Barnard Castle is a historic market town that offers an equally delightful experience for culture and history lovers, as well as catering to outdoorsy types. From this home, art exhibitions at The Bowes Museum are just a sixteen-minute walk, the town’s 12th-century castle is just five, and the incredible hiking spots of the Yorkshire Dales are a half-hour drive. With all this excitement to fill your days, you’ll love coming back to this gorgeous bolthole where you can take refuge on chilly, English evenings. Past the traditional stone exterior of this house, it’s quite a different story indoors. Modern, fresh, and funky, the living space is a surprisingly eclectic mix of velvet furniture, abstract art, patterned wallpaper, and pops of orange features. We love the rocking chair – the perfect perch for sipping Earl Grey after a day of hiking (or perhaps a nip of gin would help you warm up better). After dusk, head upstairs to the bedrooms to get cosy under crushed velvet throws and relax against the cushioned headboard, ready to do it all again tomorrow. Home truths: *As this home allows for self check-in with a lockbox, you won't meet your host *There's no dedicated workspace, but plenty of laptop-friendly spots *The entrance to this home is completely private *You'll need to climb stairs to get around this home in its entirety *In this pet-friendly home, people with strong allergies might want to check about which breeds have been here in the past *There is free parking for two vehicles in the driveway *As there are no laundry facilities, this home might be best suited to shorter-term stays