The Ancient Unicorn

The Street, Bowes, Barnard Castle, DL12 9HL, United Kingdom – Great location - show map

After booking, all of the property’s details, including telephone and address, are provided in your booking confirmation and your account.
8.1
Scored 8.1
Very Good
Rated very good
542 reviews

Staff were excellent and very helpfull. The room was very good. and the food was good and reasonably priced. great location.

Peter United Kingdom
a trophy deer head next to a lamp on a table at The Ancient Unicorn in Barnard Castle
a large bathroom with a tub and a sink at The Ancient Unicorn in Barnard Castle
a living room with a couch and a stone fireplace at The Ancient Unicorn in Barnard Castle
a bedroom with a large bed and a blue wall at The Ancient Unicorn in Barnard Castle
+31 photos

The Ancient Unicorn

Lock in a great price for The Ancient Unicorn – rated 8.1 by recent guests!

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Lock in a great price for The Ancient Unicorn – rated 8.1 by recent guests! to get started.

The Ancient Unicorn enjoys a location in Barnard Castle, 4.9 miles from Bowes Museum and 12 miles from Raby Castle. The guest house, set in a building dating back to 17th century, features free Wifi and free private parking. Locomotion: The National Railway Museum is 21 miles away, and Forbidden Corner is 30 miles from the guest house. Rooms have a kettle, while some rooms also boast a fully equipped kitchen with an oven, a microwave, and a toaster. At the guest house, units have bed linen and towels. A full English/Irish breakfast is available each morning at the guest house. Guests at The Ancient Unicorn will be able to enjoy activities in and around Barnard Castle, like hiking. Brough Castle is 14 miles from the accommodation, while Richmond Castle is 17 miles from the property. The nearest airport is Teesside International Airport, 29 miles from The Ancient Unicorn.

Couples in particular like the location – they rated it 8.6 for a two-person trip.

Distance in property description is calculated using © OpenStreetMap

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Most popular amenities
  • Free parking
  • Free WiFi
  • Non-smoking rooms

Property highlights

Top Location: Highly rated by recent guests (8.7)

Want a great night's sleep? This property was highly rated for its very comfy beds.

Breakfast Info

Full English/Irish

Free Private Parking Available On Site

Saved to 376 lists

Availability

Select dates to see this property's availability and prices

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Room Type
Number of guests
 
1 full bed
1 full bed
2 twin beds
1 full bed
2 twin beds
1 twin bed
and
1 full bed
1 full bed
Bedroom :
1 full bed
Living room:
1 sofa bed
1 twin bed
and
1 full bed
1 full bed
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Guest reviews

Categories:

Staff
8.7
Facilities
8.1
Cleanliness
8.8
Comfort
8.7
Value for money
8.5
Location
8.7
Free WiFi
6.9
Low score for Barnard Castle
Select topics to read reviews:

See what guests loved the most:

  • Peter
    United Kingdom United Kingdom
    “Staff were excellent and very helpfull. The room was very good. and the food was good and reasonably priced. great location.”
  • Jennifer
    United States of America United States of America
    “Good location for walkers with a friendly staff and on site pub available fir good and drinks.”
  • Danielle
    United Kingdom United Kingdom
    “Garden suite was a lovely big room - we didn’t spend much time in the room unfortunately but was a good size. Lots of good parking on site and in a lovely location. Plenty of space for a king sized bed next time the room gets upgraded.”

