Riverside Cottage, West Thirston

We had a lovely week at Riverside Cottage and were provided with everything we could need. The cottage itself is in fab condition and in a great location from which to explore beautiful Northumberland. The rooms were clean and the photo’s online are an accurate representation of what to expect. Communication was good and so we knew the procedures for checking in and any additional necessary information prior to our arrival. Towards the end of our stay we received details for check out, which again were clear. Would highly recommend.

Lovely property in small but idyllic village, with beautiful river, wonderful deli and great pub. This location is excellent for exploring Northumberland but especially the coastal area and Newcastle. I’d highly recommend this for families.

The entry system is of a key pad variety which whilst providing access without the need for a meet and great was, we found, awkward to use. But the benefits of it outweigh that difficulty.

We had a lovely week staying at Riverside Cottage in early May. The cottage is really well placed to visit Northumberland attractions and allowed us to visit places like Holy Island and still be back for our toddler’s afternoon nap. The welcome basket was a lovely surprise and we made great use of having The Running Fox on our doorstep to get daily treats. The only thing I would say is that the stair gate is tricky to fit and actually isn’t meant to block the top of a stair, but a doorway, which isn’t what we needed it for. I’d recommend that was replaced for safety reasons. Other than that, everything was on hand for a great family holiday. We would definitely come back.

The cottage was clean and warm and well equipped in the kitchen. We would have appreciated better lighting in the lounge for reading in the evenings however. The generous basket of food was much appreciated as we did not go out to eat (our weekend was just at the beginning of being aware of social distancing due to the coronavirus epidemic).
The dishwasher was appreciated, although the dinner plates are too big to fit in it.
This is a favourite area to visit as there are so many places both on the coast and inland to visit nearby.

This was our second stay at Riverside Cottage, having previously stayed at Christmas/New Year 2016/17. The cottage is very cosy and comfortable. I had to contact the owner on two occasions and received very prompt and helpful responses both times. Felton & West Thirston is a delightful location - lots of good dog walking both in the immediate area and lovely beaches within a 20 minute drive. My wife and I plus our two dogs are returning for Christmas and New Year 2020/21 - we already have our dog-friendly table booked for Christmas Lunch in the Northumberland Arms!

We visited the cottage for a New Year break. My son and his partner joined us on the Monday. The cottage is more than adequate for 4 people. My sister in law and her husband arrived on New Years Eve. The Northumberland Arms were kind enough to allow them to park their motor home in their car park. Lovely cosy cottage with a lot of charm. The welcome pack was exceptional.

Great as a base to see Northumberland. Whilst there we visited Holy Island, Alnwick and Druridge Bay Country Park.

The Running Fox Cafe on the Felton side of the river, food is amazing as is the Northumberland Arms. We also ate at the Cook & Barker Inn at Newon on the Moore. This was the best restaurant. I would also recommend The Tree House Restaurant at Alnwick Gardens.

Will definitely be back.

Jackie & Paul Hooks