Location:
The William de Percy is a luxury boutique hotel located in the pretty village of Otterburn, on the edge of the scenic Northumberland National Park. The hotel lies 30 miles north west of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and about 16 miles from the Scottish border.
Arrival and check-in:
The smart grey and white former 17th century coaching inn stands proudly in the centre of the village and has a large car park to the rear with a few additional spaces to the front.
It was just after 3.00 p.m. when we arrived and we were warmly greeted in the rustic-chic entrance lobby by Annie on reception. In hardly any time at all we were heading up the grand staircase to take a look at our room on the first floor.
The Room:
We had been booked into one of the hotel’s deluxe suites which oozed charm with its French château styling, deep pile carpets and velvet curtains adorning the two floor to ceiling windows. With exposed timbers, vintage furniture and a statement faux-stone wall with baroque mirror behind the king-size bed, the suite had a dreamy appearance.
The dresser was equipped with a kettle, Nespresso coffee maker, teas, coffee, hot chocolate, mineral water, packets of delicious Northumberland cookies and some handmade chocolates. On the other side of the room a comfortable table and chairs was suitably positioned for watching the Netflix enabled television. A black retro-telephone was on one of the bedside tables and with plenty of power sockets, USB points and fast Wi-Fi we had everything needed for a relaxing stay.
Huge double doors at the foot of the bed opened into the bathroom which had a walk-in shower with exquisite Moorish tiling and an antique freestanding slipper bath. With fragrant Temple Spa toiletries, luxurious bathrobes, slippers and towels I was in seventh heaven.
Steps lead out onto a large balcony overlooking the garden furnished with a table, chairs and a double sized sun lounger.
Dining:
Dinner – We’d reserved a table for dinner in the hotel’s pub restaurant which felt very inviting with its stone flagged floor, rustic tables with mis-matched chairs and cosy booths with banquette seating upholstered in a cheerful floral pattern.
We were seated in a bay window with views over the village’s quiet main road and enjoyed sipping glasses of wine whilst perusing the menu. I adore beetroot so plumped for the beetroot, apple and pecan salad starter whilst across the table Mr. C. opted for the Thai spiced mussels. Needless to say, we were both impressed with our choices.
Moving on to mains I selected mushroom pappardelle which was very flavoursome coated in a silky, smooth sauce. Ringing the changes, Mr. C. decided on the crispy chicken burger which was so big that he had to dismantle it before he could start eating. This got the thumbs up as well and I couldn’t resist pinching a few of his chips which were very tasty. After a little rest we felt ready to tackle desserts and our choices of sticky toffee pudding and apple and berry crumble sundae were both perfect sweet treats to round off our meal.
Breakfast is also taken in the pub restaurant and coming down at 8.30 a.m. we were greeted with an array of fresh fruit, yoghurt, cereals, cheese, cooked meats and pastries set out along the bar top. We opted to sit in one of the booths and slowly came to life with a large cafetière of coffee and some fruit and yoghurt before moving onto hearty cooked breakfasts which comprised sausage, dry cured bacon, poached eggs, mushrooms and a black pudding.
Other options included pancakes either with streaky bacon or fruit compote and yoghurt and eggs Benedict.
The Facilities:
The hotel has 27 rooms and suites all individually furnished with French styling. Several rooms boast balconies or patios and there’s also a self-contained two bedroom apartment which is perfect for pre-wedding preparations.
There are also several cosy corners with comfortable sofas and armchairs all upholstered in sumptuous fabrics.
Le Petit Château Wedding Chapel
Located on the other side of the entrance lobby to the restaurant stands a purpose-built mock rustic barn boasting a vast baroque marble fireplace for wedding ceremonies. The lavish wedding suite also comprises its own cocktail bar and restaurant which opens out onto a Mediterranean styled garden.
The wedding venue is well designed as it benefits from its own entrance and as it is self-contained from the hotel there is no disturbance for hotel guests when a ceremony is taking place.
Guests of the William de Percy are welcome to sit out in the Mediterranean garden if no weddings are taking place. With its fountain, terrace and boules court it really feels like a taste of France. We took our after dinner coffees into the garden sitting around one of the cosy fire tables and it was hard to drag myself away.
To the rear of the garden is a wildflower meadow with a footpath leading along to the river. I enjoyed spending time sitting out on a bench there with my book as it felt so tranquil.
William de Percy Pub
The hotel’s restaurant also doubles as the village pub and with its convivial atmosphere and gastropub cuisine it’s popular with both residents and locals alike.
Out and About:
Below are my recommendations of places of interest in the surrounding area:
Otterburn
Enjoy a stroll through the village from the hotel and pop into the Otterburn Mill which contains a small museum focusing on the history of weaving and wool milling in the area. There’s also a cafe and large shop specialising in country wear.
Bellingham
Bellingham is a historic market town nine miles from Otterburn. Visit the Heritage Centre to learn about the history of the village. This interesting museum contains an original blacksmith’s forge, railway memorabilia, replica weapons and a display of old cameras.
Adjacent to the Heritage Centre is a tea shop with a difference. Enjoy a cup of coffee and a light snack on the Tea on the Train seated in the first class carriage of an Intercity 125 train, or if its sunny, opt for a seat out on the platform.
Cragside House
Spend a half day at Cragside House which is operated by the National Trust. This extraordinary Victorian house, built on a rocky crag high above Debdon Burn was the family home of Lord Armstrong, a Victorian inventor and industrialist. Cragside was the first building in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity and throughout the interior, all sorts of interesting gadgets that Lord Armstrong invented are on display.
Take a self-guided tour of the house and afterwards stroll through the extensive grounds which are beautifully landscaped with trees and shrubs.
Kielder Water
Kielder Water and Forest Park is home to northern Europe’s largest man-made lake and England’s largest forest. There are several parking areas around the lake from where you can take a stroll along part of the Lakeside Way which stretches for 26 miles around the lake.
Overall:
Tucked away in a picture-perfect small village, the William de Percy Inn is like a little slice of the Mediterranean in the north east of England. With boutique rooms, reasonably priced food and wine, friendly service and a delightful garden terrace, the hotel is the perfect base for touring the Northumberland National Park and its surrounding pretty villages.
Details: The William de Percy, Jedburgh Road, Otterburn, Northumberland, NE19 1NR.
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We were guests of the William de Percy and as always, all views and opinions are entirely my own.
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