We have just returned home after a wonderful weekend stay at Wodencroft Cottage. We already knew the High Force area but having seen the advert for Wodencroft, in The Journal of The Grayling Society, which offered fly fishing on their own private stretch of the River Tees my husband couldn’t wait to try it.
We were not disappointed. The welcome we received from Debbie and Ted could not have been friendlier. The cottage was spotless and very cosy. The double bed was huge and extremely comfortable. Everything we could need was supplied and Debbie and Ted checked with us everything was okay whenever we saw them.
The walks from the cottage in both directions were excellent. The cottage suited us ideally. Due to the fishing being so close to the cottage my husband was able to walk down to the river for a couple of hours fishing each evening and morning, leaving me in the cottage. I felt very safe and comfortable in Wodencroft by myself. (Unusual for me)
The views across the fields from Wodencroft are superb and it is so quiet and peaceful . I absolutely loved Debbie & Ted’s flower borders, a beautiful area to sit out with a glass of wine, compliments of our thoughtful hosts. The fresh eggs, another treat from our hosts, were a delicious addition to our breakfast.
Wodencroft is well situated for exploring the attractions of the area. High Force, Barnard Castle, Cauldron Snout at Cow Green Reservoir, Eggleston Hall Gardens and Middleton-in- Teasdale to name a few.
We ate at The Rose & Crown in Romaldkirk and The Three Horseshoes in Middleton-in-Teasdale and can recommend both.
Thank you Debbie & Ted. We will be back. Brian & Beverley
Three of us stayed in Dairy Cottage in late April 2022. The accommodation is excellent in all respects, being comfortably furnished and well maintained. Debbie and Ted are very friendly and helpful. It’s a short walk to the river which is situated in a delightful and quiet valley with good footpaths. Barnard Castle is close by and we had our meals at The Rose and Crown in Romaldkirk and The Fox and Hounds in Cotherstone. Slightly different offers but cannot fault either. The pubs are walkable from Wodencroft though we also used Alan’s Taxis who were reliable and reasonable. The bread that was provided as part of the welcome pack is excellent and locally sourced. I ordered and extra loaf to take home. If you’re fishing on the estate’s marks there is plenty of opportunity to gain access to the river safely.
Visited Wodencroft mid March 2022, just prior to the start of the fishing season. Traditionally not a great month to visit weather wise, so Debbie and Ted our hosts told us, but the weather was actually glorious for the whole week. Perfect in fact as not too hot for long walks along the Teesdale Way which runs past the cottage. Our longest walk was from the cottage right up to High Force Falls on the Pennine Way, it’s doable in a day but be warned it’s a 22 mile round trip.! The cottage is perfectly positioned for a secluded break with just the farm animals and birds to listen to. It’s a very comfortable cottage and well appointed inside with everything you could need. Logs for the wood burner are supplied and we had that going every night (-3 one night). Of course there’s the fishing which is included in the stay on the beautiful river Tees which runs close to the cottage. I am a fly fisherman but until my visit here had never fly fished on a river before and I was pleased to catch a Grayling on a dry fly. The water was very low for the time of year so fishing was possible from the bank in places or wading in and standing on the large submerged rocks or bedrock. There’s a pub 1 mile in either direction via the Teesdale way by walking along the river and through the sheep meadows. One way there’s The Fox & Hounds in Cotherstone which does great food and good ale. The other way you have the Kirk Inn (Run by Paul who is quite a character, lovely fella and fisherman) and there’s also the Rose & Crown which we didn’t go to but plan to try on another visit. Overall a fantastic week with great weather, beautiful walks, superb fishing, good food and our hosts Debbie & Ted will look after your every need. Thank you both for a lovely week at Wodencroft. Looking forward to revisiting in the future.
Despite the April’s weather we had a great time, staying in the Diary Cottage. I caught a few small brown trouts and one nice rainbow under the Bridge Pool, but the water level of the river was really too high for fishing. The river beats are amazing and I am sure that in May or June it would be first class wild trout fishing! We also caught a few big rainbow trouts in the nearby reservoir (just 8 miles from the cottage). The cottage itself is stunning, every beat of it. We will come back for sure in the future, I know there are river monsters in the pools there. P.S. My two kids had great fun in the farm with all the animals and the attractions around and my wife enjoyed the quiet time when everyone is happy and she could pour a glass a red wine 🙂
This is an absolute gem of a place, and you couldn’t wish to meet two nicer people than Debbie and Ted who run it. The cottage was very comfortable, and the tranquility of the farm setting was lovely. I was there on a fishing holiday, and having a big stretch of the river Tees on my backdoor, free of charge, as well as free access to Cow Green reservoir, for which a ticket can be issued by Debbie and Ted, was wonderful. I managed to catch some fish as a relative novice, helped by the advice I got from Stuart Wardle of the Durham Angling Society, and being able to walk back afterwards and relax in the garden with a view across the fields in the sunset was good for the soul. And Debbie’s lemon drizzle and chocolate cake – wow! If you are not fishing, there is plenty to do in the nearby area, with walks to High Force waterfall, or the Wednesday market at Barnard Castle just a 10 minute drive away. The fish and chips from Middleton-on-Tees are also very good. I can’t speak more highly of Wodencroft other than to say it was a great place to be, and we will be going back. It’s a little piece of heaven, and very reasonably priced too. Marvellous.
This is an absolute gem of a place, and you couldn’t wish to meet two nicer people than Debbie and Ted who run it. The cottage was very comfortable, and the tranquility of the farm setting was lovely. I was there on a fishing holiday, and having a big stretch of the river Tees on my backdoor, free of charge, as well as free access to Cow Green reservoir, for which a ticket can be issued by Debbie and Ted, was wonderful. I managed to catch some fish as a relative novice, helped by the advice I got from Stuart Wardle of the Durham Angling Society, and being able to walk back afterwards and relax in the garden with a view across the fields in the sunset was good for the soul. And Debbie’s lemon drizzle and chocolate cake – wow! If you are not fishing, there is plenty to do in the nearby area, with walks to High Force waterfall, or the Wednesday market at Barnard Castle just a 10 minute drive away. The fish and chips from Middleton-on-Tees are also very good. I can’t speak more highly of Wodencroft other than to say it was a great place to be, and we will be going back. It’s a little piece of heaven, and very reasonably priced too. Marvellous. Ken Grocout
We stayed at Wodencroft from 2nd – 9th July this year, and it was a revelation. The cottage is beautiful, and just right for our needs – lovely kitchen and lounge, and the bedrooms were a nice size. it was great to wake up every morning to the sound of the Tees flowing past below, or the sound of birdsong in this wonderfully quiet and secluded setting. The cottage comes with free fishing rights to the Tees for a big stretch above and below the farm, just a few minutes walk away, and also day ticket access to Cow Green if you fancy going after the wild brown trout in the reservoir. Debbie and Ted are Wonderfull hosts, and made sure we had everything we needed – the cake was delicious! It was also really helpful to be able to tap in to their knowledge of the best places to go locally – the farm is really well places for trips out to High Force, Barnard Castle and some great Pennine walks. The pubs, cafes, restaurants and fish and chip shops we visited were all uniformly superb.
The fishing was pretty good, given that I am a novice – I booked Stuart Wardle from the Durham Fly Fishing company for a morning to advise me on casting, fly presentation, reading the water and much else besides, and his expertise helped me to catch my first ever grayling. I was able to approach the rest of the week’s fishing with confidence knowing what to look for on the river, and which flies to use in which conditions. Definitely one we shall return to – it’s a terrific spot.
Arriving after a long journey North, my son and myself were warmly welcomed by our hosts, Debbie and Ted. We were shown our very well appointed Wodencroft cottage where we found a welcoming bottle of wine and provisions provided by our hosts. Our stay was very comfortable and very relaxing with nothing being too much trouble for Debbie or Ted, from booking a table at the local restaurant to refilling our kindling and log baskets daily. The views from the cottage are exceptional and you are soon unwinding and soaking up the atmosphere.
Wodencroft cottages are ideally situated near to Barnard Castle and High Force which make it the ideal base from which to explore middle and upper Teesdale.
But for us it was all about the fishing and what exceptional fishing there was. The access down to the river both up stream and down is not for the weak hearted, but once there you are rewarded with a wild fishing experience that is seldom available without a great deal of travel. Wild brown trout and grayling are the main quarry but their is always the chance of sea trout or salmon in season. Throughout the week our two rods accounted for 28 wild brown trout. SUPERB!
I can highly recommend both Wodencroft cottages and the 11/2 miles of fishing available and would like to thank our hosts, Debbie and Ted for making our stay truly memorable.
