Life's a bowl of cherries...here at Falstone Barns

At last we've arrived...at least the website has. We're well on our way to completion and plan to launch the Barns project on 7 December 2007. Big party bash planned...All welcome...

The theme is Christmas in the Courtyard!

Think Prague with your best friends...

Think St Petersburg, with your most cultured.

Think Falstone Barns with your most cherished!

Better still, don't think...just be!

Watch out, Falstone Barns is coming to entranse you!

Falstone Barns and Luxury...Coming soon

Couldn't resist giving you a peak of what is to come. We're opening for Christmas 2007 and our web site will be up and running next week. So don't delay come and join us for Christmas, or spend a weekend in December taking in the area and all it has to offer. What about booking a ticket for Kielder Winter Wonderland and stay with us. I promise you'll be back for more!

Here's Another Stone...

This is the Reivers Cursing Stone. Legend has it that the mere recall of the curse would put a blight on the household contained within, so evil and dire that the consequences do not bare thinking about. I won't have the curse told in the house, and frankly I think I'm taking a chance even discussing it with you!

But this is all part of the rich history of living in charmed and superstitious Northumberland. Come and join us and be charmed...at http://www.falstonebarns.com

Boots, Shoes And More Boots...

These boots were definately not made for walking, however walking is what you can do till your heart's content at Falstone Barns. Choose from a gentle meander around the village, about 2 miles, or up into the hills, 10 miles or more.

What about Hadrians Wall, in parts or as a whole. At Falstone Barns, we can offer you staged walking. A drop off at your starting point and a pick up at your journey's end. This could mean a week long venture...day by day walking the wall; or just a meander between your chosen spots. Either way you're assured of the most courteous service and fun with it!

Then at your day's end, the luxurious surroundings of your own holiday apartment space; to chat about the day's events, over a glass of wine from your own special supply in your apartment. Maybe a soothing massage from our fully qualified Masseuse would help you unwind. Either way, the menu is pure bliss, so....Join us at http://www.falstonebarns.com and give your boots their walk!

Sunday Morning...

This is the view from the Kielder Damn Wall, just minutes from Falstone Barns. As you can see the vista is astounding. Not only can you enjoy perfect views, but also take advantage of a boat trip around the Lake, or do some fishing in the North Tyne. Come and join us on Sunday mornings at http://www.falstonebarns.com/

How about this for a corker! The North Tyne river meanders past the bottom of our land, and as you can see nature is more than generous in this outstanding part of rural Northumberland. Life in the slow lane....at http://www.falstonebarns.com . What more could you want for a break?

Moon....

At Kielder, they're building the most fantastic state of the art observatory. It promises to be a world leader and will attract star gazers from all over the globe. Here at Falstone Farm, we just lie on the grass and gaze heavenward. http://www.kielder-observatory.org

The sky is so clear here that sometimes we see satelites and in the winter months, the Northern Lights are not an uncommon occurance.

Come and stargaze at Falstone Barns with us, and make a wish...to come back for more!

Light Becomes You....

Lighting is going to be a big thing at Falstone Barns...Remember the glamour word, well this one is with a capital 'G', with va va voom at the end! At Falstone Barns you'll be 'wowed' by the light play. Sometimes subtle, sometimes wild, but always interesting. Definately a talking point.

For more lighting inspiration see http://www.chandeliersandmirrors.co.uk

Interesting spaces

The space which you see above is a corridor...yes, but also a gallery. Did I tell you that Falstone Barns will house art available on show and to buy. This space provides an ideal gallery space and will act as a really interesting link between room spaces. So not only will you expect luxury in a suite, but culture and beauty in the art on display.

Much of the art will feature new artists who are up-and-coming as it's our aim at Falstone Barns to promote and show the best of Northumberland. So when you stay at Falstone Barns you'll not only experience pampering par excellence, but also be able to take a reminder of your stay home with you.

For more Network and the Art Tour in Northumberland.

Arrow slits?

How to fill a gap? These arrow slits occur all over the barns. Designed originally to keep out those who were unwelcomed, they now present a quandry as to what to fill them with. The only thing to do is to glaze them...but with what?


