Rockliffe Hall, County Durham, UK
Rockliffe Hall, County Durham
Distance from airport
Rockliffe Hall is only a short distance from both the A1 and A19 and is also just a 10-minute drive from Durham Tees Valley Airport, which offers direct flights to/from Aberdeen, Belfast, London Heathrow, Dublin, Jersey, Newquay and Southampton. Darlington Railway Station, which lies on the East Coast Main Line, is also less than 10 minutes away from Rockliffe Hall and provides regular daily connections to Edinburgh (2 hours), Durham (20 minutes), York (30 minutes) and London (2.5h).
Location
Set in the quiet village of Hurworth, on the edge of the County Durham and North Yorkshire border, Rockliffe Hall’s location is perfect for discovering the treasures of Durham city, the drama of the North East coastline and the rugged beauty of the North Yorkshire Moors.
About Rockliffe Hall
Rockliffe Hall is a luxury golf and spa hotel on the banks of the River Tees, in the North East of England in County Durham. Complete with an award-winning spa (with new outdoor Spa Garden), 18 hole championship golf course and two restaurants including the signature 3AA Rosette Orangery Rockliffe Hall is one of the best all-singing, all-dancing luxury hotels in the UK. The 61 bedrooms are spread across the Old Hall, New Hall and surrounding Tiplady Lodge, Woodland Mews and Armstrong House. Dating back to the 1800s, Rockcliffe hall was once a private estate and is steeped in intriguing history.
Spa
Winner of the Good Spa Guide “Best Spa for Wellness” Rockliffe Hall’s award-winning spa provides the perfect oasis in which to relax, unwind and be pampered. The Spa boasts an array of treatments and facilities including a hydro pool, 20m swimming pool, roman sauna, salt inhalation room, igloo, juice bar, tepidarium, experience showers, infrared sauna and heated bench.
Spa Garden
The new Spa Garden experience is a luxurious addition to the award-winning Spa at Rockliffe Hall. Next to the current spa, the Spa Garden blends the indoors with the outdoors and has a warm infinity-edge outdoor hydrotherapy pool heated tile loungers and relaxing day beds. The Spa Garden experience is bookable and available for no more than 20 spa users at one time ensuring an exclusive and memorable experience.
Spa Treatments
The treatment menu at the spa at Rockliffe Hall includes a selection of holistic spa rituals with results-driven treatments for the perfect blend of healing, rejuvenation and balance. Rockliffe Hall’s carefully chosen spa partners (Neom, [ comfort zone ] and OPI) work with the spa therapists to continually develop beneficial and exceptional experiences.
The newest signature treatment at the spa at Rockliffe Hall is the 120 minute Himalayan Splendour ritual by [ comfort zone ]. A top to toe rejuvenation that will leave you feeling calm, restored and revitalised long after the treatment has finished. Created exclusively for Rockliffe Hall, this spa treatment captures the magic of mineral-rich Himalayan salt to smooth away dead skin cells while warming arnica soothes and eases away tensions. Therapeutic bamboo massage tools stretch and relax tense muscles and a facial using a luxurious blend of Goji berry and macadamia oil, soothes, repairs and nourishes tired and stressed skin.
Rockliffe Hall offers Neom Wellbeing Treatments, created by a team of wellbeing experts combining a selection of meditation, shiatsu, Thai massage, trigger point and reflexology - to provide true therapeutic wellbeing benefits. Following a science of scent therapy consultation, the therapist selects the perfect Neom wellbeing treatment unique to you.
The Mind Therapy Room
The Mind Therapy Room is an experience like no other in the fight against the stresses of today. Originally developed to combat PTSD, this technology has been shown to reduce stress, improve sleep and much more. You’ll be set up on the comfortable SpaWave bed, reclining on the warmed water cushions. The bed gently vibrates and the headset plays binaural beats, which sound like soothing spa music but are really guiding you through the brainwave cycles of sleep to take you to a state of deep relaxation where healing occurs. Even the busiest minds can achieve deep levels of relaxation in a 30 or 60-minute therapy session.
