Sycamore Cottage & Glamping Pods

10/12/2024

Make your stay super easy by ordering food ready for your arrival.

Prepared by a professional chef check out the range of delicious options on our website here 👉 https://www.sycamorecottage.org/copy-of-experiences

08/12/2024

🖤2025 special stays 🖤

Make a great start to 2025 with an escape to The Black Hut already in the diary.

Weekend availability from February 2025

Head to 👉www.sycamorecottage.org to

06/12/2024

Update 3: winter livestock work

Charlotte is taking you through some work that she and Mark have been doing this week.

All cows are now inside, they are a vital part of this biodiverse rich farm. So it’s very important to maintain their health, as you would with any animal, in this clip they are receiving:
🐛 worm/ lice preventative measures,
💩a preventative injection against Bovine Viral Diahharea (BVD), and
🪱a fluke preventative - fluke is a parasite that lives in the ground and will attack a cows liver.
💅🏻Notes are taken of any cows that need pedicures later this month!
That’s the ladies all MOT’d and ready for a cosy winter in their sheds.

Following that Charlotte and Mark head outside to gather some sheep and Charlotte removes the tups (Male sheep) from the batch as they have had a busy few weeks hopefully making lots of lambs 💦 which will be due from the end of March onwards.

Will you be meeting one of their offspring in April 2025?

Head to www.sycamorecottage.org to book your spring lambing time break

29/11/2024

🐾🐾🐾 dog hotel 🐾🐾🐾

For those of you with four legged family members this sounds like the most amazing dog hotel.

Rachel and Nick are opening the doors of Northumberland Dog Hotel in December, take a read of why this is different to your average dog boarding arrangement. The best bit is they’re right next door to us which means you can drop your dogs with them before heading over and jumping into your outdoor bath or enjoy an evening out with the knowledge that your dog is being well cared for, and if you’d like to take your dog with you on your adventures you can, if not that’s ok because they’re being pampered. The best of both worlds.

Here’s some general info on Northumberland Dog Hotel & Dog Spa…

The new boarding kennels are not kennels at all and are large rooms, with proper ceilings, real doors, glass fronted suites, underfloor heating, wall lights, tv/radio in the rooms and a a camera in every room too. Each room also has its own dedicated outside dog patio area.

The rooms are large, over double what's required for the highest standard of licence. The room area & private covered patio area are over 12m2... multiple dogs can share a room, however they have to be from the same 'family' to share the same suite.

The whole idea is it's as close to being in my house as possible without actually being in my house. We want the dogs have a much more calm space to relax in vs a regular 'kennel' environment or a busy home boarding scenario which can be stressful for dogs that aren't used to it.

📍We are 11 miles north of Corbridge, straight up the A68. The link for ‘what three words’ directions…
https://w3w.co/doghouse.sorters.fund

We have a range of beds from Tuffies, HiK9, pet sofas and vet bed. What we give your dog depends on your dog and their requirements, age, size, behaviour etc.

We also have doggy dry robes and and an outside shower at the doggy play area door, so dogs will always return to the room as clean as possible. They will be lovely and toasty on our underfloor heating which covers 50% of the indoor area.

✨We believe the modern dog requires something a little more special. Our goal is to reduce stress and have happy, fulfilled dogs!

I also specialise ( as a dog groomer ) in nervous and reactive dogs and have rehabbed many over the years. We will have a new groomer in January 2025 and I will be teaching them all my wisdom from my 17 year grooming career! Grooming will be open to non guests however we will have time blocked out each day for guests so they can enjoy bath and blow drys before they go home (this is a bookable extra).

We always recommend a trial day or night to make sure it's right for them first but it’s not essential, it really depends on the dog and it will be a requirement for some.

You would provide usual food to avoid upset tummys, and any special treats/blankets to help them them feel more at home, then we do the rest!

We have 500 acres of our own land to walk on including a high fenced 5 acre field and plenty of normal walks around here too. In the summer months next year we will be building an all weather play area too to help us manage winter months. So bare with us while we finish up some of the outside areas in 2025.

We have 4 staff, and more seasonally or as required! All dogs will be out first thing for toileting and initial walk, after that dogs will have breakfast. Once they’ve digested that they will be out for walks on our farm or local routes, in the secure field or in a group play session in the field (this is only suitable to well socialised dogs with a recall and with your permission). The dogs will have some down time at lunch time then it’s more of the same! Enrichment activities will take place now too! Dogs will have their evening meal, then will enjoy an evening walk before being tucked up in bed.. Dogs are monitored 24/7 with our wonderful CCTV system.

