Barforth Hall Lodge Gainford, Durham

I was looking for a quiet place to unwind from work and couldn't have found a more suitable place.. The house is lovely and very much off the beaten path. Out the front door is a paddock with goats and a sheep and 20 metres down the track are 2 very inquisitive alpacas. I was staying by myself but this would easily fit a gathering of up to 12 with a huge stove, 2 full size fridges and more than enough plates and glasses. There is no mobile signal but strong WiFi. Highly recommended.

The lodge is in a very rural area not overlooked so very peaceful.. Hot tub lovely when you get it going but you have to keep on top of keeping plenty of logs in it for a couple hours first. Family where really helpful when needed. Only draw back is that we found it could of been cleaned better but not enough of an issue to stop us going again. Overall we would recommend

We went to Barforth to celebrate my sisters 30th as a family.. We wanted a large cottage in the countryside - and that last exactly what we got! The cottage was amazing with everything supplied that we could have asked for! The owner was on hand to help us with anything we needed and was in contact with me before our arrival to ensure we had a stress free visit.

2 of the 3 cars we arrived in had to be parked on wet/boggy ground.. Although one of the two log burners had been pre lit the dwelling was cold and felt damp. The electric storage heaters were all on pre-set temperatures that we were unable to change. Although we had both log burners going it was difficult keeping them alight as the logs felt damp/wet. There was dirty cutlery and crockery mixed in with cleaner items. Broken sink chains/plugs. Some locks on bathrooms failed to work. A curtain rail just hanging that we had to repair just to close the curtain at night although the hanging rail was perfectly obvious to see. Damage to a mirror in one of the bathrooms. Rugs/floor mats in the entrances and kitchen(s) in dire need of cleaning. Some Mattresses need changing as they are well worn. Overall the stay was disappointing, being let down by these points. It may be that we just chose the wrong time of year and after so much rainfall and bad weather we failed to see the farm and area at its best. I would imagine that springtime or summer would have been a far better time to have visited. Our almost £1500 for 3 nights was not money well spent on this occasion.

Whilst we did enjoy our holiday, we were disappointed in not being able to walk to the village.. In the description of the holiday cottage, it was a mile walk to the village which was perfect after knee surgery and having small children with us and one of the reasons we booked it. However the only access to walk to the village were 2 bridges both of which were closed and had been for some time. This was not mentioned in the description and feel quite aggrieved that we were not informed beforehand.

We stayed here as a large family with 3 generations and it worked wonderfully well.. Beautiful setting and lovely stat

We had a truly amazing time.. Location is very rural and just what we hoped for. Cottage contained everything we needed, very spacious and comfortable - layout worked really well for large family, large dinning room and lounge to all get together - spread out bedrooms and bathrooms so you aren't on top of each other. Hosts fantastic - available when needed. The children loved all the animals, playing with the sheep dogs, seeing the goats, horses and even feeding the lambs. Local pub and chippy well worth a visit. The Lodge is real find and excellent base for travelling out to explore the Dales.

Peaceful scenic location.. The lodge is lovely and spacious. The kitchen is somewhat unusual as it is in two sections however it wasn't a problem and was very well equipped. Some of the bathrooms were a little dated however everything was clean. Our grandchildren loved the alpacas and pygmy goats that are on the farm. The owners were welcoming and informative and kindly lent us their compressor as we had a flat tyre. We shall most certainly return to Barforth Hall.

We stayed here just before Xmas and it was beautiful. The location is great, very peaceful and the lodge is perfect for big family get togethers. The hot tub takes some getting going but we soon got the hang of it and it is well worth the effort. There are also lots of friendly animals near by, from horses to llamas (careful they spit!) And the owners couldn't be more welcoming. We will definitely be back soon and maybe try out one of the smaller cottages.

We spent Christmas 2018 here and it was fantastic.. The owners were very approachable and very kindly left us a lovely welcome pack. We initially had an issue with the water on one side of the cottage but they immediately explained how to use the system and after that we had no problems. The cottage is well equipped and spacious. There are plenty of rooms for everyone to have their own space and the communal areas are big enough to accommodate everyone together. The kitchen is split into 2 and we had initial concerns but we had nothing to worry about. We managed to cater for everyone easily including cooking a Christmas dinner for 12 people and 2 dogs! The views from all areas of the cottage are stunning and it was nice to take a walk around the local area. It is only about a 15 minute drive from Barnard Castle which is a lovely place and we highly recommend a trip there. The cottage is situated in a peaceful place with no through traffic so everyone in our party was relaxed and slept well. A big thumbs up from us and we would love to go back there.

