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Bilberry Nook Cottage, Westgate

Guest Rating
Rating
4.7
out of 5
Guest Rating
Rating
4.7
out of 5
Sleeps up to 4
Pets 1
Hot Tub
Bedrooms: 2

Bilberry Nook Cottage is a charming stone cottage in County Durham's beautiful Weardale. This two-bedroom retreat sits right on the banks of the River Wear with private garden access to the water. The peaceful setting offers stunning views and wildlife watching opportunities.

Located in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this spot is perfect for anyone who loves the outdoors. Explore Slit Wood with its impressive waterfalls just 5 minutes away. The area offers excellent walking routes and cycling paths. Star-gazing opportunities are exceptional thanks to the dark night skies.

The accommodation includes a spacious living room with open fire, fully-equipped kitchen and dining area.

 

About Bilberry Nook Cottage

Bilberry Nook Cottage is a charming stone cottage in County Durham's beautiful Weardale. This two-bedroom retreat sits right on the banks of the River Wear with private garden access to the water. The peaceful setting offers stunning views and wildlife watching opportunities.

Located in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this spot is perfect for anyone who loves the outdoors. Explore Slit Wood with its impressive waterfalls just 5 minutes away. The area offers excellent walking routes and cycling paths. Star-gazing opportunities are exceptional thanks to the dark night skies.

The accommodation includes a spacious living room with open fire, fully-equipped kitchen and dining area. Upstairs features one double bedroom and one twin room, plus a bathroom with bath and walk-in shower. There's also a ground floor WC. The private hot tub overlooking the river is a highlight for evening relaxation.

Nearby attractions include Stanhope (5 miles, 10 min drive) with its fossil-rich limestone, Durham Cathedral (28 miles, 45 min drive), Barnard Castle (15 miles, 25 min drive) and Hadrian's Wall (35 miles, 55 min drive). The local villages offer traditional pubs and shops.

Bilberry Nook Cottage is ideal for families, couples or friends seeking peace and natural beauty. The combination of riverside location, hot tub and stunning walks makes this a perfect countryside escape.

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At Sykes Cottages

Need To Know

More Cottages With Hot Tubs You May Like

What Guests Love

Discover why our guests keep coming back to Bilberry Nook Cottage

Riverside Setting

The garden leads directly to the River Wear with amazing views. Perfect spot to watch wildlife including herons, woodpeckers and the resident peacocks.

Hot Tub Experience

The private hot tub overlooks the river. Guests love relaxing here after a day of walking while taking in the peaceful surroundings.

Spacious Interior

The cottage is more roomy than it appears in photos. Comfortable living areas with cozy fireplace for cooler evenings.

Walking Opportunities

Excellent walks directly from the doorstep. Slit Wood with its beautiful waterfalls is just 5 minutes away.

Wildlife Watching

Guests spotted at least 17 different bird species. The friendly peacock visits the patio most evenings around 9pm.

Peaceful Location

Extremely quiet and dark at night - perfect for stargazing and getting a good night's sleep after outdoor adventures.

Getting To Bilberry Nook Cottage

Find your way to your perfect countryside retreat

By Car

To reach Bilberry Nook Cottage by car, take the A689 through Weardale and follow signs for Westgate. The cottage is located just off the main road with access via a narrow lane. Larger vehicles may need to use the roadside parking 50 yards away.

By Train

For those traveling by rail, the nearest station is Bishop Auckland, about 20 miles away. From there, you'll need to take a taxi or bus connection to Westgate. We recommend arranging transport in advance as rural services can be limited.

