The Hayloft in Alston | Must-See Cumbria Hot Tub Cottage

About The Hayloft

The Hayloft is a first-floor holiday apartment set in a rural Cumbrian location near Alston, one of England's highest market towns. Stunning countryside views are a constant backdrop here. Sitting behind the owners' home and B&B, this is a well-maintained property with a warm welcome guests often arrive to find milk, biscuits and wine waiting for them.

Alston sits on both the Pennine Way and the C2C Cycle Route. Walkers, cyclists and bikers are well catered for. The town itself has a shop and pub within a mile. Hadrian's Wall is a short drive away making this a solid base for exploring the North Pennines.

The apartment is spacious, clean and well-equipped for self-catering. It sleeps up to six guests and has been consistently praised for being comfortable and homely.

Hadrian's Wall (12 miles, 20 mins), Killhope Lead Mining Museum (8 miles, 15 mins), South Tynedale Narrow Gauge Railway in Alston (1 mile, 5 mins) and the North Pennines AONB are all nearby.

The hot tub is a real highlight guests love it for stargazing after a day's hiking. The Hayloft suits couples, families and walkers who want a proper countryside base with genuine hosts.

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At Sykes Cottages

Need To Know

✓Biomass central heating with open fire
✓Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge, tv with freeview, dvd, cd/radio, wifi, selection of books and games
✓Fuel, power and starter pack for fire included in rent
✓Bed linen and towels included in rent
✓Off road parking for 2 cars
✓Shared side patio with furniture
✓Shared hot tub
✓One well-behaved dog welcome
✓Sorry, no smoking
✓Shop and pub 1 mile

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Local Insights: The Hollies

Unique information you won't find on booking sites

Alston, Cumbria

Weather & Hot Tub Conditions

13°C

Mainly clear

Updated: 22 Jul 2026, 2:48am

🌡️

12.70°C

Temperature

💨

6 km/h

Wind Speed

💧

89%

Humidity

♨️

Hot Tub Tip: The contrast between cool July air and warm hot tub water creates the perfect relaxation experience. Many guests say cooler evenings make hot tub sessions even more enjoyable.

Best Months for Hot Tub Evenings

✓ May - September: Warmest evenings (12-16°C), longest daylight for twilight sessions
✓ October - November: Crisp autumn air, stunning starry skies, perfect contrast with hot water
✓ December - February: Cold air intensifies the experience, possible snow-dusted surroundings
✓ March - April: Spring awakening, longer evenings returning, wildlife becoming active

🌧️

Rainy Day Tip: Don't let rain stop you! Hot tubbing in light rain is a uniquely peaceful experience. The sound of raindrops while you're warm in the bubbling water is surprisingly relaxing.

Dark Skies & Stargazing

The Hollies is located in one of England's darkest sky areas, making it exceptional for stargazing from the hot tub.

Bortle Scale Rating

The Bortle scale measures night sky darkness from 1 (darkest) to 9 (brightest urban):

🌌

Class 4 - Rural/suburban transition

This location's dark sky rating

What You Can See From The Hot Tub

The Milky Way is visible overhead, though light domes may be visible on the horizon towards larger towns.

The Milky Way is visible on clear, moonless nights.

Best Stargazing Conditions

✓ New Moon periods: Darkest skies, best Milky Way visibility
✓ Winter months: Earlier darkness, crisper skies, Orion constellation prominent
✓ After 11pm: Neighbouring lights typically switched off
✓ Allow 20 minutes: Let your eyes adjust to darkness before looking up

📱

Pro Tip: Download a stargazing app like "Sky Map" or "Star Walk" before arrival. Mobile signal can be limited, and these apps work offline.

Location & Elevation

309m

(1,014 feet above sea level)

The Hollies sits in a peaceful Cumbria setting, perfect for a relaxing hot tub getaway.

🏔️

309m

Elevation

📍

Alston

Nearest Village

🌲

Rural

Setting

What the Elevation Means for Your Stay

✓ Cooler temperatures: Expect 1-2°C cooler than coastal areas, making hot tub sessions even more refreshing
✓ Clearer air: Less pollution and haze, better views and stargazing
✓ Morning mists: Valley fog sometimes forms below, creating magical sunrise views
✓ Walking access: Higher starting point means shorter climbs to fell summits

🚗

Driving Note: The roads to Alston are typical Cumbria lanes - narrow in places with passing spots. Take your time and enjoy the scenery.

