The relax factor

THERE are some cute little bath toys placed on the fluffy towels, a comfy travel cot with co-ordinated bedding, stair gates, a high chair and baby dishes plus a play barn that would be every little one’s dream... this is a home-from-home that more than lives up to its child-friendly image.

We are staying at the award-winning North Pennine Escapes holiday cottages in Ruffside Village, near Blanchland, on the border of Northumberland and County Durham, for a long and relaxing weekend – well, as relaxing as is possible with a family including two grandchildren, Finn, aged six, and five-month old Ewan.

It’s lovely to get to somewhere this beautiful in less than an hour from home. And no sooner have we arrived than older grandson is off for an explore. Our cottage is called Birchinlee and is the biggest in the village complex.

After giving the well-equipped kitchen and lounge (“wow, that’s a huge television”) the thumbs-up, he sets about giving the rest of the rooms the once-over.

He’s already impressed with the groundfloor bedroom and en suite bathroom, now he’s checking out which is to be his room. “Can I have the one with the bunk beds? It’s ace…”

Soon he’s dashing off to the play area, with its swings, climbing frame and even a fort, so his mum and I can take our time to have a good look round and settle the baby into his temporary home.

There’s absolutely everything here that a family could possibly need and it’s high quality, from the gorgeous retro-style fridge-freezer and coffee percolator to the cupboards full of sparkling glasses and pristine white crockery.

All of the bedrooms are beautifully designed, with toning curtains, cushions and even orchids. The master bedroom has a vast sleigh bed complete with faux fur throw and en suite with complementary bath goodies.

Back downstairs, we flop down on the squashy sofas to enjoy a cuppa, courtesy of our welcome pack, then it’s off to join Finn for a look round the play barn, leaving my husband on babysitting duties.

Finn can’t believe his luck as he takes in a huge room filled with games and toys, so while he’s having fun, we peruse the visitor information and discover there’s lots to do, whether we fancy a ride into nearby Corbridge or Hexham, a day at Beamish Museum or on Hadrian’s Wall, or maybe a spot of sailing on the Derwent reservoir right next door.

The view from the barn’s picture window is of the cottages’ picnic tables and barbecues and a view of fields stretching down to woods and the water. Later, we enjoy a leisurely meal using the supplies we’ve brought with us – but if we had wanted, manager Helen Mason and her team could have organised a delivery of groceries ready for our arrival.

WITH both children tucked up for the night, we watch a DVD from the play barn library and have a browse through the visitors’ book, which is full of praise for the first-class service plus lots of tips for fun things to do. This includes a visit to nearby Slaley Hall Hotel as leisure club membership, taking in the fabulous pool, spa, sauna and gym, is part of the holiday package.

Previous guests have come from all over the UK and many return again and again for family get-togethers, weddings and new year and for events such as the Great North Run.

The next day, refreshed from a comfortable night’s sleep, we take the car the few miles to Blanchland, a picture-postcard village which is a lovely starting point for walks. There’s also a tea room, which we take time to sample, a post office and crafts loft with lots of locallymade goods and a milliners to choose the perfect hat for a special occasion. Blanchland Abbey is in its finery for a wedding, with wooden hearts hanging from the trees in the churchyard and a mass of sweet peas decorating the pews and scenting the air.

We head next to Hexham, where there are plenty of little boutique-style shops and galleries, not forgetting the abbey. As far as Finn is concerned, the toy shops are the best bit, but he’s itching to get back to the cottage and to his new friends.

And so the days disappear, just taking it easy, visiting local landmarks and winding down.

But before we go, we have a chat with manager Helen, who tells us about the background of North Pennine Escapes and how it all came about as the brainchild of one of the North- East’s greatest entrepreneurs, Sir Tom Cowie, who died earlier this year.

The complex at Ruffside Village was originally lead mining offices, but thanks to Sir Tom’s vision and four years of hard work, it was converted into six cottages and a lodge that is wheelchair-accessible. There is a second site, Summerfield Farm, at Carterway Heads not far away, which enjoys the same high standards as Ruffside Village, Both sites have been open for about three years and are part of North Pennine Escapes luxury self-catering accommodation.

Helen is helped by her sister and brother-inlaw, Kate and Marc Morgan, and as they all have children, it’s a case of cottages “run by families, for families”, she says. Its also a safe place where children can go out to play and parents don’t have to worry.

Finn, naturally, agrees. Like lots of other young visitors before him, he’s had a wonderful time and doesn’t want to leave. And for our next family get-together, we could easily be persuaded to go back to North Pennine Escapes.

Travel facts

For more information and to book, contact North Pennine Escapes on 01207- 588100 or 0786-776-6649 or visit northpennineescapes.co.uk