Sykes Holiday Cottages is an independent holiday cottage rental agency, with the finest selection of holidays across the UK and Ireland. Whether it’s a family-friendly holiday, a pet-friendly holiday or an activity and adventure-filled holiday, find your ideal UK break with Sykes Holiday Cottages. Our sister brands include Abersoch Quality Homes, Best of Suffolk, Carbis Bay Holidays, Character Cottages, Coast and Country Cottages, Coast and Country Holidays, Cornish Cottage Holidays, Dream Cottages, Heart of the Lakes, Helpful Holidays, Hideaways, Hogans Irish Cottages, John Bray, Lakes Cottage Holidays, Lake District Lodge Holidays, Lakelovers, Manor Cottages, Menai Holidays, Northumbria Coast & Country, Welsh Coast and Country Cottages and Yorkshire Coastal Cottages, and our family extends as far as Bachcare in New Zealand.

Thistle Close is set on a working farm close to the village of Staindrop in Teesdale, just five miles from Barnard Castle. The cottage has one double bedroom and one twin as well as a family bathroom which makes it suitable for four people. Also in the cottage are a fitted kitchen with a breakfast area and a sitting room with a dining area and an electric fire. Outside the cottage is off road parking for two cars, a sheltered shared front courtyard with furniture and a designated play area for children (adult supervision required). Ideal for exploring the northern Dales, Thistle Cottage is sure to appeal to the whole family.

Closely associated with the fortunes of nearby Raby Castle and its owners is the pretty Teesdale village of Staindrop in the York Dales. The Castle, a monument that is open to the public, is one of the grandest in England. Extended and modified over the centuries, the heart of the castle is medieval with a walled garden and 200-acre deer park. Staindrop itself is home to many interesting shops, pubs and cafes, all set round its long village green. The popular market town of Barnard Castle is only five miles away, and is the setting for the Bowes Museum, in addition to its wide range of shops and tea-rooms. The area is a wonderful place for walkers and cyclists with numerous routes throughout the stunning scenery.