Idyllic cottage by the River Tees, North Yorkshire

On the banks of the River Tees this cottage is a beautiful, stylish get-away for 4. With walks from the doorstep and the quiet burble of the river in the background, it's the perfect place for romantic weekends or family breaks off the beaten track. Situated on the border of North Yorkshire and Durham it is ideally placed for trips to both the Yorkshire Dales, the Yorkshire Moors and the stunning North East coast. Bridge Cottage is located on a traditional private estate in North Yorkshire right on the banks of the River Tees. Set in the tiny hamlet of Eryholme, and just off the main lane through the village, it is so quiet that you can fall asleep listening to the sound of the river from your bedroom window. The cottage is a great place to unwind and relax with a wonderful wood-burning stove, smart tv and lots of little cosy corners to curl up and read a good book. Upstairs you have your own mini-suite with a Scandi style bedroom featuring a wooden king-size bed and a pretty panelled bathroom with a large bath and views down over the river. The bedroom downstairs is decorated in calming country colours and can be made up either as a twin room or as a superking-size bed. The living room is huge and has two comfy sofas, large smart tv, a beautiful antique dining table, reading corner and a roaring wood-burning stove. The kitchen is light and bright with new modern appliances and space to sit and chat while cooking a meal. Also downstairs there is a large utility room at the back with a fridge/freezer, washer/dryer machine, room for your dogs to sleep and an old Belfast sink for cleaning the mud off your boots after a lovely long walk. Off the utility room is the shower room with a new large walk-in rain shower, loo and sink area. Secluded and private, Bridge Cottage is surrounded by ancient woodland and is home to badgers, herons, owls, kingfishers and the occasional roe deer. If you are lucky you might even catch a glimpse of the elusive local otters who occasionally come and sunbathe under the bridge opposite. With walks around the river bank, fishing and wild swimming right on your doorstep it's the perfect place to get away from the crowds. For anyone who is interested in fishing please get in touch when booking as the estate can organise a permit for you. Bridge Cottage doesn't have a traditional garden but does have a large wrap-around paved terrace and a small grassed area with outdoor furniture. Please be aware with dogs or small children that this is not enclosed and there are no gates or fences. In the garage there is room to store bikes or surf boards. Hamsterley Forest near by is an excellent place for biking days out, as is the top of Sutton Bank near Thirsk. If you fancy a surf the beautiful Victorian seaside town of Saltburn-by-the-sea is the place to go. Well-behaved dogs are very welcome at the property with prior agreement. Please get in touch with us first before booking. We also have a travel cot and high chair available for babies so just let us know if you need them (no extra charge for infants). The whole cottage and the surrounding terrace and garden is yours to use. The woods directly behind the house are privately owned but there are walks from your doorstep and information on where you can go provided in the welcome pack. The cottage is set just off the village road and there is ample off-road parking for two cars to the side of the property. The steep drive to the back of the property is perfect for taking you straight to the back door to unload heavy luggage and shopping. Bridge Cottage is built on a hill and has steps down to the terrace, into the house, into the sitting room and into the downstairs bedroom. Unfortunately this means that it is NOT a wheelchair accessible property. Swimming in the River Tees in the summer months is heaven but we only do it when the river levels are low enough and safe enough to swim. Please read all the information in our welcome pack on swimming and be aware that if you choose to swim then you do so at your own risk. Hello and welcome to Bridge Cottage. We live in the village and are happy for you to contact us by phone if you need anything while you are here. We will send you details of key location prior to your arrival and we hope you will have a very happy stay here in Eryholme. Eryholme is a small hamlet within a friendly farming community. There is nothing in the way of local amenities but what it lacks in shops and restaurants it makes up in quiet beauty. The joy of being so secluded of course, is that you feel a million miles away from the rest of the world whilst in reality you are just a 10-minute drive to the nearest shops. You can walk to the village of Hurworth from Bridge Cottage, where there are several great pubs to choose from (including the award-winning Bay Horse), it's a good 40-45 minutes and you have to go through a farm yard to get there so you will definitely need your wellies! Alternatively you can drive there in less than 10 minutes. Hurworth is where you will find our nearest village shop, The Mustard Tree Cafe, fish and chip shop and local doctors and dentist. We are also an easy drive away from the beautiful old town of Richmond, perched on top of a hill and the gateway to the Dales. The town has lots to offer visitors with Easby Abbey, Richmond Castle and the wonderful historic Georgian theatre. If you are after buzzing night life, restaurants and boutique shops then Yarm-on-Tees is super chic and also only a 15-minute drive away. On Wednesdays and Saturdays you'll find a traditional high street market in Northallerton (15 minutes drive from Bridge Cottage) where you can buy delicious fresh fish, fruit and veg, local cheeses, and world famous cakes from Betty's Tea rooms. For walks you are spoilt for choice with the Dales, Yorkshire Moors, Cleveland hills and Teesdale all within easy reach. There is no bus or public transport from Eryholme itself, but Northallerton and Darlington are both just a short taxi-drive away and have excellent transport links both train and bus. The bridge opposite the house is private and will be locked most of the time so please don't try and access the house from this route as you will get stuck. To get to Eryholme use the A167 Darlington to Northallerton. Unfortunately mobile signal at the house is not great but does differ from network to network. If you do struggle to get a good signal you can link your phone into the wifi and use that instead.