A self-catering cottage in the heart of Hadrian’s Wall Country is in the running for two top awards for accessibility and sustainability next month. The Hytte (pronounced “hutta”) in Bingfield near Hexham has been short listed for the Access for All Gold award and the Sustainable Tourism Gold award at the annual Enjoy England Awards for Excellence on 23rd April the ‘Oscars’ of the tourism industry. The Norwegian inspired traditional timber hytte or mountain lodge has a grass roof and has four bedrooms as well as a garden sauna and hot tub. Patio doors lead to the extensive private garden and a decked verandah which has views of the open countryside.

The Hytte’s owners have placed a high priority on ensuring that the cottage is accessible to everyone. It is the only accommodation in the North East to have been classed as providing ‘Access Exceptional’ as part of the National Accessibility Scheme. The environmental impact of the property is reduced by recycling as much as possible, minimising energy use and using renewable energy, avoiding wasting water and dealing with bathroom waste in a sustainable manner. All cleaning products are also natural and biodegradable.