The Romans left Britain in the 5th Century AD, but they left a legacy of ruins and artefacts behind for people in the sixteen centuries since to explore. One of the most enduring symbols of Roman Britain is the seventy-three mile long Hadrian’s Wall that stretches from Wallsend on the River Tyne in the East to Bowness-on-Solway on the West Coast. Built to be the literal and symbolic end of the Roman Empire (and also a defensive barrier to keep the Picts at bay), there is a lot to see and explore, especially towards the middle, in the rolling hills of rural Northumberland.

Set less than three miles from the central mile fort on Hadrian’s Wall, close to what was formerly Sycamore Gap (and hopefully will be again soon when the new seedlings grow), you can find the beautifully situated Hideway Huts and Stable Cottage. I’ve been to the Huts and the cottage several times, and am always taken aback by how peaceful it is.

There are three huts to choose from: The Bothy, The Shieling, and The Wainscot. All of the Hideaway Huts sleep two in either a king sized double, or two zip & link single beds, perfect for cosy weekends away, or even trips away by yourself to get some peace and quiet, and simply take in the surroundings. The cottage sleeps four and is suitable for children. The Wainscot has a walk in shower, whilst the other two, and the cottage, have shower-over-bath. They’re also equipped with full kitchen, a washing machine, wifi, and an outside porch. Sadly there are no dogs allowed inside the huts or the cottage.

One of the things that really sets the Huts and Stable Cottage apart from some other places I’ve been is Helen, the owner, and the care she takes with the stays and the guests. The places are always immaculate, and there’s always a goodie basket of homemade goods, and food in the fridge. Last time we went there was eggs, bacon, bread, lemon drizzle cake, a bottle of mead, milk, butter, and homemade jam. It’s great because one thing I dislike when you go to some places like this, there is absolutely nothing, and often the place is quite a distance from the nearest shop, or you might have got there late, or it’s a Sunday etc. etc. So you struggle to even have a cup of tea without going out to try and find some milk. You never have that problem at Helen’s. There is always enough food and bits and pieces to tide you over to at least the following day when you can go out and get what you need.

I have been to the huts with my mum, the cottage with both my parents, and also used a hut of my own for writing in the peace, whilst looking out over the pond and woodland that surrounds them. The pond is a fairly recent addition and has brought even more wildlife to the area in front of the huts, which is amazing for me as I could watch the birds and the wildlife for hours.

One of the thing that strikes me every time I travel to this part of Northumberland is the dark skies at night. It is wonderful to be somewhere that, at night, actually gets really dark. We’re so used to light pollution being around that to be somewhere where it is truly dark, it’s amazing when there is none to disturb the dark, and let you sleep. When I’m at home, I have to sleep with an eye mask, to block out the light from street lamps streaming through my (supposed) black out blind. I like it dark when I sleep, and when I’m at Hideaway Huts I don’t need one. It’s beautiful. Of course, it also means that, when you go outside, you can really see the stars. One of my favourite memories of being there was lying out on one of the picnic tables at midnight in July, looking for all the different constellations that I could remember. Sometimes it’s wonderful just to sit and look at the stars.

Outside of the huts, there is so much to do in the surrounding area. The incredible Vindolanda is less than a mile away. Vindolanda is the ongoing excavation of a huge Roman fort and surrounding town. In 1987 Vindolanda joined Hadrian’s Wall as part of the transnational “Frontiers of the Roman World” World Heritage Site. It truly is a magnificent site and museum to explore, and you can get a duel ticket for the site and the Roman Army Museum just down the road (where another enormous excavation called “Magna” has just begun). It is thought that only 27% of Vindolanda has been excavated, so by their own estimation, they could be excavating for another 150 years!

Other things to do in the area are, of course, walking Hadrian’s Wall, trying fish & chips from the excellent chip shop in Haltwhistle, wandering the beautiful town of Corbridge, or going for a delicious lunch at the Rat Inn at Anick (who do the most amazing Chateaubriand (ordered by different weight) – I would definitely recommend!).

If you’re heading up to this part of Northumberland, I would definitely recommend the Hideaway Huts as a bolt hole to stay and explore this beautiful part of world.

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