Self-Catering Barforth Hall Dairy in Gainford

Angela M

April 2021

Lovely cosy clean accommodation with plenty of space. Spectacular views to the front and rear of the property. The wood fired hot tub took about 4 to 5hrs to warm up from it being totally cold to getting to the acquired temperature we wanted - we expected this and it therefore wasn't a problem, infact it was still warm enough the following morning to enjoy. There was plenty of wood provided for it but if there hadn't have been, a quick call to the owner would have rectified it. No problem with hot water in the accommodation and no problem with flies as previously mentioned in other reviews. The accommodation had everything you would need for a break. The owners were friendly and were on hand if required. The farm is huge with lots of livestock. The accommodation has an enclosed rear garden which was secure for our dog to wander in and out. Beautiful walks are available from the doorstep. There was even an opportunity for our daughter to help feed the baby lambs/goats. We would definitely visit again.

Mr Smith, September 2020

September 2020

The smell from arrival in the cottage was foisty.. We were told to arrive at 4pm as it was getting deep clean so found no point in complaining due to the place already being deep cleaned before we got there. The amount of flies was unbearable, there seemed to be more inside than out with the animals. We were constantly spraying fly spray and one of the days we stayed we didn’t open a window but they seemed to come in droves. I would of thought there was a nest somewhere in the place it was that bad. You couldn’t butter a slice of toast without a fly or 10 nose diving at it, it seemed as if they attacked you in bed and made the stay uncomfortable. Sad because the cottage could have been a lovely stay but the place just appears to be unloved. The hot tub once it got going was and stayed hot and was enjoyable. We came home 2 days early because we just couldn’t bear the smell and amount of flies any longer.

Mr Smith

September 2020

There are a lot of positives to this little lodge, the location is great for access to local landmarks and days out and very quiet.. The lodge itself had some positives, good size, comfy beds owners responded very quickly to a bulb that wasnt working. There were a few negatives though, a lot of flies but you can see they tried to remedy this in the kitchen with an electric flie zapper. The outside area had a lot of broken solar lamps, and the hot tub had seen better days with the lip of it rotting. Wifi worked in one room, but wasnt a huge issue. Hot water booster must be used to ensure you have hot water

Mrs Stokoe, September 2020

August 2020

Lovely quaint cottage.. Loved the kitchen! Owners couldnt be more accomodating Brilliant to take the kids for the walks. Plenty of animals around too. X brilliant staycation. Would stay again.

LoisL174

August 2020

We visited for a week with our little boy - the animals opposite the cottage were a big hit! Goats, llamas, horses and cows can all be seen from the cottage. The hot tub is great and once warmed as long as it is kept on top of and used regularly it doesn’t take long to heat back up. There were a few issues - we would agree that there were quite a few flies in the property and also struggled with the hot water but the booster did solve this problem. It would have been nice to have a bit more information in the cottage - local attractions, walks and places to eat etc this would have saved us time researching. We would recommend the black Horse at Ingleton for an Italian - we visited twice and found the food great at a reasonable price! Overall really enjoyed our stay and the price was very reasonable for what we got and the location! Thanks for having us!

Mrs Newsome, August 2020

July 2020

We enjoyed a lovely relaxing week at the Dairy.. Perfect place for a family break. Enjoyed good walks straight from the front door. Location is also perfect for exploring both the Dales and the Moors. The owners were very friendly and helpful and nothing was too much trouble. The wood fired hot tub was a nice bonus to relax in after a long day walking once you had mastered the fire. Hope to return one day soon!

Mrs Hutchison, February 2020

February 2020

We all had a great time the kitchen utensils was not enough for us a we was there for a full week .. with four adult's and one child . not enough baking trays no cheese grater / and measuring jug / no large wine glasses only very small one's which only held a mouth full other then no complaints at all and we will defo come back

Miss Anderson, February 2020

February 2020

Owners of the farm where lovely even invited my son to help feed the animals any .... Owners of the farm where lovely even invited my son to help feed the animals any questions we had they was happy to help wonderful hidden gem as tucked away from everyone and lots to do locally

