The Waiting Room
Northumberland, United Kingdom
Staward Station
- Cabin for 2 from £83 per night (read our low price promise)
- Super kingsize bed (splits into 2 singles)
More than 1 dog may be brought by arrangement - please call 0117 204 7830 to discuss. Children welcome.
Overview
Staward Station had trains puffing in and out for over 80 years, closing in 1950 along with the traditional waiting room now owned by Allan and Alison, who live in the Stationmaster's House nearby. The Waiting Room has had a lick of paint or two since then, and has been fitted out with a selection of essential mod cons, but apart from that it hasn’t changed much! You’ll be sleeping in the old ticket office, and in fact the original ticket hatch is still in use, opening onto the reading room (although morning cups of tea might be more appreciated than tickets these days). It’s also a bit cosier than it used to be, with new double glazing on the replica, south-facing windows and with insulation material used by NASA lining the roof. There’s still the main entrance from the platform, leading into the sitting room, and if you go through the fully-equipped kitchen you'll find another door leading out the back to your private courtyard garden.
The old stone railway bridge is just at the end of the platform, and from the top you can see over the tree tops down into Staward gorge and across to Hadrian’s Wall – perfect for planning your walking route through the surrounding countryside. A good one to start with is the John Martin trail, a ten mile off-road walk that you can join just at the bottom of the garden.
Essentials
The important stuff
- Check in is between 4pm and 6pm
- Check out is before 10am
- For other times, please arrange with the owners in advance.
- Sleeping arrangements
- Super kingsize bed (splits into 2 singles)
Extra space available
Space for 2 adults from £10 per adult per night sleeping on small double sofa bed (can also be used for children). Bedding provided.
Space for 1 baby no charge. . Please bring your own travel cot
Space for 1 pet from £25 per pet per stay Multiple dogs may be brought by arrangement - please call 0117 204 7830 to discuss
Kids & Pets
More than 1 dog may be brought by arrangement - please call 0117 204 7830 to discuss. Children welcome.
Cooking
- Kitchen with double oven with grill and 4 plate ceramic hob
- Free standing fridge freezer
- Dishwasher & Belfast Butler sink
Washing
- Bathroom with toilet, full size bath tub and overhead power shower
Heating, lighting & bedding
- Multi fuel burning stove in sitting room, each room has an energy efficient ceramic panel heater
- Clusters of spot lights, various occasions lamps, and torch inside the hut
- Passive lighting outside
- All bed linen and towels provided
- Plug sockets in each room
Entertainment
- Cards, dominoes, various board games, jigsaws, scrabble
- Quiz books
- Selection of both fiction and non-fiction books
- TV and selection of DVDs
Getting there
Staward Station, Langley upon Tyne, Hexham, NE47 5NR
Front entrance: ///salon.regularly.beakers
By train
The nearest train station is Haydon Bridge, 4 miles from The Waiting Room.
There is a bus stop just 50m away. There is only one bus per day and only in summer months though!
By car
The Waiting Room is situated 50 metres off the A686, 5 miles South of Haydon Bridge on the A69.
From the west, leave the M6 at Junction 40 (Penrith) up the slip road to the roundabout the 4th (or if South 2nd) right turn follow the signs to A686 Hexham follow signs for approx. 33 miles. Once in Whitfield village, continue over the stone bridge and up the steep bends. At the top, take a right turn onto a slip road signed Allendale and Catton. Staward Station is 50 metres on the left. There is off road dedicated parking just outside of the station gate.
From the east, leave the A1 at the junction with the A69. Travel west towards Hexham and Carlisle. Approximately 10 miles west of Hexham, turn left onto the A686 for 5 miles, past Langley Castle and Langley Sawmill. IGNORE signs for Langley village. Go past the Cart Bog Inn, and after about one mile after the pub take the slip road on the left signed Allendale and Catton. We are 50 metres on the left. There is off road dedicated parking just outside of the station gate.
Food & Drink
At Staward Station
On your arrival you'll find everything you need to make a cup of tea or coffee after your journey, as well as some treats.
The nearest shop for supplies is the Whitfield Village Pantry, 3 miles away. It is possible to walk there, but be aware that it's a pretty steep walk back.
