Lovelady Shield Country House Hotel

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Price of dinner and breakfast: £56.50 per person per night (your room is free).

Local golf clubs:
Alston Moor Golf Club (2 miles), Brampton Golf Club (9 miles), Haltwhistle (10 miles)

Lovelady Shield Country House Hotel has often been described as England's best kept secret by guests.

This elegant Georgian Country House Hotel stands on the former site of a 13th century convent on the banks of the River Nent, which nestles in the foothills of Alston Moor. There are three acres of secluded gardens in which to sit and relax whilst enjoying the unspoilt views of the surrounding countryside. For guests who like walking there are many walks and public footpaths on the doorstep.

There is an intimate cocktail bar along with a library and lounge with log fires. The highlight for many is dinner, which is served in our elegant dining room. The menu varies daily and is imaginatively prepared by our Master Chef, Mr. Barrie Garton.

The hotel is situated 2½ miles from Alston in Cumbria and is easily accessible from all parts of the UK. The location makes it an ideal centre from which to visit the Lake District, Hadrian's Wall, the North Pennines, Durham Cathedral and the Yorkshire Dales.

Rooms are divided in to three categories - Luxury Rooms, all with King Size beds –including one four poster, or comfortable twin beds. They all have sitting areas with comfortable sofas, and widescreen televisions and DVD players. Superior Rooms, not quite as spacious as the Luxury rooms but they also have King Size beds or twins, comfortable arm chairs and CD/Tape players. Classic Rooms, beautifully appointed and complete with an en-suite shower.

Dining here is sublime with the restaurant providing elegant surroundings in which to enjoy the award winning cuisine prepared by our Master Chef, Mr. Barrie Garton. Barrie's menus are imaginative and varied using mostly local produce. He describes them as being "British with continental excursions".

The wine list of over 100 wines has been short listed for the 'Wine List of the Year' - in 2002 it was awarded North west Wine List of the Year by Les Routiers. Head Chef, Barrie Garton worked as Chef de Partie at the Michael's Nook Hotel and Second Chef at The Wordsworth Hotel. On several occasions he has been a finalist in the Northern Chef of the Year Competition. Barrie is a member of The Master Chefs of Great Britain and has been Head Chef at the Lovelady Shield Hotel for nearly 20 years. His fabulous team of talented chefs have created menus which have carried off awards and rosettes for the past fifteen years.

Due to its location the Lovelady Shield Country House Hotel offers a perfect stopover point for those travelling to and from Scotland. The hotel is not visible from the road, which adds to its seclusion. The entrance to the drive is at the junction of the A689 and the B6294, which is 2½ miles east of Alston.

Alston is a small market town with cobbled streets in the Eden District of Cumbria on the borders of Cumbria, Northumbria and County Durham. In 1999 Alston was chosen as one of the settings for the film adaptation of "Oliver Twist". You can still see street exhibitions they used in its making.

If you want a local walk just nip down to Alston. Alston's tarmac trail takes you around the town. (a most apt name as Macadam built his first "tarmac" roads in this area). Alston has changed little in over three hundred years.

The hotel provides an ideal location from which to visit many local attractions whilst remaining the peaceful haven to come back to away from the crowds. The beautiful country side has been designated an 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty' making it an ideal centre from which to visit three of Britain's most popular national Parks - the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and the Northumberland National Park.

There are many places to visit and close by are the World Heritage sites of Hadrian's Wall and the beautiful Northumberland National Park. The beautiful cathedral city of Durham is only one hour's drive away. To further enhance your stay, the hotel have put together some interesting drives that take you through the outstanding countryside of The North Pennines, an area of outstanding natural beauty, taking in some enchanting villages or circular tours of the fabulous Lake District - just ask at reception!