The Old Smithy in Barnard Castle | Stunning Yorkshire Dales Group Cottage

About The Old Smithy

The Old Smithy is a spacious stone cottage in Bowes, County Durham, perfect for groups of up to 12 guests. This impressive property offers six well-appointed bedrooms and multiple living spaces ideal for larger gatherings. The games room with pool table provides entertainment for all ages whilst the enclosed garden gives everyone space to relax outdoors.

Bowes sits in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Rolling hills and open moorland surround this peaceful village. The dramatic landscape offers stunning views across the Durham Dales.

Accommodation spans three floors with six bedrooms sleeping 12 people. The ground floor features a king-size bedroom with en-suite shower. Upstairs you'll find four more bedrooms: two kings, one double and one twin. The second floor has another king-size room. Three bathrooms serve the property. Two sitting rooms and a dining kitchen give groups plenty of room to spread out.

Barnard Castle lies 4.5 miles away (10 minutes). High Force waterfall is 12 miles distant (20 minutes). Bowes Museum sits 4 miles away (9 minutes). Raby Castle is 8 miles from the cottage (15 minutes).

The Old Smithy suits extended families and friend groups wanting countryside walks and historic attractions. Book here for space, comfort and access to the North Pennines.

Check Prices & Availability »

At Sykes Cottages

Need To Know

✓Please note: this property only accepts saturday check ins, if you would like to request another day to check in please contact sykes cottages - 01244 345700
✓Gas central heating
✓Electric oven, gas hob, microwave, fridge/freezer
✓Tv, wifi
✓Fuel and power included in rent
✓Bed linen and towels included in rent
✓Off-road parking for 1 car
✓Two well behaved dogs welcome, with a third welcome on request
✓Sorry, no smoking
✓Shop and pub 0.1 mile
✓This property can accommodate up to 16 guests when booked in conjunction with smithy stables, property id 1183183
✓Fully enclosed courtyard when booked with smithy stables

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What Guests Love

What do previous guests think about their group stay at The Old Smithy

Spacious Group Accommodation

Six bedrooms and multiple living areas give everyone their own space whilst keeping the group together for meals and socialising.

Games Room Entertainment

The dedicated games room with pool table keeps teenagers and adults entertained during evenings and rainy afternoons together.

Perfect Location for Exploring

Bowes provides easy access to waterfalls, castles and market towns across the Durham Dales and North Pennines region.

Multiple Bathrooms

Three bathrooms including an en-suite mean no morning queues when getting ready for days out with larger groups.

Enclosed Garden Space

The private enclosed garden offers safe outdoor space for children to play whilst adults relax with countryside views all around.

Traditional Stone Character

Original stone walls and traditional features create a cosy atmosphere whilst modern facilities ensure comfort for everyone staying together.

Getting To The Old Smithy

Find your way to your perfect countryside retreat

By Car

To reach The Old Smithy by car, take the A66 westbound and exit at Bowes. The cottage sits in the village centre with straightforward access from the main road. Off-road parking accommodates multiple vehicles for your group.

By Train

The nearest railway station is Darlington, approximately 18 miles from Bowes. From Darlington station, taxi services or car hire will transport your group to the cottage in around 30 minutes.

Off-road parking for multiple cars

Darlington station (18 miles)

Easy access from the A66

Group Attractions & More Nearby

Stuff for larger groups and families to try!

Barnard Castle

Distance: 0.3 miles (6 min walk)

DL12 8PR

The Bowes Museum

Distance: 0.6 miles (3 min drive)

DL12 8NP

Rokeby Park

Distance: 2.9 miles (6 min drive)

DL12 9RZ

Deepdale Nature Reserve

Distance: 1 mile (4 min drive)

DL12 9TB

Pennine Way - Bowes Loop

Distance: 4.8 miles (9 min drive)

Hoove

Distance: 8.3 miles (23 min drive)

DL11 6HB

Morrisons

Distance: 0.1 miles (2 min walk)

