Shepherd's House
A fabulous four-bedroom farmhouse and courtyard conversion, set in a hamlet amid Hadrian’s Wall Country.Extensive grounds afford glorious views at this elevated two-floor property, with an abundance of space for families or groups of friends
Blending the old and characterful with the new and contemporary Shepherd’s House represents renovation at its best: sympathetic, improving and ingenious. Giving this former farm building a thoroughly modern makeover, architects have cleverly built a superb curving glass-fronted extension to the side of this once rustic farmhouse. Framed by the same characterful brown stone as the original abode, it houses a unique, light-filled, kitchen-dining room that opens out onto a raised patio and benefits from far-reaching views across open countryside towards Aydon Castle.
Inside, oh-so-spacious interiors are finished to equally high standards. Here again the old meets new, with choice antique pieces of furniture and homely country-style curtains sitting alongside fabrics by A-List designers like Zoffany or Nina Campbell and glossy resin tables underneath chunky and rustic overhanging rafters.
At a Glance
- 4 bedrooms, sleeps 8
- 4 bathrooms
- Dogs welcome (maximum 2)
- Free WiFi
Arrival / Departure
- Typical arrival day: Friday during high season, with the additional option of Monday outwith this period. More flexible arrangements considered on request.
- Arrival time: 4pm
- Departure time: 10am
A multi-level property, Shepherd’s House’s elegant ground floor contains a separate drawing room with a warming wood-burning stove set into the red-brick fireplace, and a games den complete with a proper pool table extension.
The upper ground floor extends into an open-plan contemporary living space. Benefitting from oodles of natural light, the stylish extension hub incorporates dining (seating eight), the kitchen – its cabinetry coloured a fresh Nordic blue – and a separate seating area. Four separate doors lead out to the raised patio with bench seating.
The new extension extends to two ground-floor, en-suite bedrooms (a twin and a king-sized master suite). These rooms are particularly handy for guests of restricted mobility as they boast spacious en-suite – and level – wet-room showers. The master bedroom, meanwhile, has several floor-to-ceiling windows that lead onto the larger, rear patio and benefit from more superb, bucolic views. Upstairs on the first floor, another pair of extremely comfortable en-suite sleeping quarters (a super-king and a cheerful twin) await.
To best suit families or groups of friends, the house is set in generous grounds. These connect that rear patio and its al-fresco dining area with a sheltered courtyard garden. Both afford yet more magnificent, uninterrupted views, this time over a lake and parkland, over the Tyne Valley and as far as the North Pennine Moors.
Available to you too is a charming stone loggia – an open-sided room suiting relaxation, reading or meditation – and a large, secure barn space where outdoor kit or bicycles can be securely stored or dried.
The Hadrian’s Wall Path passes only a mile to the north, with the remains of Corbridge, a garrison town built to support it, just a seven-minute drive south. Halton, the local hamlet, has a lovely stone church and defensive, medieval pele tower.
Open to visitors, Aydon Castle is one of Britain’s most evocative fortified manor houses. In the local area too are a pick-your-own fruit farm, a Go Ape site and Hexham’s atmospheric, 14th-century gaol.
There is private parking for two to three cars on the gravelled driveway to the front of the property. Alternatively, there is ample private parking on the gravelled courtyard to the rear.
BABIES & CHILDREN
A travel cot and highchair can be provided on request.
DOGS
Two dogs are welcome with a charge of £20 per dog. Dogs are not permitted upstairs, in the bedrooms or on the furniture. An outside tap is available. Please note that the area around the house is farmland and it is essential that dogs are well controlled and kept on leads to ensure they do not present any hazard to farm animals.
GUEST AMENITIES
Bed linen and towels are provided along with hand soaps and shower gel. A hairdryer is provided in each bedroom.
WI-FI & MOBILE COVERAGE
Beamed Wi-Fi with good speeds. Mobile reception variable inside the property depending on the network but this improves immediately outside.
HEATING
Heating throughout the property, fed by an efficient air source heat pump system which is more environmentally friendly than oil and classed as renewable technology. PV solar panels are used to supply the electricity.
The property is well insulated throughout. Underfloor heating through the main hard floor areas of the property. The bathrooms all benefit from underfloor heating. There is a wood burner in the drawing room – logs supplied.
Shepherd's House
Corbridge, Northumberland