Rooms and Suites at Rockliffe Hall
Rockliffe Hall offers the most elegant and luxurious hotel rooms in County Durham. Each of the 61 bedrooms looks out onto the beautiful golf course, surrounding countryside, and River Tees. The en-suite bedrooms are big on space, big on comfort, and big on little luxuries and attention to detail. From the super king-size beds, Villeroy & Boch baths, to the ‘Tile TVs’ in the luxurious and large modern bathrooms, you'll be cocooned by indulgence.
Enjoy the understated elegance of the Old Hall bedrooms, each one as unique and individual as the next where traditional furnishings and original features happily mix with modern design and contemporary elegance.
In addition to the rooms and suites, Woodland Mews Holiday Homes offer the perfect private hotel experience and are a short distance from the hotel. They offer the chance to experience all the benefits of Rockliffe Hall from the privacy and intimacy of a four bedroomed holiday home. Another luxury 'home-away-from-home' option is the Armstrong House Apartments which have one and two-bedroom apartments a short walk from the hotel and provide the ultimate privacy, freedom and flexibility for families.
Children will have endless fun exploring Mischmasch - Rockliffe Hall's wonderland of curiosities inspired by Lewis Carroll.
Rockliffe Hall also has a selection of rooms that are wheelchair accessible and specially designed to accommodate disabled guests. Dogs can stay at Rockliffe Hall for a cost of £25 per night, on top of the room tariff.
Included for children at Rockliffe Hall
Small robes and slippers for younger guests
Children’s toiletries
Access to the swimming pool - guests must book a two-hour time slot in advance
Access to Mischmasch, the wonderland of curiosities
Children’s menu in The Clubhouse restaurant
A Children’s breakfast menu
The Orangery
Experience a unique culinary journey in Rockliffe Hall's flagship 3AA Rosette Orangery restaurant. The Orangery offers an unrivalled dining experience, garden-to-plate ethos and exceptional wine pairings from some of the world’s most exquisite vineyards.
Many of the ingredients are picked and foraged from the Rockliffe estate or kitchen garden. Sample dishes on The Orangery tasting menu include Variations of Beetroot with Seven Beetroot Elements, Smoked Ragstone, Sorbet; Staithes Village Crab with Marigold Gel and The Orangery Cheesecake with Grand Marnier, Segments, Blood Orange, 100% Chocolate.
Cocktaill Bar at Rockliffe Hall
Enjoy an inexhaustible collection of international wines curated by the experienced Sommelier and his team. Mixologists are on hand to create delicious cocktails and diners will enjoy the first-class service from the hospitable team. The Orangery restaurant is open for dinner daily from 6.30 pm to 9 pm. Breakfast is served for hotel guests in The Orangery from 7 am to 10 am.
The Clubhouse Kitchen & Bar
Now open following a full refurbishment, The Clubhouse Kitchen and Bar is the perfect place for tucking into popular British classics or enjoying drinks on the terrace, whilst soaking up the stunning views across the golf course.
Dishes are homely and comforting, with a touch of ‘Rockliffe flair’. Sample dishes include King Prawn Marie Rose Cocktail and Sticky Toffee Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream & Butterscotch Sauce. Every Sunday The Clubhouse serves delicious traditional roasts with all the trimmings. The Clubhouse is open all day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Afternoon Tea
Afternoon Tea at Rockliffe Hall, County Durham
You can’t beat a British Afternoon Tea! The 18th-century Orangery at Rockliffe Hall offers a traditional afternoon tea experience with stunning views of the immaculate grounds and surrounding countryside. The Afternoon Tea menu allows you to experience the team’s culinary creativity and craftmanship whilst indulging in sweet and savoury treats including Chicken Balti on Rye & Sunflower; Ham on White Bread, Tomato & Rocket. Sweet treats include Sicilian Lemon Macaroon; Iranian Pistachio & Olive Oil Cake, Biscuit Cream with Seville Orange; Passion Fruit & Raspberry Tart; and Sultana Scone. Served with fine leaf tea or coffee, or a glass of Champagne Afternoon Tea at Rockcliffe Hall is served daily from 12.30 pm to 5.30 pm and must be booked in advance. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available.
