Looking for a dreamy escape that combines luxury with the tranquil peace and quiet of nature? Look no further than Nest County Durham, a new luxury escape offering with the option of two luxury treehouses, and two luxury waterside lodges. Having recently been invited to spend a weekend at Nest, I can confidently say that it ranks among the most fabulous North East accommodations I’ve experienced.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary stay at Nest, but would happily throw money at them to do it again. If you like the sound of it I have a discount code at the end for you for 15% off midweek stays September – December 2023.

Nest is designed to offer you your perfect break, and I had a lengthy discussion with the lovely owner Claire on what she envisioned for the place, and her plans yet to come, and some extras being added to the Nest experience in the future. 

The main goal though, was to provide a luxury experience, with all the home comforts and more that you could possibly wish for, whilst still being able to enjoy the remote location and natural surroundings. They’ve absolutely achieved that with both the lodges and the elevated treehouses.

Based on private land the elevated treehouses Wren and Nuthatch, and the waterside lodges Kingfisher and Sandpiper, all offer this type of experience, yet each accommodation has been decorated slightly differently from the next. 

Checking in to Kingfisher Lodge at Nest County Durham

Ahead of my stay I was sent all the information and keycode to get the keys. It’s a contactless check in which I always prefer so you can be flexible with your arrival time. All the accommodations at Nest are on private land, and well signposted off the main road so they’re easy to find. Heading along the track and over the hill the water view opened up in front and we got our first glimpse of Kingfisher Lodge.

The two treehouses are next to each other by the woodland quite a way back from the water, but the waterside lodges are very secluded on their own, spaced a good distance apart for total privacy. 

There is plenty of space for parking right by the path that takes you to the front door of the lodge, and I got the keys from the lock box. You can’t really see anything from the cabin from the back, but opening the door and seeing inside you get the first welcome glimpse of just how beautiful it is. 

A Tour of Kingfisher Lodge

The open plan spacious room is stunning but the first thing you really notice is the view straight out of the full length window wall that runs the whole way along the cabin. It’s beautiful, with an open deck with seating, and the hot tub.

Back inside, the main room has the kitchen on one side, equipped with a sink, oven, hob, microwave, fridge, coffee machine and plenty of bits you might need if you’re eating in. The cupboard is fully equipped with gorgeous and colour themed glassware and kitchenware from Nkuku to match the lodge, it’s all in the details and nothing has been left to chance.

Kingfisher Lodge is dog friendly, so there were bowls left out for Arthur and a blanket hanging up on the hooks. Outside is open, so you do need to be aware not to let dogs loose, but there is a lead hook in the ground and they are going to make improvements to this to make it easier to have your dog outside if you’re in the hot tub.

The interior throughout the lodge has been thoughtfully designed to the highest specifications. The living room takes center stage with its suspended log burner which is fabulous, really easy to use, and adds a touch of rustic charm to the space. The weather was dreadful for the majority of our stay but it honestly didn’t matter, we spent most of it relaxing, snuggled up on the big, comfy yellow sofa and enjoying the view and peace.

There’s a dining area against the back wall of the lodge with a table for two, and the decor all matches, with lovely little touches that just take it to the next level for a lodge/cabin stay. They have thought of all the modern conveniences, with wifi, sonos sound system controllable by the ipad under the TV, and the TV itself with streaming apps available. 

During our weekend of bad weather we made the most of these features, listening to music as we made dinner on the Friday night, and a Netflix night on the Saturday with a bowl of popcorn from the welcome hamper. All the little extra touches like this are sourced by local businesses, including the mini hot chocolates we were left. Even in summer it felt cosy and so relaxing, the perfect year round escape. 

If you’re tech savvy you’ll appreciate the plugs, which have normal, USB and the new Apple style plug built in – a small detail but it’s things like this that just make the stay seamless and easy. If you want to truly switch off you absolutely can, but these additions are all there to make your stay comfortable if you want them. 

The bedroom is the second room of the lodge with a door separating it from the main room, but huge windows feature in here too. It was amazing waking up and pulling the curtains back to lie in bed for a bit with that view. 

The bedroom continues the blue, yellow and silvery colour scheme, with a huge bed and plush cushions and throws. It was so comfy! There’s also a skylight right above the bed which is remote control operated so you can let the light in from right above you. 

