Rural Retreats was founded in 1985 with the aim of making the countryside more accessible for holidaymakers and giving them the best possible choice of holiday homes across the UK. Rural Retreats’ continuing success is based on excellent local knowledge and painstaking research, together with a flair for finding delightful and unusual properties. All of this has enabled us to build a portfolio of over 450 exceptionally fine holiday homes in stunningly beautiful locations, all available for you to rent. When you are looking for your own perfect holiday home, our experienced and helpful staff can help to point you to the property of your dreams. Whatever you want to ask about any of our properties, there will be someone on our staff who knows the cottage or apartment at first hand.

Located within the close proximity of Alston in Cumbria, The Old Buttress, renovated in 2021 into a cosy annexe for two guests, provides a warm welcome to walkers and cyclists on even the wettest of days, with breath-taking views of the surrounding rolling green hills.

Information correct at time of writing. Alston is a historic town and one of England's highest market settlements. Its cobbled streets have a lot to offer, including plentiful shopping, fascinating history and fantastic views of the North Pennines. For those seeking a walking adventure, there are some fabulous walking routes. You will find an OS map of the area in the drawer of the coffee table. The owners are keen walkers and can give you some tips for some off-the-beaten track local walks nearby if you wish! Railway enthusiasts will enjoy a visit to the South Tynedale Railway, England's highest narrow-gauge railway, offering a thrilling ride through some of Northern England’s most beautiful scenery. Travelling on preserved steam and diesel locomotives, the line follows a steep climb through the Tyne Valley at the centre of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Another must see for transport enthusiasts is the Heritage and Transport Museum. Packed to the rafters with over 1,000 historical artefacts and exhibits, it features classic vehicles including cars, motorbikes and bicycles. For nature lovers Ashgill Force is a must see. Just four miles from Alston, you will see the spectacular cascading waters towering 17 metres high, it is accessed via a short, scenic footpath from Ashgill Bridge, encountering a series of smaller waterfalls and an impressive woodland gorge on the way. Epiacum fort is a Roman fort, built to protect local lead-mining practices and to support the border defences of nearby Hadrian's Wall. The fort is heralded as one of the best preserved in the UK.