Cottages in Alston

Alston is charming and a great base for a self-catering holiday. This pretty Pennine town with its cobbled streets is home to some excellent independent shops where you can pick up local produce such as Cumberland mustard and Alston cheese and dine at one of the cafes or pubs. 

Alston sits in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is noted for being the highest market town in England at 1,000 feet above sea level (a title it shares with Buxton in Derbyshire). We have just a handful of holiday cottages in and around the town surrounded by stunning landscapes of open heather moors, dales, rivers and woods, home to a fantastic array of wildlife, flora and fauna. 

Stay in one of our cottages in Alston and you’ll have easy access to some excellent tracks and trails for walking and cycling, in fact, The Pennine Way actually passes through the town itself. Several of our properties are also dog-friendly, accepting one or more pets, meaning that the whole family can get the most out of charming local walks. 

Alternatively, if you’re planning on taking it easy, pick up the steam train which runs along the narrow-gauge South Tynedale Railway from Alston through to the village of Slaggyford. This scenic route takes you along the South Tyne River which is great for salmon and trout fishing, but be sure to pick up a fishing licence beforehand if you’re planning on casting a line. 

This area of the Pennines is packed with historical sites; visit Vindolanda and Housesteads, both Roman Wall World Heritage sites and the Roman fort at Epicam, near Alston. The area was also mined for lead and minerals as far back as Roman times and guests can visit the fully restored 19th-century Victorian lead mine just outside Alston. If you’re hungry for more historical facts, don’t miss the North of England Lead Mining Museum at the head of Weardale and the historic mines of Nenthead and Garrigill to learn more about their mining heritage. Fancy a day out and head further afield? Our holiday cottages are also perfect to use as a base for exploring the Eden Valley, the Lake District and Scottish borders so make the most of your time here and explore, you won’t be disappointed.