I love quirky accommodation, so I was excited to be invited to review the new shepherds huts at The Apple Inn in Lucker, Northumberland. Any excuse for a trip to the North East’s countryside!
The shepherds huts and The Apple Inn itself are dog-friendly, meaning our cockapoo Archie could come along for the adventure.
Guests staying in the shepherds huts check in at The Apple Inn’s reception. The huts are directly across the road from the inn. Each hut has its own fenced-in garden, so four-legged friends can run around without you having to worry about them.
We stayed in the Red Squirrel’s Drey hut. They’re all named after various woodland creatures’ dwellings – there was a Badger’s set opposite us.
Red Squirrel’s Drey shepherds hut review
The hut is gorgeous! In all honesty, I was expecting it to be a bit claustrophobic, but I needn’t have worried. The kingsize bed has space on either side and a large mirror faces the window, so it felt very bright and airy.
Décor-wise, it’s the chicest shepherd’s hut I ever did see! A black wicker headboard, terracotta throw cushions and statement wallpaper give the space a bohemian vibe, while the honeycomb-patterned wooden sideboard and plush velvet couch at the foot of the bed keep it contemporary.
As much as I love the sun, I do feel a bit envious of anyone who stays at the huts in the colder weather. There’s a log burner with plenty of wood to keep you toasty!
The ‘hut’ aspect had made me feel a little apprehensive about the bathroom situation, but the shower was actually bigger than the one we have at home. We certainly didn’t have to rough it!
We found a refreshment pack waiting for us which had Yorkshire teabags, coffee, milk and biscuits so I was able to enjoy a cup of tea in our garden, which was very peaceful.
Review of The Apple Inn
The Apple Inn is a dog-friendly, award-winning gastropub in Lucker. We had dinner there the night of our stay.
Tom had the soup of the day, which unfortunately was oversalted, and I ordered the haggis scotch egg from the specials menu to start. My haggis scotch egg was delicious, served with a whiskey sauce.
For mains, Tom had the fillet steak which is served with fat beef dripping chips, cherry vine tomatoes and chestnut mushrooms.
I was spoiled for choice and eyed up the fish pie and lamb shank bourguignon, but eventually chose from the specials menu again. The pan-fried halibut with n’duja hash, roasted root vegetables and samphire was beautifully cooked and so delicious.
We just about had room for dessert: lemon meringue ice cream sundae and sticky toffee pud. If you follow me on Instagram you’ll know I like to order an STP whenever it’s on the menu!
We really enjoyed our meal and would definitely return, perhaps for lunch and a cold drink in the beer garden next time. It’s also worth mentioning that the inn was understaffed but it didn’t impact our experience at all. The staff were very accommodating and friendly.
Review of breakfast at The School Room
Breakfast is included in your rate when you book a stay at one of The Apple Inn’s shepherds huts. It’s actually served in The School Room instead of The Apple Inn. The School Room is right next to the huts, and you use the car park there.
We were very impressed with the range of options on the breakfast menu, and again struggled to choose our dishes.
Eventually Tom settled on a traditional cooked breakfast and I had the croissant which was filled with sausage, streaky bacon, cheese, scrambled eggs, tomato relish and avocado. Beautiful!
The School Room itself is a lovely, well-presented venue. I noticed they can accommodate weddings, baby showers etc and would definitely recommend checking it out if you’re planning an event in the area.
The shepherds huts at The Apple Inn are a great option for romantic accommodation in Northumberland. If you’re in or around Lucker and have hunger pangs, I’d really recommend a meal at The Apple Inn and a nosey at the huts over the road!
You can book a stay at The Apple Inn here or book one of their shepherds huts here.
Check out my favourite restaurants in County Durham
In general, we’ve found Northumberland pretty dog-friendly. I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface when it comes to things to see and do there, but I made a dent in my Northumberland bucket list during our stay.
We drove to Seahouses and walked along the beach to Bamburgh on Saturday, then on Sunday after breakfast we made our way to Craster. Once we got there, we parked in the fishing village and walked over the windswept headlands to Dunstanburgh Castle.
I want to go to Alnwick next! If you have any Alnwick tips for me, do share in the comments.
Click here to join my UK Travel Deals group on Facebook. We share lots of great ways to save money on UK trips and fun ideas for days out and places to visit in the UK.
To keep up to date with my blog posts, please follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest or sign up to emails so you don’t miss any new posts. I also have a Youtube channel.Pin this for later
