We are situated in the North Pennine Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with magnificent views, a lot of bird life and wildflowers.
Mellwaters Barn Cottages are situated a quarter mile off the A66 Trans Pennine Road, down a nicely surfaced lane and over a grade 2 listed pack horse bridge. We are often asked about the noise from the road but you will be surprised once here how little road noise you can hear.
Bowes is the nearest village which is about 1 mile east of Mellwaters Barn along the Bowes Loop of the Pennine Way for those who wish to walk or just over a mile by car. Places of interest in Bowes are Bowes Castle which is a Roman Fort, William Shaw’s academy (now known as Dotheboys Hall) which is in Charles Dickens book Nicholas Nickleby, Bowes School which was founded in 1674 and has been in constant use as a school ever since and St. Giles Church.
The historic market town of Barnard Castle is some 7 miles from Mellwaters Barn and is the nearest town to us. There is a market every Wednesday and on the first Saturday of the month there is a good sized Farmers Market with a selection of local produce. Places of interest in Barnard Castle include the castle itself, Bowes Museum, the Witham. Many people enjoy the Blue plaque trail which highlights historic buildings and there history. Barnard Castle is also well known for Antique and independent shops including its famous opticians.
We are situated in the North Pennine Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with magnificent views, a lot of bird life and wildflowers. In particular we would recommend Moorhouse National Nature reserve near Cow Green Reservoir to see such rarities as the Blue Gentian and the Teesdale Violet. In Teesdale there are also marked walks along the Tees for those interested in birds and wildflowers.
Half an hour from us going north on the B6277 you come to Bowlees visitor centre which is a great place to park and explore the waterfalls and landscape in the area, from there you have multiple options you can follow the trail from the car park and walk to Summerhill Force and Gibsons Cave or you can head out of the car park and over the road to Low Force which is 0.4 miles away, from there you can follow the trail and walk up to High Force (the highest waterfall in England) which is a about a 4 mile circular walk which finishes back at Bowlees visitor centre (not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs). Alternatively you can drive up to High Force Hotel continuing on the B6277 where car parking is available (charges apply), once parked you cross over the road and follow the made up path down to see High Force waterfall in all its Glory.
Many of our visitors have visited the Lakes and a trip on one of the pleasure boats on Ullswater and Windermere makes a very enjoyable day.
Hadrian’s Wall is also a popular destination with all its points of interest.
For the angler there is fishing on the River Tees which is ran by Barnard Castle Angling Club, day tickets can be purchased at Connelly’s Toy shop on the bank in Barnard Castle. Grassholme reservoir at Mickleton is another place you can fish and the Northumbrian publication ‘Go Fishing’ gives a good idea of places to visit.
There is a wide variety of bird life on the farm including curlew, oystercatcher and lapwing. The rare Black Grouse can be seen on the moor around Tan Hill and towards Cotherstone. Low barns Nature reserve is a 35 Minute drive from us and Cow Green Reservoir is a great place to explore. (www.explorenorthpennines.org.uk).
We have the ruined Roman fort at Bowes and the castle ruins which you can go round at Barnard Castle. You also have Raby Castle – the home of Lord Barnard – at Staindrop with all its attractions (www.rabycastle.com).
Auckland Castle at Bishop Auckland is steeped in almost 900 years of history, is one of the most important Episcopal palaces in Europe, and the magnificent home of England’s only Prince Bishop. The Zubaran paintings are well worth viewing. (www.aucklandcastle.org)
Durham Cathedral in its stunning position above the River Wear is very popular with our visitors particularly the Open Treasure exhibition. (www.durhamcathedral.co.uk)
There are numerous walks in Teesdale with circular walks round Bowes, walks along the River Tees, along the old railway line to Cotherstone and on to Middleton in Teesdale, and of course the Pennine Way.
There is information on various cycle routes in County Durham and the North Pennines on the County Durham website.
If you enjoy a round of golf there are several golf course in this area including Barnard Castle, Richmond and Catterick.
Close to hand Charles Dickens, who was born over 200 years ago in 1812, spent time in this area. Other famous people include Hannah Hauxwell who made the magnificent scenery of Baldersdale famous, as is the Baldersdale Hay Time Walk.
Oliver Cromwell stayed at Blagrave House in Barnard Castle and Sir Walter Scott stayed at Rokeby Hall just outside Barnard Castle. He enjoyed his stay so much that he wrote a poem called ‘Rokeby’.
A little further away Beatrix Potter lived at Hill Top near Sowerby (Cumbria) and William Wordsworth lived at Cockermouth.
You have the Bowes Museum at Barnard Castle (www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk), the lead mine museum at Killhope near Cowshill is of particular interest to children, and the railway museums at Shildon and Darlington (www.nrm.org.uk)
Going further afield there is the Baltic Centre and the Hancock Museum at Newcastle. Then of course there are plenty of museums in York including the National Railway Museum, the Castle Museum along with the Jorvic Centre.
For a great day out for all the family many visitors have been to Beamish, a working museum of life from 1835 to 1913, which is about an hour from Mellwaters. (www.beamish.org.uk)
Within reach of Mellwaters Barn is the North Yorkshire Moors Railway from Grosmont to Pickering. Some trains go to Whitby (www.nymr.co.uk). The Seattle to Carlisle Railway (www.settle-carlisle.co.uk), Weardale and Wensleydale Railways are also within reach of Mellwaters Barn.
A very popular day trip, is to take a trip on the Ullswater ‘Steamers’ in the Lake District (www.ullswater-steamers.co.uk)
"This place is my new happy place. Everything you need for your stay is here. Everywhere is spotlessly clean welcome gift appreciated, very informative about the farm. Sitting watching the sheep and cows from the sofa is better than watching tv. Wheelchair accessible and disability friendly. Friendly and helpful staff, would highly recommend this place for a peaceful relaxing break."
Judith, Google, June 2026
