The Smithy, Crookham
Cornhill-on-Tweed, Northumberland
Tucked amidst gently swaying wheat fields, The Smithy oozes rustic charm and romance from its vast inglenook fireplace to the reclaimed timber trusses that tower above the sitting room and bedroom.
A former smithy in an idyllic rural setting near the coast with views to the Cheviot Hills
Set amidst a smattering of farm cottages in the rolling Northumberland countryside near the picturesque village of Cornhill-on-Tweed, The Smithy is the essence of blissful isolation. Despite its sense of rural seclusion, however, the cottage is less than half an hour's drive from Berwick-upon-Tweed and the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, making it the ideal spot from which to explore both coast and country.
Known as the first and last village in England, Cornhill sits on the border with Scotland where it follows the River Tweed, bordered by the Cheviot Hills to the south. This setting ensures that The Smithy is remote enough to deliver a sense of blissful rural isolation while also being close enough to Cornhill to easily pick up provisions and enjoy a pint in the village shop and Collingwood Arms Hotel.
The Smithy's bespoke sage green country kitchen is bathed in light thanks to a double skylight and window to the surrounding fields and features a wooden dining table for cosy meals à deux. Follow a couple of steps down from the kitchen to find yourself in the magical sitting room where you can get comfy and snuggle up on the leather sofa in front of the tremendous inglenook fireplace and towering timber trusses.
The bedroom features a super king bed with views across the surrounding countryside while the contemporary bathroom offers an indulgent walk-in rainforest shower. Enveloped by an enclosed garden, The Smithy features a gravelled garden area to the front of the house with sweeping views across fields to the Cheviot Hills, a picnic table and charcoal kettle barbecue.
Nearby you'll find walking and biking galore in the Cheviot Hills, fishing on the River Tweed, historic castles to visit at Norham, Ford and Etal, and the nearby Battlefield of Flodden to explore.
"Quaint and quirky, with more than a nod to its origins in the fabulous forge fireplace."
Corinne, owner of The Smithy
Kitchen with dining area incorporating fabulous, handmade, fully equipped kitchen with 5 ring electric hob and double oven, microwave, fridge with icebox, washing machine and dishwasher. There is an adjoining lockable outhouse with freezer.
Sitting room with exposed beams and wood burner with logs provided, sofa and double sofa bed. A sideboard provides the option for extra guest storage. There is plenty of indoor entertainment provided including HD TV with Freeview, DVD player, iDock and a selection of books and board games.
Bedroom with 6' super king double bed, dressing table and built-in wardrobe.
Shower room with rainforest power shower, basin, heated towel rail and WC.
To the front of the property is a private graveled garden area with picnic table and charcoal kettle barbecue. This leads on to a lawn stretching round to the side of the property. The front aspect of the property looks out over fields and offers guests privacy. The rear of the house looks out onto the driveway (the access to the property) and further afield towards the farm itself. Please note that the windows of the living areas of The Smithy all face away from the farm.
The garden is fully enclosed when the gate is closed.
There is an adjoining lockable outhouse with freezer. The outhouse also provides space for storage of bikes, etc.
There is private parking to the rear of the house.
Two dogs are welcome at The Smithy. We ask that dogs are kept off the furniture and out of the bedrooms. We also ask that dogs are clean before entering the property.
It is very important to note that the area around the property is farmland with grazing animals, and dogs should be carefully supervised and controlled at all times.
Bed linen and towels are provided for guests.
There is Wi-Fi throughout the cottage. Mobile coverage is good on most networks.
The Smithy, Crookham has oil central heating in addition to the wood burning stove. Logs are provided.
For guests looking for a property with a similar style, The Bothy at Reedsford sleeping 4+2, The Barn at Reedsford sleeping 2, The Byre at Reedsford sleeping 4, No. 9 sleeping 4 and Barley Hill Cottage sleeping 4 share the same owner.
The cottage sits just 3.5 miles from Cornhill-on-Tweed which has an excellent village shop selling a super selection of fresh local produce, including picnic hampers and scrummy home baking. It is also home to the highly regarded Collingwood Arms which has a pub as well as a superb restaurant for lingering lunches or fine evening dining. Alternatively, pop your wellies on and take a fifteen minute stroll over the field and woodland margins to the popular Bluebell Inn for a relaxing drink after supper.
A more extensive range of shops, pubs and cafes can be found in the quaint market town of Coldstream (5 miles) where the shopping is small and friendly with a good mix of independent outlets running the length of the High Street, including a family butchers, fruit and veg shop, bakery and small Co-op supermarket for holiday provisions. The Coldstream Gallery is a lovely spot to browse art, ceramics and jewellery by local designers; or pop into Calico Interiors for lifestyle gifts and accessories before coffee and cake at the charmingly named 'Mad Hatter' nearby.
