Mill Granary Cottages, in Ingleton, bids to retain ‘best holiday cottage in England’ accolade

A COUPLE who run self-catering cottages are hoping to retain their title as the best in England after scooping the North East Tourism Awards for the second year on the trot.
Along with its five-star rating, Mill Granary Cottages, in Ingleton, last year received a gold award from Visit England, making it the best self-catering facility in the country.
After winning gold in the North East Tourism Awards last Tuesday the cottages will once again compete in the national final.
Farming couple Richard and Kate Hodgson started the business 12 years ago after converting one of their barns.
Since then, it has grown to include several cottages at Ingleton as well as Church Cottage, in Gainford, and Cheeseborough House, in Barnard Castle.
The renovation of Cheeseborough House, in Thorngate, was completed only last year and was the reason the couple entered the tourism competition again.
Mrs Hodgson said: “We don’t enter every year because you have to have added something different, so we entered this year because of Cheeseborough.”
The cottages draw tourists from all over the world including America, Australia, Singapore and even Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates. They are particularly popular with the Dutch.
She added: “A lot from Holland are coming over on the ferry to Newcastle.”
Americans, she said, often visited while researching their family trees.
But most of the holiday makers are from the south who are choosing to come to Teesdale ahead of places like Devon and Cornwall.
She attributes this to marketing the Durham Dales in Tube stations, among other places.
Mrs Hodgson said: “I think the North East has brilliant publicity. Lots like to come and see Beamish and The Bowes Museum. They love Durham and Richmond.”
It is apparent from reviews of Cheeseborough House that people also enjoy Barnard Castle for its independent shops and cafes.
As much as the cottages have five-star facilities, it appears that people keep coming back for holidays because of the personal attention they received from the Hodgsons.
A visitor wrote on upfrontreviews.com: “It was really interesting to hear a little of the house’s history, from Kate, the very welcoming owner, (light and heating on and scones on the table, a nice touch after a long journey).
“Great to stay in such an obviously old and quirky property, whilst enjoying all the comforts of modern life.”
The reviewer went on to say the waterfall trail, Bowlees Visitor Centre and Egglestone Abbey were all worth a visit.
Not ones to rest on their laurels, the enthusiastic couple are about to begin construction on a new facility – a delux shepherd’s hut, the interior of which, Mrs Hodgson says, will resemble a “fab apartment”.
The hut, which will be put up alongside the Mill Granary and Mill Byre, in Ingleton, is due to be ready to accept guests as early as April next year.
This is about the time that the winners of the Visit England Awards for Excellence for 2017 will be announced.