Pubs & Restaurants
The Crown at Catton - just over half an hour walk away, this newly-opened pub serves simple pub grub and has a beer garden
Carts Bog Inn (1 mile) – serves great food! It's possible to walk, but take a torch! Early Bird discount for Waiting Room guests.
Whitfield Village Pantry (3 miles) – café serving tea, coffee, cake and light meals. There's also a shop for newspapers and basics.
Langley Castle Hotel & Restaurant (3 miles) – good food, and great for afternoon tea.
General Havlock & The Anchor pubs in Haydon Bridge (4 miles)
There's also a good variety of pubs in Hexham and the surrounding villages.
Activities
At Staward Station
The peace and quiet make Staward Station a great place to watch birds and other wildlife.
This part of Northumberland is a designated dark sky area, making it perfect for stargazing when the sun goes down.
Rainy Days
Hexham Leisure Centre (8 miles) - pool and bowling alley
Forum Cinema, Hexham
Queens Hall Theatre, Hexham
Roman Army Museum
Tuille House
Langley Castle (Tour & Afternoon Tea)
Places to Visit
Allendale village is 4 miles pubs, cafes, shops, vets, Post Office
Haydon Bridge village (4 miles) - pubs, café, shops, Post Office and railway station where you can catch rains to Newcastle and Carlisle
Hexham (8 miles) - Farmers' Market every other Saturday (check dates with Deb)
Newcastle (35 miles)
Carlisle (35 miles)
Durham (45 miles) - famous cathedral and castle
Outdoor & Active
Staward Station is located in the North Pennines AONB with footpaths, wildlife, hay meadows and peat bogs galore! Try the John Martin Trail, which is a 10 mile off-road walk leaving right from the bottom of the garden. Or just a little further afield, walk Hadrian's Wall, with its selection of forts and museums.
There's a new electric bike network arriving in 2014 for the leisure cyclist, or for the more serious cyclist, the C2C cycle path is also near.
The area is filled with bubbling streams and rivers for fishing, swimming and paddling. There's also pony trekking and shooting (game and clay pigeon) locally.
Meet your hosts
Your hosts Allan and Alison moved into the Station House in October 2018, Following careers in Policing and Customer Services they bought Staward Station after falling for the individuality and character of the Waiting Room. Their aim is to retain the history and beauty of the building as well as creating a comfortable place to stay.
Wildlife & Environment
Situated in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and GEO Park, neighbouring Staward Gorge/Allen Banks National Trust site where wildlife and rare birds of prey are a common sight.
Our guests say...
We stayed for a week in The Waiting Room. It was clean, tidy, warm, well equipped, the hosts were very friendly and helpful. It was a great base to explore the area from.
13/09/2019Rachel
Excellent accommodation and wonderful hosts
30/08/2019Douglas
Wonderful setting. All mod cons, even a dishwasher. Incredibly comfortable and welcoming. Great hospitality from Alison and Allan. Really good position for local walks and towns. Possibly our favourite holiday rental ever!! Happy family, happy dogs!
28/08/2019Ruth
I visited the Waiting Room with my Dad and two children (2&7), we stayed for two nights and couldn’t have been more comfortable. The Waiting Room has everything we needed to be settled and felt very much a home away from home.
19/08/2019Lindsay
What can I say. The waiting room was just perfect. It’s got all the modern practicalities for a week away with loads of quirk and character. Set in a beautiful, quiet and very peaceful part of Northumbria, not to be missed. The hosts Allan & Alison are delightful and always happy to help if you want their input! I’d recommend this stat to anyone who wants a relaxing, romantic couple of nights away!!
24/07/2019Nicola
Love this place? Tell everyone!
Booking Terms
Canopy & Stars low price promise
Book with us in confidence knowing you won’t find that place cheaper elsewhere. All of the prices we display are set and matched by our Owners. (In this world of foreign currency, we do have to say 'subject to exchange rates' for some of our European places.)
What does ‘from price’ mean?
Our ‘from price’ is based on a four night stay in low season and designed to help you to compare different prices across our collection. Some of our Owners vary their nightly rates and check in days throughout the year, so it may differ from the rate quoted below the calendar. It is quite common (although by no means universal) for places to charge a little more in peak season or for shorter stays, to cover changeover costs. Consider booking longer stays during the cooler months if you’re looking for the lowest nightly rates.
