Quaint bastle house in the heart of the Pennines

Cottongrass Cottage is a 17th century bastle house nestled in the heart of England's highest market town and surrounded by the glorious North Pennines. It's just a few minutes' walk to a selection of pubs, restaurants and cafes and is on the Pennine Way and the Coast-to-Coast cycle route. The cottage has secure cycle storage & a drying room, a wood-burner and a small but sunny outside seating area. The perfect base for exploring Hadrian's Wall & the South Tyne and Eden Valleys. Cottongrass Cottage has original wooden floors, beautiful rugs, lovely pictures hanging on the walls and a woodburner to cosy up in front of. We also have a travel cot suitable for babies and toddlers. Dogs are welcome! Outside there is a small south-west facing seating area which is ideal for a glass of wine or beer on summer evening. WiFi of course, DVD player and a selection of DVDs, maps and local guides to keep you occupied. The upstairs bedroom has a double bed and lots of space, with rooflights, and the downstairs bedroom has two single beds and a wardrobe. Parking is free in the marketplace in the town which is just a short walk across the road from the cottage. The lovely woman who looks after our cottage, Maria, lives five minutes away. We will be contactable by phone during your stay just in case you have queries or concerns. The cottage is just a few yards from Alston's historic market square. The town has a variety of traditional pubs, restaurants and cafes as well as craft and gift shops. There are lots of beautiful walks on your doorstep, including river walks and treks across the North Pennines, officially an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Hadrian's Wall is half an hour's drive away and the historic city of Carlisle about 40 minutes drive. The north Lake District can be reached in an hour, the Eden Valley is on your doorstep and Upper Teesdale is a short drive to the south. It's a fantastic location for walking, cycling and enjoying the outdoors. Alston also has an awesome children's playground for the little ones! Local buses run from Alston to Penrith, Carlisle and Haltwhistle and can be used to get to the starting point of walks. Parking is free in the town square. Do check conditions before trying to drive over Hartside Pass in the winter. It's almost 2,000 feet above sea level and can become blocked. Alternative routes are via Carlisle. We have a selection of leaflets on local walks (no need to use the car) for guests to use. COVID-19 rules in the UK are relaxing. Please make sure you check the current guidelines for travel and holidays before booking your stay by visiting the UK Government website. If rules change in the future, and you can no longer make your stay, you will be responsible for cancelling or rearranging your booking (we have a flexible refund policy).