Managed by The Ancient Unicorn

Company review score: 8.3Based on 899 reviews from 6 properties
6 managed properties

Company info

********PLEASE NOTE********** Winter hours are now in effect Monday closed for food and bar service Tuesday/ Wednesday/ Thursday/Friday 5pm opening Saturday and Sunday 12PM OPENING TILL CLOSE

Property info

This historic building is full of character and warmth, to ensure our guests have a cosy and comfortable environment to enjoy and relax in. The building is steeped in history – Charles Dickens was a guest in days gone by and based some of his writing on the places he discovered whilst visiting. Another famous visitor was the artist William Turner, who painted some landscapes in the local area. When you stay at the Ancient Unicorn there is plenty to explore and do! The surrounding countryside is stunning – changing with the seasons and you can walk for miles and see no-one. The Pennine Way passes through Bowes so you can take in part of this historic route, exploring the ruined castle in the village. Travelling just a bit further, the 3.5 miles into Barnard Castle, this historic, quaint market town with its massive ruined castle is set alongside the River Tees. So whether you're just passing through or stopping for a week there is plenty to keep you occupied right on our doorstep! ********PLEASE NOTE********** Winter hours are now in effect Monday closed for food and bar service Tuesday/ Wednesday/ Thursday/Friday 5pm opening Saturday and Sunday 12PM OPENING TILL CLOSE

Neighborhood info

When you stay at the Ancient Unicorn there is plenty to explore. The countryside is stunning – changing with the seasons and you can walk for miles and see no-one. The Pennine Way passes through Bowes so you can take in part of this historic route, exploring the ruined castle in the village. Travelling just a bit further, the 3.5 miles into Barnard Castle, this historic, quaint market town with its massive ruined castle is set alongside the river Tees.

Language Spoken

English

Area info

Amenities of The Ancient Unicorn
Great facilities! Review score, 8.1

Most popular amenities
  • Free parking
  • Free WiFi
  • Non-smoking rooms
Bathroom
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels
Bedroom
  • Linens
Kitchen
  • Electric kettle
Pets
Pets are allowed on request. Charges may apply.
Activities
  • Hiking
    Off-site
Internet
WiFi is available in the rooms and is free of charge.
Parking
Free private parking is available on site (reservation is not possible).
    Services
    • Express check-in/out
    Safety & security
    • CCTV outside property
    • CCTV in common areas
    General
    • Smoke-free property
    • Heating
    • Non-smoking rooms
    Languages Spoken
    • English

    House rules

    The Ancient Unicorn takes special requests – add in the next step!

    Check-in

    From 3:00 PM

    Check-out

    Until 10:00 AM

     

    Cancellation/
    prepayment

    Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodations type. Please enter the dates of your stay and check what conditions apply to your preferred room.

    Children & Beds

    Child policies

    Children of all ages are welcome.

    To see correct prices and occupancy info, add the number and ages of children in your group to your search.

    Crib and extra bed policies

    Cribs and extra beds aren't available at this property.

    Age restriction

    The minimum age for check-in is 18

    Mastercard Visa Cash is not accepted The Ancient Unicorn accepts these cards and reserves the right to temporarily hold an amount prior to arrival.

    Smoking

    Smoking is not allowed.

    Parties

    Parties/events are not allowed

    Quiet hours

    Guests need be quiet between 12:00 AM and 6:00 AM.

    Pets

    Pets are allowed on request. Charges may apply.

    The fine print
    Must-know information for guests at this property

    Please note pets can only be accommodated in certain rooms. Please inform the property in advance.

    This property does not accommodate bachelor(ette) or similar parties.

    Quiet hours are between 00:00:00 and 06:00:00.

    FAQs about The Ancient Unicorn

    • The prices at The Ancient Unicorn may vary depending on your stay (e.g. dates, hotel's policy etc.). To see prices, enter your dates.

    • The Ancient Unicorn offers the following activities/services (charges may apply):

      • Hiking

    • Check-in at The Ancient Unicorn is from 3:00 PM, and check-out is until 10:00 AM.

    • Room options at The Ancient Unicorn include:

      • Double
      • Twin
      • Triple
      • Bungalow

    • Guests staying at The Ancient Unicorn can enjoy a highly-rated breakfast during their stay (guest review score: 7.0).

      Breakfast option(s) include:

      • Full English/Irish

    • The Ancient Unicorn is 3.7 miles from the center of Barnard Castle. All distances are measured in straight lines. Actual travel distances may vary.