Hotels & Accommodation near North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

We're former residents of Weardale and booked for a weekend in January so we could catch up with friends. We arrived late at 9pm, with snow and ice on the ground and -6°. The heating was on for us and wood for the fire. It was also lovely to have milk in the fridge and a big welcome pack and tea in the jar so we could make a much needed brew and biscuit.The big, squashy sofas are ideal for chilling out in front of the fire and TV. We popped to Rowells for more wood so we could have the fire on all day. The Co-op also stock firewood if Rowells run out.The cottage is tastefully decorated with a good selection of equipment if you choose to cook. We opted for the "old times sake" curry and pub meal, but the crockery and equipment we used matched the decor and was in good order.We found the beds comfy (the two teens particularly commented on this) and the option of a bath time soak was lovely.The massive bonus for us, especially given the weather, was the rear utility room. This houses the washer and fridge and has tons of room for muddy boots and drying wet dog. The rear yard has lovely brick paving and even fairy lights - a lovely touch.Having lived in two other Weardale villages, we know that parking is at a premium and so weren't expecting to get parked outside the house, but did get very close. These villages were never built with cars in mind so, although the owner has put polite notices requesting a space is kept clear, the parking is on road and first come, first served. The listing does say no parking is available on site, but you can find on road parking nearby and there's always free parking at the Dale's Centre 5 mins walk away if need be. Stanhope still has its excellent bakery and Woodhalls fruit & veg, and various handy shops, as well as being great for walks and regional attractions such as Beamish, Hadrian's Wall, Killhope Lead Mining Museum, Durham, Newcastle, Teesdale, Sunderland and, if it's your thing, the Metro Centre.We can heartily recommend Meadow View Cottage. It's cosy, comfy and a lovely place to just be. There's plenty of space for 4 people plus dog. The owner is extremely decent and kind and above all, does everything to make sure guests have a great stay. If you haven't visited Weardale you really must, and please do stay at Meadow View Cottage, where a warm Dales welcome awaits.