Key factor in choosing was disabled friendly but, although it had a wet room and was mostly on one level, you couldn’t get a wheelchair into most of the rooms and the wet room and several other rooms were down small steps.. I find this more and more - disabled friendly is not properly checked. I expect better of Sykes. The hot tub is unusable as, in cold weather, the access is treacherous (again up steps) and the tub is just a large wooden tub with a fire under it so no way of regulating and takes a ridiculous amount of time to heat. I note this was stated in a previous review which you said you would amend and you haven’t. It may as well not be on the features as it’s unusable. The cottage was cold on one side, the heaters in the bedrooms did not work effectively and in our room never worked all the time we were there. Insufficient wood for fires was supplied presumably so we could then be charged for buying extra. When the fires were going, it was warm but that heat didn’t reach the left side bedrooms (this is obviously two cottages that have been turned into one). The furniture is poor in the living room, far too big and does not seat the numbers the place is supposed to accommodate. The suite needs replacing, especially the recliner chair. The TV in there is ludicrously huge and cannot be watched from all the chairs. Good facilities in the kitchen but again both fridge areas down steps. Some of the walks are inaccessible in spite of the (misleading) guide in the cottage. The llamas spit and are not friendly although the goats are - not a problem but should be mentioned. I didn’t deal with the owners but was told they were very nice. However, we encountered a quite rude young woman as we’re were leaving the property and she was arriving who seemed totally unwilling to give way or sort the congestion issue. It’s very isolated and we were worried about the access in the bad weather we encountered, lots of pot holes in the track to the farm buildings and cottages. Wouldn’t go back.

The hot water system is inadequate for ten people.. There wasn’t a cloth or any cleaning materials to clean a toilet or a spill, no dishwasher tablets. No hand wash. Outside security lights not working. Only a couple of loo rolls. A bucket of dirty water and a mop was left in the middle of one of the “kitchen” floors when we arrived.There needs to be a proper working kitchen, not the mish mash that is just the two kitchens knocked into one with neither being functional, having to go into different rooms to a fridge. On the plus side the beds were clean and comfortable. The location was fine with ample parking and was in a nice quiet location and the garden was secure. Having stayed in many cottages over the years this had the least facilities and home comforts and as such was very over priced. They need to up their game. Glad it was only a long weekend as we all agreed we would not want to stay a week. A pity as it has potential.

We had a lovely holiday.. Cottage was warm and welcoming and owners very helpful. Minor improvements.; Could do with some table mats, serving spoons (non slatted) and one or two smaller pans. I think pets are welcome although it said not on the details. Didn’t affect us but wondered if it might increase bookings for the owners if this was clear.

I loved my stay at this cottage and so did all of my family. The scenery is gorgeous and there is so many places to explore and adventure like the river tees which is an amazing walk and old ruins. We all felt so at home and we have visited multiple times with the family as it’s a great get away for everyone to relax. Therefore I strongly suggest this place for anyone to visit X

Have put complaint in and sent photos in it is wrong photos of cottage on .... Have put complaint in and sent photos in it is wrong photos of cottage on website don't match my photos feel robed of week we can't get back

Unfortunately we did not enjoy the accommodation at all.. We Would suggest that you maybe check this property again as it does not match up to the photos that are shown on line. Upon arrival we had to wash the garden tables and the hot tub was been checked by the owners as it was leaking due to the heat (that is what we were told). We were asked if we wanted to use it that night but we declined and we would not have used it anyway as it was not really suitable for us due to the access. Water pressure very low in all showers but no problem with hot water itself. The bathroom's had a window looking into another bathroom, yes it was opaque glass but you could still see through, no privacy maybe blinds would help this situation. Toilet seats need attention. The wet room again the shower pressure was very very low and the tiles needed attention The kitchen was spaced out over three rooms a bit of a jumble. There was a wooden table with a split down the middle and was not very hygienic as food had fallen inbetween and you could not clean it out. Dining room only one light bulb instead of three also the same in the bathroom's. Upholstered chairs in the dining room very badly stained, plastic table cloth with rip in it,fireplace dirty , rough wood on the wall which covered the nice wallpaper that is in the picture on line. We could go on but all in all a very disappointing accommodation . We would also advise that this be noted as not suitable for anyone with mobility problems due to steps to get into the accommodation and also to get access to the fridge which is in another room from the kitchen and also steps to get out to the front and back.

We all had a good holiday at barforth hall lodge.. The setting is lovely its very quiet and peaceful and we were able to take our dogs which was great. The owners were very helpful my niece came with us and she is disabled and we left the ramp at home however the owners made us one (we would have been lost without it). So a big thanks to them. We did have to bath alot as the showers were lacking in power. The house is not luxurious i would probably call it rustic as there,s lots of wood everywhere but it was clean, tidy and large which was great for my family to come visit. We did,nt use the hot tub as i dont like them but the garden was lovely and as the weather was good we were out there everyday.