Agency Terms & Conditions
Except where otherwise specified, we Sawday’s Canopy & Stars Ltd Company No 09088366 of Merchants House, Wapping Road, Bristol, BS1 4RW act only as an Agent in respect of all bookings we take and/or make on your behalf. Sawday’s Canopy & Stars is part of the Alastair Sawday’s Group of Companies. We accept no liability in relation to any contract you enter into or for any services or arrangements you purchase (“Booking(s)”) or for the acts or omissions of any supplier(s) or other person(s) or party(ies) connected with any Booking. For all Bookings, your contract will be with the supplier of the Booking in question, and in most cases this will be the owner of the property you’ll be staying at (“Owner(s)”). When making your Booking we will arrange for you to enter into a contract with the Owner of the Booking. Your Booking with us is subject to these Agency Terms & Conditions and any specific booking conditions of the relevant Owner(s) you contract with. The Owner’s booking conditions may limit and/or exclude the Owner’s liability to you.
You may decide to make more than one Booking with us at the same time. The price charged in total for more than one Booking will always equal the prices charged separately for each individual Booking. All Bookings are available to be purchased separately at the same price as they are when more than one Booking is made. This means that any multiple Bookings do not constitute a package as defined in the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992.
By making a booking, you agree that:-
- you have read these Agency Terms & Conditions and agree to be bound by them;
- you consent to our use of your information in accordance with our Privacy Policy;
and
- you are over 18 years of age and where there may be age restrictions in place, you declare that you and all members of your party are of the appropriate age.
The Canopy & Stars online booking system enables Guests to make Bookings 24 hours a day. A Booking is confirmed on receipt of a 25% non-refundable deposit for all Bookings with check in dates of more than 10 weeks away. For all Bookings that have a check in date of less than 10 weeks before check in, payment for the Booking will be required in full and the entire Booking will be non-refundable. The Canopy & Stars telephone booking line is open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm. When using the online enquiry form, for those Properties without online booking, please allow 24 working hours for us to contact you by telephone to confirm the Booking. If we are unable to reach you by phone we will attempt to contact you by email. We will contact you during Canopy & Stars working hours (Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm). Online or email enquiries will be dealt with in the order they are received, but please be aware that we cannot guarantee reservation of your selected dates until the receipt of suitable payment. Therefore, if possible, we do recommend that you book on the Canopy & Stars website using the online booking system.
1. Booking and payments
1.1 In order to confirm your chosen Booking, you must pay a non-refundable deposit as required by the Owner of the Booking in question (or full payment if booking within 10 weeks of the date of your check-in).
1.2 Your Booking is confirmed and a contract between you and the Owner will exist when we receive payment of the deposit and send you a booking confirmation on the Owner’s behalf. This booking confirmation will normally be sent out within 24 hours in the case of email and seven working days in the case of post, and will contain the details of your Booking and of payments made and due. If you have not received your booking confirmation within the specified time, please notify us as soon as possible by email (bookings@canopyandstars.co.uk). Please check your confirmation carefully and report any incorrect or incomplete information to us immediately. As we act only as booking Agent, we have no responsibility for any errors in any documentation except where an error is made by us.
1.3 Where a deposit has been paid, full balance payment will be due 10 weeks in advance of your check in date and a reminder will be sent to you two weeks prior to this date, where applicable, by email. We automatically take the balance payment using the same card as used to make the deposit payment. It is your reponsibility to advise us if we should use a different card and to contact us by telephone (0117 204 7830) to arrange for alternative payment method. If the balance payment does not successfully go through as there is a problem with your card, such as it expiring, then we will contact you to try and take alternative payment. If we have been unable to take payment after two weeks of the balance due date, then with regret, we will notify the Owner who may cancel your Booking.
1.4 Except where otherwise advised or stated in the booking conditions of the Owner concerned, all monies you pay to us for a Booking will be held on behalf of the Owner(s) concerned.
1.5 Credit Card payments are processed via Alastair Sawday’s Publishing Co. Ltd who provide merchants services facilities to Sawday’s Canopy & Stars Ltd.
