Herding Hill Farm Review & Discount Code

This is an advert for September 2022 and based on a visit in September 2022. Any shares / edits beyond this date have not been asked or paid for. Always check with Herding Hill direct for the most up to date info. 

Herding Hill Farm Introduction & Discount Code 

Herding Hill Farm is a 5* glamping, camping and touring site near Haltwhistle and Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland. It is just off the A69 and 37 miles West of Newcastle Upon Tyne. The site enjoys fantastic views with the rolling hills of Northumberland seeming to go on forever. 

We have stayed at Herding Hill Farm twice now - once when the kids were much younger and more recently with older kids/teeens + a dog. I can honestly say, it's one of the best sites we have stayed on and definitely deserves their 5* status. 

DISCOUNT CODE: If you fancy staying at Herding Hill Farm this year, use code NEFF10 for a 10% discount on all accommodation for stays in 2022. Exclusions include October Half Term and Bonfire Weekend. 

Book online & check prices here: herdinghillfarm.co.uk

Throwback photo

Herding Hill Farm is a quiet site and this is enforced by the wardons. It doesn't mean you have to be silent and that kids can't run around and have fun but it does mean that you aren't allowed to play music outside and need to be out of your hot tub by 10:30pm.

If you're looking for party site where you can stay up drinking all night, Herding Hill Farm isn't going to be for you. Group bookings are not permitted without prior permission. However if you're looking for a site where you can relax in a hot tub under the stars with lots of facilities for families where you'll get a decent night's sleep and won't be disturbed, this place is ideal. 

Glamping in Autumn/Winter? 

A few people asked if it would be ok to stay here in the autumn/winter so I thought I would address this at the start of this review. My answer is definitely yes. The wigwams are very well insulated (in September we didn't have the heating on and I didn't need any blankets at night) and they have a heater too.  We have stayed in a Wigwam in December with snow on the ground and it was nice and cozy. 

October - March is the best time to see dark skies and the nights really do start drawing in so you don't need to keep the kids up late to stargaze if you visit during this time. 

Additionally, with firepits, saunas, hot tubs and indoor communal areas on site plus various indoor attractions and welcoming pubs to visit nearby (including the Roman Army Museum, the Sill, Corbridge and Hexham) AND the fact that you can choose accommodation with your own toilet so there is no running to the amenity block in the middle of the night, I would have no problem visiting at this time of year and think Herding Hill is perfectly equipped for a cozy winter break. 

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5* On Site Facilities at Herding Hill Farm

For me, what really sets Herding Hill apart from other similar sites we have stayed on is their extensive range of facilities. They seem to have thought of everything and more. This, alongside their super friendly, hardworking and friendly staff will ensure you really do have a lovely stay. 

Facilities include: 

• Petting Farm 
• Playground 
• Dog Walking Field 
• Sauna (£5 per hour charge) 
• Reception & Shop 
• Pizza Delivery Nights 
• Local Takeaway Menus & Pub/Restaurant Info 
• Communal Indoor Seating Area with Tables, Games, Books, Vending Machines, Fridge, Microwave, Washing Up Area
• Outdoor Washing Up Area 
• Stargazing Kits to Hire 
• Fire Pits & BBQs to Hire 
• Male & Female Toilets & Showers 
• Family Bathroom with Bath 
• BBQ Hut to Hire 
• Special Events 

First of all, lets talk about the petting farm. It's free to visit for guests staying on site and you can pop by and see the animals at any time. It's much more than just a few goats too. There's a donkey, pony, chickens, goats, rabbits, guinea pigs, alpacas and pigs. If you ask at reception when feeding time is you can join in.

The animals are full of character and used to kids / dogs (although obviously still do supervise them). The donkey would sometimes randomly hee-haw during the day which always made us smile and the pigs absolutely loved coming over to see Fozzy and they were so funny to watch.

We also really enjoyed popping over to see the Alpacas at various points across our stay. They are naturally curious / inquisitive and absolutely beautiful. I would have full conversations with them and I'm sure they understood us. 

The enclosed playground is suitable for children under 12 and there's a toddler area too. It's just behind reception and in immaculate condition. 

It's themed around a Roman Fort and a Pirate Ship. 

There is a licensed shop on site where you can buy chilled wine and BBQ packs from the local butcher alongside milk and other essentials plus marshmallow kits, toys and games for the kids too. 

There is an indoor room which is free for all guests to use and packed with walking maps and guides, books and a couple of board games too. There are 5-6 sets of tables and chairs which are ideal if you order a takeaway alongside an indoor sink, kettle and microwave if required (we did have these in our wigwam so they weren't needed). 

