This year’s late Easter holidays fall well with our lambing season at Ilderton Dod Barns. We’re most of the way through lambing our lowland sheep but the sheep surrounding the holiday cottages are due mid-April and you can’t fail to see them during your stay. Our latest guest was so keen to get up to close that she visited our lowland farm to feed some of the pet lambs, then watched as The Dod sheep were gathered in from the hills for their pre-lambing treatments.

It’s not just sheep we have here – the cattle are also calving at the moment, but they won’t return to The Dod until mid-May when there’s enough grass for them. If livestock isn’t your thing, we have an abundance of wildlife, 2 marked family-friendly trails, unlimited walks / cycles from the doorstep, archaeological sites and we’re in the Northumberland National Park and Northumberland International Dark Skies Park.

Both properties have a barbecue, log burner and there’s a fire brazier for those beautiful but sometimes chilly Spring evenings. We have a lockable bike shed with workstation, electric charging, wash facilities and comprehensive cycle guide for the area. We can accommodate horses in the fields surrounding the cottages, and provide hay if necessary.

Despite all the activities available on the doorstep, many guests choose just to relax with a good book, enjoy the views, or visit Alnwick, Berwick, Rothbury or one of the many quiet, sandy beaches 15 miles away.

Our two barn conversions at Ilderton Dod Barns, within Northumberland National Park, are the ideal place to escape the rat race this winter and relax, surrounded by wildlife, dark skies and wild, open spaces. Then retreat to your own log burner, hot power-showers and comfortable beds. Although The Barn can accommodate the whole family, both properties are often rented out to couples and both properties have a king-sized bed.

If a romantic trip away involves your dog too, both properties allow dogs (up to 3 in The Barn and up to 2 in Cuckoo Cottage). For the more adventurous guest, we’re surrounded by The Cheviot Hills – ideal for fell running, walking, mountain biking and horse-riding, with thousands of acres of access land surrounding the property, and footpaths and bridleways criss-crossing the farm. If you prefer not to carry a map, we have two 1.5-2.5 mile marked routes around the farm where you will see our Scottish Blackface sheep, grouse, hares and many other species.

We’re within the Northumberland International Dark Sky Park and facilities are provided for you to experience the stars. We have outdoor seating and a fire brazier if the weather is kind, and a lockable bike shed (with electric bike charging, pressure washer, workstation and tools).

Both properties are available for most of the Spring, including Valentine’s week and February half term holidays.