The Cragside Cragend Cottages

Experience Northumberland’s great contribution to saving the planet at Cragend Farm, with it’s unique buildings, arguably one of the finest purpose-built eco agricultural buildings in the world and a brilliant example of Lord Armstrong of Cragside’s engineering innovations.
 
Stay in historic surroundings, with self-catering accommodation freedom. Known as The Cragside Cragend Cottages, East and West Cottage are Victorian cottages built to house families who worked on the Cragside Estate, with original features, such as a large open fireplace. There are original outhouses, and a netty, which we now use for storage of bicycles etc. Amazing views of the Northumberland hills and space to walk and relax.
 
This pioneering farm houses original Victorian machinery that was seen as the cutting edge of technology in its time. It was a demonstration centre for hydraulics to show case the value of water powered machines on modern Victorian life, by showing that even agricultural work, seen as the hardest of all labour, could be made simpler. This 150 acre farm was created out of the mountain landscape of Cragend Hill where Cragside Estate sits, by inventor and arms manufacturer Lord William Armstrong, with his wife Lady Margaret Armstrong, who also renovated Bamburgh Castle in his dotage.
 
We take bookings on a Friday to Friday 7 day basis. Prices range from £600-£1200 with Short Breaks also available.  A Welcome Pack is included.
 
East Cottage has wood fuelled central heating and comprises:
Kitchen: with tiled floor, breakfast area, wood burning stove, electric cooker, Esse solid fuel Range, microwave, fridge, freezer, dishwasher and washer/dryer.
Dining/Sitting Room: with wood burning stove in an inglenook fireplace and fantastic views
First Floor Sitting Room: with Freeview TV and lovely views over the countryside.
Bedroom 1: with King size bed with views looking over to Cragside.
Bedroom 2: with twin beds with views looking towards Cragside.
Bathroom: with shower over bath and toilet.
Parking for 2 cars. Free WIFI.  All logs supplied. Dogs welcome.
 
On your visit you can take a walking tour around the farm looking at its history throughout the ages from its earliest recorded settlers of the Iron Age, examining the buildings and the history they unfold from border Reivers to visiting Royalty.
 
If you are visiting with kids, we also have rare breed animals in the surrounding fields that always put a smile of their faces. Budding young eco-warriors and engineers will be amazed by the size and the history of the machinery.
 
Winners of The Custodian Prize 2023, short-listed for The Collection Award with Historic Houses. 
 
Take home our souvenir brochure or find a gift for a loved one from our farm produce. Please bring/wear sturdy footwear and weather appropriate clothing on your visit. The terrain at Cragend Farm is hilly, with steep drops in places. Some of the walking routes are uneven with many on gravel and stone paths.
 
You can walk down to the River Coquet in the heart of the Coquet Valley, where you can go wildlife spotting and bird watching, you may even see a kingfisher or an otter. You can enjoy a burn-side walk as The Blackburn rushes down to The Coquet, and see Upper Coquetdale’s panorama spread out before you. 
 
Cragend Farm is open all year (except for The Cragside Cragend Cottages in Jan and Cragend Grange in Dec/Jan) with group tours from 11.00am - 2.00pm May to October. Booking required. Dogs are welcome. Accessibility: The access road is rugged and a steep incline. Suitable for capable adults and children. Limited access. Bus route. X14.
 
150 acres of epic Northumberland grounds to explore. Grounds are not accessible for wheelchair users. Tours £15 pp, Self-catering accommodation and Bed and Breakfast rooms ensuite from £165pn.