Our stay was from 28th May to 2nd June 2021.
Dairy cottage had everything which we could have wished for- an adequate kitchen, a wood burning stove and three lovely, clean bedrooms, complete with Egyptian cotton sheets on the beds.Very homely!
Beds were comfortable and the accommodation was almost ‘in the middle of nowhere’.It was great listening to birdsong at the the beginnings and the ends of our days there.
Ted and Debbie were always so helpful-making sure our mum was warm enough, and giving me some helpful fishing advice for the river (I caught one!)
We definitely want to return soon. Massive thanks to Ted and Debbie!
A lovely, cosy, clean cottage, in a beautiful setting, surrounded by stunning scenery and wonderful walks direct from the doorstep.
Debbie and Ted provided a warm welcome and ensured the cottage had everything we needed for a great break, whilst ensuring privacy was respected during our stay. Free fly fishing for my partner was an added bonus.
We holiday in this country a lot, but it is rare for us to revisit a property. Wodencroft will be an exception. My partner and I have already booked to return over Easter, and after seeing photographs’ my sister and I will be visiting for a long weekend in May.
September 23rd to September 30th 2020
Had a fabulous week in Dairy Cottage – very well equipped – lovely and warm and covid safe.Debbie and Ted ensured all our needs were met and nothing was too much trouble.Plenty of logs for a fire at night and good WiFi connection.
Plenty of good eating places near by with Barnard Castle just 5 miles away ( can test your eye sight – no DC in sight).
Fishing was hard going due to the heavy rain and very strong winds at the beginning of our stay – however things improved latter in the week and with regular visitor Pips help I did manage to get some brown trout and one grayling.
We came away with some fresh farm eggs and some wonderful steaks.
Teesdale is a beautiful place to visit and Wodencroft is an ideal place to stay.
Thanks Debbie and Ted.
Our first stay at Wodencroft and it certainly won’t be our last. We were recommended to the cottage by various people, but our decision was primarily based on its location and proximity to the River Tees. As a keen fly fisherman I was drawn by the possibility of an autumn salmon and some exciting grayling fishing. However, there is a lot more to the cottage than fishing and my wife (who doesn’t fish) and I were not disappointed. As expected the location was superb and Debbie and Ted were on hand to welcome us, the log fire was alight and a bottle of wine was waiting on the dining room table. Who needs fishing. We found the cottage beautifully clean, well equipped and very comfortable, no complaints at all. Unusually, in our experience, logs for the fire are provided and Debbie and Ted go out of their way to make one feel at home.
Obviously these are bizarre times but there are still lots of walks along the river or over the dales, there are some great eating venues locally but in reality simply enjoying the countryside and the river is what makes this cottage so special. Our favourite walk was from the cottage down the Tees to the bridge at Cotherstone and then back up the river to Eggleston (don’t miss the viewing point on Percy Myre rock). Over the pretty bridge at Eggleston and back to Woden Croft via Romaldkirk. There is a lovely plant nursery in Eggleston and a great pub and restaurant in Romaldkirk on the way home.
To sum up, this cottage is more than just a fishing location, sure the fishing is great and the river is just a hundred yards from the front door but there’s a lot more to it than that and I would urge you to give it a try, like us you won’t be disappointed.
My fishing Pal and I have just spent a week in superb accommodation provided in Dairy Cottage at Wodencroft. Debbie and Ted have ensured that all possible Covid precautions are in place including hand sanitiser and social distancing. By adding these extra initiatives we felt very relaxed, reassured and comfortable.
The very comfortable beds made it a struggle to get up each morning but the excellent fishing just down the way ensured we got out of the cottage and indulge in our fishing exercise each day. Not wishing to eat out we soon found the kitchen to be very well equipped With more than enough utensils for a full roast or English Breakfast.This was our second visit to Wodencroft but won’t be our last ! We are already booked to return next May.
Rod.
We had the pleasure of staying at Wodencroft in August 2020. We had a lovely warm welcome from Ted & Debbie. The cottage was perfect, very comfortable, well equipped, homely and just the right size. We slept like logs in the beds, it was perfectly quiet with just the sound of the birds and the river in the distance. The weather had been rather unseasonal leading up to our trip so the river was a torrent when we arrived. Thankfully the waters dropped about 4 foot overnight so we had two good days fishing. Nothing caught on the dry fly but two beautiful brown trout caught on the spinner.
The stretch of the river that you have access too is excellent. Pools, islands, rocks and rapids. Difficult fishing for a novice when it’s fast and deep but I still thoroughly enjoyed our time on the river.
We ate in both the local pub and the Rose & Crown in Romaldkirk. The latter being my favourite, superb food and a lovely atmosphere even with the new socially distant tables.
There are views of the countryside in the distance from the cottage but framing this was a beautifully tended border filled with a wonderful array of flowers and hostas. If the weather had been kinder we would have enjoyed our complimentary bottle of wine out there!
We plan on making a return visit to Wodencroft next year as we loved it so much. For the non-fishers amongst us the cottage sits right on the Teasdale Way so some fantastic walking to be had too.
Thanks to Debbie & Ted for making our stay so memorable. See you next year!
I arranged to fish in the area with Stuart Wardle of Durham Flyfishers, who recommended Wodencroft. I’m glad he did. Very comfortable, and good value. Debbie and Ted were excellent ‘hosts’, and the Texel sheep were intriguing. The variety of fishing is excellent, although the wading is not for the faint-hearted. Some excellent local pubs with good food. Durham, Raby Castle and Barnard Castle well worth a visit. The vicar (Ken) at Staindrop is a fount of knowledge about the history of the families, right back to King Cnut. I also recommend Tees’ Pot in Middleton for sandwich and coffee. The staff are extremely friendly, and it is very good value.
If I can persuade my fishing pals, we’ll take both properties, and really give the fishing a bash. I even saw a salmon, even though I am a trout and grayling man.
This is our 4th. year at Dairy Cottage. Debbie and Ted made us feel as though we are visiting family. Their warm welcome is all you could hope for. The cottage is immaculate with beautiful furnishing and bed linen. We discovered new walks and tea rooms. (Ask Debbie for advice on the best places to go!) We went, this year, for a special occasion and met up with friends and family and introduced them to this wonderful area. They were envious of our accommodation! Again, thanks for all you do and all you are. ROZ
Absolutely beautiful place and lovely scenery. Thank you so much Debbie and Ted for having us. We’ll be back again soon. We saw more wild flowers too; and the deer as well.
Edward.
We came for a week and wished we could stay for a month. Two elderly fishermen ,all the way from Cornwall, eager to fish the Tees at the recommendation of other members of The Grayling Society. We were delighted with the accommodation and the very warm welcome paid to us by Debbie and Ted. Despite heavy showers of rain Trout to two pounds were taken during our weeks stay. All on dry flies to match the LDOs that came off around two in the afternoon.
The daily walk back to Wodencroft improved our fitness and the comfy lounge allowed us to warm up, get dried out and relax. Dinner, prepared in the well equipped kitchen ,was a joy thanks to all the dishes being cleaned in the dishwasher. The full English, taken every morning, was not what our GP recommended but was made easy in this superb accommodation. Our tiredness at the end of the day was rewarded with crisp linen and very comfortable beds. We will return next year ( if not before) for more of the same. Thank you Debbie, thank you Ted. You have two old boys very happy!
A group of friends stayed in Dairy Cottage a couple of weeks ago for a weekend. It was our fourth such weekend and I can honestly say it is a lovely place to stay. Debbie and Ted were busy lambing but made time to welcome us. In the past we have booked both cottages and they are both very well equipped with lovely comfy beds, crisp linen and fluffy towels. If you forget your shower gel or shampoo there is usually some in the bath room. The place is furnished tastefully in a timeless style with lovely paintings and prints, good quality furniture and lots of little touches that make it a home from home.The showers are hot and the heating was more than adequate so that when we returned from a stint on Bowes moor all was cosy and warm and reviving. Ted was very kind enough to move the sheep from the front field so that we could exercise our dogs, and the drying room was great for drying all our gear. There is plenty of parking space and outside lights. It is lovely and peaceful away from any traffic noise. I would recommend this to anyone with confidence that they will not be disappointed. See you next February. Many thanks to you both.
My brother and I (both in our 60s) have just returned from a Christmas break, staying in Wodencroft Cottage.
I cannot praise Debbie and Ted highly enough. We received a very genuine welcome with loads of friendly, down-to-earth, practical advice and suggestions throughout our stay.
The cottage itself is well equipped, warm and very comfortable; in addition, although the weather was kind for the time of year, it was wonderful to enjoy the wood fire, especially during the dark evenings. The sound of the river was relaxing. Internet speeds were good throughout our stay – we both brought computers. Debbie had already set up some Christmas decorations and a tree with lights to surprise us on arrival!