Wardrobe space and a big chest of drawers stand at the far side, and a hairdryer is provided, as well as hot tub beach towels and slippers. Robes will be an addition very soon too, they were still being embroidered while I was there. The slippers and towels were great, you could leave them by the big sliding windows while you sat in the hot tub outside, mood lighting on and a glass of wine. 

The en suite bathroom was one of my favourite bits of the lodge, with chunky green tiles, his and her sinks, very fluffy towels on the rail, a fabulous walk-in shower and some lovely extras on the shelf. 

The whole lodge was incredible, definitely one of the nicest I’ve stayed in. It’s very well designed and thought out. 

There is access to walking routes directly from the lodge that could take you on hikes around the reservoir, and on a good day it would be very picturesque. There is livestock in some of the surrounding fields so dogs must be kept on leads and stick to the path.

The information on the Nest app which you can download when you get details in your welcome email provides plenty of other suggestions for nearby things to do. You would need to take the car for these as it is a remote location. 

Personally, we chose to spend the weekend enjoying the lodge as the weather was so bad. It didn’t phase me at all. I felt thoroughly relaxed, and caught up on some reading and TV. Mornings were slow with coffee from the machine and enjoying the view, evenings spent in the hot tub and by the log burner – which we definitely didn’t need on as it was warm enough but it was very cosy when it was pouring outside even in summer. 

If you do want to eat out there are suggestions for the nearest pubs and restaurants in the app, as well as places to do any shopping – I went to the nearest sainsburys once which was about fifteen minutes away, and we thought about going to Wynyard but the weather put us off as I’d want to see the gardens in the sun.

Arthur loved staying in the lodge, he would just lie at the windows watching the cows and snoozing – he hates the rain so this suited him perfectly!

Wren Elevated Treehouse at Nest

Similar to the Waterside Lodges, the two treehouses by Nest are done out to such a high spec, with everything you’d need to hide away and enjoy the luxury for your stay:  kitchen, bathroom, sleeping and living area, albeit slightly smaller than the lodges but no less fabulous. They aren’t dog friendly, due to the steps leading up to them they wouldn’t get up there.

Located on their own space of the land facing the run of trees as you’d imagine, and standing next to each other they are on their own patch, with their own driveaway and are totally private from each other. 

These treehouses sleep two, and Wren was beautifully decorated in pinks and nudes, with a gold-detail bathroom, and hot tub on the balcony. Similar to the lodges there’s a fully equipped kitchen and dining area, but there is slightly less space. This isn’t a problem at all though, and there’s also a sofa and clothes storage by the bed too.

The treehouse’s living space and bedroom is all one room, with the bathroom separate, and they have the big glass windows that open out onto the balcony where the hot tub is. All the modern features such as TV, wifi and sonos are here too.

A really unique stay at Nest County Durham that offers something a bit different.

Plan Your Stay at Nest County Durham

Whether you choose to go for a waterside lodge or an elevated treehouse, your stay at Nest will be amazing. The standard of accommodation is so high that the weather makes no difference if you’re looking for a secluded relaxing stay and luxury break. Places like this are meant to be enjoyed as much indoors as they are outdoors on the deck and in the natural surroundings, and they definitely a step up even from glamping.

So much effort and care has gone into all options, from the bathrooms to the decor, colour schemes and the additional little touches that make it all the more memorable, like the spa slippers, the toiletries in the bathroom, the welcome basket and the practical necessities in the kitchen.

I’d say the treehouses are perfect for a couples short stay of one or two nights, with the extra space in the lodges allowing for a longer stay simply due to the extra space. Nest do take bookings for one night stays, as parents with young kids understand it can be hard to get even one night away, so they want to accommodate everyone, and as mentioned Kingfisher Lodge is the dog friendly option. 

I took so many photos and videos from my stay, and it was one of my favourite’s in the North East to date. You can view everything I’ve shared on my Instagram highlight for Nest across both accommodations here. I can also offer you a discount code for if you’re booking a midweek stay September to December Monday-Thursday, excluding public holidays, use SF15 for 15% off, terms and conditions apply.

It’s very much a place to visit year round, and I think both places to stay whether you’re in a lodge or a treehouse would be fabulously cosy and perfect for an Autumn or winter break. Prices for a stay at Nest in County Durham vary, so it’s best to check availability and prices for your chosen dates on the Nest website here.