Parkers House | Alston | High Skelgill | The Lake District And Cumbria

4.6★

8 Guests
4 Bedrooms
4 Bathrooms
Pets Yes
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Features

Off road parking
Ground floor bedroom
Open fire
Garden / Patio
Cot available
Highchair available
Washing machine
Dishwasher
Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing

Cleanliness

Comfort

Facilities and Maintenance

* Based on a combined average customer score

27 Customer Review(s)

Abdullah
July 2024

“I recently had the pleasure of spending five nights at Parkers House and I couldn't be more satisfied with my stay.”

The place was incredibly spacious, providing plenty of room to relax and unwind. Everything was impeccably clean, which made the environment all the more comfortable and welcoming. The comfort level was top-notch, with cozy furnishings and a well-thought-out layout that made it feel like a home away from home. Parkers House truly is a great place to stay, offering a perfect blend of comfort and convenience. I highly recommend Parkers House to anyone visiting this area. It's a fantastic ...

The place was incredibly spacious, providing plenty of room to relax and unwind. Everything was impeccably clean, which made the environment all the more comfortable and welcoming. The comfort level was top-notch, with cozy furnishings and a well-thought-out layout that made it feel like a home away from home. Parkers House truly is a great place to stay, offering a perfect blend of comfort and convenience. I highly recommend Parkers House to anyone visiting this area. It's a fantastic place to stay, and I will definitely be coming back in the future.

- Abdullah, July 2024

Dear Abdullah, Many thanks for your generous review. It’s greatly appreciated by Anna, myself and the housekeeping team. Best wishes, Anna & Matt Property Owner
Sarah May 2024

“Parker's House is a beautiful property, clean, homely and within walking distance to the Alston.”

We wish we would have had more time there and would look to book in the future for a longer holiday there than just the 3 nights we had. A lovely place to relax with the family and enjoy the great walks on the doorstep.

- Sarah, May 2024

Hi Sarah, Thanks you very much for your review of Parker’s House. Glad to hear that you had a great time. Many thanks, Anna & Matt Property Owner
Chloe May 2024

“We had a lovely stay at Parkers House - 3 adults and 3 dogs.”

The property was easy to find, had allocated parking, secure garden, was lovely and spacious inside and well equipped. It’s not very often a holiday cottage feels like home but we truly felt at home in Parker’s House and didn’t want to leave! Owners were very attentive and happy to help if needed. Thank you for a lovely stay and we hope to be able to visit again sometime.

- Chloe, May 2024

Hi Chloe, Thanks for the great review. Glad you enjoyed the house. Very much hope to welcome you back to Parker’s in the future. Best wishes, Anna & Matt Property Owner
Sam May 2024

“We loved our stay at Parker’s House.”

The house was really clean & presented very nicely and is in a beautiful location. The beds were super comfy and the lounge is very cosy in the evenings. Great to find a house that facilitates for 3 dogs, we spent a lot of time in the garden as the weather was beautiful and the dogs loved sunbathing on the patio. We didn’t use the paddock due to the ground being a bit uneven and some items of equipment/rocks/wood, didn’t want to risk my very excitable dogs potentially injuring themselves while sprinting about. This didn’t affect our stay as the garden is more than ample and the local walks are fabulous. Would definitely stay again and have already recommended to several friends. Thank you for a lovely stay!

- Sam, May 2024

Hi Sam, Thanks for taking the time to post such a kind review. Very much hope you choose to stay at Parker’s again in the future. Many thanks, Anna & Matt Property Owner
Ella April 2024

“Absolutely adored this cottage, everything about it from the cleanliness, location, to the stunning views and each tiny bit of detail in the house.”

We have two dogs who are very energetic, so the add of field (fully secure) was a great add on, we are already booking our next stay! Have recommended this place to plenty of friends and family. Thank you Ann & Matt :)

- Ella, April 2024

Hi Ella, Many thanks for your kind review. Anna , Myself and the cleaning team are working hard to make sure the new Parker’s House is an enjoyable stay for all of our guests whether 2 legged or 4 legged. We have a large number of dogs ourselves so catering for dog owners is high on our agenda and know how convenient it is ,just to open the door into the garden and not have to worry about them. We really hope to welcome you back to Parker’s soon Many thanks,Anna & Matt Property Owner
David April 2024

“The cottage was excellent and perfect for a relaxing 3 night stay for our family and our pet dog.”