We booked this cottage for 12 people, a baby & a dog for a week in April and we had a great time.. The views are stunning and we loved being on a working farm seeing the animals especially the lambs. There are some wonderful walks in the area and the house makes a good base for you to explore the surrounding towns and villages. The house itself was clean, warm and big enough so that we didn’t feel on top of each other. There are parts of the property which are a bit rundown but it still functions perfectly well. The only issue we found was the water, it often wasn’t very warm despite pressing the booster buttons and the water pressure meant that showers weren’t the most pleasant. We only used the hot tub twice on our visit mainly because it requires so much attention to heat up during the day and we often went out so didn’t have time to do it. The owners are friendly and on hand if you need anything.

“We booked this cottage for 12 people, a baby & a dog for a week in April and we had a great time. The views are stunning and we loved being on a working farm seeing the animals especially the lambs. There are some wonderful walks in the area and the house makes a good base for you to explore the surrounding towns and villages. The house itself was clean, warm and big enough so that we didn’t feel on top of each other. There are parts of the property which are a bit rundown but it still functions perfectly well. The only issue we found was the water, it often wasn’t very warm despite pressing the booster buttons and the water pressure meant that showers weren’t the most pleasant. We only used the hot tub twice on our visit mainly because it requires so much attention to heat up during the day and we often went out so didn’t have time to do it. The owners are friendly and on hand if you need anything.”

As a group of 11 women, we stayed at Barforth Hall Lodge (the one that sleeps 12) for 2 nights and it was the best weekend ever.. It was more than adequate to comfortably accommodate 12 adults. The lodge was warm and welcoming, well equipped particularly in terms of the kitchen and kitchen essentials and it was the perfect venue for a girls weekend away. The owners (who live on site) were on hand throughout our stay to help with anything we needed particularly lighting up the log burners and heating up the hot tub. Both Paula and Jason were friendly and more than accommodating and were never more than a text away. The wood burning hot tub was an added luxury; even in minus temperatures and thick with snow, we all spent time in the hot tub which was extra special because of the very cold weather. Jason was tending to it all day to make sure it was ready for us to use on the evening/night. This accommodation really is worth a visit and we will definitely be returning (kids in tow the next time)!

Positives: - friendly owners - clean - quiet - provided a new dishwasher the .... Positives: - friendly owners - clean - quiet - provided a new dishwasher the next day after it broke - the animals made it interesting - lots of space - beautiful views - dog friendly - nice places to visit in the area - WiFi - two large good quality flat screen televisions - good lay out for two families (semi detached made into one house) so you could have a bathroom each - not far from the A1 and close to the A66 (about 15 minutes) Negatives - only one room warm on arrival and the rest was so cold my parents wanted to leave - the second car parking space could only be reached if you had boots on and didn’t mind getting muddy - kitchen picture not accurate as there are no units in there - not all beds had mattress protectors - low water pressure so took ages to wash your hair - garden not secure for dogs and some of it was flooded although they explained it was due to issues with the spring in the garden Points to note: - some of the road is very narrow for quite a distance and you’d not want to meet anyone coming round the corners - there were two parts where the potholes had been partly filled with bricks and a lot of damage due to the weather was fixed part way through the holiday so it was ok - bring the basics with you as you will need them - bring fly spray - don’t use the postcode for your satnav but click on boat lane on the map as that works

Lovely surroundings.. Relaxed and comfortable accommodation. Friendly helpful owners

This was our third visit to Barforth and our second stay at The Lodge, where we spent a great New Year with the family, including our grandchildren. The location is amazing, tucked away in the countryside with fantastic views. The Lodge is very spacious with ample room for everyone to spend time together. It was clean and tidy and had everything needed for a self catering stay. There were games and DVD's supplied too. We received a lovely box of chocolates along with our welcome pack, which was a lovely gesture. The fact that it is dog friendly is great too, it meant my daughter could bring her dog along, he had a great time investigating the countryside. We all had an amazing time as we did on our first visit back in May. We will definitely be back for another visit (if not 2) this year. The owners are so friendly and always happy to help if needed - I cannot recommend enough.

Stayed at the lodge with friends this week and had a wonderful time! Was really clean and comfortable and great value for money for a 12 bed cottage. Loved using the hot tub, even in the cold weather. Beautiful views and surrounding countryside and loved being able to see all the farm animals! Owners were lovely and welcoming. Would definitely stay again :)

We all had a fantastic time in the cottage.. The only things that we could mention- not complain about, was the water pressure for the whole building and the time it took to heat the hottub. We appreciate the cold weather doesnt help with this but the lid could do with being a tighter fit to aid the heating of the tub. Otherwise everything was spot on, no complaints, and we were all extremely happy and thoroughly enjoyed the weekend away in a lovely setting. Thank you for your help, support and the hospitality throughout our stay.