It was interesting for us a “townies” to stay on a working farm and, in addition, the ducks and chickens around the place were constantly entertaining.
Of course, Teesdale is a glorious part of the UK, with a rich history, very interesting local walks for a variety of tastes and abilities and, of course, the fishing just a short walking distance away.
We found that local people are very friendly and there are a number of really interesting pubs and hotels in the immediate locality, owner-managed and offering good value for money.
Thanks again, Debbie and Ted!
We and our 4 friends have just returned from a 4 day stay at Dairy cottage. Fishing was challenging but enjoyable, the views were stunning and the walks were lovely. The cottage has absolutely everything you need, it was clean, warm and cosy. Thank you Debbie and Ted for a wonderful stay and we are already synchronising our diaries to come back again.
My husband and I have stayed at Wodencroft twice over the last few months, including the Christmas holiday. It’s a beautiful cottage, immaculately clean and comfortable with everything you could need, including an invisible man who keeps the wood supplied for the log burner. Set in the most wonderful location, the river behind and farmland in front; with plenty to do within a short distance and some glorious walks. A fantastic place to rest up and enjoy the fishing and the dark skies. We’re going back again soon and I can’t wait.
We have just returned from our wonderful holiday at the Wodencroft holiday cottage. The cottage is gorgeous, tastefully decorated and very comfortable with a log burner. The views and walks were spectacular and the farm is lovely. The fishing is good, the water is varied and needs different techniques to get the best out of it, and the fish fight very hard! Our 7 year old daughter and our 14 month old son enjoyed exploring the farm which has ducks, hens, sheep and beautiful meadows. We also got to feed the lambs and learnt about sheep from the lovely manager Debbie. Our little boy enjoyed playing with Debbie’s pet cat Travis. We saw a good variety of birds, especially swallows flying into the cottage. There are beautiful places to visit near the cottage. We enjoyed a family fun day at the Bowes museum where we had story telling and arts and crafts. Everywhere we went, we couldn’t wait to get back to the cottage. Many thanks to Debbie and Ted. We have already booked to return.
Just returned from another week at the lovely Wodencroft Cottages which gets better each time ,the trout fishing was great dispite low water and high winds .The week was full of highlights ,I had booked a days guiding with Stuart Wardle who runs The Durham Fly Fishing Company on the middle Tees,a great day out with great angler and all round good guy ,Debbie had received a request from one of her regular customers for a BBQ so Wednesday evening she and Ted laid on a great BBQ for the residents of both cottages ,well done both of you ,and Edward if your reading this suggest the same again next year perhaps followed by a disco ? Thanks again Debbie and Ted
Pip
Stayed at wodencroft for a week, wow what a week, great fishing and what a wonderful cottage, the double bed is massive, all very comfy and in an idylic surroundings. I was there to fish, the Private fishing thats come with the cottage is free. Stuart Wardle from Duram Fly Fishing guided for me and a friend, I think some pics posted, great day with him, he is the best guide I have had, and never fail to learn something new and always catch. Ted and Debbie are great hosts and can tell you the best place to eat out, took their advice and they were’nt wrong. I could have stayed another week if time allowed. If you are family its great place with open meadow in front of the cottage, kids could run about while you sit in the garden and watch them, lots of things to do localy as well. The walk alomg the river is beautiful, you may even see a otter if you lucky. Thanks Ted and Debbie.
Absolutely FANTASTIC! Huge thanks to Debbie & Ted for the opportunity to experience a few days at Dairy Cottage which we won via their Facebook competition.
A wonderful surprise which I really didn’t expect! It really couldn’t gave come at better time. The break allowed us to recharge batteries in an outstanding cottage which more than met our expectations in a beautiful part of the country. We will definitely return soon.
We can’t recommend this venue highly enough, it is a must for everyone to experience life away from the rat race.
Stayed one night bed and breakfast everything about the place was fantastic and Debbie the manager was extremely hospitable, beautiful surroundings could not have wished for better. The breakfast was tremendous, will definitely be back.
We have just returned from a 3 day break in dairy cottage we were a party of 3 couples. The cottage was ideal with 3 en-suite bedrooms and a lovely living area. We were visiting the area to do some walking and were not disappointed, good walks, good weather perhaps a bit windy, good friends, good food and good wine. The cottage was warm without open fire, but we still lit it made it very cosy. We had a Chinese takeaway from Barnard Castle which was very good, we also ate at the local in Cotherstone the Fox and Hounds, friendly and the food was excellent and reasonable. Only met Debbie, she made us feel very welcome. We have stayed in many self catering cottages over the years some much better than others, this was one of the best. We will be recommending Wodencroft to friends a great place for a holiday. Pam. February 2017
Having just returned from a weeks fishing / walking I thought a short recap on the weeks activitys would be of interest to others thinking of visiting Wodencroft Cottages for the first time .As is well recorded Debbie and Ted are brilliant hosts and do all they can to make your stay memorable .My intention was to fish for the trout and Graling and although the river was a bit up and down managed 18 trout and 5 grayling over 4 1/2 days the biggest a nicely conditioned brownie of 14 in .The hilight of the week for me was Tuesday when a friend came over to fish for the day ,late in the day found us both wading up to our waists catching trout and Grayling whilst watching 3 Otters playing like kittens on the far bank ,at the same time 2 Buzzads could be seen and heard overhead , quite a sight .Thursday saw the river up and coloured and unfishable ,normally this would mean a trip to Cow Green reservoir which is is included with the fishing package but the wind was far too strong ,so a walk it was .Awalk on a circular section of the Tees Way took me down river to Ecclesto bridge which was crossed and worked my way back upstream .The high landscape gave views over the Tees valley and returned to the Cottages via Cotherstone foot bridge .Thanks again to Debbie Ted ,see you again soon I hope Pip
We arrived at Wodencroft to the warmest of welcomes from Debbie and Ted. The cottage is lovely and cosy and in such a beautiful location you can’t help but instantly know you will have to return someday. We had travelled to Durham to learn how to fly fish ( on the bucket list) with Stuart from the Durham fly fishing company. Stuart is a really great guy who was just fantastic, and so enthusiastic it was infectious. If you stay at Wodencroft then you can fish their part of the river which is a very short walk away. Stuart also took us to some of the most beautiful areas to fish and was so informative and patient with my husband and myself and more importantly he made it fun and we loved it. We cannot recommend Wodencroft ( Debbie and Ted ) and Stuart s fly fishing adventure enough! Thank you for an amazing stay. Jane and Nigel xx
May 22nd. 2016
Have arrived home after spending a delightful week at Wodencroft, celebrating our Wedding Anniversary and my husband’s birthday. He intended to do a lot of fishing but the wonderful walks and villages were a must. (More fishing next time) Debbie and Ted were wonderful hosts who couldn’t be better and were there should we need them. The cottage is beautifully furnished with everything you should require. For the first few days we were joined by my sister and her husband who were most impressed with the cottage and location (and price). Following their departure our daughter joined us and said the whole package (cottage, location etc.) was ‘like heaven’. We have raved about the place to friends and family alike. It was our first visit but definitely not our last! Again thanks to Debbie and Ted
Arrived at Dairy cottage on New Years Eve for a short break with family (which included 3 teenagers). Our priority was to spend family time together, switch off and relax. We got all of this and so much more! What a fabulous cottage, more than big enough for us all but also cosy especially when the log fire was roaring. The upstairs bedrooms were a surprise as the high beamed ceilings aren’t on the photos and they dont do it justice at all. The beds were so comfortable with very nice quality bedding and nice blackout curtains and the lack of traffic noise meant we slept very soundly. We loved the showers which were so powerful and we were surprised to find that the cottage had 4 showers as well as a couple of baths. The bath filled up with red hot water within 3 minutes as the pressure is so good. Tvs in every room which all have freesat and also good WiFi connection. Unfortunately we didn’t get to sample the wildlife or the walks due to the time of year and also the fact that we weren’t there long enough, other than the walk back from the pub after seeing in the midnight bells and it was pitch black by this time! Definitely intend to return in the summertime to experience some walking and see the cottage in a different season. Highly recommended for a fabulous relaxing family trip. My tip is to take board games and quizzes and turn the tvs and WiFi off, it restores family conversation and we had the best fun, the teenagers eventually agreed that the games were better than facebook! Thankyou to Mrs Benn who was a lovely lady who couldn’t be more helpful. See you again soon we hope
We have just returned from a three day break at Dairy Cottage with my elderly mother and her sister. The standard of accommodation at Dairy Cottage is superb, my mum and sister had the downstairs bedroom with lovely ensuite shower room and we had one of the upstairs rooms. Having stayed in 5* hotels around the world I can testify that the beds are some of the most comfortable we’ve ever slept in! The living/kitchen area is well equipped and very comfortable. We had chosen the B&B option and Debbie served us delicious, filling breakfasts in the ‘big’ house overlooking a beautiful cottage style garden each morning.