Plenty of room in the lounge and all 4 bedrooms with secure gardens at around the side and back. The large kitchen diner is a great space for socialising together as a group. Would definitely recommend this cottage.

- David, April 2024

Hi David, thank you very much for your kind review. As you were our first guests since December 2022, and the completion of the extension, total refurbishment and landscaping , we are happy to hear that you did not have any snagging issues often found after such major works. Best wishes, Anna & Matt Property Owner
Claire November 2022

“Excellent property, great location for various walks and sight seeing.”

Field an extra bonus for the dog to run off some energy. Would definitely recommend and stay here again.

- Claire, November 2022
Jacquie November 2022

“All in all, a pleasant stay.”

Beds were extremely comfortable, with crisp white linen, and lovely views. The lounge was large but cosy and well appointed easily accommodating 6 people (although there were only 2 of us). The kitchen was very well equipped. A few niggles now but I guess it's difficult for the owners as we learned they live in another part of the country so don't see the visitors book. On arrival, in driving rain and wind, getting the key safe open was really difficult. It's clearly broken, same issue when trying to close it up on departing. The grass in the garden was something of a mine field due to dog mess not being picked up, I don't envy who has to cut it but my diary dog would not step on the grass. Unfortunately the shower head was awful, covered in mould, as were many of the tiles round base of the shower. There was also lots of debris down the side of the cushions on sofa so maybe missed when hoovering. The description said fuel for heating supplied but there was only 3 logs and kindling although it has been made up really to light. Maybe I misunderstood. Some of the crockery could have been cleaner as had to wash 2 plates and saucepan. However, we're aware that the owners are intending to upgrade the cottage over the winter so I hope these niggles will be sorted. Please also leave instructions for things like where to put rubbish, where the heating controls are, where to buy logs etc, as when we arrived there was no heat on and it was freezing and dark. Once the thermostat found, the heating was very good. The views from the cottage are beautiful and it's literally 5 minutes in the car to Alston. The neighbours are also very friendly.

- Jacquie, November 2022
Laura October 2022

“The cottage is well equipped and the biscuits/coffee/milk was a nice touch.”

Decorated to a nice standard and the cleaning was ok. Overall this is a nice place to stay, we chose this place mainly due to the paddock for the dogs, but unfortunately our dogs escaped through the broken fence As soon as we arrived we let the dogs have a run in the paddock there was a hole in the wire fence which my 2 dogs managed to find straight away to get into the next field and chase the poor sheep. Luckily they have good recall and came back very quickly but it could of been a lot worse had it of been different dogs. I found cable ties near the fence so the owners are aware of the issue and I managed to temporarily fix it but this certainly should of been checked before we arrived especially knowing we were bringing dogs. Despite this we did have a nice stay. There was no fire starters or kindling which we had to go out and find so that was a bit of a disappointment especially during cold nights.

- Laura, October 2022
Margaret October 2022

“The property was in good order, and well equipped.”

A few things to point out, not complaints, there was no indication where to purchase logs, when the refuse is collected, and to mention the wooden stairs inside the property were very steep and narrow, one of the guests slipped on these and went down three stairs,thankfully no injuries but badly bruised. Other than these points a most enjoyable holiday and the dogs enjoyed the paddock.

- Margaret, October 2022
David September 2022

“The property as a whole was fine, but down stairs cleanliness lacked and rubbish ...”

The property as a whole was fine, but down stairs cleanliness lacked and rubbish left in outside bins which we had to deal with No direction of how to dispose of general waste and what day the collection of rubbish would be Log fire but lack of logs to use for our 2 week stay, also no replacement of double sheets so had to make do with one sheet

- David, September 2022
Deborah August 2022

“We had a fantastic week away from our busy lives very quiet had three dogs who ...”

We had a fantastic week away from our busy lives very quiet had three dogs who had fantastic walks beautiful scenery a very enjoyable stay

- Deborah, August 2022
Lois July 2022

“Lovely location with lovely neighbours and with the paddock fab for the dog.”

Just need a bit more information about the house, owners, what they like to do in the area and how things operate eg bins

- Lois, July 2022
Sara July 2022

“The property was lovely, very clean & fresh especially as this is a multiple pet friendly cottage.”

