Ilderton Dod Barns

15/08/2024

Eventually got round to pricing up stays for next year, so availability is now open for booking until December 2025. See www.ildertondodbarns.co.uk for full information, pricing and booking.

15/08/2024

Look

14/08/2024

Plenty of hands make light work - Glendale Show 2024
Thank you all.

12/08/2024

11/08/2024

Ella's Adventures in Northumberland - "Daddy has been busy at the Glendale Show - Glendale Agricultural Society showground a lot of days this week, but in between we've made more hay, started the mammoth task of stacking all the little bales in the shed ready for lambing time, and we've started weaning lambs. Daddy used his new automatic gun connected to the weigh scales to make sure each lamb got the right dose of wormer, plus they got a mineral drench. We had a few noisy nights because the mummies went back to the field and the lambs went into the field behind our house!
As promised, Mummy and Granny G took us to Glanton Show yesterday which was just as good as last weekend, but with owls too. We also had a trip to Rothbury to walk with Mummy's friends, followed by some wild raspberry picking, then a trip to one of our favourite play parks. We love that town - interesting shop windows, pretty flowers and a few lunch options, but because Daddy wasn't there to help we just picniced this time!" We Accept Pets Northumberland National Park Visit Northumberland Independent Hostel Guide

08/08/2024

LATE AVAILABILITY - up to 5 nights from 13-18th August in The Barn on our working hill farm in North Northumberland.
Sleeps up to 6 plus 3 dogs.
5 nights now £700, 4 nights £600, up to 3 nights £500 (plus £10/dog/stay). A further 10% off if 2 or less people.
Also available from 24th August - see website for prices on these dates.
See www.ildertondodbarns.co.uk for more information.

Our barn conversions are situated on our 1800 acre working hill farm within Northumberland National Park - the home of truly dark skies. Self catering, pet friendly and ideal for walkers, cyclists, horseriders, astronomers and those interested in wildlife

07/08/2024

A great way to visit venues that aren't always open, plus some that are, all for free!

ONE MONTH TO GO!

Only one month until you can explore buildings, guided walks and talks about Berwick all for FREE!

Have you explored Berwick Heritage Open Days before? What are you looking forward to exploring this year?

05/08/2024

This weekend's entertainment!

The Glendale Ceilidh Band will be providing a lively musical backdrop and there will be food and sweet treats available along with a bar should you fancy a little tipple! 😉 🍺🍷

There will be lots going on throughout the day so come along and join us.

We have an entertainer who will engage the kids with his amazing balloon twisting skills and creations!

There will also be a fun filled Building Blocks themed Assault Course that will guarantee your little ones have hours of jumping, climbing, sliding, biffing and bashing!

In addition; Face painting, our dog show, birds of prey display, traders and of course our exhibitors tent will make a great family afternoon out.

Adults £5pp (children free)
Parking free

How to find our new show field:
NE66 4BN for SatNav.
jubilant.tadpoles.downturn for what3words

See you on Saturday!

04/08/2024

Ella's Adventures in Northumberland - "It's hard to even remember all the stuff we've fitted in this week - Red Tractor inspection, finished clipping at The Dod, treated all the mummy sheep there for ticks and all the lambs for ticks, mineral deficiencies and vaccinated them, got the last calf tagged and back out to the field, more silage, more hay, cut lots of bracken....just as well I'm off school now to help!
Yesterday it was Powburn Show where we watched the hill race, saw the sheep being judged, ran a few of the kids' races, listened to the local singers and watched the men wrestling - all things we want to do when we're bigger - but there'll be plenty more to see next Saturday at Glanton Show." We Accept Pets Northumberland National Park Visit Northumberland Independent Hostel Guide

31/07/2024

28/07/2024

Ella's Adventures in Northumberland - "This week it has been dry enough (some days) to start making hay. We also spent half of today cutting grass at The Dod, but that was more to make it look pretty! Granda has been up there a few days this week gathering sheep so we can get them clipped this week.
I did see 1 sheep being clipped yesterday too - in The Sheep Show at Kelso Show; the man doing it was very funny! We had a fun-filled day out and the showers were enough to allow Daddy a day off. This is just the start of the country shows which we look forward to every week of the summer - not just the ice cream and face painting, but the different races and attractions at each one!" We Accept Pets Northumberland National Park Independent Hostel Guide Visit Northumberland

28/07/2024

🌟 Are you ready to showcase your talents at the Glendale Show this year?