Off-road parking for two small cars
Bishop Auckland station (20 miles)
Easily accessible from the A689

Attractions & More Nearby

Everything you need within easy reach

Slit Wood Nature Reserve
Distance: 0.3 miles
DL13 1JH
Killhope Lead Mining Museum
Distance: 8.5 miles
DL13 1AR
Bowlees Visitor Centre
Distance: 12 miles
DL12 0XE
Weardale Way
Distance: 0.1 miles
DL13 1JN
High Force Waterfall
Distance: 15 miles
DL12 0XH
Hamsterley Forest
Distance: 18 miles
DL13 3NL
Stanhope Market Town
Distance: 5 miles
DL13 2PF
Barnard Castle
Distance: 15 miles
DL12 8NP
Durham City Centre
Distance: 28 miles
DH1 3NJ
Local Bus Service
Distance: 0.5 miles
DL13 1JE
Taxi - Weardale Taxis
Distance: 5 miles
DL13 2PF
Bishop Auckland Train Station
Distance: 20 miles
DL14 7TL
Slit Wood Nature Reserve
Distance: 0.3 miles
DL13 1JH
Killhope Lead Mining Museum
Distance: 8.5 miles
DL13 1AR
Bowlees Visitor Centre
Distance: 12 miles
DL12 0XE
Weardale Way
Distance: 0.1 miles
DL13 1JN
High Force Waterfall
Distance: 15 miles
DL12 0XH
Hamsterley Forest
Distance: 18 miles
DL13 3NL
Stanhope Market Town
Distance: 5 miles
DL13 2PF
Barnard Castle
Distance: 15 miles
DL12 8NP
Durham City Centre
Distance: 28 miles
DH1 3NJ
Local Bus Service
Distance: 0.5 miles
DL13 1JE
Taxi - Weardale Taxis
Distance: 5 miles
DL13 2PF
Bishop Auckland Train Station
Distance: 20 miles
DL14 7TL

Is Bilberry Nook Cottage Right For You?

Discover why this cottage is ideal for different types of visitors

For Families
Kids will love exploring the riverside garden and watching wildlife including the resident peacocks. The nearby playground is perfect for younger visitors. Slit Wood offers exciting waterfall walks, while Killhope Lead Mining Museum (8.5 miles) provides educational fun. Note that the unfenced river requires constant supervision of children.
For Couples
The cottage offers a peaceful retreat for couples with its riverside setting and private hot tub. Enjoy stargazing in the dark night skies, cozy evenings by the open fire and morning coffee watching the river. The king-sized bed and spacious bathroom with large tub add luxury touches. Perfect for romantic walks in the stunning North Pennines landscape.
Pet Friendly
Dogs will love the riverside location with excellent walks directly from the door. Slit Wood is perfect for off-lead adventures. The garden provides space for pets to explore (though watch the unfenced river). Two well-behaved dogs are welcome at the cottage and the stone floors downstairs are practical for muddy paws.

Dining & Cafes

Taste the local flavours during your stay at Bilberry Nook Cottage

The Golden Lion

Located 3 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: DL13 1QF

The Blue Bell Inn

Located 3 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: DL13 1QF

Chatterbox Café

Located 5 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: DL13 2PF

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to our most common questions about Bilberry Nook Cottage

Does this cottage have a hot tub?
Yes, Bilberry Nook Cottage has a private hot tub located in the garden overlooking the River Wear. It's positioned perfectly for enjoying the riverside views and wildlife.
Is it pet friendly?
Yes, the cottage welcomes up to 2 well-behaved dogs. The garden and surrounding area offer plenty of walking opportunities for you and your pets.
What's the parking situation like?
There is off-road parking for 2 small cars at the property. Larger vehicles can use roadside parking approximately 50 yards from the cottage.
Are there good walks nearby?
Excellent walks start right from the doorstep. Slit Wood, a Site of Special Scientific Interest with beautiful waterfalls, is just 5 minutes away.
What amenities are included in the kitchen?
The kitchen is fully equipped with an electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge, freezer, washing machine and dishwasher. All cooking essentials are provided.
Is the cottage suitable for children?
The cottage provides a cot and highchair for young children. However, parents should note the unfenced river access requires supervision and the steep stone steps may not suit all families.
What's provided in terms of essentials?
Bed linen and towels are included in the rental price. Some guests mention limited supplies of basics like toilet paper, so bringing your own essentials is recommended.
What can we do in the local area?
The cottage is in the North Pennines AONB with excellent walking and cycling. Nearby towns include Stanhope (5 miles) and Barnard Castle (15 miles) with shops, restaurants and attractions.

