Last updated: January 9, 2024

Situated just a mile from Hadrian’s Wall, Herding Hill Farm campsite offers a choice of options for a wonderful staycation.  Whether you’re glamping, camping, or want some proper luxury, this beautiful hideaway in Northumberland is the perfect retreat.

From wigwam cabins to castle pods and luxury lodges, there’s something for everyone with no end to the rolling hills and outstanding views out across the stunning Northumberland countryside.

Exclusively for adults, our cosy castle pod ‘Alnwick’ had everything we could need – table, sofa, double bed, shower, cooker and fire… Not forgetting the huge private patio (ours was totally secluded) complete with hot tub and fire pit!

The setting is idyllic.  Pull in off the winding road surrounded by greenery and collect your keys from Herding Hill’s main office which also has plenty of shopping essentials if you’ve forgotten anything.  If you’re staying in one of the castle pods, you can take your car down to the far car park which makes it much easier for unloading, past the pigs and sheep in their pens.

Having just opened last year, the castle pods are a gorgeous addition to this site and our particular pod looked out onto nothing but green hills and gorgeous scenery.  Deceptively spacious, the pods are super comfortable with a relaxing sofa area and Smart TV (with Netflix) to the front along with a cosy fire, table, chairs, and compact fully fitted kitchen complete with microwave and fridge. We had everything we needed to cook up a luxurious steak dinner, although we could of course used the bbq outside. If you don’t fancy cooking, Herding Hill Farm also offers up the option of wood fired pizzas delivered directly to your lodge. Along with the cosy double bed with Egyptian cotton bed linen, towards the back of our castle pod, there’s also a separate bathroom with hot shower, toilet and luxury toiletries.

After unpacking our things, we popped the fizz and made our way to the huge private decking area.  Here, you have the BBQ and fire pit for cosy evening fires, a table and chairs if the weather is up to alfresco dining, and the main attraction – a very spacious hot tub which you could definitely fit four in comfortably!  Fired up and ready to go, the heat, bubbles and those views had us relaxed in no time.  All this, less than an hour from home!

There’s plenty of trails near Herding Hill Farm, so it’s a brilliant base if you’re a walker – including the now infamous hike past the now felled Sycamore Gap.  After a long walk to build up our appetites, we retreated to our cosy lodge for wine and steaks, before enjoying a night cap wrapped up in layers with the fire pit under the stars.

After a peaceful night’s sleep (there’s definitely something about being out in the countryside that aids deep slumber), we took a trip into nearby Hexham for a tootle around the historic town.  Card games, board games, more walking and further hot tub dips filled the following day and before we knew it, it was time to head home and back to reality.

Herding Hill Farm is a wonderful break away from the city and the Northumberland countryside is such a beautiful part of the world to really get away from it all.

Castle pods sleep two adults, while two of the pods allow dogs (Langley Castle and Dunstanburgh allow one well-behaved dogs for a cleaning charge of £25.). There’s a sauna available for hire for private use in the five-star amenity block.  Children and pets are welcome in the Wigwam cabins which also have running water and hot tubs.

Stay at Herding Hill Farm for a minimum of two nights from £335.