Head over to our website now to check out the schedules and download entry forms. Don't miss your chance to be part of this amazing event! 🎉
📸 Photo Credit: Darren's photos
https://www.glendaleagriculturalsociety.com/glendale-show/show-schedules

21/07/2024

Ella's Adventures in Northumberland - "Despite the neverending unpredictable weather, we managed to finish clipping our sheep around Wooler this week, but we'll start the ones at The Dod (hopefully) next week. Daddy, Granda and Holly also made a lot more silage, but there's more to do, and Daddy direct drilled more grass. On Monday, we bought a new Collie, Nell, to work on the farm, and me and Drew have enjoyed showing her our farm!
We did manage to have a sunny day off to visit Bamburgh with its huge castle, great playpark, sandy beaches and views of the Farne Islands. It's a bit busier than the areas we're used to, but no wonder because it is just so pretty, and we've seen it lots on TV recently. We did a bit of walking around because parking is hard to come by, but we ended up with a great spot, almost on the beach, so Mummy didn't have to carry all our sandcastle-building tools too far!" We Accept Pets Northumberland National Park Visit Northumberland Independent Hostel Guide

19/07/2024

The summer holidays are finally here! ☀️

As school is now officially out for summer, we thought you might like to know about when the lovely Ranger Jane will be joining us here at Howick Hall Gardens & Arboretum for her 'fun and educational' Wildlife Days:

🦋 Saturday 20th of July 2024
🐞 Wednesday 31st of July 2024
🐛 Wednesday 7th of August 2024
🐝 Wednesday 14th of August 2024
🐜 Saturday 17th of August 2024
🕸 Wednesday 21st of August 2024
🐸 Wednesday 28th of August 2024
🦟 Saturday 31st of August 2024
🕷 Wednesday 4th of September 2024
🐌 Saturday 7th of September 2024

There's no additional charge as participation is included in your entry fee, so come and join Ranger Jane from 11am each day she visits, as we help to build things like bug hotels, bird feeders, and search the gardens for some of nature's most fascinating & amazing creatures.

The kiosk will give you Ranger Jane's location upon arrival, as we continue to have wildlife fun inside or out, come rain or shine!

Howick Hall Gardens & Arboretum is open daily from 10:30am till 6pm (last entry at 5pm). We're buzzing to meet you!

14/07/2024

⚠️Alnwick Beer Festival 2024 ... Just Got Bigger? ⚠️

We've teamed up with the fantastic Tracey Sprigg at Alnwick Markets to bring something to bigger Alnwick Marketplace!

🍺 As Alnwick Round Table, we will be hosting our Alnwick Beer Festival, however this year it will be in a huge marquee in the marketplace itself, making it accessible for all and a lot more room for us to put on entertainment!

🌮 Alnwick Markets will be using all of their contacts to bring you some incredible street food and sweet treats, as well as some staple food vendors already imbedded in their weekly market!

🎤 We are borrowing Alnwick Town Council's outdoor stage to bring you some incredible local talent, the biggest quiz Alnwick has ever held, a young persons battle of the bands and much more... stay tuned to find out the details!

⚖️We have worked hard with Tracey to ensure Alnwick Markets and their traders we see week in, week out are still all part of the festival and are once again taking over Bondgate Within "just like the good ol' Days of Alnwick Fair"!

Wrap that all together and you get Alnwick’s Marketplace Festival… Stay tuned for more info coming thick and fast from next week!

📆 SAVE THE DATES!
23rd - 25th August Bank Holiday Weekend!

ℹ️ More information on our beer festival or want to purchase tickets? Head to our website, link in the comments section below! 🍻

Alnwick Beer Festival | Alnwick Round Table Fireworks | Northumbria Round Tables | Coastal Custodian - Across Northumberland Coast & Country | All About Alnwick | Jane Coltman Photography | Northumberland Gazette |

14/07/2024

Ella's Adventures in Northumberland - "Sorry to go on about the weather again, but it rules our lives! We had one roasting hot day when we all went fruit picking near Kelso where the strawberries and gooseberries were ready for eating (I mean, collecting to take home!). Drew got overexcited and we had to drag him away before he filled 2 trays, but we've managed to get through most of them now. We had a snack in their café then even managed a quick park trip in Kelso too.
But on the wet days, Daddy has fitted the new feed mixer, ready for feeding sheep and cattle this winter. He eventually put the ugly machine he's been working on to use direct drilling grass, when it wasn't too wet. We also had a dry enough spell to finish dosing lambs with fly repellent, vaccine, wormer and mineral treatments. These were the Mule lambs, many of which will be our future breeders. Hopefully there will be another dry spell soon so we can get their Blackie mummies clipped. Oh, and Daddy got to play with his digger fixing a water leak - as if we didn't have enough water around already!" We Accept Pets Northumberland National Park Visit Northumberland Independent Hostel Guide

12/07/2024

08/07/2024

At Ilderton Dod Barns we still have some availability in both properties over the school summer holidays. Living and working here all the time, we sometimes forget that most of the world haven't experience living on a hill farm before! Even fellow farmers are often taken aback by the peace and tranq...