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Bilberry Nook Cottage Reviews

Jonathan
Lovely comfortable cottage in glorious riverside location, especially beautiful with the golden trees in midOctober. Spotlessly clean, warm and with good quality furnishings. Peacocks visited us on the patio every day at dusk presumably hoping for a snack. Wife enjoyed the hot tub which was well screened from view and in a very atmospheric location under the trees. Nice villages and scenic walks nearby. Some of the village shops and food outlets are cashonly so be prepared. Would definitely book again.
Really comfortable cottage with plenty of space kitchen well equipped with everything you would need. So we never had to eat out. Garden and hot tub were great. Very quiet only noises from the wild life. Very dog friendly our dog's loved it. Really recommend this accommodation.
Bilberry nook is a beautiful place to stay, lots of stunning walks close by. The garden and hot tub area is idyllic. We were prepared and took shopping in with us, but for an fyi the only thing provided is dishwasher tablets but nothing else, including washing up liquid, teacoffeesugar etc. We took a general family hatchback and managed to squeeze through to the parking space but anything bigger than a ford focus will struggle to get through. We will definitely be returning in the future, lovely place to stay and a close play park for the kids which was in a perfect position! Would advise a walk up to slit woods which is only 5 minutes away, for a beautiful walk! Thanks for having us
This place is a piece of heaven. The cottage is comfortable, wellequipped and relaxing. The setting, on the banks of the River Wear, is beautiful. It is so peaceful and we saw a woodpecker, ducks and had the joy of seeing the peacocks strutting about on the lawn. The walk through the woods, past numerous waterfalls, was wonderful. What an amazing place!
Trrvor
Beautifully located cottage well equipped and comfortable, hot tub located by the river which we enjoyed
Lonnie
Just spent a fabulous week at Bilberry Nook over Christmas. It was so relaxing and peaceful and we thoroughly enjoyed getting away from the usual hectic festivities.When we arrived the cottage was warm comfortable and much more spacious than we expected. There was a xmas tree and even xmas presents and a card, nice touch. It was dark and cold so we lit the fire and just settled in. The next morning in the light of day we got our first proper view of the amazing garden and beautiful surroundings! The weather was kind to us for December so we spent the week going for walks in the stunning countryside of Weardale. Afternoons relaxing in the hot tub and watching all the wildlife in the garden we spotted at least 17 different varieties of bird in the garden and on the river including heron, woodpecker and not forgetting the resident peacock and 2 pea hens that came at dusk every evening to be fed! We cooked most evenings including xmas dinner in the very well equipped kitchen. Slept very soundly as it was so dark and quiet! Jo was a lovely owner, helpful and friendly, she was also the artist behind all the wildlife pictures in the cottage that are for sale. We bought one as a xmas present for ourselves. All in all the perfect place to get away from it all reset and recharge. We would love to return in the summer and spend more time in the garden in the longer days also stargaze in the very dark night sky.
Beautiful cottage in a lovely location. It was cold when we got there and took some time to warm up , luckily we had taken logs etc for the fire . The main bedroom radiator didnt work and there was an electric heater for us to use which to be honest wasnt that warm . The shower was also very slow and warm not hot The hot tub was perfect only issue there was it was so dark to get to it , the solar lights were not that powerful and the walk from the house to the hot tub was down some stairs which were not lit by the lights so tricky to get down The cottage was much warmer the following day and it was lovely having the Christmas tree up I can imagine in warmer months the garden with the river view is beautiful
We had a wonderful holiday, in a wonderful cottage in a beautiful area of the country. We have already booked again for 2025 which says everything really.
Such a lovely place and lovely host only one thing we would change would be a little fence at the bottom of the garden while we stayed the river got rather high and we was very cautious about letting our well behaved dogs out just incase. Other then that we loved it.
