Christian Holiday House, Eden Valley | Perfect Village Stay, Sleeps 6

Christian Holiday House, Eden Valley — Opposite a Thousand Years of Sanctuary

Newlands sits right on the village green in Great Salkeld, in the Eden Valley, directly opposite one of Cumbria’s most remarkable parish churches. St Cuthbert’s is easy to miss from the road as simply a handsome old church, but its story stretches back well over a thousand years, and its unusual, fortress-like tower makes it one of the most distinctive buildings in the whole valley — a genuine landmark for a village that otherwise feels every bit the peaceful, picture-postcard Cumbrian retreat it’s often described as.

Tradition holds that a church has stood on this spot since around 880 AD, when monks fleeing Viking raids on Lindisfarne carried the body of St Cuthbert south, resting it here as one of roughly forty stopping points on their long journey before it finally came to rest in Durham Cathedral. Cuthbert has been called the last of the great Celtic saints, and around forty English churches trace their dedication back to a place where his remains are said to have briefly paused. The building seen today largely dates from a Norman rebuilding around 1080, with a beautifully carved doorway of zigzag arches and carved heads that still survives beneath a later porch, alongside a Roman altar and fragments of medieval graveslabs discovered nearby.

What really sets St Cuthbert’s apart, though, is its tower. In 1380, faced with the constant threat of raids from across the Scottish border, the parish added a massive pele tower to the west end of the church: walls of enormous thickness, a doorway barely two and a half feet wide, and a heavy iron “yett” door with interlacing bars, designed so the rector and villagers could shelter safely inside during an attack. It’s one of only three churches in Cumbria built with this kind of defensive tower, alongside Newton Arlosh and Burgh-by-Sands, and the fortified Rectory just across the road, itself a 15th-century tower house, tells the same story of a community that quite literally built its faith to withstand hard times. A more peaceful memorial window inside, added in the 1920s, shows St Cuthbert with the eider duck long associated with him — sometimes called “Cuddy’s duck” locally — a gentler note in a building otherwise built for defence.

Staying at Newlands means having all of this history on your doorstep, quite literally across the green, along with the wider pleasures of the Eden Valley and easy access into the Lake District beyond. It’s the kind of detail that turns a quiet Cumbrian break into something a little more memorable — a proper piece of border history to explore before or after a day on the fells. For more options nearby, HolyHols lists further Christian holiday accommodation across the North West and Lake District.

Perfect for:

Families wanting a spacious, centrally heated house sleeping six
History lovers drawn to one of Cumbria’s finest fortified churches
Walkers and golfers exploring the Eden Valley and nearby Lake District
Clergy and mission workers making use of the dedicated discount
Dog owners, with one well-behaved small or medium dog welcome

Location

Newlands, Great Salkeld, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 9LW
How to get there:
Newlands is best reached by car. From the M6 leave at Junction 40, head east on A66, take the A686 towards Alston. After 3 miles take the left turn towards Lazonby and Great Salkeld (B6412). Newlands is directly behind the phone box. There is parking for 1 car on the drive at the back of the house. Other cars can be parked safely on the road. We would advise that a car is essential.
There are good rail links on the Settle to Carlisle Railway, with stations at Lazonby and Langwathby. Penrith has the main intercity links. A taxi would be required to get to Newlands.
Nearest Towns:
Lazonby, 2 miles; Penrith, 5 miles; Keswick, 24 miles.

Local Area

Newlands is in the centre of a tranquil picture postcard village in the Eden Valley opposite the Village Green and St Cuthbert’s Church. With rear views of farmland, it offers a peaceful Cumbrian, self-catering getaway. It is well placed to explore both the Lake District and the quiet Eden Valley, with walking, golf courses, lake water activities, and horse riding to name but a few. A short stroll will take you to the very popular Highland Drove Pub, serving good pub grub.
Lazonby, 2 miles away, has a well-stocked Co-op selling fresh bread. Award winning fish and chips from the Chippie Van are available on a Thursday night. It also has a popular open air swimming pool.
Langwathby, 3 miles away has a village store and pop-up coffee van, Saddlebacks.
Kirkoswald, 3 miles away has two pubs, the Crown Inn and the Fetherston Arms, both serving good pub food. The Fetherston has amazing pies.
Penrith, 5 miles away, has Booths, Morrison’s, and Sainsbury’s stores, and local butchers.
Keswick, 24 miles away, has many outdoor shops.