Coordinates

Latitude: 54.8185973° N | Longitude: 2.4551147° W

Sunrise & Sunset Times

Today's sun times for Alston (Wednesday, 22 July 2026):

4:00am

Sunrise

7:31pm

Golden Hour

8:31pm

Sunset

🌅

4:00am

Sunrise

🌇

8:31pm

Sunset

📸

7:31pm

Golden Hour

Hot Tub Timing by Season

✓ Summer (Jun-Aug): Sunset around 9:30-10pm - enjoy the hot tub in daylight or twilight
✓ Autumn (Sep-Nov): Sunset 5-7pm - perfect timing for an after-dinner soak under emerging stars
✓ Winter (Dec-Feb): Sunset around 4pm - dark hot tub sessions, ideal for stargazing
✓ Spring (Mar-May): Sunset 6-9pm - watch the evenings grow longer each day

🌙

Evening Hot Tub Session: For the best experience, start your hot tub session during golden hour (7:31pm). You'll enjoy the warm colours of sunset, then transition into twilight and stars - all without having to get out!

July Daylight

This month in Alston, you have approximately 16.52 hours of daylight. The long summer days mean extended evening activities before the hot tub beckons.

Practical Essentials

Everything you need to know before you arrive at The Hollies.

Mobile Phone Signal

📱

Signal Strength

Variable

Mobile signal is variable in this area. You should have coverage for calls and basic data.

💡

Signal Tip: EE and Vodafone generally perform best in this area.

Nearest Essentials

🚗

Arrival Tip: Fill up with fuel before you arrive - petrol stations can be sparse in rural Cumbria. Consider stocking up on groceries too, especially if arriving late.

Family & Fun

What Guests Love

Discover why our guests keep coming back to The Hayloft

Hot Tub & Stargazing

Soak in the hot tub after a day's hiking and stargaze over the North Pennines. Guests rate this as one of the best features.

Stunning Views

The Cumbrian countryside views from the property are consistently praised across nearly every guest review left.

Welcoming Hosts

Owners Tony and Susan are hands-on and helpful. Guests regularly arrive to find wine, milk and biscuits waiting for them.

Perfect Walking Base

Alston sits on the Pennine Way and close to Hadrian's Wall. Walkers and cyclists are very well placed here.

Clean & Spacious Rooms

Guests repeatedly mention how clean, spacious and well-equipped the apartment is for a self-catering stay.

Open Fire

The open fire is a favourite feature, especially in cooler months. Dogs love it too several guests mentioned their pets settling right in.

Getting To The Hayloft

Find your way to your perfect countryside retreat

By Car

The Hayloft is located near Alston in Cumbria, postcode CA9 3BD. The property is easily reached via the A686 into Alston and is set behind the owners' home in a rural position just outside the town. Off-road parking for two cars is available on arrival.

By Train

The nearest mainline railway station is Haltwhistle in Northumberland, approximately 17 miles away. From there, a taxi or pre-arranged transfer will get you to The Hayloft in around 30 minutes.

Off-road parking for two cars

Haltwhistle station (approx. 17 miles)

Accessible via the A686 into Alston

Attractions & More Nearby

Everything you need within easy reach

South Tynedale Narrow Gauge Railway

Distance: 1 mile

CA9 3JB

Killhope Lead Mining Museum

Distance: 8 miles

DL13 1AR

Hadrian's Wall (Walltown Crags)

Distance: 12 miles

CA8 7JB

Pennine Way (Alston section)

Distance: 0.5 miles

CA9 3RN

North Pennines AONB Trails

Distance: 2 miles

CA9 3BD

South Tyne Trail

Distance: 1 mile

CA9 3HT

Alston Town Centre Shops

Distance: 1 mile

CA9 3RF

Alston Post Office & General Store

Distance: 0.8 miles

CA9 3HS

Hexham Market Town

Distance: 20 miles

NE46 1XD

A686 Penrith to Alston Road

Distance: 0 miles

CA9 3BD

C2C Cycle Route (Alston stop)

Distance: 0.5 miles

CA9 3JB

Haltwhistle (nearest rail link)

Distance: 17 miles

NE49 0AH

South Tynedale Narrow Gauge Railway

Distance: 1 mile

CA9 3JB

Killhope Lead Mining Museum

Distance: 8 miles

DL13 1AR

Hadrian's Wall (Walltown Crags)

Distance: 12 miles

CA8 7JB

Pennine Way (Alston section)

Distance: 0.5 miles

CA9 3RN

North Pennines AONB Trails

Distance: 2 miles

CA9 3BD

South Tyne Trail

Distance: 1 mile

CA9 3HT

Alston Town Centre Shops

Distance: 1 mile

CA9 3RF

Alston Post Office & General Store

Distance: 0.8 miles

CA9 3HS

Hexham Market Town

Distance: 20 miles

NE46 1XD

A686 Penrith to Alston Road

Distance: 0 miles

CA9 3BD

C2C Cycle Route (Alston stop)

Distance: 0.5 miles

CA9 3JB

Haltwhistle (nearest rail link)

Distance: 17 miles

NE49 0AH

Is The Hayloft Right For You?

