2 The Crofts

2 The Crofts is a traditional large Victorian terrace with two guest rooms in a quiet location on the edge of the Roman village of Corbridge, but just ten minutes walk from the centre. Transport links for car, bus and train are good and there is parking on the private lane. We can store bikes in the garage and motor bikes in the back garden and are happy to dry out jackets and boots.

Guest rooms
There are two guest rooms – one double and one twin, both with new en suite shower rooms.

The double room is large with a king-size bed and can also take a Z bed, which we can provide. Original mouldings and ornate oak wardrobe doors that are said to have come from an old cruise ship give this room an elegant feel. The shower room is a good size and features a large shower of 1.4 metres long, heated mirror to prevent misting.

The twin room overlooks the garden and has a cottagey feel with pine furniture. The shower is a good size and again the mirror is heated.

Both rooms have easy cane chairs and coffee table with hospitality tray with coffee, decaffeinated coffee, tea, red bush tea, herbal tea and drinking chocolate with spice biscuits and fresh milk in the mini-fridge on the landing just outside. Flat screen TVs and a radio / CD player are provided. Complimentary toiletries are provided together with a hair dryer. All bedding is hypo-allergenic.

Dining room
The dining room is available for guests’ use at all times and has a lot of information about the local area and further afield, together with transport timetables and maps or guides that you can borrow. There is a piano, which guests are welcome to use. WiFi access is also available throughout the house.

Breakfast
Breakfast is cooked on the Aga and features local produce wherever possible and home-made bread. We can offer vegetarian options at all times, but it would be helpful to have notice of other dietary requirements. Home-made Swiss Bircher Muesli is our house speciality and generally available – but if you would particular like to try it, please mention this on booking.

Light supper or packed lunches also available
We can offer a light supper served in your room (home-made soup, sandwich and fruit) at a cost of £5. Packed lunches are also available (sandwich, crisps, fruit, chocolate or muesli bar and bottle of water) at a cost of £5. Please request these on booking, although it may be possible to produce them with no notice.

Lonely Planet England Review
This review was done before we changed the rooms around and added en suites, but you can rest assured that you still get full attention and the breakfast is as good as ever!

Lonely Planet England (March 2009): “A typical Victorian terraced home on the edge of town has only one room, a comfortable twin, which ensures that you’ll get all of the owner’s attention. The breakfast is excellent.”

Visitors’ comments
These are taken from our visitors’ book.

“Thank you so much for your hospitality! Wonderfully large rooms, superb food and very welcoming and friendly. Definitely recommend it!” (October 2009)

“Bliss! Everything was wonderful!” (September 2009)

“Loved the extra luxurious products in the bathroom, friendly, warm, welcoming hosts, gorgeous room and comfy bed.” (August 2009)

“This was the best B&B we’ve ever stayed at! And your muesli was exquisite! Have to take that recipe home!” (June 2009)

“Simply the best” (April 2009)

Things to do around Corbridge
Corbridge is a lovely village with excellent tea shops, pubs and small specialist shops. Many of the buildings are built with stone from Hadrian’s Wall and the Roman fort on the edge of Corbridge, which was originally built as a supply fort for Hadrian’s Wall. St Andrew’s Church dates back to the sixth century and is well worth a visit.

Hadrian’s Wall is only 15 minutes away by car with several sites of interest and lovely walks along the wall. From Easter to October there is a special bus service (AD122), which goes from Corbridge along the Wall.

Hexham is a historic market town with markets and small interesting shops, as well as some bigger names. The Abbey is beautiful and the Gaol museum tells the story of the border reivers, when this area was lawless with many skirmishes with Scottish farmers over the border – this was going on from about the thirteenth to fifteenth century, but common local surnames such as Armstrong and Shield still reflect that pat of history.

Newcastle has major shops, culture with art galleries such as the Laing and Baltic and performance with the Theatre Royal, Playhouse, Tyne Theatre and Sage concert hall on the Quayside. The Metro Centre is a huge and well-known shopping centre just off the A1.

Kielder Forest and Water offers lovely walks and boat trips with a landscape that changes through the year.

If you like the coast, the nearest place is genteel Tynemouth or the more lively Whitley Bay and they are about 45 minutes by car. Further afield, you can cross the causeway to Holy Island, but must check tide times or you will be stranded.

Alnwick is a lovely town and just over an hour by car. It is home to Alnwich Castle, home of the Percy family, the Duke of Northumberland and well worth a visit. The castle was used in the Harry Potter films for filming the quidditch matches. Over the past five or so years the Alnwick Garden has been developed and work continues. The cascades are spectacular, the poison garden is fascinating, the rose garden is excellent and the water statue garden is superb. The treehouse, which looks like a Hansel and Gretel cottage, is a very good restaurant and well worth a visit.

Durham is only an hour away and a lovely city to visit with the historic cathedral, castle and university.

Maybe you are more attracted to sport. There are several golf courses in the area, ranging from hillside to parkland and links and from the more humble to the championship courses of Slaley Hall and Matfen Hall. As a member at Tynedale Golf Club in Hexham, I can thoroughly recommend the nine hole course, which is situated in beautiful parkland along the banks of the Tyne.

Cycling is good in the area with well-marked cycle routes and bike hire available in Corbridge and Hexham.

Horse racing takes place at Hexham and Newcastle with point to point racing above Corbridge.

Annual events
The following events take place annually, but please check dates before booking if you particularly want to attend.
April – May: Hexham Book Festival
May Spring Bank Holiday Monday: Northumberland County Show, Corbridge
June: Tynedale Beer Festival, Corbridge
June: Steam and Vintage Rally, Corbridge
June: Hexham Rowing Regatta
August: Corbridge Chamber Music Festival
September: Hexham Abbey Music Festival
November: Corbridge Christmas Shopping Weekend
December: Corbridge Late Night Shopping Evening