Mr Mantle, July 2020

February 2020

Hi we stayed at Barforth cottsge 3 nights for my birthday.. Beautiful area and views from window. But very disappointed with our stay VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN THE DARK THE ENTRY TO COTTAGE. very cold. Dusty everywhere, Doors to front and back are very dated unkempt , draught blowing through large gaps, windows mostly single glazed paintwork peeling off . Coffee table is unstable, needs better lighting in living room. No hot water for our stay, had to use a bowl to wash in as no sink.plug in bathroom. could not shower cold water, plus bottom of door on shower was grimy and black. KITCHEN SINK GROUTING VERY GRUBBY put me off washing up. Towels were left but very used and old. Beds were old hard mattresses, looked grubby bedding. Whole cottage was very cold, I slept in my clothes. rugs on floors were grubby. Walls in living room really need a good decorating, so grubby. We could not see to park and no sign to say or light outside cottage. Felt very let down all round, shocked as we have stayed with Sykes few times England and Loch Lomond Last Sept. all places were immaculate and warm and presented very well some had provisions as extras. At £315 for 3 nights, I feel really unhappy about our stay at Barforth hall dairy. Needs a visit for inspection asap. Feel like asking for a refund. Let the lady know, all I got back .. was Thankyou for feedback. ?

Mrs Smith, February 2020

January 2020

Just a beautiful quiet weekend break much needed and my 9 yr old loved the animals perfect x

Ms Thompson, January 2020

December 2019

It took us two days to find the cottage welcome/instructions pack,which meant that for the first evening and 2days after we endured lukewarm showers.. The kitchen was set out OK, however the range of cooking utensils were below par (either broke, not of a decent standard, insufficient amounts, or just not fit for purpose) and not cleaned to an expected standard. Secondary heating system (electric wall panels) did not make any difference to the overall room temperatures. Both bedrooms felt very cold, to the point that clothes felt not only cold, but also damp; on the subject of clothing, there was insufficient bedroom clothes storage! Single bed room had a small chest of draws and the double bedroom has only a hanging wardrobe. If it were summer and for an active family group this may have been acceptable but for a family with disabilities) over Christmas, most definitely NOT!

Mr Kell, December 2019

November 2019

I would recommend this cottage to anyone that wants a relaxing, carefree break.. The cottage is exactly as described, the hot tub does take a while to get hot but is worth the wait and the cost of logs, the cottage is clean and very well equipped. The owners are so friendly and helpful nothing was a bother. The area is amazing although we only live 40 minutes away it felt like we could have been anywhere- the views are wonderful. We had a lovely walk to the river. It was lovely to wake up, open the curtains and be greeted by the llamas. My little girl loved going to say hello to the animals at regular intervals. I would recommend taking as many provisions as you think you will need as you really the car to get to the nearest shop, plus we just didn't want to leave the cozyness of the cottage, watching the animals, playing board games and even good Wi-Fi to stay connected to the outside world when we chose to . All in all a fabulous cottage with others nearby if you wanted to have a larger group holiday. Can't wait to go back again.

Mr Pollock, October 2019

October 2019

Enjoyed our break away.. The Cottage met our family needs, the kitchen was well equipped and we enjoyed relaxing in the hot tub. The boys loved the open space to run about and play and felt safe, they made friends with Jess the dog on the farm.

Alderson, November 2019

October 2019

This could be a lovely cottage as it is in a rural location on a working farm.. Be prepared to drive at least 4 miles to the nearest village though as this may be classed as Gainford but the bridge to Gainford is permanently closed and blocked off even for pedestrian use causing this massive detour. Unfortunately it is also let down by a lack of thought in its interior. The decor and furniture are haphazard like cheap charity shop rejects and little thought has been given to supply of kitchen equipment. For example we had to buy a tin opener and scissors! There was also an iron, but no ironing board and a washing machine but nowhere to dry clothes! There are many more foibles such as this but the main thing to be aware of is the listing of a hot tub. There is a Scandanavian style wooden hot tub but it took us 5 hours to heat to a lukewarm temperature. This was five hours of continually stoking it with the chipboard furniture offcuts that are supplied. You cannot leave it as it burns the fuel so quickly. It looks good but is totally ineffective - don't be fooled. You also have to pay for wood used as it is not included. We have stayed in many properties marketed by Sykes but this has been the poorest to date. We will also be contacting Sykes direct with this information.

Mrs Owens, October 2019

September 2019

It was a lovely area, everyone we spoke to around was so polite and kind, had a wonderful time and would definitely recommend and go back again!

