Christian Holiday Cottage, Cheviot Hills | Perfect Family Base, Sleeps 5

Christian Holiday Cottage, Cheviot Hills — In the Cradle of Northumbrian Christianity

8 Garden Terrace sits in Glanton, a small village of around 200 people tucked into the southern Cheviot Hills, in a part of Northumberland that has a genuine claim to being the cradle of English Christianity. Long before Northumberland became known for its castles and beaches, this quiet corner of the county was at the very centre of the story of how Christianity took root in the north of England.

Whittingham, the parish church for Glanton itself, is a case in point. St Bartholomew’s Church there is Grade I listed, and the lower stage of its tower and the west end of the nave are genuinely Saxon, built with the distinctive “long-and-short” stonework typical of the period. Records show that land at Whittingham was granted to the community of St Cuthbert as far back as 737 AD, with a bishop recorded consecrating a church on the site around that time — meaning Christian worship has almost certainly continued on this exact spot, a short drive from the cottage, for close to thirteen hundred years. Local tradition even links Whittingham to Twyford, mentioned by Bede, and to the synod of 684 AD at which St Cuthbert himself was elected bishop.

The wider valley holds an even more pivotal piece of the story. About twenty minutes further into Glendale, near the village of Kirknewton, lies Yeavering — recorded by the Venerable Bede as Ad Gefrin, the royal palace of the Northumbrian king Edwin. In 627 AD, Bishop Paulinus travelled north with Edwin’s Christian queen and spent thirty-six days at Ad Gefrin preaching to the Northumbrians, baptising his converts in the nearby River Glen. Bede writes that Paulinus was “occupied from morning till night” instructing the crowds who gathered from every village and district, in what was one of the pivotal moments in the conversion of the north of England to Christianity. Though the great timber halls Bede described lay lost for over a thousand years until aerial photography rediscovered them in 1949, the site can still be visited today, marked by a roadside monument looking out over the same river.

Further along the coast, among the beaches and villages already well worth exploring from Glanton, Holy Island adds another thread to the same story: it was from its monastery, founded by St Aidan in 635 AD at King Oswald’s invitation, that missionaries first carried Christianity across much of Northumbria and beyond, earning Aidan the title “Apostle of Northumbria.” It was here too that St Cuthbert later served as bishop before his relics were eventually carried to Durham, giving the great cathedral there its name.

8 Garden Terrace makes a peaceful, family-friendly base for taking in all of this history at an unhurried pace, alongside the National Park scenery, castles and coastline the area is equally loved for. Being reserved exclusively for clergy, church workers and previous guests, it also offers a particular kind of rest: a quiet cottage in a tiny village, surrounded on every side by landscape that shaped the early Christian story of England. For more options nearby, HolyHols lists further Christian holiday accommodation across Northumberland.

Perfect for:

Families with school-age children exploring castles, coast and countryside together
Clergy and church workers, for whom the cottage is exclusively reserved
Those interested in the roots of Northumbrian and English Christianity
Walkers and day-trippers based in the southern Cheviot Hills
Anyone wanting a small, peaceful village base rather than a busy town

Location

(Last updated December 2024)

8, Garden Terrace, Glanton, near Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 4AW

8 Garden Terrace is a lovely south-facing small stone cottage particularly suitable for families with school age children, or others who wish to explore the Northumbrian castles, coast and countryside.

How to get there:

By car, 50 minutes north of Newcastle upon Tyne, up the A1 and then A697.

Public transport is somewhat limited. Currently there is a Glen Valley bus to and from Newcastle on Wednesdays and Saturdays. There are more frequent buses to Alnwick and Wooler.

Alnmouth has a railway station and is on the main East Coast line from London Kings Cross to Edinburgh.

Nearest Towns:

Alnwick – 20 min drive; Wooler – 15 min drive; Newcastle – 50 min drive; Berwick – 45 min drive

Local Area

There a small shop with post-office in the village.

There’s a good small supermarket (with petrol and car cleaning) in the next village, Powburn.

There are Co-op, Sainsbury’s, Lidl, and Aldi stores in Wooler or Alnwick. Most big supermarkets will deliver in Glanton.

Restaurants are available in Wooler, Alnwick and Longframlington.

Glanton is in the Southern Cheviots, a good base for discovering all the renowned beaches and castles of mid and north Northumberland and the Northumberland National Park. Alnwick Castle and Gardens are about 20 minutes’ drive away (as is the famous “Barter Books” store in Alnwick).

The Ingram/Breamish Valley with fabulous picnic sites besides the river where children can paddle is just about 15 minutes away, and Cragside (National Trust) is fairly near in Rothbury. Holy Island, Bamburgh, Beadnell, Seahouses, Newton and Craster are all on the coast, with the nearest beach being Alnmouth. (Remember that the North East is somewhat cooler than the South East!)

Alnwick has a swimming pool and Wooler a pharmacy. The URC church in Glanton has fortnightly services. Wooler Evangelical Church has regular services and a resident pastor. Whittingham (the local parish church) has a priest-in-charge and responsible for several churches. Wooler has “Ad Gefrin”, a new Anglo-Saxon museum of the 7th Century (the Golden Age of the Celtic Church) as well as the Milk Bar cafe serving ice-cream from a local dairy

Facilities

8 Garden Terrace is a single-story small stone-built end terrace cottage, down a narrow private lane in the centre of the small (c 200 population) Glanton village, with a south facing patio and garden (mostly lawn).

Bedrooms – one double bedroom and two very small bedrooms, with a king-size bed in the main back bedroom room (including a writing desk), a single bed in the small front room, and a bunk-bed for two in the small back room. Duvets and pillows are provided, but please bring your own sheets, duvet-covers, pillowcases and also towels and tea-towels.