Views, location were stunning. Plenty of space and we had 5adults & 3 dogs so we were pleasantly surprised. We had fantastic weather so a garden parasol would have been useful & mattresses felt like they needed a revamp but that's just our personal opinion. Housekeeping team do you credit, so thanks to them. Only thing was lack of instructions, ie bin bags just left in stable as nowhere to put them etc. But overall great place, lovely decor, great outdoor secure space for dogs. Neighbours were lovely & helpful. Lots of places to visit on the doorstep & Lakes were so close too.

- Sara, July 2022

Hi Sara, Thanks for the kind feedback. Jo and Naiomi at Busy Bees Cleaning do a great job for us, we very much appreciate them. The rubbish bags are removed from the stables for collection , yes ,instructions would clarify it for guests, thanks for the suggestion. The house is getting a complete revamp and extension for 2023. There will be 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, large new kitchen/diner ,lounge stays the same, separate utility room with dog shower area and a sauna. The enclosed garden and paddock will remain but improved access and security. A stone patio and a new kennel. We very much hope you visit again. Thanks Anna&Matt Property Owner
Sarah April 2022

“We had a wonderful stay at Parkers house.”

There were 4 adults, with three dogs between us, everyone had a great time. Key collection was simple, the decor was really lovely and homely. Kitchen was well equipped and very clean. The paddock out the back was fab for the dogs to let off a bit of steam too. The location was lovely, nice and peaceful and the neighbour's were so friendly too. We’d definitely like to come back again!

- Sarah, April 2022
Stuart March 2022

“Great place with fantastic views, we loved it the kids loved it and the dogs loved it.”

It was very clean and comfy and the log burner was brilliant. Only thing I could say is could maybe do with a dishwasher but that’s personal opinion. We will definitely be back in the near future

- Stuart, March 2022
John February 2022

“We had a wonderful week staying at Parkers House.”

The kitchen was well equipped, the bedrooms were a good size, and the wood burning stove helped us to stay cosy in a blustery snowy February. A very enjoyable and comfortable time was had by all. Great proximity for local walks in The Pennines and not too far from The Lake District.

- John, February 2022
Janet December 2021

“Fabulous cottage - so good that we are going back in 2 weeks.”

Loved every minute of the holiday - so comfortable and dog friendly.

- Janet, December 2021
Helen December 2021

“Lovely house in such a beautiful part of the country, such a shame we didn’t stay longer but will definitely be back at some stage to explore some more (probably summer).”

The house had fantastic facilities with everything you need. We brought 3 dogs with us and the paddock off the garden was brilliant for them to have a good run around and ball thrown. To anyone else staying, the Spar shop/ garage is a gem of a find with a butchers counter and everything you will need for your stay if eating at home. As I said, I can’t fault the house and location at all just wish we had booked longer. It will always have a special place in our hearts as one of our days staying we headed up to Scotland and eloped at Gretna. So our first 2 days as husband and wife were spent at Parkers

- Helen, December 2021
Joanne November 2021

“The cottage is in a lovely, quiet spot and we had some fantastic walks nearby.”

The paddock area was perfect for our dog. All in all we had a great family short break. I didn't think that the cleanliness of the cottage was very good. There was a false finger nail that we found on the lounge floor, and obvious places like the bathroom sink and the lounge tables were dusty. The cottage was accurately described and the neighbours that we met were very friendly.

- Joanne, November 2021
Stephen August 2021

“We stayed for 3 nights.”

The location is perfect a good base to visit the surrounding areas. Central to both the northern lakes and Pennines. The village of Alston itself is a short 2 min drive to a public car park and nice tea rooms and Alston hall is good for a sit down meal. The cottage itself is beautiful. Facilities we’re great , everything you would need was provided, washer dryer iron hoover. Plenty of towels a nice welcome pack for our dogs. As a site and a location I would give it 10/10 The BAD part unfortunately after 1 night I received contact that the owner had told the agent that we had a party , that we were over occupied with 9 people and that we had set up out door lightning. The truth was when we went in to Alston on our first night the local eating places were booked up so we bought some food from the co-op. We cooked it and decided to eat outside in the lovely garden on the picnic table. We commenced eating around 630. Our party consisted of 3 male adults 2 females and 1 child and 2 dogs. We finished around 815 as the sun was going down and there is an outdoor socket I placed a table lamp outside to give us some light as we cleaned up. There was no music no alcohol and we were in the rear for less than 2 hours. The lady who called us from Sykes was really nice and advised it was probably a nosey neighbour who had reported to the owner the above fallacies . Unfortunately this really cast a dampener on the rest of our trip. We felt like we were being watched and scrutinised by the owners of the other cottages in the site. I wouldn’t place the blame on skyes or the owner as they have protocol and insurance and continuing to have relationships with the people that actually live in the location. However the fact remains I wouldn’t recommend booking this cottage as we personally had a bad experience. Despite its beauty and location.

