Lord Crewe Arms

Rooms

The 21 rooms are scattered between the main building, a handsome house (The Angel, formerly a pub) across the square, and a row of miners’ cottages. An assortment of shapes due to the nature of old buildings, each has a contemporary-rustic style: wooden floors, panelling, wool-padded headboards. Although stripped down to the point of plainness, there’s a sprinkling of quirky touches - an antler’s head, a telescope or a Baroque-style mirror - and many have beamed ceilings and deep window seats. Heathery colours and tartan patterns add softness.

The larger Canny and Champion rooms offer more space but the Cosy category by no means skimps, and all rooms have a bath or shower (most have both) and Noble Isle potions. The Suites are proper two-room affairs with private entrances and wood-burning stoves (though no views).

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Bluetooth sound system
• Hairdryer
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

There’s a modern British feel to the menus, with fresh produce from the kitchen garden and lots of hearty options - perfect after a day exploring the Pennines. Dishes are skilful but not fancy: pea, lovage and courgette soup with crusty bread; tender hogget with crispy potatoes and greens. Puddings are simple but tasty, perhaps Bakewell tart or a berry cheesecake.

Breakfast is just as good: help yourself to fresh pastries or toast your own crumpets, then pick and choose your hot option - all the usual Full English suspects are on the list. Brunch, lunch and afternoon tea are also available, and on Sundays they do a ‘sharing feast’ for the table which sounds delicious.

For most meals, you eat where you want. The Bishop’s Dining Room is light and rustic with huge arched windows. We preferred the cosy Derwent Bar with its low ceiling, slate-blue walls and flickering fire, and the medieval-style Hilyard Room with its gargantuan fireplace, spit roast and wrought-iron chandelier. In summer, the garden offers views down the Derwent Valley.

Features include:

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Room service

Activities

• This is walking country, from serious hikes across the North Pennines to strolls around the Derwent Valley. A lovely walk follows the river banks direct from the hotel, and there are OS maps and a compass in each bedroom
  
• Try your hand at fly-casting (rods to borrow) and hook a brown trout. The hotel can smoke it for you to take home
  
• At Derwent Reservoir there’s windsurfing and sailing, and more fishing (novices can sign up for a ‘Try it Day’), plus picnic spots
  
• The hotel has bicycles to borrow (free); for a tougher challenge, hire a mountain bike and tackle packhorse trails or the nearby C2C route
  
• Hadrian’s Wall, a World Heritage Site, is 32km (20 miles) to the north, with a flurry of archaeological treasures including Chesters and Housesteads Roman forts and Vindolanda with its life-size wall recreation
  
• For tea rooms, honey-coloured cottages and attractive shops (gift, vintage, kitchenware, fashion), Corbridge is a gentle day out; neighbouring Hexham has a twice-monthly farmers’ market and a handsome Norman abbey (lunchtime concerts plus a September music festival)

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cycling
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Mountain biking
• Museums / galleries
• Sailing
• Shopping / markets
• Windsurfing

Kids

Although not targeted at families, the hotel has a Family Suite plus baby cots and extra beds. There is no specific children's menu but the kitchens can prepare food for little'uns on request, and there are highchairs.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Toddlers (1-4 years), Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

The Family Suite has a double room and a twin room. Most bedrooms have a bath and shower and can fit either a baby cot or z-bed.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Lord Crewe Arms is set in the small village of Blanchland in the centre of northern England. It's half an hour from Newcastle and Sunderland.

By Air:
Fly into Newcastle or Teeside.

By Car:
It’s best to have a car here (you’ll be relying on taxis otherwise) - see our car rental recommendations. The hotel has a car park and an EV charging point.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.

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