The long days of summer may be behind us, but that doesn't mean holiday season has to be over - and in one picturesque North East county, staycation season is all year round. Northumberland offers plenty of unique places to stay, with one particular holiday home singled out as one of the most stylish in the country.
The Gin And Thresher is described as a "truly stunning" let set on a working farm near the picturesque village of Allendale, just 20 minutes by car from the market town of Hexham and less than an hour away from Newcastle. Home to eight bedrooms and bathrooms as well as a cocktail bar and even a heated swimming pool, this former farm building has been transformed into a getaway that will have guests feeling like celebrities.
It's not cheap to stay at The Gin And Thresher, with this luxurious holiday home priced from £3,664 for a seven-night stay. However, it's also one of the largest properties available to book on holidaycottages.co.uk with room for up to 18 guests, making it easier for large families or friend groups to split the cost of a stay, working out at as little as £29 per person per night.
One thing to note is that The Gin And Thresher is not dog-friendly, so isn't suitable to holidaymakers hoping to bring their four-legged friends along. For alternative places to stay in Northumberland for groups of this size, both Bastle Lodge in Tarset and Ravenslaw House in Alnwick are options on holidaycottages.co.uk that allow up to four dogs.
Meanwhile, over on Sykes Holiday Cottages, the biggest property available to book in Northumberland is The Hall in Belford, a Grade II-listed stone mansion which has room for up to 20 guests and is priced from £4,991 for seven nights, although pets are also not allowed here. And on Airbnb, one of the top-rated options for large parties is Beaufront Castle, an eight-bedroom unique stay sitting above the towns of Hexham and Corbridge with views across the Tyne Valley.
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Back at The Gin And Thresher, this property was featured in holidaycottages.co.uk's Eye For Design Showcase Collection, singling it out as one of the most striking places to stay in the UK all year round, whether enjoying the countryside views from the garden in the summer or cosying up in front of the fire with a book in the library's hidden reading snug.
The travel experts said: "An Art Deco-inspired cocktail bar, an indoor Victorian botanic garden, and an infinity pool on the roof terrace: this unique property enveloped by rolling Northumberland countryside has it all. Here, rustic interiors are awash with vintage style - one of the highlights being the open-plan living space, formerly a gin gang roundhouse."
"Filled to the brim with the wow factor, you can pull up a chair at the enormous bespoke dining table, play a tune on the baby grand piano, or escape to the hidden library and curl up with a hardback in one of the big leather chairs beside the wood burner."
As for its location, tourism board Visit Northumberland describes nearby Allendale as "a small village with a big personality", where glittering rivers meet sprawling moorlands home to awe-inspiring waterfalls and an abundance of wildlife. Described as a "picturesque and unforgettable part of Northumberland", Allendale is just below Northumberland National Park, making it the perfect destination for a scenic holiday.
For more places to stay in Allendale, the number one top-rated hotel in the village according to Tripadvisor reviews is The Kings Head, a traditional pub housed in a Grade II listed building on the market square. And the number one choice over on Booking.com is the Allendale Tea Rooms, a bed and breakfast serving up lunches, cakes and scones downstairs.