The daily routine is flexible and will change if your dog is very young, very old, has disabilities, needs 121 training sessions or requires any special measures, medication etc.

Introductory price for the first dog room will be £36 per day, then additional dogs from the same house are £15 per day...

There is also a range of extras you can choose to add such as spa treatments, teeth cleaning, massage and our special scent school!

Check in and check out time are to be confirmed exactly but will like be 8:30-10:00 and 3:30-5:00 but this can be discussed.

Any questions just ask, we are an open book and will tell you anything! You're all welcome to come and view it and meet me once the build is complete in early December. We will be releasing open weekend dates every soon!

🐾 Let us know if you think we’ve missed something? Or if you think there’s something else you would love to see in a dog boarding environment. You can comment below or pop us a message! 🐾

27/11/2024

🖤🖤🖤BLACK FRIDAY 🖤🖤🖤

Use code ‘BlackFriday24’ when you book any stay in 2025 and receive 10% off your booking when booking at www.sycamorecottage.org

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

Black Friday terms and conditions:
These are in addition to our normal terms and conditions which can be found on our website:
*Valid on bookings made between Friday 29th November and Friday 6th December 2024.
*Valid for breaks with a minimum of 2 nights
*Discount is valid on accommodation only
*Break must be taken between 1st January 2025 and 31st December 2025
*Valid for new bookings only made directly through www.sycamorecottage.org
*Not valid with any other offer
*Code must be entered at time of booking
*No cash alternative is available

19/11/2024

What a day.

This wasn’t something I ever thought we would need to do. Ever. Because we produce food for the country, we have environmental benefits for the country, we farm for the country.
Our accommodation is here because we farm.

Today I took our three children into the Houses of Parliament so they could tell our MP what the impact that the October budget proposals would have on them and our farm. I have never been prouder of these three country bumpkins, they stood in the front row of the protest you saw on TV and looked after two younger children, have been interviewed by National media and spoke up in The Houses of Parliament to talk about what was important to them - after all it is their future that will loose out more than ours. Thank you for your time Joe Morris MP

The feeling of huge pride and passion for the industry was tangible, so many people and all with the same story over and over again. The general public who said ‘we have your back’ and the messages sent over social media is overwhelming.

Who knows the outcome. But these three have seen today what this community is about and it’s a community I hope that they have a long lifetime link with.

10/11/2024

♥️Lest we forget♥️

Today we remember all those who have gone before us, those who have served our country.

Today we remember family members who have died for us, including my Great Uncle Joe who was lost at Dunkirk. A farmers son.

We also remember those who stayed and fed this country. Here we have Marks grandad William, and his two older sisters Isabel and Winnie. Their mother died when William was young and Isabel and Winnie played a huge part in his upbringing.

William met his wife, Ethel, during the war when she was located as a land girl from Tynemouth to Chipchase (just down the road from us) where William and his Dad were farming.

The rest is history.

So today we remember those who we lost, but those who fed this nation. History shows why feeding this nation ourselves is so important and why we feel so passionate about our role as family farmers.

Photo 1: Williams mother, Polly (Marks great Gran) who died when William was a small boy in a pony cart accident
Photo 2: William’s sisters, their husbands and babies at hay time
Photo 3: William as a boy with his elder sisters

09/11/2024

Best date ideas in Northumberland - obviously we are number 1 on the list 😍🛁✨🦉

20 date ideas in Northumberland (which don't involve alcohol).

Read the article here: https://www.northeastfamilyfun.co.uk/2023/06/20-date-ideas-in-northumberland.html

09/11/2024

Family - when you stay with us you’re supporting a third generation family farmer, who is passing down skills to the fourth generation.

You’ll see our children working alongside Mark, they’re capable of lambing sheep, gathering sheep, feeding animals, knowing when something’s not quite right, they’ve had to grit teeth in adverse weather conditions alongside us to make sure the animals are safe and we’ve even managed a little overnight stay and they’ve ran the place for us (don’t worry one is now an adult!). We’re forever grateful for all they do on the farm.

