Relax ...... You've Arrived!
Welcome, we like to ensure that all our guests have the smoothest check-in possible. All our accommodation on the farm is self check in so that guests can arrive at their own leisure whilst we manage the farm. However do feel free to say hello if you see us or give us a call as we are always happy to help and want to make your stay as wonderful and relaxing as possible. So please let us know if we can help in any way.
CHECKIN/CHECKOUT You are welcome to arrive anytime after 3 pm We ask that guests Checkout by 10am on departure day All beds will be made up and towels provided, if you have requested a cot or high chair these can be found in the hallway cupboard in the lodges and the bathroom cupboard Ireby. We can sometimes offer earlier checkin/checkout depending on what bookings we have either side of your booking so please do feel free to ask and we will try to accommodate where possible. CLEANING We do expect guests to leave the lodge as they found it. You will find a selection of cleaning materials and a dustpan and brush for tidying before departure. Please take your waste to the main bins before departure. The cloths provided are eco friendly reusable ones so please do not throw them away. Please strip the bedlinen off the bed excluding pillow and mattress protectors and place along with the towels in the shower area on departure
WIFI Wifi is available throughout most of our properties with a specific code for each. You will find the code printed on a label on top of the wifi router.
HOT TUBS Hire of the hot tub - If you have not pre-booked the Hot Tub please note: we charge an additional £15 per night to cover the cost of the logs and cleaning costs as we recognise that not all our guests wish to use it. Let us know if you would like to add it to your booking and we can send you a payment link and bring over some logs for you. Instructions For use Check water level in the tank - water level should be at least 2 cm above the top inlet. Leave the cover/lid on the tank while heating up Remove any ash in the bottom of the heater before using Open the air vents Place some logs on the rack in the log burner then add a small handful of dry kindling and a fire lighter and top with a little more kindling and more logs on top of that to get the fire started. We have a really good video of how to do this on our Facebook page 'Tranwell farm holidays' Once the fire gets going make sure you continue to feed logs in every time there is space to do so- always use the dry logs provided and keep feeding the logs in every few minutes for at least half an hour until the fire is really blazing. 1 tub of logs is usually enough to heat the tub and should last you about an hours worth of burning time. Stir water occasionally as the hot water rises and needs to be mixed to get an accurate temperature. Once the temperature is around 28 degrees C stop adding larger logs and keep checking the tank until it reaches the desired temperature It should take around 90 to 120 minutes to reach a comfortable temperature (slightly longer in cold weather) you are looking for around 35 to 40 degrees maximum. The water should remain nice and warm for 3 to 4 hours Close the air vents on the heater to slow down the burning Add more logs if the temperature drops When finished put the cover back on If you have to empty the tank, make sure the log burner has completely stopped The hot tub retains its temperature quite well so will not take as long to heat up on subsequent days. Sit back and relax :-) Caution The heater and chimney will become hot while in use Do not leave any children unattended in or around the tank and heater Water level must always stay above the inlet pipe The water will take longer to cool down as the heater will keep circulating the water and may still increase the temperature even though the fire has begun to burn out. If it gets too hot, get out and add some cold water if needed. Try to avoid getting grit and wood chip in the tub as it is very difficult to clean out. Always shower before use to try and keep the water fresh.
PETS Please keep your pets on a lead at all times whilst out on the farm and dispose of waste in the dog poo bin by the welcome hut. Please keep your pets off the beds too unless you have brought your own bedlinen and throws :-). We have provided a pet towel to dry little paws after your walks and you will find a shower hose by the side of the cabin too.
REFUSE AND RECYCLING Please separate your waste and empty your bins into the main bins on the campsite before departure. The black and green bins are for general waste and the blue bins are for recyclable plastics, paper and metal and a small glass bin all are specifically labelled.
