Lowbyer Manor Country House

Accommodation - fine/good We didn’t dine there so can’t comment- we ate at the Alston House, people say the Cumberland Arms is also ok - better beer but a more basic menu I think. Breakfast at Lowbyer was fine for us walkers, all the usual stuff but not til 8am - might be a problem for some Bar in the cellar with tv, big garden, welcoming hosts (but possibly unmanned til 3pm) We three 60+ blokes used a twin and single room - all fine

DISAPPOINTING ROOM. Our group consisted of 8 people, 3 double rooms and 3 single, which were booked 6 months in advance. On arrival we found the extractor in the bathroom didn't work leaving the bathroom full of condensation the whole stay. The towel radiator didn't work either as the controls had been removed. The radiator in the bedroom was put on for a couple of hours the first night but after that there was no heating whatsoever so we had to use wet towels for our 3 night stay. In the bedroom there was signs of damp where a mini dehumidifier had been left. We told the ower (Jim) and he actually said "yes that room is damp"! What was even worse was when we went to bed, that also felt damp. As we had booked well in advance we assumed (wrongly) that all the rooms were occupied and as we were with a group of friends didn't want to find alternative accommodation. It was on our last night when we realised our group were the only peope staying in the hotel and they could have moved us to an alternative room. It is beyond us why we were given a damp room in the first place. We ate at the hotel the first night and the food was very good but as the menu was limited decided to try elsewhere in the village. Jim said as we were not staying to eat the bar would close at 7pm on the second night. The owners do not stay at the hotel overnight so if anyone is a lone traveller this may be quite disconcerting and something to consider before booking.

Breakfast didn't start until 8 and service was slow. We were told by the company organising our trip that packed lunches were available from the hotel, but when we enquired, we were told we would need to go into the town - about a mile round trip! The next result was that we did not have time for this before our prebooked taxi turned up. We also had to walk into town each evening for a meal, although we were told that evening meals might be available. After a long tiring walk from Dufton it would have been great to have been able to eat at Lowbyer Manor.

The people who run the Manor were extremely welcoming and considerate. The lounge is really nice and comfortable, the room and en-suite were clean and breakfast was excellent. We’d travelled through appalling heavy rain and I was pleasantly surprised that the central heating came on in early September although Alston is at pretty high altitude and so it may be necessary. We had to go out for an evening meal because no food is available on a Sunday but I think it s on other nights. We went out at just after 6 PM and got a table at the Alston House but someone who arrived afterwards was turned away and had been turned away at the Cumberland Arms because they’d also stopped serving. It appears that you need to eat fairly early in Alston on a Sunday night or book beforehand. This isn’t really part of the review but may be worth bearing in mind.

Very friendly and helpful. Quality breakfast and rooms. Great location for walks, cycling, motorcycling, site seeing. Great lounge with internet connected TV. Be sure to check about evening meals as the dining room may not be open. Local pub food available.

nice quiet area very clean safe parking lots of walks close by and a great tree in the garden 170 years old