We love working alongside them, watching them learn these skills and become well rounded young people because no matter what path in life they choose the resilience and work ethic that will have will be an asset to any employer. It sets them in good stead for the future. And also they absolutely love it!

So when you stay with us you aren’t just taking a break, you’re supporting a typical Northumbrian hill farmer. A hill farmer who provides habitats for so many different wildlife, food for the country and business for lots of local suppliers.

Thank you for supporting British agriculture when you stay with us. 🇬🇧

Joe Morris MP

07/11/2024

💎Hidden Gems 💎

Follow our guest guide to our local hidden gems, this cabin is along one of our favourite local walks.

05/11/2024

BOOKED
Unfortunately for our guests in Cedar they can’t make their weekend break, so they’ve rebooked for another date.

Luckily for you this means you can grab this bargain rate:
✅ 2 nights
✅ 2 adults with up to 4 children absolutely FREE
✅ FREE firepit pack
29th November check in - booked!!!
However we still have Cedar & Willow for 13th December.
Contact us for reduced rates.

Accommodation includes:
♨️underfloor heating
🚿en suite shower room and outdoor bath 🛁
🧑‍🍳well equipped kitchen
🛜wifi, board games, outdoor pool table, garden games, welcome hamper and activity packs
🛌crisp linen and fluffy towels
🦉tranquil rural location

Send us a message to book this stay, note - only available with direct message.

03/11/2024

We only have a couple of our 2024 reduced weekend stays left!

December weekend availability
💙13th December
£270 for 2 adults and 2 children

💛Cedar 13th December
£280 for 2 adults and 4 children

Includes:
🛌Double and sofa bed
🚿En suite shower room
♨️Underfloor heating
🍽️Kitchen
♠️Indoor and outdoor games
🧺Fluffy white towels
🛁Outdoor bath

Head to www.sycamorecottage.org to boo

02/11/2024

🦌this mornings view 🦌

The deer have been really visible lately, they’re often grazing on the approach to the site. If guests look out this morning this will be their view 🦌🦌🦌

30/10/2024

🍁Tyne Green, Hexham🍁

We spend a lot of time along this Bankside, this autumn it has been an absolute pleasure so far. The avenues of trees in their autumnal hues are starting to flutter from their branches leaving crispy cosy dens for the hedgehogs 🦔
Before long we will be looking for conkers too.

Tyne Green is a fantastic spot all year round, this year we feel extra appreciative of this green space which is accessible for all.

29/10/2024

February 2024 photo ….. don’t worry it isn’t today!!!

🏂🌨️❄️⛄️⛷️🎿

I wonder if we will get much of the white stuff this winter?

Snuggling up with hot chocolate, pastries warming in the oven and the fire roaring 🔥 whilst watching the flakes gently build a landscape straight from Narnia right in front of your eyes.

Who is up for that? 🙋‍♀️

27/10/2024

Corbridge by night or day? The autumnal leaves this week have been stunning.

Corbridge is one of our favourite spots for a potter, cuppa or a night out. There’s so many great independent shops and eateries, and the whole village breathes history. There’s a quaintness that draws us back time and again, our guests love it too.

What’s your favourite Corbridge spot?
Are you a night or day person?

25/10/2024

Happy half term🎃hands up if you’re excited 🙌

What are your plans to fill in the next week? We love just being together without the pressure of getting up for school, homework and all the drama.

We are full this half term, make sure to book school
Holidays 2025 well in advance to avoid disappointment.

We don’t take family holidays in school holidays because we are here for our fabulous guests (sorry Kier but holidays need people like us to make them happen so you’ll be cashing in on us in term time 🙄😂). I’ve highlighted the FREE days out as not every day has to be an expensive one 💕

On our school holiday days out list is:
- see the latest exhibition at The Sill🐏 🌳- FREE
- beach trip 🏖️- FREE
- Floors Castle🏰
- paddle boarding 🏄‍♀️
- pumpkin picking at Brocksbushes 🎃
- a National Trust trip, we are spoilt for choice here so we will choose nearer the time - FREE with membership
- Beamish Open Air Museum - FREE because we have a pass from last year
- Bamburgh Castle trip
- Kielder Observatory
- High ropes
- Ad Gefrin
- something around Alnwick
- lots of walks, pottering around market towns and favourite eateries to visit

Have we missed a great spot?

If we can help plan your stay with us just let us know and we will be more than happy to help, visit www.sycamorecottage.org or just drop us a message