Joined up thinking earns Woodland B&B top award

A DALE bed and breakfast business, which aims to connect people to the outdoors regardless of their needs, has been voted one of the best in the area by its guests.

Joined Up Holidays, in Woodland, has been recognised in the 2017 Simply The Guest awards as “top rated” in Bishop Auckland following positive customer reviews left on LateRooms.com.
The facility was also rated as one of the top places to stay as part of the Guest Review Awards 2016 on Booking.com having received an overall rating of 9.3 out of 10.
Janet and Bill Gardner set up Joined Up Holidays as a registered charity back in 2008 to offer unique respite holidays to families with children or members with disabilities.
Based at Paradise Farm, the facility started as a day centre, providing those who are less able-bodied the chance to take part in farm-based activities.
They were inspired by their experience with children with special needs, having fostered for many years previously.
Mrs Gardner said: “We used to find that there was a shortage of respite care places for children with disabilities. It’s hard for families to find somewhere so we thought we would open a place where there is no difference between being able-bodied and disabled.”
The environmentally-friendly site is home to rare breed pigs and sheep as well as horses, ponies, ducks, hens and a wildlife pond. Volunteer Rosey Mattinson also helps to run activities including egg-collecting, pond dipping, feeding the animals and grooming the horses.
The charity’s facilities developed further in May 2015 when Mr and Mrs Gardner started offering accommodation for visitors.
Since then they have welcomed guests, both able-bodied and disabled, from far and wide including families and business people. It is also popular with mountain bikers as Hamsterley Forest can be accessed by a direct one-mile long track.
Mrs Gardner said: “Last summer we were booked up every weekend. If Kynren was on in Bishop Auckland we were full which was good.
“People are pleasantly surprised when they come to stay here. They are surprised at the space, the views and the peace and quiet.”
The couple also provide bed and breakfast facilities for horses for guests who wish to bring their animals with them. Dogs are welcome too.
Mrs Gardner said: “It can be very hard to get around conventional farms if you are in a wheelchair. Anyone can stay here. We are an accessible holiday destination but we are not adapted which means we don’t have specialist equipment.”
In July last year, Joined Up Holidays expanded further into the outdoors with a caravan and camping site which is certified by The Camping and Caravanning Club.
Mrs Gardner said: “We are in the process of making it suitable for people with disabilities to camp with the toilets and the showers.”
The site offers one single room with a private bathroom or one double en-suite room which can accommodate a family. Breakfast is also provided using produce from the farm.
Mrs Gardener said: “We have had some really positive feedback and some have been 10 out of 10 which is always surprising. We never expected to be top-rated. We hope to continue our good standards at the B&B and keep our guests happy.
“Someone said find a job that you love and you’ll never work a day in your life and I think that’s what I’m aiming for.”
For more details visit www.joinedupholidays.co.uk.