This room also has a couple of vending machines (bring coins) with snacks and instant hot drinks. I absolutely loved the convenience of getting a hot chocolate without any faff in the evenings and hot drinks are a bargain (priced between 40p - 80p each). 

On Friday evenings in peak season, the wardons operate a pizza delivery service. You simply order and pay (card/contactless) at reception on the night and they will be delivered to your wigwam/pitch via golf buggy. This is such a nice service for a Friday night and really made our arrival as stress free as possible. Plus the kids loved it. 

A quick look at the laundry and bathroom facilities. There is a family/accessible bathroom with bath as well as male and female facilities. They are modern and immaculately clean. There is also one of those swimsuit spinning machines which is perfect for after you've had a dip in the hot tub. 

And finally, this BBQ hut looked super cute and is available as an add-on for £40 (3 hours) and includes charcoal and use of utensils. These huts seat around 20 guests and are ideal for birthday / celebrations.  

Accommodation Options at Herding Hill Farm 

• Wigwam Cabins sleeping up to 5 (some with en-suite toilet, hot tubs & dog friendly) 
• Luxury Adults Only Fully Furnished Castle Pods 
• Tourer & Tent Pitches 
• Luxury Lodge 

We stayed in a 5 berth dog-friendly 'running water' wigwam with hot tub. There are other options available listed above which you can read about on the Herding Hill Farm website. 

There was a lot I liked about these wigwams - I liked that there were multiple plug sockets so we could all charge our phones and there were hooks inside and out for us to hang coats/towels.

The indoor seating converts into a double and single bed in the evenings (and there is another double bed). We all had a comfortable night's sleep. 

We appreciated an ensuite loo and our own fridge and having a kettle was great for our morning brews. It was probably a little bit of a squeeze sleeping at full capacity but we managed by storing our bags under the benches. 

The kids gave the free WiFi a big thumbs up and it is always lovely having your own private hot tub, especially at night when the stars put on a show. 

The outdoor picnic bench was super handy too. You do need to bring your own bedding and crockery / cutlery etc..... however if you prefer you can hire this for an additional charge. We brought our own along as it was much more convenient. 

We hired a BBQ which is something I'd definitely recommend - burgers just taste so much better when enjoyed outside! 

Herding Hill Farm for Dogs 

• Wigwams have a loop where you can tether your dog to 
• Complimentary dog poo bags & dog waste bins 
• Dog water station 
• A lot of the wigwams have a fridge which is handy if raw feeding 
• Private dog walking field where you can let your dog off lead (at own risk)
• It was easy for Fozzy to make friends with other dogs during our walks around the site 

Lots of dog friendly pubs and places to visit in the area - we visited Housesteads Roman Fort (dogs welcome in the cafe here too), Walltown Country Park and Greenhead Hotel for lunch (which was lovely with a roaring fire which Fozzy lay beside) 

This was our first time glamping with Fozzy but we have travelled with him on quite a few other occasions staying in cottages, caravans and lodges. He was 9 months old when we stayed but he's fairly good at adapting so I didn't really have any worries about taking him. 

Ah he absolutely loved it and I would say that this trip is the best holiday he has had to date. I really appreciated the ring on every wigwam where you can tether your dog. We took a few leads with us including Fozzy's long lead which meant he could enjoy some freedom without us constantly having to hold onto him. This meant we could fully relax. 

He also slept really well inside the Wigwam. Usually he sleeps downstairs alone but I think he liked the treat of us all being in the same room. He just curled up on the mat and slept by the door. There are blinds in the windows for night time. 

Everyone at Herding Hill Farm is so friendly and he made some holiday friends - in Alpaca and Pig form as well as other dogs. You get that nice little community vibe when you stay with a dog and everyone says hello as you pass on dog walks / has a chat about the places you've visited which are good for dogs. 

A big selling point is that there is a large private field where you can let your dog off lead (at your own risk).

The dog walking field is just where Steve is on the photo below, you walk up to the top and then there is a large field surrounded by a wall with lovely views. There is seating up here too and of course, lots of other dog walks in the area to enjoy. There is also a dog walk path (below) which runs alongside the wigwams. 

On our second day we hiked around Hadrian's Wall and this day was the furthest Fozzy has ever walked. He loved it but was definitely shattered and slept from 7pm through the night. 