Debbie and Ted were perfect hosts and could not have been more approachable or helpful during our stay. Richard managed to get a couple of hours fishing in but we spent most of our time sightseeing the glorious countryside and also visited Barnard Castle on Wednesday which turned out to be Market day, us ladies were happy with that!
We will definitely be going back and would recommend it to anyone, the fishing is amazing but Wodencroft isn’t just about fishing it’s a great place for families old and young!
Just returned from a week at Dairy Cottage. We will definitely be returning, as said by others Debbie & Ted so helpful with anything you want. Buttercup meadow was out in it’s full glory and was just breathtaking. The fishing is great, although the fish are very canny and managed to avoid everything thrown at them, however they were quite happy to swim around our feet, maybe we should have tried catching them by hand? I would recommend Dairy Cottage to anyone with mobility issues, although not wheelchair users as the bathrooms aren’t geared up for wheelchair access. Anyone reading this don’t hesitate just book it and find out yourself.
It’s difficult to add to what the previous reviewers have said about Wodencroft Cottages but I will try. Accommodation is first class, the area is stunningly beautiful, the fishing is excellent, although I have to say access to the river can be a little testing if you’re not as agile as you once were.
Debbie and Ted are the perfect hosts, making sure that everything in the cottages is in top working order and even supplying a welcome package of supplies which was a lovely surprise.
And I have to mention the Fox and Hounds a half mile away; excellent ales, great food and just so welcoming, as were all the pubs we visited in the area, which was a few….
This was my first visit to Teesdale, and will definitely not be my last; it’s made a huge impression upon me and Wodencroft was no small part of that.
Del
Just returned from my second trip to Wodencroft .what a gem The fishing was great with many truly wild trout and the odd out of season grayling from 10-13in Debbie and Ted were as helpful as ever and made my stay most enjoyable .A great breakfast , fantastic scenery ,good fishing ,and the appearance of a local Otter what more could you ask for .. Thanks again to Debbie and Ted …can’t wait to return Pip .
My family & I have just returned from an amazing week away at Dairy Cottage. The cottage is a beautiful building, a real hidden gem. The standard of everything far exceeded our expectations, in every way, and the finishing touches are perfect. The cottage was immaculately clean and spacious. It really did have everything we needed and more! A real home from home. The beds were super comfy, and the showers invigorating and hard to get out of! Then on to the stunning countryside. The walks and views from the property were breathtaking. A fisherman’s paradise. Debbie and Ted were lovely and spent a lot of time making sure we had everything we needed. We had two small children on the holiday and it was a delight for them to have so much freedom to look around the property and farm, and to see all the animals. Both my children were able to bottle feed the gorgeous ‘ Jasper’ the friendliest lamb on the planet. The kennels provided were brilliant for our working dogs too.. they had a great time exploring the buttercup meadow.
We will DEFINITELY be back, to make more memories here. x
18th – 22nd May 2015
Our second trip to Wodencroft, with our party increasing from 2 to 4 based on the great time we had last year. Both cottages are super accommodation, warm, squeaky clean, comfortable (so much so that Russ fell out of bed, but that might have had something to do with the wee dram we shared with Ted and Debbie, who manage the properties so very well). We arrived to fresh eggs and tea and coffee etc all being left for us. The river fished well. Tactics need to be altered according to the conditions – it was cold first thing, so gold head nymphs and weighted caddis imitations worked, then as it warmed up, olives and mayfly hatched off and emergers such as Klinkhammer, looopwing CDC and the Rodger Walker deer hair emerger (he’s now banned from using it!) did the business. Wading is required – use a staff as its not easy everywhere. 11/10 all round.You will not regret a visit here, even if you don’t fish. This is now on our regular list -we are planning 2 next season – 1 for trout, 1 for salmon.
Iain, Rog, Russ & John.
Richard and I had a fantastic week at Wodencroft. Debbie and Ted were brilliant hosts and the cottage was a home from home. The fishing was a little up and down but that was because of low water levels (thats one thing that Debbie and Ted cannot control) and probably our skill levels.
There is also plenty of still water fishing in the area and in all we had a good weeks fishing in both river and still waters.
The countryside is stunning and quiet, the only things you can hear in the morning are the river and the cockeral. The local pubs are exelent and very friendly.
We WILL be back next year, hopefully with a few more fishing friends.
Thanks so much to Debbie and Ted for there hospitality
I’d told my friends about Wodencroft and we decided to head back on a group fishing trip. The four of us caught a good number of fish on spiders, dries and nymphs including grayling of 2lb and some nice trout up to 15 inches.
As ever the cottage was outstanding and of course Debbies breakfast is a highlight!
Wodencroft is a real gem of venue and fishing is varied and interesting.
After numerous net searches for fishing weekends only seemed to bring up extortionately priced lodges we had given up until stumbling upon this hidden gem on the fishpal site.
A very informative website, reasonably priced & ease of booking with Debbie gave us confidence before we came.
On arrival we were blown away by the beauty of the listed building we stayed in – dairy cottage. Immaculately clean & we’ll maintained by the lovely Debbie & Ted, with everything you need for a self catering break in the cottage & a nice touch of bubbly, milk & free range eggs as an arrival pack.
Both Debbie & Ted are genuine, hardworking & nice people who will look after you throughout your stay & give any help or advice you need.
The countryside you are surrounded by is stunning & added to the excitement & pleasure of being able to fish on the river tees whenever you chose. Approx 1.5 miles of private fishing. The river levels were very low but this did not spoil our enjoyment & I’ve never came away from a fishing area empty handed & still been happy!. Numerous beautiful fishing spots along the river which are marked by white posts from Ted which is very helpful.
A fantastic weekends in a beautiful cottage within a stunning part of the countryside. There is so much to visit in the area & you certainly don’t need to be here for fishing to get the most out of staying here.
Already booked our next stay & can see us back here for years to come.
Thanks Debbie & Ted, see you soon.
We had a brilliant family reunion holiday at Dairy Cottage, plenty of room for 6 of us and my niece had lots of outside space to play and explore safely. We saw deer, barn owls and an otter just near the cottage and Its a great area for walking . The cottage itself is beautiful the photos don’t really do it justice and there’s some lovely pubs nearby that serve good food and beer. The kennels are sheltered in a barn and our dogs settled really well. I couldn’t think of a more perfect location for a family holiday, we’re so pleased that we found it and thank you to Ted and Debbie for making us feel so welcome.
Do not know where to begin. Honestly the best weeks holiday I have ever had. Wodencroft Cottage is delightful, comfortable and just exudes a sense of peace. Debbie & Ted were very welcoming and so helpful. Really wanted to stay after our wonderful week, which was really unusual as I am a real homelover.
I don’t know how many times I have bypassed this area on the way to the Lakes, Scotland and the Pennines, but never again. Great walks, beautiful views, good pubs, lovely people – I could go on and on……. (have done to my friends!).
We had a lovely short (too short!) stay at Wodencroft cottage. The cottage was comfortable, our hosts were extremely hospitable and it was a delight to see all the hens and ducks. The setting is truly exceptional and the river is a dream for a couple of inexperienced anglers to hone their skills in privacy – even we caught several small, but perfectly formed brownies! We are sure to return soon.
I’m sat looking out of the kitchen window of Wodencroft cottage wondering why I was silly enough to only book for one week !! Debbie and Ted have been wonderful nothing is too much trouble, a plentiful supply of logs and free range eggs as they should be.
Fishing has been challenging but only because of the river levels rising and falling. Most of the fish, and there has been plenty, came to gold bead hares ears or north country spiders. When the levels dropped black gnats in a size 18 worked well fished in the froth lanes.
We will return.
Toby and I had a wonderful couple of days staying at Wodencroft. Debbie and Ted couldn’t have been better hosts and made us feel like old friends. The rooms are beautifully furnished and have a real home from home feel to them. We went for the B & B option and were pleased we did, it was one of the best breakfasts I have eaten!
If you fish then bring your rod, the river is just a short walk away with trout, grayling and even salmon and it is free with the Cottage, fantastic.
We had a great stay and will be back.
Pete
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Excellent.