Picnics: Available in the warmer months, the Rockliffe Hall team will set up a delicious Afternoon Tea in the grounds, with a fully-sanitised blanket and classic picnic box.
Wine Tasting: Perfect for budding wine buffs and lovers of all things grape. Hosted by Rockliffe’s expert Sommelier team, the intimate tasting masterclass is for between 2 and 8 people. These tastings are set around a table in the centre of the brick-walled 19th-century cellar which houses hundreds of bottles of wine. The Wine Tasting Challenge is where the Sommelier pitches two very different vineyards against each other, the Tailor Made Tastings is for those with a favourite grape or region and then there’s the Beginners Wine Tasting which is the perfect introduction into the world of the grape.
Golf
Take a swing on one of England’s best golf courses and enjoy world-class service and facilities in the North East. Rockliffe Hall offers golf memberships, golf days or overnight stays with five star golfing facilities on your doorstep.
Designed by Hawtree, the world-renowned course architects, Rockliffe Hall’s 18 hole championship golf course is one of the most challenging in Europe. While its full 7,879 yards from the back tees will give even the best professional tour golfer a stern test, most will find the five individual tee boxes on each hole a welcome addition, offering players of all abilities the chance to experience the challenge. The course boasts 12 miles of under course drainage and irrigation which helps to keep the course in excellent condition throughout the year and has previously held two English Senior Open Tournaments.
Alongside this exceptional North East golf course is a fully stocked Pro Shop, extensive practice facilities and driving range, a luxurious yet relaxed clubhouse and a golf services team including 3 PGA professionals.
Services include Membership; Pay and Play; Golf Days (including Corporate and Charities); Societies and Groups of Golfers; Membership; Corporate Membership; Coaching and Academy.
Golf facilities at Rockliffe Hal include 18 Hole Championship Course; Practice Putting Green; Short Game Area; 8-Bay Driving Range; Coaching Room With Video and Trackman Technologies and Professional Shop.
On-Site Activities
Rockliffe Hall’s setting, within 375 acres on the banks of the River Tees, offers an ideal base to enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities. There’s something to suit all ages and abilities.
Cycling: Saddle up and explore the estate and nearby villages with complimentary bike hire. For the more serious cyclists, Rockliffe Hall is in an ideal location to access the stunning North Yorkshire Moors and Dales by bike. Renowned internationally for the Grand Depart and Tour de Yorkshire, the cycling on the hotel’s doorstep ranges from tranquil farmland and a variety of picture-postcard villages to the wild countryside. GPS devices can all be provided.
Tennis: Game, set, match! Enjoy tennis on the all-weather 4G grass courts with rackets and balls included.
Walking & Jogging Routes: Lace up your trainers or hiking boots and enjoy a walk or jog around one of the many estate jogging routes. From short woodland strolls to longer riverside trails, there is something to suit all levels of fitness.
Nordic Walking: Nordic walking is the fastest growing fitness activity in the world thanks to its numerous health benefits for fitness and well-being. Classes are led by an International Nordic Walking Federation qualified instructor and are suitable for all levels and abilities.
Forest Bathing: Forest Bathing is a Japanese practice of relaxation, known in Japan as shinrin yoku. Essentially, it’s about being calm and quiet amongst the trees, taking in nature and sounds around you whilst breathing deeply, to help de-stress and boost health and wellbeing. Amongst 375 acres of stunning grounds, Rockliffe Hall is the ideal setting to reap the benefits of Forest Bathing.
Croquet: Enjoy this traditional, competitive and quintessentially English game on the immaculate croquet lawn in front of the Old Hall and Orangery. Mallets and balls (and a helpful copy of the rules, should you need them, cheating strictly forbidden in croquet!) are provided free of charge from the Concierge.