2. Cancellation and Amendment by You
2.1 Any cancellation or amendment request must be sent to us by email (bookings@canopyandstars.co.uk) and will be considered and responded to within one working day of receipt. You are also advised to confirm all changes to our Customer Services Department by calling 0117 204 7830. Please ensure that you have received written confirmation of any changes to your Booking prior to travel. Whilst we will always try to help, we cannot guarantee that such requests will be met.
2.2 Amendments and cancellations can only be accepted in accordance with the booking conditions of the Owner of your Arrangements. The Owner may charge the cancellation or amendment charges shown in their booking conditions (which may be as much as 100% of the cost of the Arrangements and will normally increase closer to the date of departure). The Owner may charge cancellation or amendment charges in accordance with its own booking conditions, however for the sake of convenience only, we have outlined the Owner’s charges at clause 2.3 and 2.4 below. Please note that these are the Owner’s own cancellation and amendments charges, not Canopy & Stars’, and therefore the Owner may vary their charges as they wish, without notice to us. The correct charges will be notified to you at the time of your cancellation or amendments.
2.3 Owner’s General Cancellation Charges:
2.3.1 Cancellation by you at any time will result in your deposit being forfeited, as all deposits are non-refundable.
2.3.2 All monies paid for a holiday (deposit and balance) are non-refundable within 10 weeks before check in date.
2.3.3 Cancellation of any holiday after it has been paid in full and at a date 10 weeks or more in advance of your check in date, will result in forfeiture of your deposit (or an amount equivalent where one was not paid as the holiday was paid in full) and the balance being returned to you.
2.3.4 Cancellation insurance is available but will be a third party arrangement and not involve Canopy & Stars or the Owner in any way.
2.4 Owner’s General Amendment Charges:
2.4.1 Alterations to your Booking can only be made more than 10 weeks prior to the check in date, after which time alterations will be treated as cancellation. All alterations are subject to availability and may incur a £30 adminstration fee.
2.4.2 Differences in the total amount payable resulting from alterations will be refunded to you in the case of a decrease in price and paid by you in the case of increases in price.
Special note: Generally Owners will charge the above cancellation and amendment charges, however we must stress that these are a guide only and charges may differ from those shown here depending on the Owner. The exact charges will be notified to you by the Owner at the time of cancellation and/or can be found in the Owner’s own booking conditions which are available from the Owner on request.
3. Changes and Cancellations by the Owner
We will inform you as soon as reasonably possible if the Owner needs to make a significant change to your confirmed Arrangements or to cancel them. We will also liaise between you and the Owner in relation to any alternative Booking offered by the Owner but we will have no further liability to you.
4. Complaints
Because the contract for your Booking is between you and the Owner, any queries or concerns should be addressed to them. In the event that you have any complaint about your stay, please notify the Owner as soon as possible. If you don’t follow this procedure there will be less opportunity for the Owner to investigate and resolve your complaint and so make your stay as enjoyable as possible. Delays may also mean that amount of compensation you may be entitled to may be reduced. Whether or not your complaint is dealt with satisfactorily, please also contact us as we appreciate all feedback. It’s important to us and the Owner to know that you’ve enjoyed your stay or if anything could have been improved.
5. Pricing
Canopy & Stars reserve the right to amend advertised prices at any time on behalf of the Owner. We also reserve the right to correct errors in both advertised and confirmed prices.Special note: changes and errors sometimes occur.
6. Information & Accuracy
The information and prices shown on this website are varied from time to time and may change between the time you first view a property and make a Booking. You should check that all the details are as you expect prior to making a Booking. It is always possible that, despite our best efforts, some of the properties (including the features and extras available) may be incorrectly described and/or priced. If we discover this is the case after you have made a Booking, we reserve the right to contact you with details of the correct information and/or pricing and will give you the option to:
(1) proceed with the Booking based on the correct information and/or pricing, which may require the payment of an additional amount by you;
OR
(2) subject to availability, change your booking dates to dates when the pricing can be honoured ad so no additional charge to you. In the event that a lower price can be offered for alternative dates then the difference would be refunded;
OR
(3) cancel the Booking. If we do not receive your instructions within 5 days of contacting you, we reserve the right to cancel your Booking without liability to you.