USEFUL NUMBERS LOCAL TAXI FIRMS Castle Taxis 01670 519898 Just Taxis 07957 495503 LOCAL DOCTORS SURGERIES Greystoke Surgery Morpeth NHS Centre, The Mount, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 1JX 01670 511393 Out of Hours telephone number for when you need medical help fast but it is not a life-threatening emergency is 111. This number is free to call from landlines and mobiles. ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY Wansbeck Hospital, Woodhorn Villas, Ashington, Northumberland NE63 9JJ 0844 811 8111 DENTIST 23 Cosmetic Dental Clinic 01670 505020 NORTHUMBRIA POLICE 101 NEAREST VETERINARY PRACTICE Robson & Prescott’s, Whorral Bank, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 3BN 01670 512275 BANKS/CASH MACHINES – There are several banks in Morpeth including: Santander, Barclays, and HSBC. POST BOX – The nearest post box is by the T junction in Tranwell Woods. PUBLIC TELEPHONE BOX - The nearest public telephone is in Morpeth. CHURCH SERVICES – Our Parish Church is Mitford Parish Church, Mitford, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 3PZ. Our Contact Details are: Philip & Sarah Holmes Telephone: Sarah 07947 598832 Philip: 07947 591784
PLACES TO VISIT Tranwell is in the heart of the Northumbrian countryside, just 3 miles or a 30 to 40 minute walk from the historic Market town of Morpeth. It is a really peaceful setting for both Ireby and our campsite. Morpeth is a bustling market town, the town centre has a modern walk through arcade shopping centre and lots of craft and artisan shops and a fabulous selection of restaurants and tea rooms. We recommend a walk along the river and around Carlisle park to visit the gardens and have tea at the pavilion. Climb the steps to the top of Ha Hill then walk on up through the trees to Morpeth Castle. In the summer you can hire a little rowing boat down by the river and the children can play in the park or paddle in the pool. Pop along the road to the Whitehouse farm and help bottle feed the lambs then have lunch at the St Mary's Inn, head half a mile west and have a game of crazy golf at the N1 golf centre or continue along a few miles towards Ponteland to visit Kirkley hall zoo and feed the Lorikeets. 5 miles drive to the east you step back in time and become a miner at the Woodhorn Museum. Just 15 minutes drive to the south are the arts and culture of Newcastle and Gateshead. Do a spot of shopping at Eldon square shopping centre, become a scientist at the centre for life or immerse yourself in history at the many museums. The fantastic white sandy beaches of the Northumbrian coast are around 15 minutes drive to the East Starting with Blyth beach which has the best fish and chips and ice creams, from there you can follow the northumberland coastal route past druridge bay, on through Amble and spend a few hours at the pop up craft shops on the pier, call by Walkworth and listen to medieval stories at Walkworth Caslte visit Morrick dairy for artisan ice creams, take a brisk walk from Craster to Dunstanburgh castle and have crab sandwiches at the Jolly fisherman, visit the lime kilns at Beadnell bay, stop off in Seahouses to visit the puffins and grey seals on a boat ride to the farne islands and break your journey with a tour around the famous Bamburgh Castle and try not to get stranded on Holy Island which is cut off by the tide so do check the tide times before you set off! To the west you can become a roman soldier for the day on Hadrian's wall, visit a real excavation at Vindolanda, Walk to sycamore gap now sadly missing its famous tree and pretend you are Robin Hood. Take a scenic hike to see the waterfalls at Hareshaw Linn. While you are over in that direction enjoy strawberry picking at Brockbushes farm shop. 20 minutes drive to the North you can visit the worlds biggest treehouse at the Alnwick gardens and get wet in the fountains (so take a spare change of clothes). Barter for books in Barter books reputably the uk's largest second hand book store where you can sit and sip hot chocolate by their log burning fires. Become a wizard and try broomstick flying at Alnwick Castle and indulge in handmade chocolates at the Chocolate spa. On the way home stop off Felton to visit the running fox cafe or call in and see our good friend Trevor at the Northumberland Arms. If you have time go for a walk with the wallabies at Northumberland Zoo. Visit the many national trust properties nearby to get lost in the labyrinth at Cragside the first house to be lit by hydroelectric power, enjoy a days den building at Wallington Hall and gardens, wonder at the grandior of Seaton Deleval Hall. Watch a real knights tournament at English Heritage's Belsay Castle, spend a day by the coast at Tynemouth and visit the Priory or drive up into the hills of Rothbury to see Brinkburn Priory.