Discover why this cottage is ideal for different types of visitors

For Families

Kids are well catered for here. The North Pennines countryside offers space to roam and the South Tynedale Narrow Gauge Railway just one mile away is a big hit with younger visitors. Killhope Lead Mining Museum, eight miles away, is hands-on and genuinely interesting for children aged five and up.

For Couples

The Hayloft works very well for couples. The hot tub with open countryside views is a genuine highlight, especially after a day's hiking. The open fire adds to the atmosphere and the owners regularly leave wine on arrival. Alston's quiet setting and dark skies make for excellent stargazing evenings.

Pet Friendly

Dogs are welcome at The Hayloft. The outdoor area is not fully enclosed so dogs need supervision outside. Several guests brought dogs and reported no issues. The open fire is a favourite spot for dogs to settle in the evenings. Alston and the surrounding Pennine trails offer excellent walking for dogs.

Dining & Cafes

Taste the local flavours during your stay at The Hayloft

The Turks Head Inn

Located 0.8 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: CA9 3RF

Alston House Hotel Restaurant

Located 1 mile from your accommodation.

Postcode: CA9 3RY

The Angel Inn Alston

Located 1 mile from your accommodation.

Postcode: CA9 3HU

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to our most common questions about The Hayloft

Does this cottage have a hot tub?

Yes, The Hayloft has a hot tub available for guests. It is shared with the wider property and guests have consistently praised it, particularly for evening use with views across the Cumbrian countryside.

Is The Hayloft pet friendly?

Yes, dogs are welcome at The Hayloft. The outdoor area is not fully enclosed so dogs will need to be kept under supervision outside.

Where exactly is The Hayloft located?

The Hayloft is set in a rural location near Alston in Cumbria, one of England's highest market towns. It sits behind the owners' home and B&B in a quiet countryside setting.

How many guests does The Hayloft sleep?

The Hayloft is a first-floor apartment that sleeps up to six guests. It is well suited to couples, small families or a group of friends.

Is there parking at The Hayloft?

Yes, there is off-road parking for two cars at the property. Parking is easy and straightforward to access.

How close is The Hayloft to local amenities?

A shop and pub are both within one mile of the property. Alston town centre is also nearby and has additional facilities.

Is The Hayloft good for walkers and cyclists?

Absolutely. Alston sits directly on the Pennine Way and is a key stop on the C2C Cycle Route. Hadrian's Wall and the North Pennines AONB are both within easy reach by car.

What welcome extras can guests expect on arrival?

The owners typically leave tea, coffee, milk and biscuits for arriving guests. On some stays guests have also found a bottle of wine and chocolates waiting a thoughtful touch that many reviewers have mentioned.

Popular Stays Near This Cottage

Bowness-on-Windermere

The Hayloft Reviews

A hidden gem. Perfect spot, to see the north Pennines or the lake district. 1520 min walk into Alston.

Sophie

I stayed her for a week with my 2 boys 7&1 and my niece and her friend who are both 18 and we all had an amazing time. Just a short walk to the village lots of beautiful scenery and such friendly people. The property was lovely the cottage was clean and cosy and felt homely. The hot tub was also great especially if you wanted to relax after a long walk. It was absolute bliss with the peace and quiet. I would definitely stay there again and would highly recommend to anyone looking for a holiday

Michael

THANK YOU FOR AN EXCELLENT STAY AT THE HAYLOFT. WE HAD A WONDERFUL WEEK THERE EARLY JULY THIS YEAR, THE ONLY SLIGHT DOWNSIDE WAS THE BROKEN SINGLE BED MENTIONED IN EARLIER POSTS DOES NEED THE BASE REPLACING AND THE HOT TUB NEEDS A GOOD CLEAN. OTHERWISE AS ADVERTISED AND REALLY GOOD VALUE. WE WILL DEFINITELY RETURN IF THE BED BASE IS FIXED OR REPLACED.

