The St, Bowes, County Durham DL12 9HL, United Kingdom
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Located in Barnard Castle, The Ancient Unicorn is a 2-minute drive from North Pennines and 5 minutes from Barnard Castle. This guesthouse is 6.7 mi (10.8 km) from Yorkshire Dales National Park and 28.2 mi (45.3 km) from Durham University.Show More
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Last booked 4 hrs ago
4.2/5Very Good·Cleanliness: 4.2
All 65 Reviews
Amenities
HikingPrivate ParkingFreeWi-Fi in Public AreasFree
The accommodation offers a variety of delicious meals, clean and cozy rooms, exceptional staff service, and convenient location. However, some reviews mention the need for improvement in certain amenities.
Guest User
November 9, 2024
The rooms are clean and comfortable with a great shower. internet is none existent in the old building so ask for a different room lower down if you need connection all the time. Staff were friendly and helpful; breakfast and dinner were really good and tasty.
Nathan B
September 1, 2024
A very nice place to stay and not that expensive for food and drinks. Very friendly helpful staff. Even better we were able to park on-site and outside of the room. We would definitely stay there again. It's not that far from Bowes castle not that much to see though, but worth a visit to the castle.
Guest User
June 29, 2024
Booked a few hours in advanced as biking on the road. A friendly welcome, room spotless, views exceptional. Parking safe. Main meal hit the spot. All the staff exceptionally friendly. Great nights sleep. Breakfast was Wow amazing. Manager was so lovely, that she even offered a laundry service as she knew we was traveling on motorbike. The extra mile of customer service made it a place we would definitely go back to on our travels..
Guest User
May 18, 2024
What a great old place. Carli is a super host and really went out of her way to help me. She gave me a lift to my train station the morning I left. The place is old, but well maintained, clean and everything works. Food is good pub standard with a decent beer selection.
Guest User
May 11, 2024
Attentive, friendly and professional staff. Had dinner and breakfast which was really good. Room were spotless and beds comfortable. Good place to stay as you are within easy reach of some lovely locations. Enjoyed it so much we have booked again for New Year.
Guest User
May 5, 2024
Lovely Sunday lunch. Friends commented on the very friendly, cheerful atmosphere- buzzing. Great improvement opening up the bar room
Guest User
April 28, 2024
Booked for a one night stay to break our journey home. For all it's a nice enough place I wouldn't have booked it had I known the shared bathroom was not on the same floor. This should be highlighted in the room description so as we are made aware before considering booking. We had to go down 2 flights of stairs each time we needed to use the bathroom. Tolerable for one night but no more. The bedroom itself was clean and had everything we needed but was a bit on the small side. Not alot of room between the bed and the walls. The bed didn't provide the best night's sleep and the pillows were awful. We went for an evening meal which after reading some reviews weren't expecting anything exciting but to our surprise the food was very nice. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Breakfast however was a bit of a letdown. Priced at £13.50 I was expecting a larger breakfast. 1 sausage 1 bacon 1 egg 1 hash brown 1 black pudding a wedge of tomato and beans. Would expect at least 2 sausage and 2 bacon. Very disappointed. There was a good choice of cereals etc available although It proved difficult to see what was in the containers as they weren't labeled and the containers weren't of a clear see through type so opted for the pre packaged cereal. The bread was nice but the toaster was very slow. All in all with the room we had, like I say I could tolerate it for one night but any longer I would have to stay in another room with either ensuite facilities or bathroom on the same floor.
Guest User
April 25, 2024
Fab stay in the Charles Dickens little cottage at The Ancient Unicorn. The accommodation was spotless and cosy and the bed very comfortable. We ate in the pub and the food was great - very big portions!! Karli was lovely, really helpful and chatty. Breakfast was again huge, set us up well for the day. Hughly recommend staying here, really convenient to explore the area.
Property Policies
Check-in and Check-out Times
Check-in: After 15:00
Check-out: Before 10:00
Self check-in: Contact the property for instructions on how to obtain the card/keys
Child Policies
Children of all ages are welcome at this property.
Additional fees may be charged for children using existing beds. Add the number of children to get a more accurate price.
Cots and Extra Beds
Extra bed and crib policies may vary according to room type. Please refer to the room type details for more information.
Breakfast
TypeFull English/Irish
Age
Fee
Adult
Contact hotel
Additional breakfast fees are not included in the total and need to be paid at the property.
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Property Description
Number of Rooms: 17
Located in Barnard Castle, The Ancient Unicorn is a 2-minute drive from North Pennines and 5 minutes from Barnard Castle. This guesthouse is 6.7 mi (10.8 km) from Yorkshire Dales National Park and 28.2 mi (45.3 km) from Durham University.
This smoke-free guesthouse features hiking/biking trails nearby.
Breakfast is available for a fee.
Free self parking is available onsite.
Make yourself at home in one of the 17 guestrooms.
Services & Amenities
Most popular business facilities
Hiking
Private ParkingFree
Wi-Fi in Public AreasFree
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the check-in and check-out times at The Ancient Unicorn?
The check-in time at The Ancient Unicorn is 15:00 and the check-out time is 10:00.
What amenities and services does The Ancient Unicorn have?
The Ancient Unicorn has the following amenities and services: Parking, Wi-Fi in Public Areas, Hiking.
Are pets allowed at The Ancient Unicorn?
Yes, The Ancient Unicorn is a pet-friendly hotel, but it is best to call ahead to confirm.
How much does it cost to stay at The Ancient Unicorn?
Prices at The Ancient Unicorn are subject to change according to dates, hotel policy, and other factors. To view prices, please search for the dates you wish to stay at the hotel.
What is the cancellation policy for The Ancient Unicorn?
The cancellation policy for The Ancient Unicorn varies depending on the type of room and booking conditions.