We have just returned home after a wonderful weekend stay at Wodencroft Cottage. We already knew the High Force area but having seen the advert for Wodencroft, in The Journal of The Grayling Society, which offered fly fishing on their own private stretch of the River Tees my husband couldn’t wait to try it.
We were not disappointed. The welcome we received from Debbie and Ted could not have been friendlier. The cottage was spotless and very cosy. The double bed was huge and extremely comfortable. Everything we could need was supplied and Debbie and Ted checked with us everything was okay whenever we saw them.
The walks from the cottage in both directions were excellent. The cottage suited us ideally. Due to the fishing being so close to the cottage my husband was able to walk down to the river for a couple of hours fishing each evening and morning, leaving me in the cottage. I felt very safe and comfortable in Wodencroft by myself. (Unusual for me)
The views across the fields from Wodencroft are superb and it is so quiet and peaceful . I absolutely loved Debbie & Ted’s flower borders, a beautiful area to sit out with a glass of wine, compliments of our thoughtful hosts. The fresh eggs, another treat from our hosts, were a delicious addition to our breakfast.
Wodencroft is well situated for exploring the attractions of the area. High Force, Barnard Castle, Cauldron Snout at Cow Green Reservoir, Eggleston Hall Gardens and Middleton-in- Teasdale to name a few.
We ate at The Rose & Crown in Romaldkirk and The Three Horseshoes in Middleton-in-Teasdale and can recommend both.
Thank you Debbie & Ted. We will be back. Brian & Beverley
Three of us stayed in Dairy Cottage in late April 2022. The accommodation is excellent in all respects, being comfortably furnished and well maintained. Debbie and Ted are very friendly and helpful. It’s a short walk to the river which is situated in a delightful and quiet valley with good footpaths. Barnard Castle is close by and we had our meals at The Rose and Crown in Romaldkirk and The Fox and Hounds in Cotherstone. Slightly different offers but cannot fault either. The pubs are walkable from Wodencroft though we also used Alan’s Taxis who were reliable and reasonable. The bread that was provided as part of the welcome pack is excellent and locally sourced. I ordered and extra loaf to take home. If you’re fishing on the estate’s marks there is plenty of opportunity to gain access to the river safely.
Visited Wodencroft mid March 2022, just prior to the start of the fishing season. Traditionally not a great month to visit weather wise, so Debbie and Ted our hosts told us, but the weather was actually glorious for the whole week. Perfect in fact as not too hot for long walks along the Teesdale Way which runs past the cottage. Our longest walk was from the cottage right up to High Force Falls on the Pennine Way, it’s doable in a day but be warned it’s a 22 mile round trip.! The cottage is perfectly positioned for a secluded break with just the farm animals and birds to listen to. It’s a very comfortable cottage and well appointed inside with everything you could need. Logs for the wood burner are supplied and we had that going every night (-3 one night). Of course there’s the fishing which is included in the stay on the beautiful river Tees which runs close to the cottage. I am a fly fisherman but until my visit here had never fly fished on a river before and I was pleased to catch a Grayling on a dry fly. The water was very low for the time of year so fishing was possible from the bank in places or wading in and standing on the large submerged rocks or bedrock. There’s a pub 1 mile in either direction via the Teesdale way by walking along the river and through the sheep meadows. One way there’s The Fox & Hounds in Cotherstone which does great food and good ale. The other way you have the Kirk Inn (Run by Paul who is quite a character, lovely fella and fisherman) and there’s also the Rose & Crown which we didn’t go to but plan to try on another visit. Overall a fantastic week with great weather, beautiful walks, superb fishing, good food and our hosts Debbie & Ted will look after your every need. Thank you both for a lovely week at Wodencroft. Looking forward to revisiting in the future.
2-9 April, 2022
Despite the April’s weather we had a great time, staying in the Diary Cottage. I caught a few small brown trouts and one nice rainbow under the Bridge Pool, but the water level of the river was really too high for fishing. The river beats are amazing and I am sure that in May or June it would be first class wild trout fishing! We also caught a few big rainbow trouts in the nearby reservoir (just 8 miles from the cottage). The cottage itself is stunning, every beat of it. We will come back for sure in the future, I know there are river monsters in the pools there. P.S. My two kids had great fun in the farm with all the animals and the attractions around and my wife enjoyed the quiet time when everyone is happy and she could pour a glass a red wine 🙂
This is an absolute gem of a place, and you couldn’t wish to meet two nicer people than Debbie and Ted who run it. The cottage was very comfortable, and the tranquility of the farm setting was lovely. I was there on a fishing holiday, and having a big stretch of the river Tees on my backdoor, free of charge, as well as free access to Cow Green reservoir, for which a ticket can be issued by Debbie and Ted, was wonderful. I managed to catch some fish as a relative novice, helped by the advice I got from Stuart Wardle of the Durham Angling Society, and being able to walk back afterwards and relax in the garden with a view across the fields in the sunset was good for the soul. And Debbie’s lemon drizzle and chocolate cake – wow! If you are not fishing, there is plenty to do in the nearby area, with walks to High Force waterfall, or the Wednesday market at Barnard Castle just a 10 minute drive away. The fish and chips from Middleton-on-Tees are also very good. I can’t speak more highly of Wodencroft other than to say it was a great place to be, and we will be going back. It’s a little piece of heaven, and very reasonably priced too. Marvellous.
This is an absolute gem of a place, and you couldn’t wish to meet two nicer people than Debbie and Ted who run it. The cottage was very comfortable, and the tranquility of the farm setting was lovely. I was there on a fishing holiday, and having a big stretch of the river Tees on my backdoor, free of charge, as well as free access to Cow Green reservoir, for which a ticket can be issued by Debbie and Ted, was wonderful. I managed to catch some fish as a relative novice, helped by the advice I got from Stuart Wardle of the Durham Angling Society, and being able to walk back afterwards and relax in the garden with a view across the fields in the sunset was good for the soul. And Debbie’s lemon drizzle and chocolate cake – wow! If you are not fishing, there is plenty to do in the nearby area, with walks to High Force waterfall, or the Wednesday market at Barnard Castle just a 10 minute drive away. The fish and chips from Middleton-on-Tees are also very good. I can’t speak more highly of Wodencroft other than to say it was a great place to be, and we will be going back. It’s a little piece of heaven, and very reasonably priced too. Marvellous. Ken Grocout
We stayed at Wodencroft from 2nd – 9th July this year, and it was a revelation. The cottage is beautiful, and just right for our needs – lovely kitchen and lounge, and the bedrooms were a nice size. it was great to wake up every morning to the sound of the Tees flowing past below, or the sound of birdsong in this wonderfully quiet and secluded setting. The cottage comes with free fishing rights to the Tees for a big stretch above and below the farm, just a few minutes walk away, and also day ticket access to Cow Green if you fancy going after the wild brown trout in the reservoir. Debbie and Ted are Wonderfull hosts, and made sure we had everything we needed – the cake was delicious! It was also really helpful to be able to tap in to their knowledge of the best places to go locally – the farm is really well places for trips out to High Force, Barnard Castle and some great Pennine walks. The pubs, cafes, restaurants and fish and chip shops we visited were all uniformly superb.
The fishing was pretty good, given that I am a novice – I booked Stuart Wardle from the Durham Fly Fishing company for a morning to advise me on casting, fly presentation, reading the water and much else besides, and his expertise helped me to catch my first ever grayling. I was able to approach the rest of the week’s fishing with confidence knowing what to look for on the river, and which flies to use in which conditions. Definitely one we shall return to – it’s a terrific spot.
4th June until 11th June 2021
Arriving after a long journey North, my son and myself were warmly welcomed by our hosts, Debbie and Ted. We were shown our very well appointed Wodencroft cottage where we found a welcoming bottle of wine and provisions provided by our hosts. Our stay was very comfortable and very relaxing with nothing being too much trouble for Debbie or Ted, from booking a table at the local restaurant to refilling our kindling and log baskets daily. The views from the cottage are exceptional and you are soon unwinding and soaking up the atmosphere.
Wodencroft cottages are ideally situated near to Barnard Castle and High Force which make it the ideal base from which to explore middle and upper Teesdale.
But for us it was all about the fishing and what exceptional fishing there was. The access down to the river both up stream and down is not for the weak hearted, but once there you are rewarded with a wild fishing experience that is seldom available without a great deal of travel. Wild brown trout and grayling are the main quarry but their is always the chance of sea trout or salmon in season. Throughout the week our two rods accounted for 28 wild brown trout. SUPERB!
I can highly recommend both Wodencroft cottages and the 11/2 miles of fishing available and would like to thank our hosts, Debbie and Ted for making our stay truly memorable.
Paul & Brian Greaves
Our stay was from 28th May to 2nd June 2021.
