Jill and Rupert Richardson (not to mention our dog and two cats...) look forward to welcoming you to this lovely, comfortable Victorian house with its delightful gardens. As a small, high-quality bed and breakfast establishment, we aim to provide a comfortable, welcoming - and peaceful - home for you to enjoy; and we do GREAT breakfasts! - full of local produce. As a recent regular guest put it: “Jill and Rupert at Dowfold House are a class act. They offer bed and breakfasting in grand style, but somehow make it friendly and intimate.” It's a brilliant encapsulation of all that we try to do - and I half-wish I'd thought of it myself, although it sounds better from a third-party. Our rooms are comfortable and well-equipped, all with ensuite facilities, while our home & gardens offer plenty of opportunity for relaxation - or wickedly competitive croquet! Guests love it here. We're proud of our Bed & Breakfast's green credentials, but intensely aware we need to do more. "Green, but without the hair shirt" is our motto. And, from Dowfold House Bed and Breakfast, there's plenty to do. From railway rides to walks and cycle rides; from gardens to more strenuous pursuits. ...

Escaping the rat race, Jill and Rupert bought Dowfold House several years ago as a going concern. Much tender loving care has since been lavished - and it shows. B&B guests, many who return regularly, appreciate Rupert’s background in baking and catering and Jill’s natural affinity with hospitality and attention to detail. Jill is the gardener, while Rupert enjoys singing with the local choral society. Environmental issues are close to their hearts and the household is run with a green ethos making it a gold winning environmentally friendly Bed and Breakfast.

Dowfold House is a lovely Victorian house in a quiet rural location overlooking Crook, right at the heart of County Durham, with wonderful views over Wear Valley and beyond to Weardale and the North Pennines. Built in 1860 for Joseph Pease, local mine owner and first Quaker MP, the house has some historical interest. It is an ideal place to stay when visiting the North East of England. Durham City is just a 15 minute drive away and we are just a few minutes from the A68.