LOCAL PUBS AND RESTAURANTS There are a lot of different restaurants in or near Morpeth here are just a few - we recommend ringing ahead for a table at all venue’s. The Sun Inn, Morpeth - which is roughly a 45 minute walk from the site, walk up the side of the dog walk field until you reach the road and turn right down past the factory and then left after you pass under the A1 follow this road for about 200 yards over the little bridge and then turn right onto the bridlepath down through the golf course. When you reach the golf course club house continue on out the main Golf course entrance/exit and turn left and follow the path along to the pub. St Mary’s Inn - approx 25 minute walk from the site turn left out of the campsite and walk on through Tranwell woods, when you come to the end of the trees turn left along a bridlepath follow the bridle path until you come to the St Mary’s housing estate and take the tarmac path along to the right through the estate which leads eventually to the pub. The Berrisford Arms, Whalton The Dyke Neuk, Meldon The Ridley Arms, Stannington The Snowy Owl, Cramlington Char Mausum, Stannington The Auction House, Morpeth Bar Luga, Morpeth Cafe des Amies, Morpeth Blagdon Tea Room, Blagdon Manzil Tandori, Morpeth Lollo rosso, Morpeth Mulan, Morpeth Nandon Thai, Morpeth Pleased to meet you , Morpeth No 59 The Townhouse, Morpeth Sober in the garden, Morpeth The vault, Morpeth The Market Place, Morpeth Martino Lounge, Morpeth
WALKS The dog walking field is straight through the little gate from the lodge, it is a circular walk around the crop field. We also have a farm nature walk, again a circular walk around an old reservoir and takes approximately 20 minutes to half a hour. Take the style in behind the shower hut, turn right and follow the fence line down the side of the campsite then continue straight on over the hill and drop down into the bottom corner of the field on the far side. From here you will go through a small gate and through some trees following round the reservoir then along a field and back the way you came.
QUIET HOURS As we are a quiet site please keep noise to a minimum and adhere to the strict no noise policy quiet hours of 10pm to 8am.
COOKING AND HEATING Please be very careful with both the gas hob and the log burning stove. Do not be tempted to try and dry wet clothing by draping it around the stove as this presents a fire risk. Place the ash outside in the ash bin. You will find lots of recipes to try out in the woodburning oven in our welcome folder. We also supply a slow cooker which is perfect for setting away on a sunny day to provide something yummy when you return from your days sightseeing. FIRE PITS AND BBQ’S - Please extinguish the fire pit before 10pm and never leave the fire unattended. If you use the BBQ please wash the rack after use. Please keep a bucket of water handy in case you need to put out the fire quickly. Cold ash can be disposed of in the metal ash bin.
SOLAR POWER The whole lodge is powered by solar, we recommend that you use power preferably whilst the sun is shining if possible and avoid using heavy powered items like hair straighteners. Over use of power can result in draining the batteries especially during inclement weather.
SUPERMARKETS & LOCAL SHOPPING Small Sainsburys at Stobhill to the South of Morpeth town Centre. Co-op at Loansdene just to the South of Morpeth Morrisons, Marks & Spencer, Iceland and Lidl in Morpeth Centre. FARM SHOP – Moorhouse Farm Shop, Stannington Station, lovely local farm shop selling fresh local produce. NEWSPAPERS & LOCAL SHOPPING – From the campsite turn right as you come out of the drive then follow the road and take a right at the T junction. Follow the road down the hill past the factory and then take the first left followed by the third turning on your right this will take you to a small row of shops including a chemist, Chinese takeaway, pizza takeaway, newsagents and launderette. You can follow the road down further and it will take you into Morpeth Past the Clock Tower. Morpeth currently operates a free parking scheme using discs which can be purchased from various machines and outlets in the town.