Astronomy: During winter months the clear night’s sky above Rockliffe Hall can be explored by astronomers young and old alike. Stargazing sessions can be booked to take place at Rockliffe Hall, led by the Bishop Auckland Astronomical Society, with a laser tour of the night sky and the chance to look through telescopes.
Falconry: Learn about these fascinating birds of prey with a unique hands-on experience within the grounds of Rockliffe Hall. Led by professional falconers, the falconry experience includes an introduction to birds of prey, a flight demonstration within the grounds and even offers guests the chance to handle and fly the birds for themselves.
Fly Fishing: Rockliffe Hall is set on the banks of the River Tees, providing a peaceful location to learn, master or enjoy fly fishing at your leisure. Led by Durham Fly Fishing, guests can learn the art of casting a fly before using their new skills to try and catch a wild River Tees brown trout or grayling.
Some of the Nearby Attractions
Aerial Extreme Baltic Centre for Art
Beamish Open Air Museum
Captain Cook’s Monument and Museum
Croft Racing Circuit
Cycle the North York Moors and Dales
Durham Cathedral and Castle
Flamingo Land Theme Park and Zoo
The Forbidden Corner Hadrian’s Wall Harrogate
High Force Waterfall Ice Skating
Lightwater Valley Theme Park
Mother Shipton’s Cave
Riverside Stadium, the Stadium of Light and St James’ Park
RSPB Saltholme
Whitby and the North East Coast
City of York
Rates at Rockliffe Hall
Tiplady Lodge Double / Twin from £210 Low Season / £230 High Season
New Hall Double / Twin from £265 Low Season / £295 High Season
Suites from £485 Low Season / £505 High Season
All rates include VAT, breakfast and use of the main spa facilities
History of Rockliffe Hall
Original plans for Rockliffe Hall date back to 1774, but it wasn’t until after the turn of the century that the hall and the estate started taking shape. Records from the 1820’s show it known as Pilmore House. Then, the Pilmore Estate belonged to Robert Surtees of Redworth, the County Durham Historian, and was lived in by his more famous cousin, landscape painter Thomas Surtees Raine.
In 1851 the current site came under the ownership of Alfred Backhouse and major developments were made. The estate consisted of three separate buildings; the mansion house (Pilmore House), Pilmore Farm (immediately to the West) and Hurworth Grange (immediately to the West of the farm).
However, records show that Backhouse managed to make closer links to the three properties, converting them to a mansion which linked Home farm and the Dower House. Soon after gaining ownership, Backhouse commissioned fellow Quaker and relative by marriage, Alfred Waterhouse to rebuild and re-landscape much of the main building and the estate. It was during this period that Pilmore House first became recognised as the Rockliffe Hall estate.
In 1903 and again in 1974, buildings were badly damaged by fire. In 1944 a light aircraft crashed into the grounds, luckily missing any buildings and causing only damage to trees and the landscape. It has even had its brush with stardom and parts of the grounds were used as a backdrop for some scenes from the Michael Caine film ‘Get Carter’ in 1971.
Whilst much of the surrounding landscape was neglected in the latter part of the 20th-century, the work of previous owners has helped the new golf course to benefit from many historic and natural contours and features.
In 1918, Lord Southampton bought the estate and lived there on and off until 1948. A keen cricketer and sportsman, he formed the Rockliffe Park Cricket Club and played on a pitch which still exists in the same site today on neighbouring land.
The Rockliffe Park estate was bought by the Brothers of St John of God and converted into a hospital in 1950. It was some 18 years later that it was compulsorily purchased by Durham County Council for use as a Community Centre.
Sadly, Rockliffe Hall stood empty for quite a few years and was left to petty vandals until, in 1996; Rockliffe Park was bought by Middlesbrough Football Club. Its new owners wanted to create a new centre for its training facilities that matched its desire to be one of the Premiership clubs challenging for major honours.