Kitchen – equipped with cutlery, crockery and cooking utensils, washing-machine, dish-washer, microwave, oven and fridge.

Heating – a coal fire in the living /dining room, and electric radiators in each bedroom, and electric blower heaters.

Television/Wifi – provided.

Bathroom – with a shower over the bath.

Parking – on the ‘reinforced’ grass at top of the lawn (parallel to the patio), or, in the main village street (1 minute walk) to avoid reversing.

Games – some primary-school games and toys and a few board games in a cupboard.

Additional Photos

Click to Enlarge

A cosy Christian holiday cottage sitting room with a fireplace, armchair, sofa, and red curtains. Sunlight streams through a window and open door, revealing greenery outside in the lovely Cheviot Hills. A clock and mirror hang on the white walls.

Modern kitchen with white cupboards, black tiled splashback, a window, sink, toaster, knife block, oven, kettle, and other appliances on brown worktops under bright ceiling lights—perfect for preparing meals during your stay at this inviting Christian holiday cottage nestled near the beautiful Cheviot Hills. — Kitchen

Modern bathroom with a white bath, pedestal basin, toilet, wall-mounted mirrored cabinet, towel ring with grey towel, and white shower curtain. The floor is dark wood, and walls are tiled in beige—offering a relaxing retreat after exploring the Cheviot Hills from this charming Christian holiday cottage.

A cosy bedroom in a charming Christian holiday cottage, featuring a double bed covered in a floral duvet, a wooden desk and chair by the window overlooking the peaceful Cheviot Hills, dark curtains, and warm lighting from lamps and a ceiling light.

A small, narrow bedroom in a charming Christian holiday cottage, featuring a floral bedspread, a wooden desk by the window, black curtains, white walls, a framed picture, and a mirror on the wall. Sunlight streams through the window, brightening the room and offering glimpses of the peaceful Cheviot Hills beyond.

A narrow bedroom in a Christian holiday cottage with a single bed covered in a floral duvet, a wooden bedside table, a framed mirror, a small lamp, a heater, and a framed picture on the white wall offers tranquil comfort near the picturesque Cheviot Hills.

A small bedroom in a charming Christian holiday cottage, featuring wooden bunk beds, floral bedding on the top bunk, a chest of drawers, a mirror on the wall, a small table with a lamp, and a window with red curtains—perfect for relaxing after exploring the scenic Cheviot Hills.

A back garden at a charming Christian holiday cottage in the Cheviot Hills features a green lawn, patio table and chairs, hedges, trees, and a swing set—all set beneath a colourful sunset sky with pink and orange clouds.

A shallow stream flows through a lush, green landscape with grassy banks, rocks, and trees under a clear blue sky. Rolling hills rise in the background, reminiscent of the scenic Cheviot Hills—an ideal setting for a peaceful Christian holiday cottage retreat.

A rocky stream flows through a green valley between the rolling Cheviot Hills under a cloudy sky, with grassy banks and scattered shrubs along the water’s edge—an idyllic setting for a Christian holiday cottage nestled nearby.

Purple heather covers the rolling hills under a cloudy sky, with distant fields and the majestic Cheviot Hills visible in the background—a tranquil scene perfect for those seeking a peaceful escape in a Christian holiday cottage.

A view of a village with red-roofed houses and a church, seen across a river and grassy marsh, framed by tree branches in the foreground—nestled near the scenic Cheviot Hills, this peaceful scene evokes the charm of a classic Christian holiday cottage retreat. — View of Alnmouth

People walk down a road towards a sandy beach with a curved shoreline. There are grassy hills, a few houses—one of which is a charming Christian holiday cottage—and a castle on a distant hilltop, under a partly cloudy sky. In the background, the gentle slopes of the Cheviot Hills add to the picturesque scene.

A large, historic stone manor stands in the background, surrounded by trees in the picturesque Cheviot Hills, with a field of yellow flowers blooming in the foreground under a clear blue sky—a perfect setting for a tranquil Christian holiday cottage retreat.

A large stone castle with tall towers and walls stands on a rocky hill in the heart of the Cheviot Hills, surrounded by green grass and shrubs under a partly cloudy sky.

A large flock of sheep walks down a village street lined with stone houses and parked cars on a cloudy day, as the distant Cheviot Hills rise beyond the rooftops, hinting at tranquil escapes such as a Christian holiday cottage nestled in the rolling countryside.

Costs

For Clergy and Church staff £350 per week in June, July and August, £300 per week at other times. 8 Garden Terrace is available only to clergy and church workers (and previous guests) at this cost of £350/300 per week. That includes a cleaner coming between guests; but please tidy up when you leave.

Please email the owners’ daughter at: GardenTerraceGlanton@gmail.com

– providing full contact details, the number of people in your family and the details of the church in which you serve, and the dates you are enquiring about. If those dates are available, guests are normally asked to pay £100 deposit, and to pay the balance two weeks before the holiday begins.

Energy Provision:

Electricity included. Some firelighters, kindling wood and smokeless coal are provided (if stocks run low, please buy bags from Hedgeley Service Station with the small supermarket at Powburn).

Availability

April to October.

Arrival and Departure times: 3.00 pm arrival time. 10.00 am departure time.

Booking arrangements: Normally Saturday start. Short breaks by arrangement – eg 4 days @ £200

Pets: Sorry -no pets

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: Annabel Holloway

Email Address: Annabelholloway@gmail.com

8, Garden Terrace, Glanton, Alnwick, Northumberland