Miss Taylor, September 2019

August 2019

We have had a lovely time in a beautiful tranquil place to wake and see horse running around outside your window was a great way to wake.. Great for pets with lots of options for nice walks straight outside your door the owners are on hand and very helpful with any advise you may need Overhaul we shall deff go back again

Ellawhite1

August 2019

I would never visit this cottage again as it was crawling with bugs and the hot tub took ages to heat up and didn’t have enough wood, didn’t have no hot water even though we pressed the boost button so disappointed with the stay came home early as we couldn’t stay any longer as it was so bad! Also dog roaming about which you could tell they was not nice at all! I would not recommend this to anyone at all! I am hoping to get some compensation as it ruined my family holiday!

Melek1akay

July 2019

We spent a really lovely weekend in this rustic little cottage in the heart of the countryside! All facilities worked very well, cottage was very clean and decorated very tastefully. Lots of nice little touches like the eggs, bread and milk that was waiting for us on arrival! The owners have a farm and we loved going for morning walks and saying hello to the goats and llamas (!) Very peaceful and quiet - great to escape the chaos of city life for a few days. Also very much enjoyed the hot tub. Would highly recommend and will definitely be back!

Katherine27901

July 2019

Recently stayed in this cottage for a beautiful wedding in the stunning grounds of barforth hall. The drive down to the cottage puts you in the holiday mood, through lovely English countryside. The cottage itself was quaint and cosy and perfect for a relaxing stay away from the city. Fully equipped with amenities in the cottage and it was lovely and clean. Would love to stay again!

DayTrip219246

July 2019

We stayed in this cottage for a local wedding. The wedding was in the main farmhouse house and it was a delight in all ways! It was a picture perfect marquee wedding spilling out onto the beautiful lawn of the farmhouse for a champagne reception. There was attention to the finest detail and everything looked perfect. The cottage itself was also a quaint countryside delight. There are lovely wooden finishings in the kitchen with lots of personal touches. The main bed was extremely comfy and made for the perfect night sleep in the silence of the countryside. The cottage is spacious and perfect for small groups. The wood fired hot tub outside is a perfect way to spend the evening while watching the horses in the neighbouring field. A lovely tranquil countryside experience!

Mr Eblet, August 2019

July 2019

Lovely weekend at a beautiful location celebrating with friends..

Francesca N

May 2019

The location, new to us was excellent. Situated outside a lovely town, Barnard Castle, it was everything we hoped for re peace and quiet. The long lanes, fields awash with rape and other crops, country birds, not usually spotted, hares and so much wildlife and wild flowers, felt spoilt to spend seven days here. Location: excellent. The cottage was far from. The texts re arrival and destination; and use of hot tub, were impersonal, and really odd, considering the location of the owners to the cottage. Perhaps indicative of the facilities presented? Where perhaps once it might have been a wonderful country cottage - the stone flags, and other indications re outdoor lights and facilities, now massively decayed tell the story. Inside it was a struggle; odd pots, pans and utensils. It could work if the country cottage look was carried through. Unfortunately, NO! The enigmatic owners have dumped their old utensils and gone for a purple splash of cheap and cheerful tat from a cheap and cheerful cheap store to entice. Didn't work for us, as a couple. Might work for a family who want to escape to the middle of nowhere? Plus points are - massively, Location. Thereafter, space. But, sincerely think that a market needs to be chosen?

Mrs Firth

April 2019

The house is very tired looking and the accommodation was very basic, the table "cloth" was plastic, not very clean and didn't even fit the table, the cutlery etc wasn't properly washed, the furniture in the living room was too big and made it difficult to walk around, the fire in the living room was ineffectual.. At no time did we feel cosy, the house did not even have a pleasant atmosphere. Worse of all was the hot tub which took 4 - 5 hours to heat up & that was only with constant attention and then didn't stay warm more than 10 minutes. There wasn't enough wood to try and have heat the tub for the 2 nights we were there, additional wood was £15!! The only positives were the welcome easter egg and pint of milk in the fridge. At £150 a night it is not massively overpriced

Joe H

February 2019

We booked a little trip away with the dog in tow and after a couple of wrong turns, a blocked impassable bridge and the sat-nav not registering the road we were on, we arrived at the Dairy, Paula greeted after I called to get further directions.. she was friendly and on hand for anything we needed. At the back of our cottage we saw horses in the field and to the front there were goats and llamas, all set in a beautiful farm land. Now the hot tub was full of water I thought I would start the fire, if you have no previous experience with wood fired hot tubs, be warned, it can be quite a process! Friday night was not a night in the tub, after a re-think of strategy, Saturdays water temperature was much more pleasing! We played some of the board games on offer in the cottage but a mark down here as one of the games was missing a bunch of pieces and the deck of cards was incomplete! Hardly ruined our time though, all in all, very tidy place, lovely area and would visit again.