Claire

Perfect short break for us, very comfortable. I slept through the night for the first time in ages! Hot tub was nice addition too. Thanks for having us!

We had a fantastic break at The Hayloft. The apartment is big and spacious and we felt at home here. The views are stunning. We would certainly recommend it to anyone looking for a peaceful break. We loved the countryside drives and our favourite place to stop for a meal was The Nook We will be back soon

Lovely property perfect to come back to after a day of hiking. Located a short distance from Hadrians Wall and other attractions.

Shaddoth

A very beautiful cottage , very nicely maintained, location is great . Thank you Mr and Mrs Younger for making us welcome . My kids had a wanderful time .

Great break away, fabulous hosts. Beautiful views. Need to stay for longer to find your way around. Maps of walking areas would be good idea. Beehive in Penrith was outstanding food and cleanliness. The Hayloft was absolutely perfect vey clean and very well stocked on self catering equipment. The shared hot tub was lovely for us as not very busy. Weather didnt stop us enjoying the beautiful views. Thank you for a lovely break away.

Charlotte

Great place, cosy & warm. Clean throughout & a lovely warm welcome from the owners. Who also gave us info on the village events for Halloween & Bonfire night. Hot hot tub which we loved with stunning views through the day & star gazing when it got dark! Would definitely visit again!

Had a lovely week away, the views are stunning , the hot tub was lovely and relaxing, the rooms lovely, clean and spacious! Had everything you needed but the bed could do with fixing properly as the bit of wood nailed on in middle kept on coming off

The Hayloft was even nicer than expected, spacious, comfy and well equipped.

I have never had such a relaxing holiday! The cottage was perfect in every way, the location was idyllic with plenty of opportunity for walking and our hosts were so friendly and welcoming. This is definitely somewhere I would recommend and hopefully return to.

Catherine

Really pleasant space and clean environment in such a pretty part of the UK.

Rayanne

Property was lovely and clean in the most beautiful location I would recommend going to see the area. The main reason for this booking was the hot tub. We were very disappointed to see how dirty it was. Didn't look well maintained. The filter was disgusting

Alexis

It was a beautiful place! Lovely views and a great get away! Our dog had such a good time and the hot tub was a great relaxing treat!

Gillian

When we stayed here there was a ladie underneath us, and omg did she have problems! All she done was bang the doors all night long and we never got any sleep. We had enough so we left early and as we was packing our cars she thrown a pair of her knickers at us, and omg we was shocked. We did not feel it was safe as she clearly had issues. Tony and Susan offered another week end stay for free as a gesture of goodwill, which was so lovely of them. We have just came back from staying there again and had a peaceful chilled stay. Massive thank you to them. We loved it there and we will be going again well long as that unhindge women is not there again haaaa. Sorry I no she won't be lol but we will be. If you want to go anywhere with beautiful views walks and amazing I would definitely recommend staying here. Thank you again xx

A very pleasant stay. Ideal for enjoying the local walks.

Beautiful place , couldn't ask for anything more Thank you

Angela

Lovely cosy cottage. Would recommend to others . Lovely views ! Enjoyed the hot tub . All in all a lovely little break away and I would return .

Lovely family owned property who were super friendly and keen to help. Dog friendly, although not enclosed which wasnt a problem. No issues with the shared hot tub. Was a very pleasant and chilled stay. Everyone we met in the village was lovely too.

Michael

Perfect choice for a break. The whole area around Alston is beautiful and the Hayloft is an ideal base from which to enjoy it

Lots to like about the Hayloft, great rural location, easy to get to lots of places with a car, Penrith, Hexham, Carlisle, northern Lakes, Pennine way and South Tyndale railway to walkrun from the doorstep. Friendly & helpful owners. Comfortable beds and great open plan living space. Generally clean although laminate floors could do with a wash. I wiped down the fronts of all the kitchen units before we left too which made a big difference in the sunlight. Very dated bathroom which could do with an upgrade, loose shower fitting over the bath with plastic curtain. We didnt use the hot tub because we have one at home but it looked great.

Hayley

The bathroom is very tired and old and needs updating with a decent shower

We enjoyed the break away from home, but just a few drawbacks. Bathroom is the only room downstairs , with all other accommodation located up a steep flight of stairs. Location may only be 1mile from Alston, but you can only walk there if you cross the fields, high grassas the road has very fast vehicles and no pavements, just very high grass again. The outdoor area for The Hayloft is very small and backs onto a field. Surrounding area for the hot tub was not cleaned, not that we used it as it was terrible weather.

