Catching the 2023 Breeze

As the Christmas tree and other festive decorations are taken down for another year, our bellies are full of delicious food and we all start going back to school and work, now is the perfect opportunity to reflect back on the year we have had.

Lots of exciting things have been happening at Catch the Breeze Retreats during 2022, from acquiring new properties, seeing new and regular guests alike, and enjoying the changes that come with every passing season. So now we invite you to look back at our 2022 and find out more about our latest news for 2023.

New Properties for 2023

The entire Catch the Breeze Retreats team entered 2022 with property development on their minds, and they certainly did not disappoint with the number of new properties they managed to obtain within the year.

Let us start with the newest addition to the Catch the Breeze Retreats portfolio, The Reading Rooms in the Yorkshire Dales. This former reading room for the local village neighbours our other Yorkshire Dales property, Oughtershaw Hall, and is the perfect, cosy retreat to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. This quaint cottage can happily home two couples or a small family and can also welcome one dog, just like our other dog-friendly properties, Craster Reach, Tan Llan & Coach House, Driftwood and Harbourway. The Reading Room’s close proximity to Oughtershaw Hall makes the Yorkshire Dales the perfect location for large gatherings as guests can divide between the two properties with them only being a leisurely stroll away from each other.

The plans are in place for The Reading Rooms to be open from the end of March 2023 and we could not be more excited to have this fabulous, rustic cottage join our portfolio and for our guests to enjoy its undeniable charm.

Next is Harbourway and Driftwood, our two former fisherman cottages in Craster, Northumberland. We updated our guests on these new properties back in August in our ‘Catching the Summer Breeze’ news update when we purchased them. Now the properties are closed and are under renovation, but do not fret, as with any project we always ensure to maintain the personality of the home. Although we will add modern features such as underfloor heating and air source heating, the properties will still keep the characteristics that make them fishermen cottages – that is the Catch the Breeze Retreats way! The heart of the properties will be reflected in the furnishings and finishing touches, such as the preserved whinstone walls, the luxuriously soft Egyptian cotton bed linen and the cosy Welsh melin tregwynt blankets. And what makes a house feel more like home than having your furry companion by your side; Harbourway and Driftwood now allow for one dog to join you on your relaxing staycation too!

And finally, there is Tughall Mill, our Beadnell property, which is located not too far from our other Northumberland properties. Since our summer update, the work is well and truly underway! We cannot wait to share all the amazing updates during 2023 with all our guests, and we hope to open up this amazing, historical property in Spring 2024 – make sure to follow us on our socials (Instagram and Facebook) and sign up to our newsletter to keep up to date with all the latest information on Tughall Mill and all our other properties.

Existing Property Updates

It is not just our new properties that guests can get excited about for 2023 – our current properties also have some new updates we would like to share with you.

Supporting nature and wildlife is something we are very passionate about here at Catch the Breeze Retreats, which you can read more about in our ‘Welcoming Spring at Catch the Breeze Retreats’ blog. Oughtershaw Hall in particular has gone through some thrilling changes during 2022 which has benefitted the local wildlife and their habitat for the better.

During 2022, we happily discovered that a red squirrel had decided to make the woodlands of Oughtershaw Hall its home. Since then, we have been working closely with Red Squirrels Northern England (RSNE) to ensure that the red squirrel had everything it needed to thrive. And now as of the beginning of 2023, no less than six red squirrels reside near the property, and we continue to work alongside the RSNE and we are hoping to build a hide in the grounds for guests to sit and observe the red squirrels. In the meantime, to make sure the family of red squirrels are looked after, we have put up a feeding station on the fence at the back of the property along with a camera which has captured some breath-taking shots! Guests who have had the pleasure of seeing the red squirrels first hand have been delighted at the rare sighting of this endangered species, so keep your eyes peeled during your next stay at Oughtershaw Hall.

Ben, our House Manager at Oughtershaw Hall, has also been working very hard on creating a river walk during 2022. The walk Ben has created on the property grounds is a half mile long and meanders with the river that skirts the property. Ben’s next plan is to install dry-stone seating and firepit where guests can sit back, relax, and take in the scenery.

Oughtershaw Hall is also getting some internal updates done; the property is now closed for January so that the upstairs can have all the carpets updated and refreshed, bringing our guests even more luxury and comfort. But it is not just Oughtershaw Hall that is receiving some upgrades during 2023, some of our Craster properties will also see some changes. Our Rock Lobster property will see the replacement of the existing twin beds with a zip and link bed which will give guests the option of a twin or super king size bed in the 4^th bedroom. We will also be adding additional seating to the upstairs lounge so the entire party can sit together and enjoy the magnificent view. Craster Reach will also see some updates which will include an upgrade to the main bathroom which will take place during the property’s closure in January. And last but certainly not least is Tan Llan & Coach House, this property will receive new, luxurious sofas in the lounge for additional comfort as well as a repaint to freshen up the room.