Lovely Spacious cottage in a wonderful location, perfect for anyone wanting a peaceful stay and love exploring the North Pennies. The garden is perfect for the summer evenings and we loved the hot tub overlooking the river, however the garden isn't suitable for small children as there is a 9ft drop down to the river. The local peacock came to visit on the patio, every evening between 910pm for his daily handful of nuts. The only negative is the bedroom. It is quite big but only has a small double bed, however we had a wonderful stay
Joanne and Steven are lovely people nothing was to much to a new bath mat and microwave. Cottage is bigger than you think big enough for 4 people . Garden and hot tub great. The peacock that came every night at 9 o clock was the icing on the cake. The Golden Lion in St Johns Chapel approx 3 miles away had lovely food and the landlady was very helpful. The quiz night on Sunday at the Blue Bell same village was great fun. Lovely stay shame about the weather. Will be going back next year.
Christopher
A beautiful cottage with wonderful features, relaxing and calming atmosphere. The perfect break. Every detail and need has been thought of. We had a perfect stay!
No welcome pack , only 2 tea bags and the scrapings in sugar bowl ,after 4hour ... No welcome pack , only 2 tea bags and the scrapings in sugar bowl ,after 4hour journey nothing to make a drink with or a biscuit in sight, lets face it a pint of milk and a packet of biscutes costs around two pound and makes all the difference the parking is non existent, too narrow and car parked at top most of time so no entry
Lovely little cottage more spacious then photos show really clean everything we ... Lovely little cottage more spacious then photos show really clean everything we needed within very peaceful and quiet the garden is beautiful leading down to the river hot tub was an added bonus few hours spent just watching the wildlife lots of walks from the door step if thats what your after St Johns chapel nice little village with few amenities and Stanhope village with more shops is also worth a visit overall was a very pleasant stay and would definitely recommend
A lovely cottage with everything you could need. In a great location with plenty of places to visit nearby like Barnard Castle and Eggleston Nurseries would definitely return the hosts were very accommodating and were on hand should you need anything although we didnt Had a couple of lovely meals out at The Forresters in Middleton in Teesdale and the Three Horseshoes in Barnard and not forgetting the fish and chip shop in the Market Place best ive had in a long time
Beautiful property, the photos do not do it justice. Far larger than expected to, very homely. Fantastic hot tub looking out to the river, doesn't get better than that! Lovely village with great walks on your doorstep. 100 recommended.
We were really amazed by this cottage. the pictures just do not do it justice. Absolutely spacious, the kitchen has everything you need, and the oven was one of the best ovens I have used in a holiday cottage, which was important, since we cooked our Christmas dinner. The bed was one of the most comfortable ones, the bathroom was sparkling and the bathtub is just huge. Joanne came to greet us and to show us the hottub, she was a delight. There was a present for us and a card plus 2 presents for our dog, very thoughtful. Plus there was beautiful Christmas decorations, which we appreciated. Definetly a place I will book again. Thank you for having us xx
Bilberry cottage was everything we were looking for in a quiet weekend away and we'd definitely recommend it. The area is beautiful and the pub is a couple of houses down the road.
Heather
Lovely cosy cottage, perfect for a relaxed retreat for half term. Hot tub was amazing!
Just back from a 4 night break at Bilberry Nook Cottage. The location is perfect. At the side of the weir and onto the river. The weather was cold but dry which allowed us to sit outside and just listen to the water and the birds. Great to relax and recharge your batteries. The peacocks don't seem to be bothered by humans so be prepared for visitors when you are sat outside! Plus squirrels, ducks, the cat we didn't get to see the kingfisher. The hot tub is a huge plus and was well used. Lovely and warm and kept in great condition and checked every day.. The cottage is well equipped, warm, comfortable and a home from home. We slept extremely well in the double bed and after searching for a new mattress for quite some time we will be ordering one of these. Jo and Stephen are great hosts, friendly, helpful and nothing is too much trouble. They are onsite and on hand for any queries and questions but other than that you don't see them. Lots of walks from the doorstep if you want them. The pub is just down the road. Currently only open Friday and Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon. Everyone you meet in the village is friendly. We had a lovely time and really do hope to come back soon.
