Couples Cottage receives 'Perfect 10' award from holiday letting agents after gaining perfect reviews from visitors.

Husband and wife team Robert and Margaret Telfer who run Granary Cottage, Demesne Farm, Bellingham have just been awarded a “Perfect 10” award from Sykes Holiday Cottage.

The couple were given the award by Bev Dumbleton who is The Chief Operating Officer for Sykes Holiday Cottages.

The couple said: "We are thrilled to be awarded a perfect 10! It is an amazing achievement.

"A 'perfect 10' means that our feedback scores from visitors towards the end of 2021 stood out to the agency and that the company thought we deserved the perfect 10 award recognises "excellence" and great standards of our cottage."

The cottage had always been in Roberts family but only last year it was turned into a holiday cottage after a colourful past.

Margaret said: "The building dates back to the late 1800s and formerly was used as a granary where turkeys were kept and a milking byre by Robert’s Grandfather and Father.

"Later on, it had formally been used as a bunkhouse, which was also part of the YHA net work for the last 17 years, however, due to COVID, Robert and Margaret Telfer decided to change it into a 5 star holiday cottage in May 2021."

The cottage sleeps four in a two en-suite bathroom with super king sized beds.

Margaret believed the key to success of having lots of visitors to the cottage because of the history.

"There is lots of character to the building" says Margaret, “with stone wall features and original beams open to the bedrooms.

"It is also within walking distance of Bellingham and on the edge of Northumberland National Park."

Since Robert and Margaret have decided to use Sykes Holiday Cottages to market the 5 star cottage, they have been delighted with the number and bookings in 2021.

They have also been surprised with how quickly 2022 is also filling up with bookings.

Margaret said: "With only 12 weeks left to book in 2022, you need to be pretty quick to book this gem of a cottage!"