07/07/2024

Ella's Adventures in Northumberland - "It's now been a whole year of sunshine and showers - we were in the middle of clipping when it started last year. This week we've had to house sheep in small batches just so the shearers can get on, but we're not even finished with the sheep at home yet. Silage making has been put on hold and Daddy has spent several days fiddling with a huge machine that I've not yet seen do any work!
Yesterday, me and Mummy were very busy working, not on the farm, but organising the Chevy Chase race. It's a 20 mile fell race starting in Wooler which includes Cheviot and Hedgehope - so there's a great view of the Dod, except when it's foggy like yesterday. There's a great atmosphere at the finish line at the hostel, and this year I got to give out the prizes.
Today is always one of my favourites - the boys go to Chillingham Vintage Tractor Rally and me and Mummy go cycling to Cafe at the Mill for lunch. Now I'm on the tow-along bike I was very helpful in getting us up those hills!" Northumberland National Park We Accept Pets Independent Hostel Guide Visit Northumberland

05/07/2024

We still have The Barn at Ilderton Dod Barns available from Saturday 24th August onwards, which sleeps 1-6 people. This ties in well, particularly if you have any interest in farming because we'll probably be making hay, and Glendale Show is held in Wooler on the bank holiday Monday - this is regard...

30/06/2024

Ella's Adventures in Northumberland - "We've barely touched an animal this week because everyone has been busy making silage - cutting, baleing, wrapping and transporting, and there's lots more to do. It's fun to watch but Drew and me also love it because we can run through the fields a lot more easily now the grass is shorter!
Another week, another museum; this time at Belford. It's pretty small but as a coaching town just off the A1 it was quite different to last week's one in the hills. Of course, we tied it in with a park trip plus a cafe lunch where Daddy was over the moon to get his all day breakfast!" Independent Hostel Guide We Accept Pets Northumberland National Park Visit Northumberland

24/06/2024

Our neighbouring farm.

23/06/2024

Ella's Adventures in Northumberland - "At last, a drier week! Daddy eventually got the kale field ploughed, harrowed and drilled, we got the New Zealanders in to clip the ewe hoggs, and we treated about half of the lambs at home for worms, mineral deficiencies, fly prevention, gave them a vaccination and a tattoo. Still lots more to do though.
We had a hot day out just over the border - a nice walk, picnic on the green, playpark, paddle in the river and a visit to the museum - partly to shelter from the sun! Unfortunately we were too early for Mummy to see the finishers of the Montane Spine Race which she has been following online for years - sounds like hard work to me - a whole week of walking / running the Pennine Way." We Accept Pets Northumberland National Park Independent Hostel Guide Visit Northumberland

18/06/2024

NOTICE‼️
We want to add that even though the Union Chain-bridge has closed for up to 5 weeks for remedial works, local businesses are still open. Work is set to be complete around 15th July…

Chain Bridge Honey Farm - 7 days a week - 10am - 5pm.
Chain Bridge Bus Cafe - Times in post.
Paxton House - 7 days a week - 10am - 4pm.

You can access the Honey Farm from the East Ord roundabout, despite the road closure signs.

Let’s help support these businesses despite works. 🫂

16/06/2024

Ella's Adventures in Northumberland - "It just goes on and on; the rain affecting our work, and play! Daddy eventually got his grass seed in the ground, but with all the wind, the field the kale is going into has only just been weed-sprayed. Daddy topped it today but it still needs ploughed, harrowed, drilled, weed-sprayed again then fertilizer spread - we love looking out of the window seeing the tractors pulling something different everyday!
Today we were extra kind to Daddy and let him have a huge ice cream all to himself after our pub lunch in Lesbury, with all my grandparents too. Then we drove a few miles to Boulmer beach where they even provide toys - I think Mummy was glad she didn't have to pack all our usual beach toys just for the 10 minutes when the rain stopped this afternoon!" We Accept Pets Northumberland National Park Independent Hostel Guide Visit Northumberland

09/06/2024

Ella's Adventures in Northumberland - "This week, at work and play, we've been visiting lots of other farms. Daddy helped organise the annual Children's Countryside Day held on our neighbours' farm - 1700 kids from across the North East came to learn about farming, forestry, food making etc. Obviously I know lots about farming but I can't wait until it's my turn to go with school in a few years time!
On Wednesday, Mummy went to Scotsheep, near Dunbar, with the vets. It's a huge annual event about all things sheep-related, and she brought home some new equipment for the farm, which will hopefully make my job easier!
Today was Open Farm Sunday and we visited both the farms open locally - sheep, pony, alpacas, farm walk etc. at D M Mair Kypie Suffolks then dairy cows, calves, more sheep and a pony at Thornington Farm near Milfield. Daddy likes to be nosy, but it's also a great social event. Don't worry, we still fitted in our lunch out at Milfield first!" We Accept Pets Northumberland National Park Independent Hostel Guide Visit Northumberland

05/06/2024

04/06/2024

📣Calling all crafty people📣

If you would like a stall in our craft tent or on the show field, please get in touch🤗

The planning has started!

🧑‍🌾🧑‍🌾🐶

04/06/2024

This week was Marlene's (our German student) last week of her 2 months in Northumberland. She arrived in the middle of lambing and within 10 minutes of stepping out of the car, she was helping Granny B castrating / tailing lambs. Since then she has cleaned holiday cottages, treated lambs at The Dod, rolled fields, strimmed grass, looked after kids, but her most long-remembered job will be repainting almost every inch of the yard at The Croft - please bring sunglasses next time you visit!
We wish her all the best in her training to be an estate agent back home - we've not quite convinced her to go into farming!