- Stephen, August 2021
Hilary July 2021

“The property was excellent with neighbpurs also being very friendly and helpful.”

We had many amazing walks and lunches in country pubs. The weather was hot, so a garden umbrella to create some shade would have been nice. Altogether a beautiful property and a first rate holiday.

- Hilary, July 2021
Tatiana June 2021

“Absolutely wonderful stay, everything was clean, very well equipped and lovingly decorated.”

Thank you for a restful stay. Highly recommend staying here, especially if you're bringing your doggies along on vacation.

- Tatiana, June 2021
Beverley June 2021

“It was not only a perfect spot to travel around from but was also fab for our three dogs having the space to wander around the grounds free and comfortable.”

We loved the space and the bedrooms were beautiful .. we chose the second room as it has more plugs as we both have sleep apnea machines …. Might be handy to have an extension for the use of… kitchen is very well equipt and cooking was a pleasure thank you ☺️

- Beverley, June 2021
Barbara May 2021

“Loved the location, visited lots of areas East and West.”

- Barbara, May 2021
Hilary May 2021

“Just back from a fabulous weekend at Parker House.”

The cottage is set in beautiful surroundings and is furnished to a very high standard with beautiful little touches, they have certainly thought of everything . It’s one of the nicest cottages we’ve ever stayed at and we’ve stayed at a lot. I can’t recommend it enough.

- Hilary, May 2021
Claire May 2021

“Great cottage.”

Fab welcome hamper and even welcome packs for the dogs. Very clean and tidy. Excellent views and log fire to keep warm at night. Would definitely recommend

- Claire, May 2021

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Summary

Four bedrooms:1 x ground floor double with large walk in shower, basin and WC, 2 x first floor double bedrooms en-suites with shower, WC and hand basin,1 x first floor twin room and first floor family bathroom with bath, basin and WC
Downstairs cloakroom with Belfast basin and WC
Large kitchen/diner with kitchen island, double oven with an integrated microwave, hob and fridge freezer and wood burner
Dining table to accommodate 8 guests
Large lounge with wood burner
A utility room offers a washing machine, tumble dryer and a 'boot room' area
TV, WiFi
Fuel and power inc. in rent
Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
Children welcome and a travel cot and highchair are available
Ample, private designated off-road parking for 4 cars
Secure and enclosed grass and gravel garden with outdoor furniture, secured bike storage and kennels for dogs, the property also has a 1/4 acre enclosed paddock attached, making it ideal for dog owners
6x Well-behaved pets welcome only on the ground floor please (built in stair-gate provided)
Property is also near Edenshire Landpods
Sorry, no smoking
Shop 1.3 miles, pub 1.2 miles

The property

Hidden away in a cluster of beautiful stone cottages on the outskirts of Alston town, Parkers House is an arresting holiday home providing a tranquil retreat for a family or group of eight.

Engulfed in the luscious green landscapes of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, visitors can look forward to an abundance of breath-taking walks right from their doorstep, making this an exceptional choice for any self-catering stay.

Return from a fun-filled adventure to this attractive abode, making yourself feel right at home as you place a log on the woodburning stove before snuggling up to your loved ones and enjoying a captivating movie on the TV.

Rustle up a tasty treat in the pretty cream country-style kitchen with the help of the sleek electrical appliances that lie within.

1 x ground floor double with large walk in shower, basin and WC, 2x first floor double bedrooms en-suites with shower, WC and hand basin,1 x first floor twin room and first floor family bathroom with bath, basin and WC.

There is also a ground floor cloakroom.

Embrace your stunning surroundings as you indulge in dinner alfresco out in the garden, admiring the far-reaching views across the countryside whilst basking in the last of the day's sunshine.

Kick-start your days with a breath-taking walk along the Pennine Way and uncover Ashgill Force and Epiacum Roman Fort.