A number of larger supermarkets, including a Marks & Spencers food outlet can be found in the historic town of Berwick-upon-Tweed (13 miles), or picturesque Kelso (14 miles) which has an excellent selection of independent shops set around a Flemish style market square.
The cottage is located in the heart of North Northumberland and is exceptionally well placed for exploring the wider area. Seven miles in one direction will take you to the edge of the Northumberland National Park, a designated area of outstanding natural beauty with over 400 square miles of stunning landscapes, criss-crossed by over 700 miles of walking, biking and riding trails which follow the routes of ancient cattle drovers, taking in Iron Age stone fortifications and traces of Bronze Age hillforts amidst the tranquil and rugged landscape.
Hop into your walking boots and you can join Northumberland Park Rangers for a guided walk from Wooler where you will learn much about the heritage and wildlife of the area, or follow sections of St. Cuthbert's Way and enjoy some outstanding vistas along the route as it winds its way to the dune-fringed sands on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. For cycling, you will find everything from gentle low-level meanders to big hill country treks, including long-distance routes such as the Pennine Cycleway or the cycle challenges of the Wooler Wheel Hub.
For families, the Breamish Valley is a popular area with pretty river picnic spots where children can paddle, followed by a walk to the lovely waterfall at Linhope Spout where you may even spot some wild Cheviot goats along the way. Alternatively, a warm welcome awaits you at Ford & Etal Estates (3 miles) which has a super range of family friendly activities with over twenty attractions to explore. Take a ride on Bunty on the very charming 15" gauge steam railway, follow the mouse trail around the Heatherslaw Corn mill or there is fishing, canoeing, cycle hire and a riding centre all nearby. For art lovers, a must-visit is the pre-Raphaelite murals at the Lady Waterford Hall, or explore the ruins of Etal Castle or the local heritage sites of nearby Flodden or Duddo Standing Stones, Northumberland's equivalent of Stonehenge.
The stunning heritage coastline is just a short half-hour drive away with miles of pristine sandy beaches, jolly pubs serving the freshest fish and chips, and picture postcard coastal villages with charming galleries and gift shops. Experience the exhilarating thrill of kitesurfing at Bamburgh, coasteering at Beadnell or perhaps just the simple pleasures of a picnic and a game of beach cricket on sands which remain almost deserted even in the summer months.
History buffs will be enchanted by the rich heritage of the area, where dramatic castles and grand stately homes punctuate the landscape here, including imposing Bamburgh perched on its rocky outcrop above Bamburgh Beach; Alnwick, star of the Harry Potter films; or Chillingham, said to be the most haunted castle in Britain and home to the only wild cattle in the world.
Fishing is available on the River Till about a ten minute drive and is one of the area's best kept secrets with an impressive sea trout run each spring said to be the best in the country. Trout permits are available for as little as £5 per day and rods, reels and waders can be hired locally.
"The Smithy is simply PERFECT and we look forward to going again in years to come! Thanks for looking after us!"
Mrs Spencer
"We had a wonderful time at the The Smithy! The cottage was delightful, spotlessly clean with everything we needed. The cottage location was excellent and the fact that the garden was secure for our dog was extremely important for us. This was our 4th visit to Northumberland so we pretty much knew the area but with so much to explore there was something different to do every day. We will definitely be back in the near future and would certainly consider booking The Smithy again or indeed another property with yourselves. We have found your team at Crabtree & Crabtree to be highly professional and easy to book with. Your communication with us throughout our booking process has been excellent particularly through these uncertain times. We would like to thank the team including the owners for a wonderful stay and we will certainly book with you again in the future."
Ms Carter
"I wanted to say that we had a fantastic break at The Smithy, Crookham. It was the perfect base to the places that we wanted to visit. The cottage was very comfortable and cosy, highly maintained. It was so peaceful with lovely views over the fields. We would certainly recommend it."
Mrs Walsh
"We had a fabulous short break at The Smithy and found the accommodation to be first class. We loved exploring the surrounding countryside and sadly didn't have long enough to do all the things that we wanted. Therefore we will be looking to return to the Northumberland area and will definitely look at using your company again as there are so many beautiful properties on your website."
Mr & Mrs Hillman
"We had a lovely holiday at The Smithy, it was just what we were hoping for: a get-away-from-it-all destination with so many attractions on the doorstep that we were never short of anything to do. We loved the countryside round and about and it was easy enough to get away from the hustle and bustle if that's what you wanted. We were particularly grateful for the basket of goodies and the very welcome milk in the fridge – first thing any guest wants to do is make a cup of tea. Thank you again for a memorable week and providing a bolthole from the rest of the world."
Ms Rickard
"We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at The Smithy. The location was great, the building was cosy and set up to a high quality and the fenced area was perfect for our dog. Whilst other properties we've rented in the past have seemed ideal when booking the reality has often been different to some degree. The Smithy was quite simply ideal."