Dairy cottage had everything which we could have wished for- an adequate kitchen, a wood burning stove and three lovely, clean bedrooms, complete with Egyptian cotton sheets on the beds.Very homely!
Beds were comfortable and the accommodation was almost ‘in the middle of nowhere’.It was great listening to birdsong at the the beginnings and the ends of our days there.
Ted and Debbie were always so helpful-making sure our mum was warm enough, and giving me some helpful fishing advice for the river (I caught one!)
We definitely want to return soon. Massive thanks to Ted and Debbie!
A lovely, cosy, clean cottage, in a beautiful setting, surrounded by stunning scenery and wonderful walks direct from the doorstep.
Debbie and Ted provided a warm welcome and ensured the cottage had everything we needed for a great break, whilst ensuring privacy was respected during our stay. Free fly fishing for my partner was an added bonus.
We holiday in this country a lot, but it is rare for us to revisit a property. Wodencroft will be an exception. My partner and I have already booked to return over Easter, and after seeing photographs’ my sister and I will be visiting for a long weekend in May.
September 23rd to September 30th 2020
Had a fabulous week in Dairy Cottage – very well equipped – lovely and warm and covid safe.Debbie and Ted ensured all our needs were met and nothing was too much trouble.Plenty of logs for a fire at night and good WiFi connection.
Plenty of good eating places near by with Barnard Castle just 5 miles away ( can test your eye sight – no DC in sight).
Fishing was hard going due to the heavy rain and very strong winds at the beginning of our stay – however things improved latter in the week and with regular visitor Pips help I did manage to get some brown trout and one grayling.
We came away with some fresh farm eggs and some wonderful steaks.
Teesdale is a beautiful place to visit and Wodencroft is an ideal place to stay.
Thanks Debbie and Ted.
2nd – 16th October 2020
Our first stay at Wodencroft and it certainly won’t be our last. We were recommended to the cottage by various people, but our decision was primarily based on its location and proximity to the River Tees. As a keen fly fisherman I was drawn by the possibility of an autumn salmon and some exciting grayling fishing. However, there is a lot more to the cottage than fishing and my wife (who doesn’t fish) and I were not disappointed. As expected the location was superb and Debbie and Ted were on hand to welcome us, the log fire was alight and a bottle of wine was waiting on the dining room table. Who needs fishing. We found the cottage beautifully clean, well equipped and very comfortable, no complaints at all. Unusually, in our experience, logs for the fire are provided and Debbie and Ted go out of their way to make one feel at home.
Obviously these are bizarre times but there are still lots of walks along the river or over the dales, there are some great eating venues locally but in reality simply enjoying the countryside and the river is what makes this cottage so special. Our favourite walk was from the cottage down the Tees to the bridge at Cotherstone and then back up the river to Eggleston (don’t miss the viewing point on Percy Myre rock). Over the pretty bridge at Eggleston and back to Woden Croft via Romaldkirk. There is a lovely plant nursery in Eggleston and a great pub and restaurant in Romaldkirk on the way home.
To sum up, this cottage is more than just a fishing location, sure the fishing is great and the river is just a hundred yards from the front door but there’s a lot more to it than that and I would urge you to give it a try, like us you won’t be disappointed.
stephen.
My fishing Pal and I have just spent a week in superb accommodation provided in Dairy Cottage at Wodencroft. Debbie and Ted have ensured that all possible Covid precautions are in place including hand sanitiser and social distancing. By adding these extra initiatives we felt very relaxed, reassured and comfortable.
The very comfortable beds made it a struggle to get up each morning but the excellent fishing just down the way ensured we got out of the cottage and indulge in our fishing exercise each day. Not wishing to eat out we soon found the kitchen to be very well equipped With more than enough utensils for a full roast or English Breakfast.This was our second visit to Wodencroft but won’t be our last ! We are already booked to return next May.
Rod.
We had the pleasure of staying at Wodencroft in August 2020. We had a lovely warm welcome from Ted & Debbie. The cottage was perfect, very comfortable, well equipped, homely and just the right size. We slept like logs in the beds, it was perfectly quiet with just the sound of the birds and the river in the distance. The weather had been rather unseasonal leading up to our trip so the river was a torrent when we arrived. Thankfully the waters dropped about 4 foot overnight so we had two good days fishing. Nothing caught on the dry fly but two beautiful brown trout caught on the spinner.
The stretch of the river that you have access too is excellent. Pools, islands, rocks and rapids. Difficult fishing for a novice when it’s fast and deep but I still thoroughly enjoyed our time on the river.
We ate in both the local pub and the Rose & Crown in Romaldkirk. The latter being my favourite, superb food and a lovely atmosphere even with the new socially distant tables.
There are views of the countryside in the distance from the cottage but framing this was a beautifully tended border filled with a wonderful array of flowers and hostas. If the weather had been kinder we would have enjoyed our complimentary bottle of wine out there!
We plan on making a return visit to Wodencroft next year as we loved it so much. For the non-fishers amongst us the cottage sits right on the Teasdale Way so some fantastic walking to be had too.
Thanks to Debbie & Ted for making our stay so memorable. See you next year!
I arranged to fish in the area with Stuart Wardle of Durham Flyfishers, who recommended Wodencroft. I’m glad he did. Very comfortable, and good value. Debbie and Ted were excellent ‘hosts’, and the Texel sheep were intriguing. The variety of fishing is excellent, although the wading is not for the faint-hearted. Some excellent local pubs with good food. Durham, Raby Castle and Barnard Castle well worth a visit. The vicar (Ken) at Staindrop is a fount of knowledge about the history of the families, right back to King Cnut. I also recommend Tees’ Pot in Middleton for sandwich and coffee. The staff are extremely friendly, and it is very good value.
If I can persuade my fishing pals, we’ll take both properties, and really give the fishing a bash. I even saw a salmon, even though I am a trout and grayling man.
This is our 4th. year at Dairy Cottage. Debbie and Ted made us feel as though we are visiting family. Their warm welcome is all you could hope for. The cottage is immaculate with beautiful furnishing and bed linen. We discovered new walks and tea rooms. (Ask Debbie for advice on the best places to go!) We went, this year, for a special occasion and met up with friends and family and introduced them to this wonderful area. They were envious of our accommodation! Again, thanks for all you do and all you are. ROZ
Absolutely beautiful place and lovely scenery. Thank you so much Debbie and Ted for having us. We’ll be back again soon. We saw more wild flowers too; and the deer as well.
Edward.
We came for a week and wished we could stay for a month. Two elderly fishermen ,all the way from Cornwall, eager to fish the Tees at the recommendation of other members of The Grayling Society. We were delighted with the accommodation and the very warm welcome paid to us by Debbie and Ted. Despite heavy showers of rain Trout to two pounds were taken during our weeks stay. All on dry flies to match the LDOs that came off around two in the afternoon.
The daily walk back to Wodencroft improved our fitness and the comfy lounge allowed us to warm up, get dried out and relax. Dinner, prepared in the well equipped kitchen ,was a joy thanks to all the dishes being cleaned in the dishwasher. The full English, taken every morning, was not what our GP recommended but was made easy in this superb accommodation. Our tiredness at the end of the day was rewarded with crisp linen and very comfortable beds. We will return next year ( if not before) for more of the same. Thank you Debbie, thank you Ted. You have two old boys very happy!
A group of friends stayed in Dairy Cottage a couple of weeks ago for a weekend. It was our fourth such weekend and I can honestly say it is a lovely place to stay. Debbie and Ted were busy lambing but made time to welcome us. In the past we have booked both cottages and they are both very well equipped with lovely comfy beds, crisp linen and fluffy towels. If you forget your shower gel or shampoo there is usually some in the bath room. The place is furnished tastefully in a timeless style with lovely paintings and prints, good quality furniture and lots of little touches that make it a home from home.The showers are hot and the heating was more than adequate so that when we returned from a stint on Bowes moor all was cosy and warm and reviving. Ted was very kind enough to move the sheep from the front field so that we could exercise our dogs, and the drying room was great for drying all our gear. There is plenty of parking space and outside lights. It is lovely and peaceful away from any traffic noise. I would recommend this to anyone with confidence that they will not be disappointed. See you next February. Many thanks to you both.
My brother and I (both in our 60s) have just returned from a Christmas break, staying in Wodencroft Cottage.
I cannot praise Debbie and Ted highly enough. We received a very genuine welcome with loads of friendly, down-to-earth, practical advice and suggestions throughout our stay.