Explore the ancient remains of Kirkoswald Castle and Lacey's Caves, and spend the afternoon at Weardale Museum and High House Chapel.

Hop in the car and head for Penrith to see Penrith and Eden Museum and the 14th-century remains of Penrith Castle, or visit Gisland and discover Hadrian's Wall and Harrows Scar Milecastle.

Also on your doorstep is the Lake District National Park, home to many spectacular walks, breath-taking lakes and an abundance of attractions including Aira Force Waterfall, The Kirkstone and Keswick Museum.

Step back in time at Beamish, the Living Museum of the North, or travel into the heart of Newcastle-upon-Tyne for a spot of shopping followed by dinner and drinks in some of the city’s finest pubs and restaurants.

Seek thrills at the Weardale Adventure Centre, where you can enjoy a day of gorge walking and canoeing.

On return to this humble abode, be sure to stop off in the centre of Alston for a quick bite to eat down at the local or grab some essential ingredients from the convenience store.

Live many incredible moments with your loved ones on an escape to Parkers House.

Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £250.

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About the location

ALSTON

Melmerby 8 miles; Penrith 18 miles; Stanhope 20 miles; Hexham 23 miles; Carlisle 29 miles; Barnard Castle 30 miles.

Alston is set in the North Pennines in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, surrounded by a unique landscape of moorland, hills, rivers and waterfalls, and is England's highest market town. This intriguing town, with its cobbled streets and fascinating nooks and crannies, was the location for ITV's productions of Jane Eyre and Oliver Twist. Alston and the North Pennines have long inspired artists and writers; the poet and writer W H Auden loved the area and today Alston is an inspiration to the craftspeople who live and work there. There is a host of unusual shops in the town including quality crafts and galleries. Take a ride on one of the lovingly-restored steam and diesel engines through the beautiful scenery of the South Tyne valley on the South Tynedale Railway which runs from Alston through to Slaggyford. The River Tyne is also noted as one of the finest salmon rivers in England and day-ticket fishing is available locally. The North Pennines used to be one of the wealthiest lead mining centres in Europe, and the Killhope Lead Mining Museum offers a great family day out with interactive exhibitions. With the drive along the A686 recognised by the AA as one of the world's best drives, and northern Cumbria, County Durham and Northumberland, all within easy reach, this makes a superb base.

This property offers the following short breaks:

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Features

Reviews & Ratings

“I recently had the pleasure of spending five nights at Parkers House and I couldn't be more satisfied with my stay.”

“Parker's House is a beautiful property, clean, homely and within walking distance to the Alston.”

“We had a lovely stay at Parkers House - 3 adults and 3 dogs.”

“We loved our stay at Parker’s House.”

“Absolutely adored this cottage, everything about it from the cleanliness, location, to the stunning views and each tiny bit of detail in the house.”

“The cottage was excellent and perfect for a relaxing 3 night stay for our family and our pet dog.”

“Excellent property, great location for various walks and sight seeing.”

“All in all, a pleasant stay.”

“The cottage is well equipped and the biscuits/coffee/milk was a nice touch.”

“The property was in good order, and well equipped.”

“The property as a whole was fine, but down stairs cleanliness lacked and rubbish ...”

“We had a fantastic week away from our busy lives very quiet had three dogs who ...”

“Lovely location with lovely neighbours and with the paddock fab for the dog.”

“The property was lovely, very clean & fresh especially as this is a multiple pet friendly cottage.”

“We had a wonderful stay at Parkers house.”

“Great place with fantastic views, we loved it the kids loved it and the dogs loved it.”

“We had a wonderful week staying at Parkers House.”

“Fabulous cottage - so good that we are going back in 2 weeks.”

“Lovely house in such a beautiful part of the country, such a shame we didn’t stay longer but will definitely be back at some stage to explore some more (probably summer).”

“The cottage is in a lovely, quiet spot and we had some fantastic walks nearby.”

“We stayed for 3 nights.”

“The property was excellent with neighbpurs also being very friendly and helpful.”

“Absolutely wonderful stay, everything was clean, very well equipped and lovingly decorated.”

“It was not only a perfect spot to travel around from but was also fab for our three dogs having the space to wander around the grounds free and comfortable.”

“Loved the location, visited lots of areas East and West.”

“Just back from a fabulous weekend at Parker House.”

“Great cottage.”

Summary

The property

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About the location

ALSTON