Tarset Tor Bunkhouse and Bothy Holidays

Liked We were lucky enough to arrive on Thursday evening and have the entire place to ourselves on Friday morning.

Claire and Rob were wonderful and allowed us to shower in the bunkhouse

The lack of lighting was perfect for stargazing in the evening which was fantastic

I received an email with instructions beforehand, which for my first time in a motorhome helped remove some anxiety for arrival.

Disliked the Wi-fi was patchy for me, but I didn't come to a secluded spot for the wifi so it didn't cause me any issue.

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Liked Pellet fed wood fire is amazing for heating the building, such a dark sky environment beautiful on an evening and friendly owners who always smiled and waved as you were coming to or leaving site. Well located close to multiple areas for walks and exploring. No road noise on a night even though the log trucks pass a lot.

Disliked Nothing, had a brilliant week.

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Liked Great location close to Kielder Water

Disliked Warning - stay clear unless you have guaranteed use of the facilities in the bunkhouse and sole use of the hardstanding.
Calling a toilet "eco" or "outside" is no excuse for a wooden cubicle with a door that doesn't fit, with no handwashing or sanitising equipment that opens directly onto the children's play area.
The shower is another wooden cubicle right next to the pot wash with a loose stone floor and nowhere inside to separate your dry clothes and towel from the shower - you would need to change outside, next to the pot wash.
The hardstanding is too small for more than one campervan - a mobile home turned up after we had parked our campervan that turned round and left. The position of the hook up would mean power leads trailing across the route used by other vehicles and pedestrians.
The pot wash had no running water when we stayed and no light, so make sure you wash up before dusk.

The bothies and bunkhouse looked OK form the outside but facilities for the pitches are shocking.

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From the manager: So, it's true, we are a basic pitch up and we don't hide behind this fact.
Our outside toilet is on the wonk and the door needs a slam when there has been weeks of rain due to wood swell! The pitch users get to use the bunkhouse showers and toilet only when the building is not booked by guests. The outdoor shower and sink was re-plumbed on friday espcially for you 2 campers, I explained that we don't normally have this facility in the winter because the frost pops the pipework! That said, we are value for money, we have van-lifers who come here and recharge their stuff and use our expensive electric which is why we are cheaper in the summer than the winter.
We have only 2 pitches that are grass, which cannot be used after 6 weeks of wet weather so it is also true that the hard standing is tight for 2 campervans. I informed you that another van was coming and to park up tighty, which was ignored, so the others left and we had to refund them. I also gave you a good welcome as I always do when I see people arrive.
The pitches are usually for self sufficient people, as the main business here is people staying in our Bunkhouse, Bothies or Cabins, which we are very highly rated for.
We have wildlife pond a football/netball court and sauna a woodland bar & BBQ area in the Northumberland National set in 5 acres, all for £27.50 in the summer & £35.00 in the winter...
All this said, we have now made the pitch exclusive until the grass drys and please note our wifi is perfect & free if you had bothered to ask for the code.
Everything is rustic but clean because we are slightly alternative and not a' run of the mill glitzy site'.
Most people love it, but it is normal for some poeple not to get it and be 'selfish' in the process by giving a bad review,
Note; you do need a long electric lead...
Any readers please check the other reviews for a more balanced view...

Liked In beautiful countryside easy to find

Disliked Hardstanding was a bit tight to get onto. Wifi didn't work on the motorhome pitch

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From the manager: Sorry you couldn't get on the wi-fi as it was working for everyone else.
I wish you had to come to find me and I could have helped you.
Kind regards,
Claire.

Liked Peaceful and awesome host. Best night sleep we had in the campervan. Would love to come back in spring and book a bothy or bring the family for Christmas.

Disliked The weather could have been more clement, but then it could have been much worse conversely so mustn't grumble.

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Liked Wonderful location, friendly host, great facilities, super pitch, awesome stargazing spot!

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Liked Lovely accommodation, lovely hosts and lovely surrounding areas.

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Liked Everything - peaceful setting, great views, the bunkhouse was brilliant and the football pitch was particularly good for the kids.

Disliked Nothing

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Liked The accommodation was superb. Clean and very presentable. The view of the night sky was unbelievable. We were close enough for a trip to Hadrian’s wall and also an afternoon into Newcastle and the MetroCentre. My 12 year old loved the football pitch and my 7 year old enjoyed sitting on the platform over the water and watching the insects etc. an evening around the fire pit watching the stars was perfect way to end our stay.

Disliked We couldn’t find our BBQ and so had to cook the food we’d brought to BBQ inside…but this the smallest issue we found and didn’t really affect our stay at all.

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From the manager: Hi,
The BBQ is round the side of the building - I wish you had of asked because we could have shown you where it was.
Thanks for coming and we hope to see you again one day.
Claire. :-)

Liked Really good stay at Tarset Tor, Kielder Forest is a must.

The town of Bellingham has plenty of things to do and a play park for kids.

In terms of the accommodation you couldn’t fault and comms were perfect.

Disliked The weather but that’s unpredictable!

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