Just returned from a great few days here. There’s lots of space and all you need for a relaxing break. Lovely surroundings and beautiful countryside. It snowed whilst we there and was picturesque. The owners were welcoming and helpful ensuring we got back onto the main roads safely.

My husband booked this very expensive cottage as a surprise for my birthday. He had chosen it based on the photos and reviews. The day before we arrived, he looked at the most recent reviews and was concerned - they were 1 and 2 stars instead of the 5 stars he'd read when he initially booked it several months ago. He contacted the owner the day before our visit to confirm approximate arrival times, so they were definitely aware that we were coming but when we arrived, there were no lights or heating on - the building was absolutely freezing as was the water which is heated through solar panels, all of which took quite some time to get warmed up. There was no welcome pack of any kind - not even a pint of milk for us to have a cup of tea - we have been to much cheaper establishments which supplied bread, milk, butter etc. just to get the guest started upon arrival. Fortunately, we had the foresight to go shopping prior to arrival, we usually get settled in first and then go shopping locally. After such a long journey to the cottage, we understandably required a bathroom break - between the four toilets in the building there was only half a toilet roll! I understand that this was a self catering break but surely there should have been some preparation prior to our arrival. When we asked for more toilet rolls we were supplied with two (between seven guests including four adult males). In the kitchen I tried to prepare a meal in the gloom - only one of the light bulbs out of 5 was working - the others had clearly stopped working a long time previously and were full of cobwebs and flies. This was a consistent issue throughout the building. There were dust balls on the floor which consisted of long blonde hairs - only one member of the part was blond and that was short cropped and couldn't possibly be the source of the dirt!! It was clear that there had been a party there previously as there were bits of streamers on the chandeliers in the dining room and bits of balloons and rubbish under the table. There was rubbish under the sofa (although the lounge was the most pleasant room of the cottage). I understand that we arrived in winter but there were dead plants everywhere outside, the shed was dilapidated and in a state of total disrepair, and the hot tub... :( My husband only books accommodation with hot tubs as he feels that as we work hard to earn our holiday money, we should be able to relax when away and the thought of a romantic, log burning hot tub won him over when planning this surprise gift. The hot tub was cold when we arrived - yet another example of the lack of preparation prior to our arrival, (it apparently takes three hours to warm up), and it was full of scum. I was embarrassed to mention this to the owners but my five year old son had no such conscience and complained that it was disgusting. The owner's son came over and added more water to it, explaining that it was probably just the chlorine tablets which hadn't dissolved but when we switched the water off, the scum remained and none of us were prepared to enter the water due to this. The views and the animals were another reason he chose this venue. The views were spectacular there is no denying but the alpaca bit my son on the leg when he tried to pet it, and spat at and chased anyone who went near it or its compatriot. Maybe there should have been warnings not to approach the animals if they are so vicious? The farm dogs were great and we did spend an hour playing with them. We couldn't reach the horse field without climbing over the garden fence as there was too much vegetation covering the route to the field. There was only enough hot water for one bath per day - one couple shared bath water which was luke warm by the time the second person got in. I spent the morning of my birthday having a strip wash because the both showers were freezing cold even though we had used the solar power "boost button". By this point, we were all so disappointed with the place that we decided to leave a day early. The owner sent a text to my husband saying that she hoped that we had enjoyed our stay - he was so upset at the state of the place that he did not reply. We complained to Sykes Holidays the following day and sent them photos to back up our complaint. Sykes were mortified but did say that they had had other similar reviews. They put our complaints to the owner who said that because we hadn't complained to her at the time, she would not refund any of our money (just under £1000 for a weekend). It has also taken two weeks for her to reply to Sykes. Sykes were more gracious and did refund £100 as a goodwill gesture due to their embarrassment that their reputation had been so tarnished by association This venue did not live up to the photos on the website which were clearly not taken recently and was definitely not worth the extortionate amount of money charged. Pros: Beautiful views, clean bedding. Cons: Dirty house, poor lighting, no preparation or any kind of welcome pack, disgusting hot tub.

The owners who were on site couldn't be more helpful whenever we needed a hand with the hot tub or the cooker. Had a great weekend away with the girls and will definitely be returning in the near future! Its great having somewhere we could all be together!

Great stay at Barforth Hall Lodge, owners were very friendly and helpful. Would definitely recommend to others or return!

We loved everything. Lovely cottage and garden. The owners are very friendly and welcoming. We will definitely go again.