Sykes Holiday Cottages is an independent holiday cottage rental agency, with the finest selection of holidays across the UK and Ireland. Whether it’s a family-friendly holiday, a pet-friendly holiday or an activity and adventure-filled holiday, find your ideal UK break with Sykes Holiday Cottages. Our sister brands include Abersoch Quality Homes, Best of Suffolk, Carbis Bay Holidays, Character Cottages, Coast and Country Cottages, Coast and Country Holidays, Cornish Cottage Holidays, Dream Cottages, Heart of the Lakes, Helpful Holidays, Hideaways, Hogans Irish Cottages, John Bray, Lakes Cottage Holidays, Lake District Lodge Holidays, Lakelovers, Manor Cottages, Menai Holidays, Northumbria Coast & Country, Welsh Coast and Country Holidays and Yorkshire Coastal Cottages, and our family extends as far as Bachcare in New Zealand.

The Clarence is a property in Bishop Auckland, County Durham. The accommodation includes an open-plan living space with kitchen, dining area and sitting area with TV, along with a separate living/dining room, an additional sitting room with Smart TV and a utility. The kitchen is equipped with an electric oven, gas hob, fridge/freezer and toaster, while the utility houses a washing machine and tumble dryer. There are four bedrooms comprising a king-size (zip/link, can be twin on request) with snug and en-suite walk-in shower, basin and WC, a double with en-suite walk-in shower, basin and WC, a further double and a bunk room. There is also a bathroom with freestanding bath, walk-in shower, basin and WC, plus a ground-floor cloakroom. WiFi, fuel, power, bed linen and towels are included in the rent. Outside there is an enclosed garden with lawn and furniture and private parking available. One well-behaved pet welcome. Sorry, no smoking.

Bishop Auckland is a busy market town, 11 miles to the south of Durham and is home to the Gothic palace of Auckland Castle and deer park, a 900 year old medieval hunting lodge and grounds, once home to the Prince Bishop’s of England. Bishop Auckland offers a thriving arts and cultural scene with a cinema, theatre and arts complex. There are plenty of places to eat and drink in the town centre and an abundance of shops to peruse. On the outskirts of the town you can discover the secrets of the largest Roman Fort in the county at Binchester or perhaps book a night at Kynren, a spectacular night show depicting the history of England, seen through the eyes of Arthur, a 10 year old boy from the North East, (opening July 2016) and marvel at the pyrotechnics, stunning lighting and water effects. There is a scenic railway line which runs from Bishop Auckland to Stanhope. It was purchased quite recently by Jonathan Ruffer the man behind the Auckland Project and instrumental in bringing Kynren to Bishop Auckland. The city of Durham is just a short drive north with an array of shops, pubs and restaurants, and a little further will take you to the Roman town of Chester-le-Street or Beamish Museum. A little further afield you can discover the Durham Dales, Newcastle upon Tyne, Hadrian's Wall, the Heritage Coast, Cragside at Rothbury and the North York Moors; there’s something for everyone.