Stable Cottage, Glanton Pyke

Exquisite, captivating and tranquil are just a few words that you might use to describe Stable Cottage, a delightful pretty stone hideaway set within the grounds of one of Northumberland’s finest country homes: Glanton Pyke.

Nestled in the foothills of the Cheviots, just shy of the handsome market town of Alnwick, Glanton Pyke is a glorious Grade II* listed Georgian country home, renowned for its spectacular private walled gardens with pretty fountains and abundant flowering meadows and parkland. Just east of the impressive beech maze and Estate gardens – which you are welcome to enjoy if you choose to stay here – you’ll find Stable Cottage.

Set in its own private courtyard with a manicured lawn, precisely clipped box hedges and abundant herbaceous borders, guests of Stable Cottage have their own heavenly gardens to relax and unwind in too.

As enchanting inside as it is outside, Stable Cottage has been freshly refurbished by the celebrated interior designer Johnston Parke. Using a palette of rich earthy colours that reflect the hues of the surrounding countryside, the beautiful interiors mix organic materials such as wooden floors, granite surfaces and a copper log basket with sumptuous designer fabrics printed with floral motifs.

The balance of colour and texture is masterful; joyful pops of red on window surrounds, doors and the feature mantlepiece that sits above a modern log burner add an element of warmth to the smoky green-grey painted walls. This uplifting red runs throughout the luxurious interiors, instilling cosiness to the large open-plan kitchen and living room with its comfortable three-seater sofa and pair of armchairs, to the large bathroom complete with a walk-in shower and indulgent roll-top bath, and to the two tranquil bedrooms, one on the ground floor – a great option for guests with limited mobility – and the second bedroom upstairs overlooking the leafy garden.

Lovers of formal gardens and uplifting country views will be spoilt for choice while staying at Stable Cottage. The surrounding area is some of the prettiest in Northumberland with the sheep-dotted hills of the Northumberland National Park in one direction and the expansive, sandy beaches of Northumberland’s heritage coast in the other. There are gardens galore nearby too including The Alnwick Gardens, in the heart of the historic namesake town, where you’ll discover the Grand Cascade, Europe’s biggest treehouse and the mysterious Poison Garden. The National Trust's flagship property Cragside Estate is just 10 miles south; with its fascinating Victorian house, stunning rock garden, extensive walking trails and formal flower beds. For a more rural trek into the forest, Thrunton Woods offers a full day of hiking or mountain biking, with breath-taking views over the surrounding valley and moorlands, just five minutes' drive from Stable Cottage.