DL12 8JJ

William Peat Butchers

Distance: 0.2 miles (4 min walk)

DL12 8LX

54 Degrees North

Distance: 0.1 miles (2 min walk)

DL12 8EQ

Bishop Auckland Station

Distance: 14.2 miles (22 min drive)

DL14 7TH

Shildon Station

Distance: 15.9 miles (24 min drive)

DL4 2DH

Teesside International Airport

Distance: 23.6 miles (36 min drive)

DL2 1LU

Barnard Castle

Distance: 0.3 miles (6 min walk)

DL12 8PR

The Bowes Museum

Distance: 0.6 miles (3 min drive)

DL12 8NP

Rokeby Park

Distance: 2.9 miles (6 min drive)

DL12 9RZ

Deepdale Nature Reserve

Distance: 1 mile (4 min drive)

DL12 9TB

Pennine Way - Bowes Loop

Distance: 4.8 miles (9 min drive)

Hoove

Distance: 8.3 miles (23 min drive)

DL11 6HB

Morrisons

Distance: 0.1 miles (2 min walk)

DL12 8JJ

William Peat Butchers

Distance: 0.2 miles (4 min walk)

DL12 8LX

54 Degrees North

Distance: 0.1 miles (2 min walk)

DL12 8EQ

Bishop Auckland Station

Distance: 14.2 miles (22 min drive)

DL14 7TH

Shildon Station

Distance: 15.9 miles (24 min drive)

DL4 2DH

Teesside International Airport

Distance: 23.6 miles (36 min drive)

DL2 1LU

Is The Old Smithy Right For Your Group

Discover why this cottage is the one for your party or family reunion...

For Families

The games room with pool table keeps children and teenagers entertained throughout the stay. The enclosed garden provides safe outdoor play space away from roads. Bowes Castle ruins sit within walking distance for exploration and history lessons. High Force waterfall makes an exciting day trip just 12 miles away. Barnard Castle town offers parks, the Bowes Museum with interactive exhibits and riverside walks along the Tees for family adventures together.

Groups Will Love...

The dedicated games room transforms evenings into competitive fun for all ages. A full-size pool table takes centre stage, perfect for tournaments between family members or friends. This separate entertainment space means some guests can play whilst others relax in the two sitting rooms. The games room keeps everyone together under one roof during evenings and rainy days, creating memories and friendly competition throughout your group holiday in the Durham countryside.

Pet Friendly

The Old Smithy welcomes dogs to join your group holiday. The enclosed garden provides secure outdoor space where pets can exercise safely without wandering off. Bowes village offers direct access to the Pennine Way for long countryside walks across moorland. River Greta paths near Barnard Castle give additional walking routes. Local fields and open spaces surrounding the cottage mean dogs enjoy plenty of exercise and exploration during your stay together.

Dining & Cafes

Taste the local flavours during your stay at The Old Smithy

The Ancient Unicorn

Located 0.1 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: DL12 9HJ

The Morritt Hotel Restaurant

Located 2.5 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: DL12 9SE

Blagraves House Restaurant

Located 4.5 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: DL12 8PB

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to our most common questions about The Old Smithy

How many people does The Old Smithy sleep?

The cottage sleeps 12 guests across six bedrooms. The layout includes four king-size rooms, one double, one twin and three bathrooms throughout the property.

Is The Old Smithy pet friendly?

Yes, the property welcomes pets. The enclosed garden provides a safe outdoor space for dogs to exercise and explore during your stay.

What entertainment facilities are available?

A dedicated games room features a pool table for group entertainment. Two separate sitting rooms with TVs give everyone space to relax and socialise together.

Where is the nearest town for shopping?

Barnard Castle is 4.5 miles away with supermarkets, shops and cafes. The market town offers everything needed for self-catering plus restaurants and historic attractions to visit.

What outdoor activities are nearby?

High Force waterfall sits 12 miles away for spectacular walks. The Pennine Way passes through Bowes village offering hiking routes across moorland and through the Durham Dales countryside.