Now Taking Bookings

With all these exciting projects taking place throughout 2022 and now 2023, our Catch the Breeze Retreats properties are the perfect location for your next get together. Whether you have something special to celebrate such as a birthday or anniversary, why not gather your friends and family for an unforgettable time. Is it a grand group gathering? Celebrate in our larger houses of Oughtershaw Hall or Tan Llan & Coach House. Is it a more intimate and personal affair? Then book one of our properties in the beautiful seaside village of Craster.

And if you are already thinking about the next festive season (we know we certainly are!) we highly recommend you book your next Christmas getaway with us early to avoid disappointment. It might seem early to be thinking about Christmas with it having only just been and gone, but we are already receiving enquiries, so do not delay!

We are also happy to announce that our 2024 bookings are now officially open, so to check availability and 2024 rates, visit our website or all the office on 01829 830 388.

We look forward to welcoming you soon!

What Our Guests Said in 2022

To conclude our 2022 reflection, we thought it would be more than fitting to hear from the people who made our 2022 so special. Here are just some of the special and heart-warming things our guests said this year.

Tan Llan & Coach House

“An amazing stay at an amazing house. We had a chance for a big group of friends and family to holiday together in a beautiful location. The house itself is reason enough to go, but with mountains and seaside at close hand – a truly unforgettable time was had by all.” – Mark

Oughtershaw Hall

“Family from around the globe gathered at Oughtershaw Hall to celebrate Mum’s 90th birthday. From the minute we arrived and were welcomed by Ben, to our leaving and once again chatting with him, we all had a wonderful time. With ages ranging from 18 to 90, there was something for everyone. The bedrooms were all comfortable, with lovely views, and the bathrooms spotlessly clean and warm. The kitchen was well equipped with all we could possibly need, and we made good use of the sauna, swimming pool and games room. We enjoyed lunches at The George in Hubberholme, and the wonderful walks right on the doorstep. The welcome basket was an unexpected and much appreciated surprise. Thank you for a most enjoyable and memorable stay.” – Pam

“Fantastic accommodation in a very beautiful location. Everything about Oughtershaw Hall requires superlatives to describe: Decor, furnishings, comfort, kitchen, bathrooms, pool, sauna, views – all absolutely amazing. Customer service was excellent before and on arrival. We had a thoroughly relaxing and restorative stay!” – Nicole

Middlerigg

“We holiday in Craster every year and we have stayed in a lot of the holiday cottages available, Middlerigg is the best so far. The quality of furnishings in the lounge, the comfort and size of the beds, the equipment in the kitchen, including a range oven and American fridge-freezer with chilled water and ice, the thickness of the towels and bed linen, the Smart TVs, the Sonos speakers, plus much more were all exemplary. The Air-source Heat Pump system provided trouble free central heating with instant hot water. There are stunning views both near and far with Dunstanburgh Castle in the distance, Craster harbour under the windows, and the sea beyond. If you are looking for a comfortable, peaceful, serene holiday in a beautiful coastal village setting, Middlerigg is the place.” – Stephen

Rock Lobster

“Really well-appointed house. Elegant but very comfortable. Just loved it. One of the best houses I’ve ever stayed in. A nice welcome pack, just right. I would definitely return. Good walks. Great pub which is in easy walking distance and a view to keep a huge smile on anybody’s face.” – Fiona

Craster Reach

“We had a fabulous time at Craster Reach. Loved the cosy fire, very generous and appreciated that all logs and fuel were provided free of charge. The welcome hamper including treats for both us and our dog was great. Loved that the dog treats were healthy Lily’s Kitchen and not cheap supermarket stuff! In the 5 years or so we have taken a pre-Christmas break, you are the first cottage to have put up a Christmas tree and decorations – thank you! The Jolly Fisherman, which is literally a 30 second walk away, is a lovely pub, one of the best traditional gastro pubs we’ve visited. Thank you guys, we hope to be back one day.” – Chris

Everyone at Catch the Breeze Retreats is looking forward to 2023 as we hope to welcome new and existing guests, add even more holiday lets to our portfolio and continue to make memorable holidays in the UK.

For further information on our properties and their availability all year round contact us on 01829 830 388 or email at info@catchthebreeze.co.uk. And do not forget to tag us in any pictures you may take and use the #MyCTBR, we love seeing your fabulous pictures and all the fun you have whilst staying with us in our properties.

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