Mini break at Sycamore Cottage and Glamping Pods
We recently enjoyed a mini break at Sycamore Cottage and Glamping Pods so thought I’d share an honest review.
There is something about January that makes summer feel approximately 700 years away.
Christmas is over, the days are short, the weather is generally miserable and suddenly August feels like it might never arrive.
That was very much me back in January, so when we spotted a special offer at Sycamore Cottage and Glamping Pods, I decided that what we really needed was something to look forward to.
Fast forward a few months and we found ourselves heading off for a little Northumberland adventure during the Easter school holidays.
And honestly? I’m very glad January me booked it.
Why Northumberland?
We are big fans of Northumberland. It is one of those places that we can visit again and again without ever feeling like we’ve run out of things to see and do.
Bamburgh Castle from the beach
There are beaches, castles, beautiful walks, pretty market towns, Hadrian’s Wall, brilliant family attractions and, of course, all that gorgeous countryside.
We’re also big fans of glamping.
Steve and I have enjoyed a few glamping stays over the years and last year we introduced Elsie to the world of glamping with a stay in the absolutely stunning Skylark treehouse at Hesleyside.
So when I came across Sycamore Cottage and Glamping Pods, it immediately caught my attention.
What I particularly liked was that it wasn’t a huge holiday park. It’s a small, family-run site owned by husband and wife team Mark and Debbie, with just two glamping pods and a larger hut.
That’s it.
No rows and rows of accommodation. No swimming pool or entertainment complex.
Just open fields, farmland, animals and some seriously beautiful views.
And that is exactly what we were looking for.
Welcome to Cedar Cabin
We stayed in Cedar Cabin, which has been specifically designed with families in mind.
Cedar Cabin sleeps two adults and up to four children, with a double bed, bunk beds and a sofa bed. There’s also space for a travel cot if needed.
The whole idea behind Cedar Cabin is to give families somewhere spacious enough to stay without losing the whole point of glamping – being surrounded by the countryside and having those lovely views right on your doorstep.
It definitely delivers on that.
Inside, there is a small but well-equipped kitchen, a dining area, sofa, TV and bathroom, along with plenty of little touches that make it feel much more like a home than a traditional camping experience.
There was also super-fast Wi-Fi, underfloor heating and complimentary toiletries.
Basically, all the things you want when you like the idea of camping but also enjoy being warm, comfortable and having a proper shower.
The beds
The double bed was really comfortable and the bunk beds were perfect for Elsie. However she kept banging her head bless her.
One of my favourite features of Cedar Cabin is the large arched window and Velux window, which are designed for stargazing.
Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t exactly on our side during our stay, so we didn’t get the full dark-skies experience, but I can imagine lying in bed looking up at the stars on a clear night would be absolutely magical.
There are also lovely views across the Northumberland countryside towards Hadrian’s Wall and beyond.
And because you’re on a working farm, you never quite know what you might spot outside.
A little chilly in the mornings
There is one thing worth mentioning if, like us, you have a young child who thinks sleeping in is a completely unnecessary activity.
Because we were travelling with a then six-year-old, we were early risers, and unfortunately the weather during our April stay was unseasonably cold.
While the cabin was lovely and cosy once the heating was on, the heating was on a timer and didn’t kick in until 8am.
For us, that meant the mornings could feel a little chilly, particularly when we were up and about before the heating had come on.
It wasn’t a huge issue and, to be fair, the weather was much colder than you’d normally expect for April, but it is something I’d bear in mind if you’re travelling with younger children or visiting during the colder months.
A cosy dressing gown and some warm layers would definitely have been useful!
Once the heating kicked in, the underfloor heating made the cabin lovely and warm, so by the time we’d had breakfast and got ourselves organised, we were perfectly comfortable.
For a summer stay, I imagine this wouldn’t be an issue at all – and I’d love to come back when the weather is warm enough to properly enjoy that gorgeous outdoor bath.
The outdoor bath
Now, the outdoor bath deserves its own section.
Because LOOK AT IT.
There is a gorgeous freestanding, double-ended roll-top bath on the decking, positioned so you can sit outside and take in the countryside.
The idea of having a bath outside while watching the sunset, listening to the birds or even looking up at the stars sounds like absolute bliss.
Sadly, the Easter weather had other ideas.
It was just a little too chilly and wet for us to take the plunge.
I think this would be particularly lovely in the summer.
A proper working farm
One of the things that makes Sycamore Cottage different from some glamping sites is that it is actually a working farm.
So expect animals, tractors, fields and the general sights and sounds of farm life.
Depending on the time of year, guests can also arrange a farm tour with Mark.
During our stay, we were coming towards the end of lambing season, so we were treated to a slightly more pared-back tour of the lambing sheds and the cows.
It was actually one of my favourite parts of the trip.
Mark was brilliant at explaining what was happening and answering all our questions, and it was really interesting to hear firsthand about the realities of looking after sheep and running a working farm.
For children especially, I think this is such a lovely experience.
It’s one thing to see animals at a farm park, but quite another to get a glimpse into what farming actually involves.
And because it is a working farm, the tour is understandably weather and animal dependent.
What did we do?
One of the great things about staying here is that there is plenty to do nearby, but you can also quite happily spend time at the cabin and do absolutely nothing.
We had a lovely mix of both.
We made a few trips into Hexham, which is one of our favourite Northumberland market towns.
It’s a lovely place to wander around, with plenty of independent shops, cafes and places to eat.
During our stay, we also went to the cinema to see The Magic Faraway Tree, which we all really enjoyed.
Another highlight was a trip to Inspired Pots for some pottery painting.
I absolutely loved this.
There is something incredibly mindful about sitting down and painting pottery, and it was a lovely thing to do together as a family.
I would definitely recommend adding it to your itinerary if you’re staying nearby.
The little things
One of the things I really appreciated about Sycamore Cottage was the attention to detail.
It wasn’t just a case of putting a bed and a kitchen inside a pod and calling it glamping.
There were lots of little touches that made the stay feel special.
The complimentary toiletries, the comfortable beds, the outdoor space, the stargazing kit for children and the fact that the cabin had everything we needed made it feel really well thought out.
And then there is the setting.
You can’t really manufacture that.
Waking up surrounded by fields, looking out across the Northumberland countryside and seeing farm animals wandering around is exactly why you go glamping in the first place.
Would we go back?
I think Sycamore Cottage and Glamping Pods is a brilliant option if you want a family-friendly glamping break without the feel of a big holiday park.
For us, the fact that there are only a few units was a huge plus.
It feels peaceful and private, and you’re surrounded by countryside rather than other holidaymakers.
Cedar Cabin was spacious enough for the three of us and had everything we needed for a comfortable few nights away.
The only thing I was disappointed about was the weather – but that’s hardly something Mark and Debbie can control!
I would love to return in warmer weather, make use of the outdoor bath, sit around the fire pit in the evening and hopefully experience those famous Northumberland dark skies properly.
And perhaps that’s the best kind of review.
We went away needing a little break from normal life and came home feeling like we’d actually had one.
January me was very grateful that she clicked book.
Sycamore Cottage and Glamping Pods gets a big thumbs up from us – and I suspect we’ll be back.
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