On a recent visit to Tarset Tor Bunkhouse and Bothies in Northumberland, I realised what a hidden asset a bothy at Tarset Tor is for two families who like to holiday together. Anyone who has ever had kids will know that the best times are had when the children have play mates and the adults can relax.
On a recent visit to Tarset Tor Bunkhouse and Bothies in Northumberland, I realised what a hidden asset a bothy at Tarset Tor is for two families who like to holiday together. Anyone who has ever had kids will know that the best times are had when the children have play mates and the adults can relax. Here at Independent Hostels, we often hear from groups of families looking for accommodation with family sized bedrooms and shared kitchens, lounges and gardens. Ideal for children to play together in the daytime and sleep with their families at night.
The bothies at Tarset Tor are attractive unqiue buildings with a size that surprises when you get up close. Looking more like a romantic hideaway for a couple when first spotted on the hillside, each bothy actually contains two family sized bedrooms and plenty of shared areas for a two family holiday. The bedrooms sleep four people each, in space saving private bunks with individual lights.
Each bedroom has a shower room and there is an upstairs balcony overlooking the ground floor with glorious views over Kielder Forest and the heart of the Northumberland National Park. Down the ladder-like stairs there is a toilet and washroom, a good sized self catering kitchen and an open plan living area.
There is a patio through french windows and the whole of the bothy looks out over glorious views of the unspoiled Northumberland National Park.
There is a table for eight and comfy sofas arranged around a wood pellet stove. This boiler, not hot to touch but providing a consistent maintenance free glow, is the heart of the bothy, providing generous heat and hot water.
The site at Tarset Tor is full of wildlife with regular spottings of ospreys, red squirrels and deer. There is a wetland pond with fishing for the kids and group activities such as archery can be arranged on site.
There are stunning views from the bothies, both day and night and star gazing is a natural part of every evening. Tarset Tor is in the Northumberland Dark Skies Park and Kielder Observatory, a unique visitor attraction, is just 20 minutes’ drive away.
Tarset Tor is 11 miles south of the Scottish border and deep in Hadrian’s Wall country with the stunning north-east coastline, home to Alnwick Castle, just an hour’s drive away. For older kids and adults there is a magical spot for wild swimming in the River Tarset, just a miles away from the site.
There are four, 8 bed bothies and a 16 bed bunkhouse on the grounds of Tarset Tor and the local village Hall, right next to the site, is available to hire for a small fee. This makes the Tarset Tor an ideal the location for family celebrations or larger gatherings.
You can find our more about Tarset Tor here and here is a map showing Bunkhouses in Northumberland.