Stekagresh G

February 2019

Yet again another amazing stay there's never nothing is ever a problem for the owners they there 24/7 thanks again can't wait to be back

Joe H

February 2019

Beautiful cottage , the owners were fantastic and were always at hand if we .... Beautiful cottage , the owners were fantastic and were always at hand if we needed them and were very friendly Hot tub was amazing at night , the cottage was a lot more spacious than we expected and was cleaned to a very high standard Had to email paula on

Mrs Laing

December 2018

Beautiful surroundings.. Lovely cottage. Had to wash most cutlery & crockery as some not clean. Had a great Xmas there though.

Mrs Walsh

December 2018

A gorgeous cottage set in the backdrop of lush green countryside.. We adored feeding the animals outside the cottage, the little Pygmy goats were our favourite. The hot tub was so relaxing and it was a superb way to see in the new year. The host was excellent, nothing was too much trouble. We all had a wonderful 5 days and would return in a heartbeat.

Miss Johnson

October 2018

Beautiful setting, beautiful cottage, helpful owners

Alyx R

June 2018

What a fabulous find this cottage is! Very well decorated, clean, spacious and very comfortable!! It is on a working farm, and we loved being surrounded by animals - the llamas in particular put a smile on our face every day!! We had read the information about this cottage before we arrived, so we were prepared for the eco wood-fired hot tub to require 3-4hrs to heat up, and that there would be flies around (it is a farm after all), and so we took these things in our stride! We will definitely return! Sitting in the hot tub every night, watching the sunset after a day out exploring County Durham is an experience I would love to repeat. The only down side was that the WiFi is RUBBISH and not worth bothering with as it seems to be shared between all the cottages. We were the only people there at the time of our stay but it was still very poor. But that’s my only gripe! FIVE STARS

alyxr2016

June 2018

Have just spent a wonderful week exploring the Yorkshire Dales, Moors and County Durham from this charming cottage. Whilst it is remote and set within extensive farmland, it does not take a lot of time before you are out on a main road to explore further afield. The cottage is well signposted and the location instructions were clear from the advert - down a long but well maintained farm track. Having met oncoming traffic coming down this road, there is more than enough space either side to manoeuvre your vehicles past each other (despite a previous reviewers insistence to the contrary). Upon arrival we were greeted by farm animals, and a comfortable and clean accommodation which was well presented as per the advert photos. Having booked this property we researched the hot tub before we arrived. Yes initially it will take 4 hours to get to temperature, but the more you use it the less time it takes to get hot as the wood insulates the water. Far more ecologically minded than a conventional hot tub. There are plenty of instructions within the property upon arrival as well. The heating and shower runs off solar panels as well - again a big ecological selling point. An extra bonus for us was the very secure garden for our dog which meant we could all enjoy the sights and sounds of the countryside without worrying that he could do a Houdini. The only downside for us was that the footbridge we could see was impassable even on foot - meaning that the village of Gainford was in effect several miles away. This however is out of the property owners hands as they do not own the bridge. Also the broadband speed is limited, so don’t bank on streaming - but enough speed to keep an eye on emails and general web browsing. All in all this is a wonderful property and I’d be happy to return again - and probably will.

stekagreshg04

May 2018

Yet again 100per cent service and adored our stay we will highly recommend staying here thanks again for being made welcome