7. Our Responsibility for your Booking
Your contract is with the Owner and its booking conditions apply. As Agent, we accept no responsibility for the actual provision of the Booking. Our responsibilities are limited to making the Booking in accordance with your instructions and acting properly in accordance with our legal duties as an Agent. We accept no responsibility for any information about the Booking that we pass on to you in good faith. However, in the event that we are found liable to you on any basis whatsoever, our maximum liability to you is limited to twice the cost of your Booking (or the appropriate proportion of this if not everyone on the Booking is affected). We do not exclude or limit any liability for death or personal injury that arises as a result of our negligence or that of any of our employees whilst acting in the course of their employment.
8. Pets
Not all properties accept pets. If you wish to take your pet on holiday, please advise us before booking and we can check whether pets are accepted at the property. You must obtain the prior consent of the Owner before taking any pets to the property. A nightly charge may be made by the Owner for each pet and additional terms may apply.
9. VAT
Many of the Owners of properties in the Canopy & Stars portfolio are not registered for VAT in which case no tax is payable. Where VAT is payable, the tax is included in the advertised holiday rental price.
10. Visa, passport and health requirements.
Unless you tell us otherwise, we assume that all members of your party are British citizens who hold or will hold full British passports valid for the entire duration of the Arrangements you chose to purchase. Information on visa, passport and health requirements, where given and applicable, is so given on this basis. Requirements may change and you are therefore strongly recommended to check the up to date position with the Owner of the Booking, Passport Office, appropriate embassy or consulate or your doctor as applicable in good time before the commencement of your holiday.
11. Insurance
You are strongly recommended to take out personal travel insurance for all members of your party. It is your responsibility to ensure that the insurance you purchase is adequate and appropriate for your particular needs. Please read your policy details and take them with you on holiday.
12. Special requests
If you have any special requests (for example dietary requirements, cots or room location), please let us know at the time of booking. We will pass on all such requests to the Owner, but unfortunately, we can't guarantee that they will be met and we will have no liability to you if they are not.
13. Group Bookings
Not all Owners accept Bookings for a single sex group (for example, a stag or hen party). Guests wanting to make such a Booking should check with us beforehand to enable us to check whether the Owner is prepared to accept the Booking. We will then advise you accordingly. In event that an Owner does not accept this type of Booking then it is with regret, that the Booking may be cancelled and cancellation fees may apply. It is the Guest’s responsibility to enquire with Canopy & Stars and/or check on our website beforehand to make sure that this type of booking is permitted.
14. Maximum Numbers
Please note that except by prior arrangement confirmed in writing, only the number of persons specified on a booking confirmation may occupy a property. Most owners reserve the right to refuse admittance or revoke a booking if this condition is not observed and you are unlikely to receive any refund.
15. Your Responsibilities
Please note that you have a contract with the Owner of the property. As such you are under a responsibility to behave in a proper, appropriate and legal manner whilst staying at the property with due respect to the Owner, the Property and other guests and their property. You are responsible for informing the Owner of any losses or damage to the property as soon as possible. Please note that you will be liable to pay the Owner for any losses or damage to the property caused by you or a member of your party (except reasonable wear and tear). Some Owners will also require damage deposits. You must also leave the property by the check-out time specified on your booking. If any guest behaves inappropriately or improperly (of which the Owner will be the final judge on their Property), or illegally, the Owner reserves the right to ask the guest and their party (at their discretion) to leave the Property before the end of the holiday period and/or refuse any future bookings from you. Any refund for so doing will be at the entire discretion of the Owner. In addition, the Owner reserves the right to sue the guest for any loss, damage or injury caused to the Owner, the Property or to other guests and/or their property. As agent, we will have no liability to you in these circumstances.
16. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
These terms and conditions have been drafted in accordance with and are governed by English law and the courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction in relation to any and all disputes arising out of these Agency Terms & Conditions.
17. Discrepancies
In case of a discrepancy between these Agency Terms & Conditions and any other Canopy & Stars literature, these Agency Terms & Conditions shall prevail.
18. Validity clause
In the event that a court finds that a condition in these Agency Terms & Conditions is illegal or void, the illegal or void provision will be severed from the remainder of the Agency Terms & Conditions, which will continue to be valid and have full force and effect.
We stayed for a week in The Waiting Room. It was clean, tidy, warm, well equipped, the hosts were very friendly and helpful. It was a great base to explore the area from.
13/09/2019