Ad – Press Trip. We were very kindly offered a complimentary stay for two nights including dinner, bed and breakfast at Gilsland Hall Hotel in exchange for this feature.
If you’re looking for a summer staycation in North England then I have a reccomendation for you. Despite having our summer holiday already I couldn’t resist the opportunity for a little mini break during the summer of staycation to Gilsland Hall Hotel, just outside Brampton, right on the border of Cumbria and Northumberland. The Summer Holidays can be a stressful time for parents but this hotel has made it easy for families to have a two night stay with dinner included on both nights and breakfast included on both mornings. Gilsland Hall Hotel is perfectly situated in the very north for walking, cycling and breathing in the fresh country air. The current 3* hotel which has recently been taken over by new management, is currently taking bookings up until October when it will close for refurbishment. Families with dogs can bring them along too as Gilsland Hall Hotel is a pet friendly place. I’ve put together a little video tour of the hotel below and our stay in a Family room which you can see below.
About Gilsland Hall Hotel, Near Brampton
Gilsland Hall Hotel is now open and has recently is being managed by Monday Hospitality Group and will be part of their new country homes brand, Black Book Hotels. The current offer of dinner, bed and breakfast is priced from £80pp (based on two sharing) and this makes it a perfect British staycation spot for guests wanting to adventure around Cumbria and Northumberland. It will, however, be closing for the season in October to continue with renovation works. Currently, the hotel in its existing incarnation is available for affordable staycations for couples, friends, families and single travellers (and their dogs), this summer, looking for a base from which to explore the region. If you’re looking for family hotels in Cumbria then Gilsland Hall Hotel offers a great option for you. Alternatively, Gilsland Hall hotel is an ideal location for walking holidays for solo travellers. Renovations are ongoing at the hotel but this ndoes not take away from the friendly, welcoming staff, excellent food and rolling landscape views. The beds provide a comfortable sleep after a full day exploring, the showers are hot and powerful and there is plenty of tea and coffee facilities available too.
Where is Gilsland Hall Hotel?
Close to Brampton, Cumbria the hotel is situated amongst 140 acres of countryside. The postcode for Gilsland Hall Hotel is CA8 7AR. It was a long round trip for us but considering we want to relocate North I figure it’s a good idea to investigate as many areas as we can to see what exactly there is for us and hopefully find somewhere we absolutely love. As you can see the hotel is in gorgeous grounds. I’m really excited to see what the refurbishment does to transform this beautiful location from a 3* to a 5*, planned for reopening in Spring 2022. Having visited the hotel I will say that the grounds and scenery give the hotel so much potential to be the place to travel to for couples, families and groups of friends alike. The backdrop of rolling hills, farmland and the walking trails into gorge’s, valleys and ancient ruins make this a truly special place.
Staying in a Family Room at Gilsland Hall Hotel
There is currently an offer on site for dinner, bed and breakfast which is what we were offered during our stay at the hotel. The family room included all expected amenties including tea and coffee, an ensuite bathrooom with toiletries included and all bed linen and towels. Some rooms have deep soak bath tubs and garden views are available on request. Our room also included a dressing table, hairdryer, plenty of space for putting away clothes and a big sleigh bed which I found very comfortable. Rooms are still being opened up throughout the hotel as they’re in the process of renovating so the hotel is becoming more equipped for more guests. Our room was very spacious for a family of three or four. I loved having the bath and shower to use and the bathroom was plenty big enough for all the extra’s we need to bring when travelling with a toddler. Gilsland Hall Hotel is happy to welcome families and we found our stay to be really accomodating.
There is currently no set reception space however you can walk around to the patio area or through to the lounge to check in. We were greeted by Lyndsey who checked us in via an iPad and then kindly gave us directions to our room. We were on the first floor in room 116 which is an excellent family room close with the dining room just below.
What You Need to Know
Food – There are several options for food at Gilsland Hall hotel. Breakfast is served from 7.30am each morning and there is a continental, cooked and a la carte option. Toddlers may be happy with a range of fruit, cereal and toast however cooked options are also available to them. We tried the Eggs Benedict on the first morning which was delicious and rich with plenty of hollandaise sauce and tried to Full English Breakfast before our departure. Both were incredibly satisfying portions and really set us up for the day. Afternoon Tea is available for those that wish to sample it and the evening menu is available from 6pm. Booking a table is preferred and we decided to go down for 6pm each evening where we met Jermaine who gave us lots of information about the hotel and surrounding areas. I have to say the staff at Gilsland Hall Hotel were all very helpful, friendly and accomodating which really makes for such a pleasent stay.
Back to the evening meals and the food at Gilsland Hall is spectacular. I was told that the chef is local as are all the ingredients. The menu offered veggie, vegan and gluten free options and is available in two or three course’s each evening. Below are some images of the meals we had during our stay. Meals were made fresh to order and whilst there is no set child’s menu, the portions can be altered to child sizes – although they are still incredibly generous. There is also a pie of the week option which we didn’t sample.
Steak and French Fries Gnocci with Greens and Parmesan Lemon Posset and Shortbread Smoked Salmon Roulade Eggs Benedict – Breakfast
Parking – Private parking is available at the hotel to the side of the entrace and there is additional parking to the back of the hotel.
Room types available – The hotel has a selection of rooms available including Pet Friendly, Single, Double and Family bedrooms.
How Family Friendly is Gilsland Hall Hotel
We found the hotel to be really family friendly with spacious bedrooms, bathrooms and smaller portions being altered and accomodated for smaller mouths. For example, the prawn cocktail was changed into a sandwich for Felix which was incredibly kind of the chef. There is an anteroom off to the side of the conservatory which has a selection of toys plus the grounds are stunning and a great way for children to run about getting some fresh air. We did see other, older children, staying at the hotel too. All the staff at the hotel were kind and always happy with a hello for Felix and had little chats with him which was really lovely. Everyone had a smile for him.
The Dining Room at Gilsland Hall Hotel There is a portable outside bar on the patio The Conservatory Path to the Patio along the side of Gilsland Hall Hotel Surrounding countryside of the hotel
Gilsland Hall Hotel Final Thoughts
The hotel provides an excellent summer staycation base particularly for outdoorsy families and currently offers a comfortable, welcoming stay for families, couples and friends alike. However, the place is absolutely oozing with potential and I can not wait to see the transformation to 5 star luxury hotel in the future. If you’re looking to book then do so soon as the hotel will be closing in October to continue with renovation works. If you want a last minute break close to the Scottish borders, with a beautiful backdrop and comfortable accomodation then I really recommend Gilsland Hall Hotel as a place to consider staying. We were close to Hadrian’s Wall, Gretna in Scotland and in between Carlise on the West and Newcastle to the East. There are plenty of smaller towns and villages inbetween with pubs and tea rooms. There are many walking trails and routes offering gentler paths for families with spectacular views as well as more advanced trails. The food is absolutely spectacular, tasty, filling and exactly the sort of fare you need after a long day exploring. The plans for renovation are incredibly exciting becoming a potential wedding venue, spa and having luxury suites for guests.
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