Mr Hough
"We absolutely loved The Smithy, from the moment we walked through the door it felt like home, the enclosed garden was perfect for our 2 dogs. We had walks to Etal and Flodden from the cottage and stopped at The Bluebell Inn on the way back. We have stayed in Crabtree & Crabtree accommodation many times and The Smithy lived up to our other stays. We're booking to return next year."
Mr & Mrs Baxter
"This was our fourth stay at The Smithy and we had already decided it would be be a week of relaxing and reading in front of the fire. As it turned out, the snow was so bad that we couldn't go anywhere, anyway! We have had the most relaxing time and really enjoyed our stay (including our two labradors). Thank you so much for allowing us a cost free extra night as we were snowed in, thanks to the owners for their help and understanding (and the snowplough!). We will definitely be back for a fifth visit."
Cooper family
"Thank you, our stay at The Smithy was wonderful - the house is warm and very well set up with all we could have possibly needed. We appreciated the comfortable beds and the generous basket of goodies left for us. Our request for extra logs was met within 20 minutes… We hope to return in the summer for a break and look forward to it."
Hendry family
"The cottage and location were outstanding. We have stayed at quite a few 5* cottages within the UK and The Smithy is by far the best. We run a very busy dog walking company and so a week of rest and relaxation were paramount to us. We were not disappointed, in fact we had such a wonderful time that we have just booked for 2018 and have recommended The Smithy (and Crabtree & Crabtree) to our friends and family. The list could be endless if we were to detail everything that made our holiday perfect but the key benefits for us were the fully enclosed (escape-free) wrap around garden, the privacy of the cottage and its peaceful location and its proximity to the surrounding villages, the quality fixtures, fittings and decor, the cleanliness throughout and obviously the comfiest beds and best rainforest shower you could wish for when needing a restful week."
Spencer family
"We had a really pleasant break at the The Smithy. It was a well appointed property, and all the logistics in terms of arrival at the property worked well - so thanks for your good arrangements on that front. The property was very clean and tidy on arrival, everything worked and we had no need to contact either the owners or yourselves during our stay. The outdoor maintenance was great and it was really kind of the guy doing the mowing that he either saw - or guessed that we had walked across the field to the pub and so had checked that the paths were kept clear. We certainly will use you again if we are back in the area!"
Clarke family
"Had a super stay at The Smithy. Great place to explore Northumberland from and lovely local walks. The welcome goodies were awesome. I'm sure we'll be booking through you again."
Morris family
"We just wanted to say thank you for another lovely holiday in Northumberland. As usual the whole booking process went very smoothly & the cottage was extremely comfortable with lots of thoughtful extra touches from the owners. We have already booked a return visit & would not hesitate to recommend both Crabtree & Crabtree & the Wild Plum Cottages to family & friends."
Wrathall family
"We had a lovely stay thank you and please pass on our appreciation to the Crabtree & Crabtree team, the owner and housekeeper. The Smithy was immaculate with everything (and more) than we could have hoped for a pleasant and comfortable stay. We look forward to booking with you again in the future!"
Lockwood family
"We visited the Smithy for a long weekend getaway with our dog. Loved everything about this place and would 100% recommend and book again. The size of the accommodation was easily large enough for two people and our large breed dog. It is fully fenced the entire way around so you can rest assured your dog is safe to explore, and is in an amazingly quiet location looking over a field. Perfect base to explore with many amazing walks nearby. You're on the edge of the Scottish Borders, national park, Cheviots and only half an hour from the coast. Some great touches on arrival, freshly baked bread, lemon drizzle cake, flapjack etc. And logs supplied for the log burner. Overall, an amazing stay here, the only negative we could find was the overly soft bed, but that is just personal preference. Can't wait to come back here."
Ms Williams
"A beautiful cottage, well appointed, clean and warm."
Mr Rogers
"Our stay was perfect! The cottage is stunning, beautiful & peaceful surroundings. The welcome hamper was greatly received. Great location for exploring the local area & beyond. Our dogs had a great time & loved the big garden to play in. We will definitely be back & recommend it to others."
Hughes Family
"We had the most amazing time at The Smithy thank you!
It is probably one of the nicest places we have stayed in. Comfortable, spacious and wonderful location. We were very lucky with the weather...sunshine all week!
We would love to return...we miss the wonderful fire and the amazing shower!,
Thank you again for your brilliant service."
Mr & Mrs Beck
"We had a great time at The Smithy and loved the cottage. We will definitely consider The Smithy for future holidays."
Ms Magowan
"We had a lovely time thank you and the cottage was spot on. This was our second stay here. Thank you again. We hope to be back soon."
Mr Day
Location Rural - 3.5 miles from Cornhill-on-Tweed.
Two dogs are welcome.
Typical arrival day: Flexible short breaks. Friday arrival not possible from April to October.
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The Barn at Reedsford