Lovely property with great hosts. The cottage is absolutely gorgeous and was very comfortable. The hot tub was a delight as were rhe friendly Peacocks who visited each afternoon. Couldn't recommend it highly enough. Thank you for letting us stay and I hope we can come back
What a gem of a find! Pictures are great, but dont do it justice! Joanne is a lovely host with lots of local knowledge. We will definitely be back
Alison
Beautifully presented cottage. Spectacular views over the river. Hot tub was an added bonus. Lots of wildlife visiting the garden including peacocks . Kitchen well equipped dressing gown available. For use after the hot tub. Comfy bed and cottage , clean and homely . Jo and Steven very approachable and friendly but respected our privacy also. Would highly recommend lovely holiday in an unspoilt part of the world . 1010 from us .
Katherne
Great place to stay
The cottage surpassed our expectations. The quality was top notch with everything furnishings, bathroom, kitchen etc., and of course the secluded jacuzzi was the icing on the cake instantly hot and ready and mostly covered from the occasional shower
This was our second visit to Bilberry Nook Cottage. It is a beautiful cottage with everything you could need. We would prefer a king size bed to the double they have but this is only a small niggle. The other small issue is that unless you have a small car you will need to park a short walk from the cottage. It felt like the new owners of number 8 made it difficult for us to park and unload and load the car up on the change over days. Jo the owner is so helpful and will do anything to make your stay perfect. This place is an absolute gem it is amazing, quiet and beautiful.
We had a lovely restfully holiday loved the cottage and where it was
Bernard
A fantastic property in an idyllic lication. Joanne and Steve were lovely and very helpful. Looking forward to another visit to Bilberry Nook at some point.
Lovely cottage, we really enjoyed the week spent here and we would love to return in the future. The hot tub was fabulous and the wildlife and setting was idyllic. The check in process smooth and owners were very friendly and accommodating. The cottage was well equipped, there wasn't anything we needed during the week that wasn't there. Thanks for a lovely stay.
We had an absolutely lovely stay with our two dogs, beautiful area and really food for a reset.
Nicola
The owner was lovely more than helpful with anything we needed even lent us a dog cage for the week . Lovely cottage n hot tub was fantastic lovely walks near by Shane the local pub was closed!
Ronald Graham
The stay was very good we both enjoyed and our dogs loved playing in the snow would recommend Linda and Graham
Hannah
Cottage looked even better in real life. We enjoyed our stay. Feeding the peacocks was a lovely touch. More lighting around the hot tub would be useful. It was difficult to see at night, especially when the steps were slippy with ice. I would have expected a sponge and teatowel in the kitchen, or to have been told to bring one, as this made cleaning whilst cooking difficult. Overall, very good value for money.
Property is lovely and the views are even better than expected. The hot tub was a wonderful touch although risky to use in the darksnow!. We visited during unseasonably cold weather and unfortunately had problems with the boiler, but appreciate that friendly owners tried their best to help with temperature levels. Would return in warmer months
Amazing place, amazing location, host informed us of all necessities at the beginning of our stay and local info which was grateful. Bed is small but that is my issue. Would 100 come back here. Cheers.
Gem of a find, beautiful countryside and lovely cottage right on the river.
Fantastic weekend at Bilberry Nook. The surroundings were idyllic, and the cottage was perfect for a cosy getaway. See you again soon!
Michele
Amazing cottage, spotlessly clean , warm & cozy, loved the whole place from start to finish had an amazing week away in this beautiful tastefully decorated home from home, beautiful garden and the hot tub was perfect. We will definitely be back
This property is not as described. Its filthy. We work in the emergency services and we were looking forward to a relaxing chilled break. We arrived at the cottage and upon opening the door we were knocked back by a fusty awful Smell. The kitchen is very dated and in need of upgrade and a good clean there is no where to post pics but it was awful. The hob mucky the oven disgusting
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Unit 12, Aykley Heads Business Centre, Durham, DH1 5TS