Facilities

Newlands is a spacious centrally heated, detached house sleeping 6 comfortably. It has a private garden to the front and rear.
>3 Bedrooms, with super king, king and twin beds.
> Kitchen with range master, microwave, dishwasher, fridge, coffee machine, with seating for 6
>Lounge: Wood burner. Smart TV, DVD player, games, and Wi Fi.
>Dining Room: With dining room table and chairs.
>Utility Room: Fridge freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer, boot/coat storage
>Downstairs Toilet:
>Bathroom: Bath, separate shower

Additional Photos:

Click to enlarge

Cosy living room with red sofas, blue patterned rug, wooden coffee table, fireplace, TV on a stand, large windows with curtains, and artwork above the mantelpiece—perfect for relaxing evenings in this inviting Eden Valley Christian holiday house.

A dining room with a round wooden table and chairs in the foreground, and a kitchen with cupboards, a cooker, and another table visible through open double doors in the background—perfect for gatherings at a Christian holiday house nestled in the peaceful surroundings of Eden Valley.

A round wooden dining table is set for six with plates, glasses, and cutlery in a welcoming Christian holiday home. Wooden chairs surround the table, perfect for gatherings in Eden Valley. A cupboard and framed artwork are visible in the background near wooden double doors.

A white teapot with pink stars sits on a tray beside a blue polka-dot jug and a small white dish, on a wooden table with wooden chairs in the background—capturing the cosy charm of a Christian holiday cottage nestled in Eden Valley.

A neatly made bed with patterned pillows and folded towels sits beside a wooden wardrobe and a small chest of drawers with a lamp in this bright, tidy Eden Valley bedroom—an inviting retreat in a charming Christian holiday home.

Bright bedroom in a Christian holiday house, featuring a bed with blue and white pillows, a folded towel, wooden wardrobe, chest of drawers with mirror, wooden chair, window with floral curtains, and a blue lamp on the bedside table—nestled in peaceful Eden Valley.

A tidy bedroom with two single beds, wooden furniture, striped pillows, folded towels at the foot of each bed, a chest of drawers, and a colourful abstract painting on the wall—perfect for relaxing at this welcoming Christian holiday home in the heart of Eden Valley.

A neatly made bed with striped pillows and folded towels sits between two bedside tables with lamps, under a modern framed artwork in this welcoming Christian holiday home. Sunlight enters through a large window on the right, filling the Eden Valley retreat with warmth and tranquillity.

A bathroom in a cosy Christian holiday house in Eden Valley features a glass shower, a bathtub with a towel draped over the side, mosaic tile accents, a window with patterned curtains, and elegant wooden flooring.

View through a window showing a garden with stone paths, a wooden gate, greenery, and parked cars on a street. A white house and green hills of the tranquil Eden Valley are visible in the background under a partly cloudy sky—an inviting scene perfect for a Christian holiday house retreat.

A quiet rural scene in Eden Valley shows a curved stone wall, a bare tree, a narrow road, grassy areas, and traditional brick houses under a blue sky with clouds. Shadows of tree branches stretch across the road, evoking the peaceful charm of a Christian holiday house retreat.

A rural road stretches into the distance, bordered by green grass and trees. A white village sign reads Great Ouseburn, nestled near the tranquil Eden Valley. The sky is mostly blue with scattered clouds, and fields are visible in the background.

A view from a garden gate at the Christian holiday home reveals a stone wall, green trees, bushes with yellow flowers, and a quiet road under a cloudy Eden Valley sky.

A lush green garden with neatly cut grass, trees, and various shrubs and flowering plants surrounds the Christian holiday home in Eden Valley. Sunlight filters through the clouds, giving a bright and peaceful atmosphere.

A grassy field with a stone wall in front of several houses and leafless trees under a cloudy sky, evoking the tranquil charm of Eden Valley—an ideal setting for a Christian holiday cottage retreat.

Costs

Peak Season: (School Holidays) £155 a night plus £130 cleaning and linen
Mid Season: £135 a night plus £130 cleaning and linen
Low Season: £115 a night plus £130 cleaning and linen
Discounts – e.g. Clergy and Church staff
25% discount for clergy, mission workers and paid church staff.
Energy Provision: All costs included, and one basket of logs.

Availability

Available all year round.
Arrival and Departure times:
Check in 16.00. Check out 10 am. Self check-in is via a key safe box situated on a pillar at the rear of the house. The key is for the utility room door at the back.
Booking arrangements:
Full week stays are typically Saturday to Saturday with a 10 % reduction for 7 nights. Please email Sue with your preferred dates.
Pets: one well behaved small/medium dog

Contact the Owner

If you are interested in making a booking, or you would like further information, please get in touch using the following contact details:
Name: Sue and Martin Court
Email Address: sue-court@hotmail.com

Newlands, Great Salkeld, Penrith