The cottage itself is well equipped, warm and very comfortable; in addition, although the weather was kind for the time of year, it was wonderful to enjoy the wood fire, especially during the dark evenings. The sound of the river was relaxing. Internet speeds were good throughout our stay – we both brought computers. Debbie had already set up some Christmas decorations and a tree with lights to surprise us on arrival!
It was interesting for us a “townies” to stay on a working farm and, in addition, the ducks and chickens around the place were constantly entertaining.
Of course, Teesdale is a glorious part of the UK, with a rich history, very interesting local walks for a variety of tastes and abilities and, of course, the fishing just a short walking distance away.
We found that local people are very friendly and there are a number of really interesting pubs and hotels in the immediate locality, owner-managed and offering good value for money.
Thanks again, Debbie and Ted!
We and our 4 friends have just returned from a 4 day stay at Dairy cottage. Fishing was challenging but enjoyable, the views were stunning and the walks were lovely. The cottage has absolutely everything you need, it was clean, warm and cosy. Thank you Debbie and Ted for a wonderful stay and we are already synchronising our diaries to come back again.
My husband and I have stayed at Wodencroft twice over the last few months, including the Christmas holiday. It’s a beautiful cottage, immaculately clean and comfortable with everything you could need, including an invisible man who keeps the wood supplied for the log burner. Set in the most wonderful location, the river behind and farmland in front; with plenty to do within a short distance and some glorious walks. A fantastic place to rest up and enjoy the fishing and the dark skies. We’re going back again soon and I can’t wait.
We have just returned from our wonderful holiday at the Wodencroft holiday cottage. The cottage is gorgeous, tastefully decorated and very comfortable with a log burner. The views and walks were spectacular and the farm is lovely. The fishing is good, the water is varied and needs different techniques to get the best out of it, and the fish fight very hard! Our 7 year old daughter and our 14 month old son enjoyed exploring the farm which has ducks, hens, sheep and beautiful meadows. We also got to feed the lambs and learnt about sheep from the lovely manager Debbie. Our little boy enjoyed playing with Debbie’s pet cat Travis. We saw a good variety of birds, especially swallows flying into the cottage. There are beautiful places to visit near the cottage. We enjoyed a family fun day at the Bowes museum where we had story telling and arts and crafts. Everywhere we went, we couldn’t wait to get back to the cottage. Many thanks to Debbie and Ted. We have already booked to return.
Just returned from another week at the lovely Wodencroft Cottages which gets better each time ,the trout fishing was great dispite low water and high winds .The week was full of highlights ,I had booked a days guiding with Stuart Wardle who runs The Durham Fly Fishing Company on the middle Tees,a great day out with great angler and all round good guy ,Debbie had received a request from one of her regular customers for a BBQ so Wednesday evening she and Ted laid on a great BBQ for the residents of both cottages ,well done both of you ,and Edward if your reading this suggest the same again next year perhaps followed by a disco ? Thanks again Debbie and Ted
Pip
Stayed at wodencroft for a week, wow what a week, great fishing and what a wonderful cottage, the double bed is massive, all very comfy and in an idylic surroundings. I was there to fish, the Private fishing thats come with the cottage is free. Stuart Wardle from Duram Fly Fishing guided for me and a friend, I think some pics posted, great day with him, he is the best guide I have had, and never fail to learn something new and always catch. Ted and Debbie are great hosts and can tell you the best place to eat out, took their advice and they were’nt wrong. I could have stayed another week if time allowed. If you are family its great place with open meadow in front of the cottage, kids could run about while you sit in the garden and watch them, lots of things to do localy as well. The walk alomg the river is beautiful, you may even see a otter if you lucky. Thanks Ted and Debbie.
Absolutely FANTASTIC! Huge thanks to Debbie & Ted for the opportunity to experience a few days at Dairy Cottage which we won via their Facebook competition.
A wonderful surprise which I really didn’t expect! It really couldn’t gave come at better time. The break allowed us to recharge batteries in an outstanding cottage which more than met our expectations in a beautiful part of the country. We will definitely return soon.
We can’t recommend this venue highly enough, it is a must for everyone to experience life away from the rat race.
Stayed one night bed and breakfast everything about the place was fantastic and Debbie the manager was extremely hospitable, beautiful surroundings could not have wished for better. The breakfast was tremendous, will definitely be back.
We have just returned from a 3 day break in dairy cottage we were a party of 3 couples. The cottage was ideal with 3 en-suite bedrooms and a lovely living area. We were visiting the area to do some walking and were not disappointed, good walks, good weather perhaps a bit windy, good friends, good food and good wine. The cottage was warm without open fire, but we still lit it made it very cosy. We had a Chinese takeaway from Barnard Castle which was very good, we also ate at the local in Cotherstone the Fox and Hounds, friendly and the food was excellent and reasonable. Only met Debbie, she made us feel very welcome. We have stayed in many self catering cottages over the years some much better than others, this was one of the best. We will be recommending Wodencroft to friends a great place for a holiday. Pam. February 2017
Having just returned from a weeks fishing / walking I thought a short recap on the weeks activitys would be of interest to others thinking of visiting Wodencroft Cottages for the first time .As is well recorded Debbie and Ted are brilliant hosts and do all they can to make your stay memorable .My intention was to fish for the trout and Graling and although the river was a bit up and down managed 18 trout and 5 grayling over 4 1/2 days the biggest a nicely conditioned brownie of 14 in .The hilight of the week for me was Tuesday when a friend came over to fish for the day ,late in the day found us both wading up to our waists catching trout and Grayling whilst watching 3 Otters playing like kittens on the far bank ,at the same time 2 Buzzads could be seen and heard overhead , quite a sight .Thursday saw the river up and coloured and unfishable ,normally this would mean a trip to Cow Green reservoir which is is included with the fishing package but the wind was far too strong ,so a walk it was .Awalk on a circular section of the Tees Way took me down river to Ecclesto bridge which was crossed and worked my way back upstream .The high landscape gave views over the Tees valley and returned to the Cottages via Cotherstone foot bridge .Thanks again to Debbie Ted ,see you again soon I hope Pip
We arrived at Wodencroft to the warmest of welcomes from Debbie and Ted. The cottage is lovely and cosy and in such a beautiful location you can’t help but instantly know you will have to return someday. We had travelled to Durham to learn how to fly fish ( on the bucket list) with Stuart from the Durham fly fishing company. Stuart is a really great guy who was just fantastic, and so enthusiastic it was infectious. If you stay at Wodencroft then you can fish their part of the river which is a very short walk away. Stuart also took us to some of the most beautiful areas to fish and was so informative and patient with my husband and myself and more importantly he made it fun and we loved it. We cannot recommend Wodencroft ( Debbie and Ted ) and Stuart s fly fishing adventure enough! Thank you for an amazing stay. Jane and Nigel xx
May 22nd. 2016
Have arrived home after spending a delightful week at Wodencroft, celebrating our Wedding Anniversary and my husband’s birthday. He intended to do a lot of fishing but the wonderful walks and villages were a must. (More fishing next time) Debbie and Ted were wonderful hosts who couldn’t be better and were there should we need them. The cottage is beautifully furnished with everything you should require. For the first few days we were joined by my sister and her husband who were most impressed with the cottage and location (and price). Following their departure our daughter joined us and said the whole package (cottage, location etc.) was ‘like heaven’. We have raved about the place to friends and family alike. It was our first visit but definitely not our last! Again thanks to Debbie and Ted
Arrived at Dairy cottage on New Years Eve for a short break with family (which included 3 teenagers). Our priority was to spend family time together, switch off and relax. We got all of this and so much more! What a fabulous cottage, more than big enough for us all but also cosy especially when the log fire was roaring. The upstairs bedrooms were a surprise as the high beamed ceilings aren’t on the photos and they dont do it justice at all. The beds were so comfortable with very nice quality bedding and nice blackout curtains and the lack of traffic noise meant we slept very soundly. We loved the showers which were so powerful and we were surprised to find that the cottage had 4 showers as well as a couple of baths. The bath filled up with red hot water within 3 minutes as the pressure is so good. Tvs in every room which all have freesat and also good WiFi connection. Unfortunately we didn’t get to sample the wildlife or the walks due to the time of year and also the fact that we weren’t there long enough, other than the walk back from the pub after seeing in the midnight bells and it was pitch black by this time! Definitely intend to return in the summertime to experience some walking and see the cottage in a different season. Highly recommended for a fabulous relaxing family trip. My tip is to take board games and quizzes and turn the tvs and WiFi off, it restores family conversation and we had the best fun, the teenagers eventually agreed that the games were better than facebook! Thankyou to Mrs Benn who was a lovely lady who couldn’t be more helpful. See you again soon we hope
We have just returned from a three day break at Dairy Cottage with my elderly mother and her sister. The standard of accommodation at Dairy Cottage is superb, my mum and sister had the downstairs bedroom with lovely ensuite shower room and we had one of the upstairs rooms. Having stayed in 5* hotels around the world I can testify that the beds are some of the most comfortable we’ve ever slept in! The living/kitchen area is well equipped and very comfortable. We had chosen the B&B option and Debbie served us delicious, filling breakfasts in the ‘big’ house overlooking a beautiful cottage style garden each morning.