Katarina

It was lovely place we stayed, we enjoyed apartment too much. Very cozy clean and comfy. Only one little disappointed was that there wasn't bbq open fair facilities

Daniel

The Hayloft was great accommodation for us. Beds were comfortable. Owners were welcoming, friendly and helpful. The Hot Tub was just 'what the Doctor ordered' after a day travelling around the area. The only minor detail was the heating, the radiators didn't appear to respond to the hall room thermostat, so I had to turn each radiator stat down when we left each day, no point them being on when when you're not there. Lastly, the front door lock is showing signs of wear and proving difficult to lock.

The owner, Tom, was very welcoming and helpful. The hot tub was superb after a ride out on the motorcycles. The roads around the property are superb for bikes. Alston was less than half an hour walk away but a longer stagger back

The cottage was beautiful, classically furnished and immaculately clean. The owner was very friendly and welcoming. There was even coffee, tea, sugar, milk and biccies left out on our arrival. The lights surrounding the cabin where you could dress and dry with heating made the hot tub experience pretty and added romance. We were sad to leave and we will be returning at some point. Highly recommend.

Had some trouble completing this survey for some reason it was not accepting the numbers I was clicking on. Had a lovely few days at the cottage which was well equipped and very cozy. The open fire was lovely and warm. Our only problem was finding 3 rather large pieces of glass in the hottub. Totally not the owners fault & I believe some previous guests had smashed a glass. Perhaps a supply of plastic wine glasses would prevent this from happening in future. But we did enjoy our stay thanks

Robert

Fabulous cottages , owners could not be more helpful, 5 days was not enough to do everything , but we packed as much as we could in. I'm sure we will visit again in the future!!

Great cottage and area. Issue heating first night .resolved on 2nd night.

Beautiful accommodation in a fantastic location. Very quiet with lively walks from the doorstep. Would definitely return. Bottle of wine, chocolate biscuits were a lovely welcome as was the Christmas tree and decorations.

Leslie

Fantastic cottage we had a great holiday. owners could not be more helpful Thanks Les and Leatha.

Allison

Lovely owners, nothing too much trouble, always around to help.

Location is amazing. Owners are really really nice. Its a nice location tucked away in the hillsides

Freddie

Nice location for walking, also exploring the area.

Rebecca

Beautiful cottage, very comfortable, all amenities were in the cottage, only downside for us was everything was upstairs and we had taken our 12 year old dog who struggled to get up the stairs. But other than that a very pleasant stay.

Lovely cottage very clean amazing area to stay in lots of lovely walks to enjoy ... Lovely cottage very clean amazing area to stay in lots of lovely walks to enjoy and hot tub for when youd walked your socks off great way to end the day easing those aching muscles all very clean and well kept

Judith

This is a lovely place to escape to for a quiet break. The apartment had everything you might need and was very comfortable and clean. The hosts were really friendly and helpful and very dog friendly. The best part was sitting in the hot tub surrounded by lovely countryside. There are also resident barn owls living next door! It is about a 2025 minute walk into Alston using the Pennine Way which was very muddy in places but lovely nonetheless. Some great walking in the area and can highly recommend The Nook about 2 miles on towards Brampton for breakfast

Lovely place for walking and chilling will be back

Leave a Review

The Hayloft, Alston

About The Hayloft

Need To Know

More Cottages With Hot Tubs You May Like

Weather & Hot Tub Conditions

Best Months for Hot Tub Evenings

Dark Skies & Stargazing

Bortle Scale Rating

What You Can See From The Hot Tub

Best Stargazing Conditions

Location & Elevation

What the Elevation Means for Your Stay

Coordinates

Sunrise & Sunset Times

Hot Tub Timing by Season

July Daylight

Practical Essentials

Mobile Phone Signal

Nearest Essentials

Family & Fun

What Guests Love

Hot Tub & Stargazing

Stunning Views

Welcoming Hosts

Perfect Walking Base

Clean & Spacious Rooms

Open Fire

Getting To The Hayloft

By Car

By Train

Attractions & More Nearby

Is The Hayloft Right For You?

For Families

For Couples

Pet Friendly

Dining & Cafes

The Turks Head Inn

Alston House Hotel Restaurant

The Angel Inn Alston

Frequently Asked Questions

Location Name

Popular Stays Near This Cottage

The Hayloft Reviews