Meadowside Cottage

12/08/2025

School holidays means a visit from our nephew and last week was a full-on mix of good food, local exploring, and a bit of bus-based adventure!

🍽 Food first (obviously!)
• (1,2) Saturday’s highlight was the 9-course tasting menu at – every plate was a treat. And handing the bill to our nephew at the end of the meal was a nice touch🤣
• (3,4) Friday night we headed to – the meatballs and Ryan’s Brownies definitely earned a thumbs-up.

5,6 🚶‍♀️ Exploring Allenheads
A gentle wander along the Cold-blooded & Spineless Trail in the village, followed by coffee and cheesecake at The Hemmel Café.

7. 🍰 Cheesecake fans take note – two visits to Jill’s Tearoom in Catton might have happened…

🥪 Before heading home
8. We couldn’t resist a mighty breakfast bun at Whitfield Pantry – the perfect fuel before the train from Haydon Bridge.

🚌 Hexham by bus
On Saturday’s changeover day, the bus proved a handy way for him to go solo and explore:
☕ – now on the “top 5 coffees” list
🌮 – nachos worth travelling for
🪙 – a real treasure trove
📚 – “best Waterstones visited” verdict!

Who knew a simple bus trip to Hexham could be the key to a brilliant day out? 🚍💚

29/07/2025

A Broad Church… and a Lovely Day Out

A little venture into Cumbria today took me to Lanercost Priory, just a mile from Hadrian’s Wall. I’d seen it from walks nearby but never explored properly until now.

The priory is split into three: the church (still in use), the hall, and the English Heritage ruins. While not vast, the site is peaceful, fascinating and full of history. The staff were lovely and the guidebook—I’ll leave a copy in the cottage—really brought it to life.

Lunch plans at the tearoom next door were foiled (closed Tuesdays—note to self! 🤦‍♀️), but The Capon Tree Café in Brampton came to the rescue with delicious home baking and a good cuppa. If you’re a coffee lover, maybe try The Howard Arms instead, also a great stop.

Want to add some shopping? Houghton Hall Garden Centre is nearby for a wander and a treat (yes, I came home with plants 🌿), and don’t forget to swing by in Bardon Mill on the way back to pick up a gorgeous Northumbrian pot for your garden.

📍Lanercost Priory, Brampton CA8 2HQ
🅿️ Free parking by the tearoom (short level walk)
💷 Entry: £9.50/£7.70 advance (English Heritage)

29/07/2025

Here’s one to watch…
Northumberland Antique Centre has three floors with more than 30 dealers. They’re on the roundabout opposite Tesco in Hexham. An easy walk from Tesco car park or the Wentworth car park near Waitrose.

We can now announce that our episode of Salvage Hunters with will be showing on Thursday at 9pm on Quest.

27/07/2025

🕰️ Master Bedroom Clock: Then & Now

Our old clock was a favourite of mine — it inspired the whole room design and added a lovely vintage touch. But… it did tick. And not everyone finds that soothing when they’re trying to sleep!

So we’ve made a small change that we hope makes a big difference to your stay — a new silent clock that still looks the part but won’t disturb your peace. Because restful sleep is what a holiday is all about.

📍 Master bedroom at Meadowside Cottage
💤 Style + silence = a good night’s sleep

22/07/2025

The Autumn is a fantastic time to visit. Get ahead on planning with these highlights from Visit Hexham
I’m especially delighted to see the dates for the next Hexham Restaurant Week Mon 6- Sun 12 October
Plus
Gaia at Hexham Abbey 3 Oct- 16 Nov
💚

Are you big on planning? Want to get Hexham Fireworks 2025, Hexham Christmas Market and/or Spook Night booked in? Find all of the dates you need on these plus Luke Gerram's stunning Gaia installation, the next Restaurant Week, Hexham Christmas Lights, the return of Father Christmas (and more!) on our latest blog
https://visithexham.com/2025/07/22/major-events-in-hexham/