATM, pharmacy, health centre, coffee shops, restaurants, pubs and fuel stations 0.1 miles.
Note: Due to steep spiral stairs, this property is not suitable for those with limited mobility or children under eight years old.
Note: Tea and coffee will be provided at this property
Please note - This property accepts a minimum of 7 night bookings.
Reviews (11)
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Heather
There is also everything you could want for your stay. Thanks
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Angela
The cottage was clean, comfortable, warm and perfect for our stay. The beds were extremely comfortable and we slept better than we have in ages. It is definitely not suitable for anyone with mobility issues but we found it really quaint. Alston has everything you might need on your doorstep. We visited the church, almost next door, the CoOp, handy for supplies, the takeaway, for delicious pizzas and fish and chips and most other shops for souvenirs and just to chat to the local people who were extremely friendly. The journey to Alston from Penrith took us across stunning moors to a height of nearly 2000 feet but what a view from the top!!! We caught the train from Penrith to Edinburgh, just an hour and a half away, and did the tour of the city on an open top bus, we also visited the Lake District and Barnard Castle, all definitely worth the trip. Finally, the best meals we had whilst in Alston were in the Cumberland Arms. The pub was not much to look at but the chef is a genius. If you enjoy walking, stay at Cross View cottage, you wonât regret it.
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Dassi
It was nice clean and cosy. The cottage was also very centrally located and there was lots of walks and biking for our older children . In fact they did the coast to coast bike ride and slept over at us half way through. Everything was nice and comfortable with nice bedrooms and bathrooms. We would come again. Dassi