Bigger than traditional pods and just a tad smaller than a lodge, Derecroft Glamping Luxury Lodgepods sit on a hilltop near the village of Lanchester, with spectacular views across County Durham countryside. Lovingly designed and hand-built on a family farm. Each sleeps up to four people in total comfort, with hot showers in the en-suite bathroom (bed linen, towels, bathroom products, robes and slippers are all provided). In the dining and seating area, there’s ample space for chilled downtime in front of the smart TV with sound bar. The nattily designed open-plan kitchen has everything to make conjuring up meals a breeze: oven, microwave and fridge. Basic condiments and olive oils come as part of the package along with a (very) welcome hamper containing essentials like tea, coffee, pastries, juice and Prosecco. Outdoors, the pods each have private raised decking with farmland panoramas, plus outdoor furniture, barbecues and pizza ovens for leisurely alfresco dining.Everything you need is on hand, including cooking utensils, crockery, charcoal, logs and fire lighters. Extra-special touches include the Jacuzzi under wooden pergola – ideal for use in all sorts of weather.

A small family farm producing horses and breeding sheep set in beautiful countryside including a wildlife pond and farm walks that we want to open up and share with guests.

Walkers and cyclists are in for a treat, with many local routes through lovely landscapes. Derwent Valley Railway Path (10 minutes’ drive) reveals river views and a sculpture park, while the Waskerley Way (15 minutes) traverses wild moorland into rugged Weardale (half an hour). If cycling is your thing, local routes include demanding off-road forestry trails. Combine getting active with a history lesson along Hadrian’s Wall, with Roman garrison remains near Corbridge and museums like Binchester Roman Fort (all half an hour). The carriage rides and period houses at open-air Beamish Museum (15 minutes) showcase regional life over the last 200 years, and in summer a live show with a cast of hundreds relates a millennia of history at Kynren (half an hour). Fancy changing the pace with a day or night out in the big city? As well as its stately cathedral, Durham (20 minutes) has pubs and restaurants aplenty in its hilly cobbled lanes. Newcastle upon Tyne (40 minutes) has some excellent art galleries and museums along the River Tyne and morphs into party-central after dark, with bars, pubs and clubs open until the wee hours.