Debbie and Ted were perfect hosts and could not have been more approachable or helpful during our stay. Richard managed to get a couple of hours fishing in but we spent most of our time sightseeing the glorious countryside and also visited Barnard Castle on Wednesday which turned out to be Market day, us ladies were happy with that!
We will definitely be going back and would recommend it to anyone, the fishing is amazing but Wodencroft isn’t just about fishing it’s a great place for families old and young!
Just returned from a week at Dairy Cottage. We will definitely be returning, as said by others Debbie & Ted so helpful with anything you want. Buttercup meadow was out in it’s full glory and was just breathtaking. The fishing is great, although the fish are very canny and managed to avoid everything thrown at them, however they were quite happy to swim around our feet, maybe we should have tried catching them by hand? I would recommend Dairy Cottage to anyone with mobility issues, although not wheelchair users as the bathrooms aren’t geared up for wheelchair access. Anyone reading this don’t hesitate just book it and find out yourself.
It’s difficult to add to what the previous reviewers have said about Wodencroft Cottages but I will try. Accommodation is first class, the area is stunningly beautiful, the fishing is excellent, although I have to say access to the river can be a little testing if you’re not as agile as you once were.
Debbie and Ted are the perfect hosts, making sure that everything in the cottages is in top working order and even supplying a welcome package of supplies which was a lovely surprise.
And I have to mention the Fox and Hounds a half mile away; excellent ales, great food and just so welcoming, as were all the pubs we visited in the area, which was a few….
This was my first visit to Teesdale, and will definitely not be my last; it’s made a huge impression upon me and Wodencroft was no small part of that.
Del
Just returned from my second trip to Wodencroft .what a gem The fishing was great with many truly wild trout and the odd out of season grayling from 10-13in Debbie and Ted were as helpful as ever and made my stay most enjoyable .A great breakfast , fantastic scenery ,good fishing ,and the appearance of a local Otter what more could you ask for .. Thanks again to Debbie and Ted …can’t wait to return Pip .
My family & I have just returned from an amazing week away at Dairy Cottage. The cottage is a beautiful building, a real hidden gem. The standard of everything far exceeded our expectations, in every way, and the finishing touches are perfect. The cottage was immaculately clean and spacious. It really did have everything we needed and more! A real home from home. The beds were super comfy, and the showers invigorating and hard to get out of! Then on to the stunning countryside. The walks and views from the property were breathtaking. A fisherman’s paradise. Debbie and Ted were lovely and spent a lot of time making sure we had everything we needed. We had two small children on the holiday and it was a delight for them to have so much freedom to look around the property and farm, and to see all the animals. Both my children were able to bottle feed the gorgeous ‘ Jasper’ the friendliest lamb on the planet. The kennels provided were brilliant for our working dogs too.. they had a great time exploring the buttercup meadow.
We will DEFINITELY be back, to make more memories here. x
18th – 22nd May 2015
Our second trip to Wodencroft, with our party increasing from 2 to 4 based on the great time we had last year. Both cottages are super accommodation, warm, squeaky clean, comfortable (so much so that Russ fell out of bed, but that might have had something to do with the wee dram we shared with Ted and Debbie, who manage the properties so very well). We arrived to fresh eggs and tea and coffee etc all being left for us. The river fished well. Tactics need to be altered according to the conditions – it was cold first thing, so gold head nymphs and weighted caddis imitations worked, then as it warmed up, olives and mayfly hatched off and emergers such as Klinkhammer, looopwing CDC and the Rodger Walker deer hair emerger (he’s now banned from using it!) did the business. Wading is required – use a staff as its not easy everywhere. 11/10 all round.You will not regret a visit here, even if you don’t fish. This is now on our regular list -we are planning 2 next season – 1 for trout, 1 for salmon.
Iain, Rog, Russ & John.
Richard and I had a fantastic week at Wodencroft. Debbie and Ted were brilliant hosts and the cottage was a home from home. The fishing was a little up and down but that was because of low water levels (thats one thing that Debbie and Ted cannot control) and probably our skill levels.
There is also plenty of still water fishing in the area and in all we had a good weeks fishing in both river and still waters.
The countryside is stunning and quiet, the only things you can hear in the morning are the river and the cockeral. The local pubs are exelent and very friendly.
We WILL be back next year, hopefully with a few more fishing friends.
Thanks so much to Debbie and Ted for there hospitality
See you soon.
Mick.
I’d told my friends about Wodencroft and we decided to head back on a group fishing trip. The four of us caught a good number of fish on spiders, dries and nymphs including grayling of 2lb and some nice trout up to 15 inches.
As ever the cottage was outstanding and of course Debbies breakfast is a highlight!
Wodencroft is a real gem of venue and fishing is varied and interesting.
Look forward to returning again.
Pete
After numerous net searches for fishing weekends only seemed to bring up extortionately priced lodges we had given up until stumbling upon this hidden gem on the fishpal site.
A very informative website, reasonably priced & ease of booking with Debbie gave us confidence before we came.
On arrival we were blown away by the beauty of the listed building we stayed in – dairy cottage. Immaculately clean & we’ll maintained by the lovely Debbie & Ted, with everything you need for a self catering break in the cottage & a nice touch of bubbly, milk & free range eggs as an arrival pack.
Both Debbie & Ted are genuine, hardworking & nice people who will look after you throughout your stay & give any help or advice you need.
The countryside you are surrounded by is stunning & added to the excitement & pleasure of being able to fish on the river tees whenever you chose. Approx 1.5 miles of private fishing. The river levels were very low but this did not spoil our enjoyment & I’ve never came away from a fishing area empty handed & still been happy!. Numerous beautiful fishing spots along the river which are marked by white posts from Ted which is very helpful.
A fantastic weekends in a beautiful cottage within a stunning part of the countryside. There is so much to visit in the area & you certainly don’t need to be here for fishing to get the most out of staying here.
Already booked our next stay & can see us back here for years to come.
Thanks Debbie & Ted, see you soon.
We had a brilliant family reunion holiday at Dairy Cottage, plenty of room for 6 of us and my niece had lots of outside space to play and explore safely. We saw deer, barn owls and an otter just near the cottage and Its a great area for walking . The cottage itself is beautiful the photos don’t really do it justice and there’s some lovely pubs nearby that serve good food and beer. The kennels are sheltered in a barn and our dogs settled really well. I couldn’t think of a more perfect location for a family holiday, we’re so pleased that we found it and thank you to Ted and Debbie for making us feel so welcome.
Do not know where to begin. Honestly the best weeks holiday I have ever had. Wodencroft Cottage is delightful, comfortable and just exudes a sense of peace. Debbie & Ted were very welcoming and so helpful. Really wanted to stay after our wonderful week, which was really unusual as I am a real homelover.
I don’t know how many times I have bypassed this area on the way to the Lakes, Scotland and the Pennines, but never again. Great walks, beautiful views, good pubs, lovely people – I could go on and on……. (have done to my friends!).
Will definitely be back.
We had a lovely short (too short!) stay at Wodencroft cottage. The cottage was comfortable, our hosts were extremely hospitable and it was a delight to see all the hens and ducks. The setting is truly exceptional and the river is a dream for a couple of inexperienced anglers to hone their skills in privacy – even we caught several small, but perfectly formed brownies! We are sure to return soon.
I’m sat looking out of the kitchen window of Wodencroft cottage wondering why I was silly enough to only book for one week !! Debbie and Ted have been wonderful nothing is too much trouble, a plentiful supply of logs and free range eggs as they should be.
Fishing has been challenging but only because of the river levels rising and falling. Most of the fish, and there has been plenty, came to gold bead hares ears or north country spiders. When the levels dropped black gnats in a size 18 worked well fished in the froth lanes.
We will return.
Toby and I had a wonderful couple of days staying at Wodencroft. Debbie and Ted couldn’t have been better hosts and made us feel like old friends. The rooms are beautifully furnished and have a real home from home feel to them. We went for the B & B option and were pleased we did, it was one of the best breakfasts I have eaten!
If you fish then bring your rod, the river is just a short walk away with trout, grayling and even salmon and it is free with the Cottage, fantastic.
We had a great stay and will be back.
Pete