Why Spend Christmas at The Barn?

An adults-only Christmas break

Christmas can be wonderful, but it can also be busy. The Barn is adults-only, so the atmosphere stays peaceful from the moment you arrive. It's ideal for a romantic Christmas break in Northumberland for two, or a relaxed festive getaway with friends.

Space to slow down

The Barn sleeps four adults in two ensuite bedrooms, so everyone has their own comfortable space. Downstairs, the open-plan living, dining and kitchen area has oak floors, a sage green shaker kitchen and sliding doors that open onto the garden terrace. It's the perfect setting for a long, lazy Christmas breakfast or a festive dinner around the table.

A little luxury

Upstairs, the roll-top bath by the window is made for winter evenings. Run a deep bath after a cold walk and let the stresses of the year drift away.

Your Christmas, your way

With your own self-catering space, there's no set dining time and no crowded hotel restaurant. Open presents in your pyjamas, cook a feast or keep things simple. The day belongs to you.

Hexham, just a mile and a half away

Hexham is one of Northumberland's loveliest market towns, and it really sparkles in December. The much-loved Hexham Christmas Market is usually held on a Saturday in mid-December, with well over 100 stalls in and around Hexham Abbey and the Market Place, alongside the town's farmers' market. It's the perfect place to find handmade gifts, local food and festive treats.

Throughout December, the town's independent shops, cafés and cultural venues come alive with seasonal gifts, festive films and Christmas concerts.

Festive fairs within easy reach

• Brocksbushes Christmas Fayre, a short drive along the A69, with more than 70 stalls, festive food and drink and live music (12 to 15 November 2026).

• The Sill Christmas Fair, at the National Landscape Discovery Centre on Hadrian's Wall, filled with handmade and locally produced gifts.

• Wallington, the National Trust house, which is usually dressed for Christmas with a twinkling courtyard and a huge tree.

Worth the day trip

• Alnwick Castle Christmas Fair, held in the castle's Guest Hall, with a preview evening on 24 November and a market day on 25 November 2026.

• Bamburgh Castle, which hosts festive installations and Christmas wreath-making sessions, with the Northumberland coast around an hour's drive from The Barn.

• Cragside, the National Trust's Victorian house, famous as the first in the world lit by hydroelectricity and dressed with festive lights and decorations.

Event dates can change from year to year, so please check with each venue before you travel.

Dark Skies at Christmas

Winter is the best season for stargazing in Northumberland. The nights are long, the air is crisp and, away from the glow of towns and cities, clear skies around The Barn come alive with stars.

Stargazing from the garden

Wrap up warm, take a hot drink out onto the garden terrace and look up. On a clear December night you may spot the winter constellations, the planets and, on the darkest nights, the faint band of the Milky Way. There's something magical about watching the stars on Christmas Eve.

England's darkest skies

Northumberland is home to some of the darkest skies in England. Northumberland International Dark Sky Park, covering Northumberland National Park and Kielder Water and Forest Park, is within driving distance of The Barn. For a guided experience, book an evening at Kielder Observatory, where expert astronomers help you explore the night sky. If you're very lucky, you might even catch the Northern Lights, which are occasionally seen from Northumberland in winter.

For a dark sky Christmas break in Northumberland, there are few better places to be.

Winter Walks and Day Trips

Hadrian's Wall on your doorstep

With Hadrian's Wall about a mile away, a Christmas morning walk along the Roman frontier is easy to fit in. Winter light across the hills is beautiful, the trails are quiet, and you'll come back with rosy cheeks and a proper appetite for lunch.

The Tyne Valley

The countryside around Acomb and Hexham is lovely in winter, with riverside paths, rolling farmland and pretty villages to explore. After a crisp walk, a cosy country inn with a warming drink is never far away.

A day at the coast

The Northumberland coast is around an hour's drive from The Barn, making it a wonderful day trip between Christmas and New Year. Wide sandy beaches and dramatic castles look even more striking under a pale winter sky. If you visit Holy Island, always check the safe crossing times before setting off across the causeway.

Festive Food and Dining

A self-catering Christmas

The Barn's kitchen and dining space are made for festive cooking. Pick up local produce on your way in, from Northumbrian cheeses and fresh bread to seasonal treats from Hexham's farmers' market and Christmas stalls. Then cook a full Christmas dinner, or keep it simple with a festive grazing board and a good bottle of something.

Eating out nearby

If you'd rather let someone else do the cooking, nearby villages offer wonderful restaurants, cosy country inns and welcoming coffee houses. Festive tables book up quickly, so we recommend reserving well ahead for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or any special celebration during your stay.

Spend Christmas at The Barn

Whether you're planning a romantic Christmas for two, a festive escape with friends or a quiet few days between Christmas and New Year, The Barn at East Salmons Well is a peaceful, luxurious place to celebrate the season.

Christmas dates are always the first to go, so if a Northumberland Christmas staycation is on your wish list this year, now is the time to book.