Is there parking at the property?

Off-road parking is available for multiple vehicles. The cottage sits in the village with easy access from main roads through the North Pennines region.

What are the sleeping arrangements?

Ground floor has one king with en-suite shower. First floor offers two kings, one double and one twin bedroom plus family bathroom and shower room.

Which castles can we visit nearby?

Barnard Castle ruins are 4 miles away in the market town. Raby Castle, a medieval fortress with gardens, sits 8 miles from the cottage and welcomes group visits.

Popular Stays Near This Cottage

Bowness-on-Windermere

The Old Smithy Reviews

The main living room light didnt work and there was a large area of plaster missing from the wall in the living room. Not sure if this was removed to fix the lighting issue or had been damaged. There were no instructions readily available for how to use equipment such as the ovenmicrowave. We had to hunt for the WiFi box to get the code for the WiFi. However kitchen was nice and modern and beds were comfy.

Nicola

Unfortunately unable to use the games room and another issue. Spoke to owner who responded quickly . Ideally located for Barnard castle. Hadn't realised there was no enclosed garden space for our dog but she still seemed to have a fab time.

Great location easy walking to a large supermarket and into the city centre. They do have 1 dedicated car parking spot but the rest is free street parking which if you have more than 1 car maybe difficult to find spaces. We didn't just the pool table as I'm 6' and you can't stand up in there at that height but would be fine for smaller people. Property was decorated to a good standard and it was clean throughout. Would recommend.

Miriam

Very small, dark and dirty. Not suitable for 8 people as described. Furniture & decor would have been beautiful but badly maintained We spent as much time as possible outside of the cottage as it was unpleasant being in it.

Excellent location and value. Tiny improvement would be to have an information sheet regarding what goes into which bin.

Beautifully and tastefully decorated. Convenient for the local amenities. Beautiful old property. Bit disappointed that quite a few items were dirty in the kitchen baking trays, pans and glasses and worktop hadnt been wiped down properly. A pint of milk and some soap mightve been nice since we arrived late Saturday after a long drive. Lots of chipped and broken items too.

Fantastic location in Barnard Castle centre. Very similar to many properties in the area with no outdoor sitting area and compact living. But we knew that when we booked and I guess it depends on what you're used to! Beds on the small side, but mattresses very comfy. Well equipped, light and airy kitchen. Good powerful showers but towels on the small side. Limited extras provided e.g. teacoffee and toilet paper but luckily Morrisons is on the doorstep for all the essentials.

Kelvin

Lovely near week at the Old Smithy, situated a short walk from Barnard Castle's main street and Morrisons. Lovely town with all shops you could need and the Castle. Plenty of room in the house and the kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms very nicely decorated. Pool table in the basement kept the kids and adults amused in the evenings take some 50p's with you.

Andrew

It was just as advertised no problems we had a nice stay Thank You

Kendra

Had a gorgrous stay at the property, adequate space and equipment for everyone, very comfortable beds and Barnard Castle is a lovely place to visit. My only critisism of the property is that the front room is quite cold. with just one small radiator and the door onto the street directly in the room we found it so cold. Perhaps install an electric fire in there?.

The previous guests were still at the property when we arrived at 5pm Property ... The previous guests were still at the property when we arrived at 5pm Property dirty and not cleaned Very poor to non working wifi

Had a three week stay which was enjoyable. That said there was an issue with the cleanliness. Mainly the kitchen. We are not people to bother others so just bought cleaning bits and sorted it ourselves. Upstairs was clean, as we say it was the kitchen. If the owners would like some feedback then crumbs on the top of the toaster. The utensil pot was greasy on the outside, not washed for a long time. The hob had not been completely taken apart and cleaned. And the floor was quite grubby, especially under the breakfast bar. However we know we left it all done. The court yard and its enjoyment by people who stay it is not clear enough. The courtyard belongs to one of the neighbours and is not for the use of The Old Smithy. You can sit around the edge of it though and have ample space under the arch to sit out. Do not be put off as I am sure the owners will address the above and the location is fantastic for exploring Barnard Castle.

