Beamish Hall Hotel, Stanley, Co Durham

Set in 24 acres of parkland just 10 miles away from the city of Durham, this 17th century hall has been restored to its original splendour and is now an exclusive country house hotel.

Next door to Beamish Open-Air Museum, the hotel is located 12 miles north-west of the historic city of Durham and 8 miles south-west of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Furthermore, the famous sites of Hadrians Wall, Lindisfarne Castle, Chester Roman Fort and Hexham Abbey can also be found nearby.

For a more relaxing stay you can enjoy a stroll round the extensive gardens or a round of golf on the tree-lined parkland course at Beamish Park golf club. One of the most picturesque courses in the region, it is set in a lovely verdant location with fabulous vistas across the splendid Durham countryside.

Northumbria is a place of contrasts, with wild, lonely moors and rugged sandy beaches coupled with the vibrant, urban buzz of the city. To the right is seaside and to the left there are heathery hills and moody mountains with the famous World Heritage Site Hadrian's Wall running right through the middle. Cities like Newcastle and Durham are thriving with lots of shopping and plenty of nightlife. Bustling market towns and pretty villages are scattered around the region.

Northumbria can lay claim to being The Cradle of English Christianity - St Aidan came to Holy Island in AD635 and English history was first written by Bede, at Jarrow. There's also Durham, 'the finest Norman Cathedral in the world'.

Traced back to the old French phrase, 'Bew Mys', the name 'Beamish' can literally be translated as 'Beautiful Mansion'. The history of Beamish Hall can be traced right back to the Norman Conquest and has been home to several generations of prominent local families in its lifetime. The hotel pays tribute to its long history with a number of rooms named in commemoration of these notable occupants.

Inside the ambience is grand and traditional retaining many of its original features, including high decorative ceilings, stained glass windows and hand-carved fireplaces that depict some of the historical crests associated with Beamish Hall.

Beamish Hall provides the ideal venue for all types of meetings, conferences and corporate events. The setting and character add a sense of grandeur to all events with a choice of meeting rooms and function suites for up to 400 delegates.

Beamish Hall Hotel also provides a splendid venue for civil marriages, wedding receptions and conferences.

For golfing stays, Beamish Hall is happy to arrange tee-off times for guests wishing to play the course with special rates.

The beautifully appointed bedrooms include a choice of suites all with luxurious fittings, antique furniture and lavish fabrics.