On this last photo of Fozzy, it was just as we were packing up to leave and he was looking over at his new best friend Sidney who was also leaving. He really didn't want to go. There are plenty of dog friendly attractions and pubs in the local area - you definitely won't be short of things to do with your pooch here. 

Star Gazing at Herding Hill Farm 

Herding Hill Farm is just one mile from the Dark Sky Discovery picnic site at Cawfield Quarry and an easy walk from the campsite if you are looking for a little after dark adventure. It's one of the best places to see a dark sky in the UK and has public toilets too. 

Alternatively, you can Northumberland's dark skies from Herding Hill Farm itself. You don't need any specialist equipment but if you'd like to make a night of it, you can hire a stargazing kit for £10 per night. Either email them or ask on arrival. 

Personally, I think it's well worth doing this. You get two reclining chairs (which is the first time I've viewed stars like this and it really is the best way), binoculars, stargazing fact sheets and books, a blanket, hot chocolates, a red light torch, flask and more. It really made the difference to our experience and helped to make a night of it. 

In the early evening, we read through the guides and relaxed on the chairs with a BBQ as we waited for the sun to set. 

Then as the sun started to set, we kept warm with hot chocolates and toasted marshmallows / made s'mores around the fire pit. It was such a nice night and most families were doing the same outside their own wigwams. 

Then it really started to get dark and we were treated to a pretty clear night. My phone photos do not do our experience justice at all. We spotted SO many stars as well as Jupiter. The last photo gives the best impression of just how dark it was. 

I've been lucky to experience Northumberland's dark skies a few times before and they always take your breath away and are like something you'd see in a movie. We use an app on our phone to see the constellations and the kids really enjoy getting involved too. 

You can see the big dipper just above our wigwam below. 

Days Out near Herding Hill Farm 

Despite feeling like you are in the middle of nowhere, there is actually plenty to see and do around Herding Hill Farm. Days out include: 

• The Sill 
• Roman Army Museum  & Vindolanda 
• Chesters Roman Fort 
• Walltown Country Park 
• Housesteads Roman Fort 
• Walby Farm Park 
• Haltwhistle Outdoor Pool 
• Hexham 
• Corbridge 
• Brocksbushes 
• Birdoswald Roman Fort (my favourite Roman fort for kids - definitely worth a visit) 

On this particular trip we visited Housesteads Roman Fort which is brilliant for both dogs and kids - they have the best preserved Roman Loos in Britain, lovely walks, a fort, museum, cafe, lots of sheep and small playground too.

It's free to visit for English Heritage AND National Trust members otherwise admission charges apply. Dogs are welcome on a lead in all areas except the museum (they are allowed in the indoor area of the cafe). 

Housesteads is also home to a temporary art installation as part of the Hadrian's Wall 1900 Festival. It is on the site of the original gatehouse and you can enjoy the same views along the wall that soldiers would have experiences all those years ago. The installation is there until October 30th 2022. No booking required. 

The small playground at Housesteads Roman Fort

We also visited Walltown Country Park which is one of my favourite spots to enjoy a walk around Northumberland National Park. They have several routes for all abilities (with maps available), toilets and a visitor centre with warming fire and takeaway drinks and snacks available. 

We made this special trip to see APERTURA which is another art installation as part of Hadrian's Wall 1900 Festival and free to visit. It's made up of 1900 pipes and if you put your ear to the main structure, the sound is so unique and unusual. We loved it. 

There are several local pubs which are dog friendly but we decided to visit the bar at Greenhead Hotel which is dog friendly and just next to Walltown Country Park. 

We were not disappointed. We were welcomed with a roaring fire and the food was all super fresh and delicious and very good value. You can view their current menus via their website. 

Finally, we did have a quick walk around Haltwhistle as it had been a while since we were last there and it is just over a mile from Herding Hill Farm. It's a lovely market town with a co-op, lots of independent shops including a butchers, pubs, restaurants and takeaways. 

We had such a nice weekend at Herding Hill Farm. For us, it ticked all of our boxes and more. The on site petting farm, hot tub, pizza delivery and sauna really were fantastic touches and we have made lots of memories stargazing around a fire pit and watching the sheep in the field next to the farm being rounded up by a sheep dog. 

It's a brilliant base for exploring Hadrian's Wall or Northumberland National Park or to simply chill in the great outdoors knowing you have everything you need at hand. 

Find out more and book: herdinghillfarm.co.uk

Use code NEFF10 for a 10% discount on all accommodation for breaks in 2022 (excludes October Half Term and Bonfire Night). 

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