Northumberland hotel named one of the best hillside…

Northumberland hotel named one of the best hillside hideaways in the UK

Tucked away in the North Pennines on the border of Northumberland and County Durham, there's a picturesque village that looks like it's frozen in the past.

Blanchland's Abbey was established in the 12th century and the rest of the village was built from its stones in the subsequent centuries. One of the prettiest villages not only in Northumberland, but the entirety of the North East, there are winding lanes, cosy cottages, and even a few murmurings of hauntings!

At 291 metres above sea level, it doesn't quite hit the heights of Nenthead or Alston, yet it's still considered high enough to have one of the best hillside hideaways in the UK, at least according to Guardian Travel. The village's pub and hotel The Lord Crewe Arms is said to be one of the top hotels, cabins, pubs and farms where you can 'get high on nature' in the country.

And it's an impressive place - a vaulted ground-floor bar sits by manicured gardens in what was once the Blanchland Abbey cloisters. And though it's rich in history, in recent years, it's become more noted for its food and drink offering, serving fayre that is claimed to be a "culinary collaboration between heritage and landscape."

It's also a hotel - with a selection of canny, cosy and champion rooms (their words, not mine), alongside suites which aim to offer 'rustic countryside living.'

Of the Lord Crewe Arms, the Guardian wrote: "Steeped in layers of history that date back to the 12th century, the Lord Crewe Arms sits on a hillside in the pretty village of Blanchland, with riverside walks and sailing on Derwent reservoir right outside the door. The pub combines its heritage – the building began life as lodging for the nearby priory – with contemporary touches.

"Hot-water bottles, locally made fudge, old beams and window seats give a cosy feel without descending into chintz. At night, robust British dishes are served in the cosy dining room, and bikes, fishing equipment, maps and wellies are all available to borrow."

The Lord Crewe is no stranger to awards, having been named the best in the country in the Good Pub Guide 2018, and the Sunday Times' Top Ten Ultimate British Pubs guide in 2016. However, there's just one thing that you might need to know before you book a stay for the night - you may not be alone!

The Lord Crewe Arms is said to be haunted, and has two ghosts to look out for. The first is that of Dorothy Forster, niece to the Bishop of Durham and Lady Crewe.

She supposedly waits by the window for her brother's return. The second is a ghostly monk - though the person who allegedly saw the apparition in the 1990s felt that the unannounced guest was peaceful rather than scary.