How about this...a specially designed piece of stained glass, to let in the light and to add to the jewel like nature of this bedroom....remember the bathroom seen before. This glass matches the mosaic of the tiles in the en suite. Detail is everything and only the best.

For more great design tips see Designers block and don't forget to register your e-mail with http://www.falstonebarns.com/ for more updateds on the progression of the Barns.

It's Raining Again....

These boots were certainly made for walking, and drowning in mud, and splashing debris up your clothes. Yes the weather has certainly been cruel all over the uk and Northumberland has not been short of the rain. These are my usual attire whilst on site at Falstone Barns. However see below some I prefer...! What do you think?

Fabulous Art Work

Received my business cards recently and had the opportunity to give a few out. Amazing response! What do you think? Leave your comments to let me know. Thanks to Lazy Grace at Rothbury in Northumberland for the design. See www.lazygrace.co.uk for ideas on business branding and website design.

The Elephant Tree!

This huge ash caused us great consternation before it was felled. Number one, we did not look forward to it's demise but crucially number two, neither did we wish to see it destroy one of the barns. In the end we took the decision. The Ash had to go. What emerged however, just as the phoenix from the ashes, was this elephant...from the Ash!

Come and enjoy it pass by your room at Falstone Barns.

Well I Think We've Made Some Progress!

Slate and mosaic combined with the best of shower ware make a perfect 'Pamper' combination. Just one of the luxurious bathrooms at Falstone Barns. Check out tiles at www.classictiles.co.uk and Shower ware at C V G of Morpeth, Northumberland.

How green is this valley?

This much....

Pink is a good thing!

Wouldn't it be great to sit and dream under this beauty.

One Good Thing About Summer Rain...

Flowers in bloom at the front of the bastle house...a burst of colour in our grey drenched skies...

A History Lesson

This is an image of our Bastle. What's a Bastle I hear you ask? Answer, a fortified building found in Northumberland and built to keep out the Scots during the Border wars of some 400 years ago. This room is barrel vaulted, has six foot thick stone walls and was designed originally to keep the family wealth in...sheep and cattle! Obviously the family who owned the bastle originally were highly successful at keeping those Scots at bay. In fact the bastle houses the only Date Stone in Northumberland National Park.

The tales of the Border Reivers (Raiders), live on to this day, and the scroll you see on the wall tells just one of them, entitled Lock the door Lariston.

For more border tales, come and stay at Falstone Barns and capture yourself a piece of history!

Other Great Places To Fish!

Since the fishing season is under way, and we'd earned ourselves a well earned rest, we took off to the Kyles of Bute on the west coast of Scotland for a weekend break. Lucky escape by the sounds of it. As the rest of the country was battered with torrential rain, we enjoyed a couple of days of temperate climate, still waters, promenading along the shore of the loch and generally relaxing.

All of this helped along by a cordial welcome, courtesy of Hazel and Drew at the charming Hotel An Lochan, which lies on the shores of Tignabruich. After a couple of hours on a guided boat tour around the loch, with a bit of fishing, lots of local information and the icing on the cake...spotting families of seals basking in the sun on the rocks; we looked forward to a gourmet meal which exceeded our expectations in every respect.

How about a two centre break, a couple of nights at Falstone Barns, followed by a couple at An Lochan....Sounds like Heaven.

Today, a friend delivered a piece of history in a photograph, which recorded the recent history of the house...in the last 50 years. Here's one which delivers a bit more. The date stone is 1604. There has always been a Hall House here at Falstone Farm. This date stone reveals part of that history. It is also the only date stone in the National park in a private residence. The Farmhouse is a Robson enclave, that being the named family who finally ruled over this part of the North Tyne Valley. We still know their descendants to this day...and good friends they are....Always worth staying on the good side of a Robson!

Long Summer Days?

The weather's been a bit like this in Northumberland. Nevermind, those lazy summer days are on their way. The Pimms has been on ice for some time, the Gin and Tonic High Balls at the ready....what the hell crack them open now. We did on Sunday at Falstone Farm and shared hearty banter with good friends; whilst chidren played noisily on pedal bikes and bonny little girls chatted furiously about school discos. Join us at Falstone Farm for more of the same.