Susan C

May 2018

This is an isolated cottage which in our view was not on a working farm although there are animals about. The cottage was basic, dirty, and the flooring was very uneven throughout which was a hazard for my elderly mother. The shower had a high step to enter which was awkward for her. There is no shop within easy walking distance and after a long drive to get there , there was a small box of maltesers as a welcome gift but no welcome pack such as bread. milk etc which we have had in other cottages. The log fire had a broken glass front and in my husband's opinion was unsafe to use. There were numerous cobwebs and dirty grouting in the bathroom. There were a lot of flies which we spent the week trying to kill, it must be awful in the summer. I never saw the owner during the whole week we were there and to use the hot tub would have meant stoking it for about 4 hours so we didnt bother. I would not return.

stekagreshg04

May 2018

This cottage is a lovely little get away and a nice break.. You are a bit out of the way of everything which is perfect if you love walking. There are Alpacas, Lambs and goats on the farm. The cottage itself was very spacious and homely. We had a slight problem getting the hot tub to warm up but eventually got it going after chucking a lot of firewood on it and was perfect to watch the sunset in. The owners are 2 mins away and are great at communications and helping you out with anything you need. Thank you!

Ian A

March 2018

What a wonderful stay we have had. The Dairy cottage had everything we needed and was cleaned to a high standard. Unfortunately the weather was pretty awful with snow and wind and it was pretty isolated but we wrapped up and had a walk to see the goats,alpacas and the other animals around the farm. Having stoked up the log burner we were toasty warm upon our return. The owner was most helpful in lighting the hot tub and this was enjoyed by the younger of our party. Lovely to have board games and we enjoyed many an evening at the table playing monopoly. We are already planning our return trip,this could become a firm family favourite.

Ian A

March 2018

Absolutely loved our stay here! Just didn’t realise at the time of booking how remote these cottages are! A car and good walking boots are a must! The owners were extremely helpful and made sure we had enough wood for the log burner; it was great to have been playing in the snow to then going inside and sitting in front of the fire with a hot chocolate! A lovely relaxing holiday and we can’t wait to return!

Miss Hebron

January 2018

The cottage itself was absolutely gorgeous in a stunning countryside and we had the best time - the owners Paula and Jason were so helpful and kind! Would definitely recommend to others and will probably be back ourselves!

Dominique F

December 2017

Stayed last weekend and had a great time! Beautiful cottage, newly decorated, with new kitchen. Had a relaxing weekend and loved the hot tub! Will definitely be back!! X

Dominique F

December 2017

It was brilliant as a ex soldier it was nice to get away for some good family time

Mrs Screaton

October 2017

A really lovely relaxed holiday and we had great fun stoking the wood fired stove of the hot tub

Ms Burnham

June 2017

I loved it.. It was perfect for our needs , had everything we wanted and the peace and space we needed to have a reunion of very old friends. Hot tub and amazing sunsets just added the extra we needed to make it totally perfect. Thanks so much

Ms Burnham, June 2017

March 2017

The owners were nearby and very friendly and helpful..

Mrs Carter, March 2017

January 2017

Was a lovely cottage.. the hot tub took a while to heat on the first day but then was great. lovely walks close by too. And owners were very friendly. only put we wouldn't stay again as we like to go to a different place each time

Mr Millar, December 2016

December 2016

Beautiful setting, extremely peaceful and scenic..

Mrs Brigden-baron, January 2017

December 2016

Was a great location , owners were very helpful would highly recommend

Mrs Mansley, December 2016

October 2016

Wow. what a place to have a holiday, everything was just perfect with very friendly staff, I would strongly recommend this cottage to anyone who wants to get away from it all and relax..

Shassy1974

October 2016

100% recommended owners/management very helpful from arriving till the end of our holiday very pleasant very clean will be booking again

Mr Thorpe, September 2016

September 2016

Arrived to be met by the owner showed us all the facilities and gave a presentation on how everything works .. Midway through holiday called for assistance and within minutes they were there my wife myself could not speak any more highly of our stay ,the owners/management and the cleanliness of there establishment we 100% will be booking again

Mrs Pearce

October 2015

What a lovely place to rest and relax. In the middle of nowhere. The cottage is fully fitted. Great place for walks and the local towns had everything you may have forgotten. I would highly recommend this place. Very clean and had everything you need already there.

Mrs Gray, September 2016

October 2015

What a lovely place to rest and relax.. In the middle of nowhere. The cottage is fully fitted. Great place for walks and the local towns had everything you may have forgotten. I would highly recommend this place. Very clean and had everything you need already there.

Barforth Hall Dairy Gainford, Durham

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