Curated luxury hotels near Hamsterley Forest

• Top-of-the-range spa
• Restaurant, lounge & bar
• Countryside location

This 17th-century manor turned hotel is nestled within 26 acres of grounds in County Durham, a half an hour drive from pretty Durham city centre. Redworth Hall Hotel is every inch the classic country retreat. Even its spa is aptly named The Retreat. And what a spa it is.

The Retreat houses a 14-metre indoor heated pool, Jacuzzi, steam room and sauna. There are ESPA treatments on the menu, and there’s a hair salon for extra pampering. It’s also home to an impressive gym with Technogym equipment and a timetable of HIIT, Pilates, dance and yoga classes.

When it comes to wining and dining, there’s the 1744 Restaurant. It’s a refined place, offering meals like beef bourguignon, grilled salmon and ribeye steak. You can even dine al fresco when the weather’s nice. There’s also a casual dining lounge by the spa, where you can eat in your robe and slippers. After dinner, the Cocktail Bar & Lounge is a must.

Located in Barnard Castle, The Morritt Country House Hotel & The Garage Spa is in a rural location, within a 5-minute drive of The Garage Spa and Egglestone Abbey. This spa hotel is 12 mi (19.4 km) from Yorkshire Dales National Park and 3.6 mi (5.8 km) from Bowes Museum.

With a stay at The Three Horseshoes Hotel in Barnard Castle, you'll be a 4-minute walk from Barnard Castle and 11 minutes by foot from Bowes Museum. This hotel is 15.4 mi (24.8 km) from Yorkshire Dales National Park and 2 mi (3.2 km) from Egglestone Abbey.

Located in Bishop Auckland, The Saxon Inn is a 1-minute drive from Escomb Saxon Church and 7 minutes from Auckland Castle. This inn is 7.4 mi (11.9 km) from Spennymoor Leisure Centre and 7.8 mi (12.6 km) from Raby Castle.

With a stay at Hamsteels Hall in Durham, you'll be within a 15-minute drive of Durham University and Diggerland. This farm stay is 8.8 mi (14.2 km) from Beamish Open Air Museum and 4.6 mi (7.4 km) from Chapman's Well Local Nature Reserve.