Had a wonderful stay at the Old Smithy! I stayed with 7 other family members and the house was super spacious even with all those people. Each room is beautifully appointed and has its own personality and the kitchen is very big too when making food for the whole family. The games room downstairs is a nice touch and the younger ones in our family enjoyed it especially! The host was also really hospitable and super quick to reply to any texts and even checked in with us an hour before we arrived to make sure we were okay. We couldnt find any hand soaps or shampoosbody washes provided or any condiments such as salt, pepper. So please ensure to bring them with in case. 1010 stay will likely be back next time were up this way!

We had an amazing stay at The Old Smithy for my mams 60th birthday. Before arriving the owner called me who was so lovely! She gave me information about the house and the surrounding areas for dog walks, shops ect. The cottage itself was clean, tidy and very spacious. It fit our party of 8 and 2 dogs in quite nicely. We had a lovely welcome gift of wine and chocolates which we were not expecting. It is a 2 minute walk to Morrisons and just a few extra minutes to reach the shops pubs. There are a few walks around the area which i wish i had more time to check out but the loaction is perfect. There is a parking space under the arch which you can just say fit 2 cars in, the street was quite full of parked cars but if you find a space parking is all free. Free wifi however, we could not connect so i had to message the owner for the password. She replied immediately to help. All in all, the stay was great. I cannot fault the house or the owner! Would definitley stay again

Dominic

Excellent stay, friendly approachable owners. Wonderful hosting skills, nothing was too much trouble. Great location in central Barnard Castle. Dont let the vicinity of Morrisons put you off, access is through a cute little courtyard. Living room is a little on the small side for the number of bedrooms but it comfortably fit 8 adults, 2 dogs and a toddler. Games room is a nice touch. Would stay again!

Lovely comfortable accommodation. Plenty of room for all the family. Really cosy evenings with subtle lighting and cosy sofas. Beautifully fitted kitchen and lots of glasses and plates. Great little games room. Beds were all really comfortable and a really clean and modern bathroom. Highly recommend to anyone holidaying in this beautiful part of the country.

Joanne

No washing machine as listed on the site, which was a major issues for us as we didnt have enough clothes for the week! We never book accommodation without a washing machine. The owner told us it was Sykes is fault. Also within an hour of us leaving the house on the last day we were accused of leaving dog poo and breaking a bed. We are yet to see evidence of this which we know doesnt exist! Disappointed in how Sykes accused us without asking for this evidence. We have used Sykes before and been happy but this has left a bitter taste.

Inaccuracies in listing eg no washing machinewhich was annoying with 4 small kids. Listing also says that the cottage accommodates 8 people and whilst there are enough beds, there are not enough chairs for everyone to eatsit at the same time.

Charlotte

We loved the location of the property as it was central and within walking distance to the town and the castle. No parking facilities but we never struggled to find a parking spot on the street out the front of the property. The living room was missing a lamp or two as was pretty dark but we just moved a bedroom lamp in there to brighten it up in the evening to make it more cosey. The decor in the house was fab! We had fresh new towels delivered to us on arrival and milk and bread left in the kitchen which was so thoughtful. I would definitely recommend this property

Leave a Review

The Old Smithy, Barnard Castle

About The Old Smithy

Need To Know

More Group Cottages You May Like

What Guests Love

Spacious Group Accommodation

Games Room Entertainment

Perfect Location for Exploring

Multiple Bathrooms

Enclosed Garden Space

Traditional Stone Character

Getting To The Old Smithy

By Car

By Train

Group Attractions & More Nearby

Is The Old Smithy Right For Your Group

For Families

Groups Will Love...

Pet Friendly

Dining & Cafes

The Ancient Unicorn

The Morritt Hotel Restaurant

Blagraves House Restaurant

Frequently Asked Questions

Location Name

Popular Stays Near This Cottage

The Old Smithy Reviews