


in the Heart of Teesdale
Welcome to the Ancient Unicorn
Welcome to the Ancient Unicorn. We hope your stay with us will be a pleasant one!
The Ancient Unicorn is a charming, traditional coaching inn dating back 400 years. Situated in the beautiful village of Bowes, close to Barnard Castle , the Ancient Unicorn offers the perfect base from which to explore the beautiful, unspoilt countryside of Teesdale. Just a couple of minutes from the Trans-Pennine A66, we’re also the ideal location for an overnight stopover for guests travelling to and from Scotland and the Lake District.

Double Room Comfort Ensuite with Shower

Twin room-Comfort-Ensuite

Suite Luxury Ensuite

Amalphia Apartment

William Turner Cottage with Courtyard View

Triple Family Room

Mini Unicorn Room

Double room Comfort Ensuite with Bath

Charles Dickens Cottage

Double room Deluxe Ensuite

Double room – Shared Bathroom

Twin room-Budget-Shared Bathroom
Food Menu
We have a delicious menu available that provides great home food in line with the warm and friendly environment we strive to create when you join us. Our ingredients are fresh and locally sourced where possible. We also have delicious options for vegans and vegetarians and children’s menus are also available. Our menus regularly change, however feel free to explore our sample menus below.







What our customers say about us
-
Favourite moorland resting place – Stayed here twice in May and 3 times previously. Always received a warm welcome, comfortable room and great food.
The Unicorn has a traditional period country pub atmosphere with… Read More friendly and very helpful staff. I will definitely be back!
May 21, 2022New Ancient Unicorn – Excellent meal at the newly refurbished Ancient unicorn tasty and fresh.
Brilliant value, great to see this historic pub back up and running.
1 minute from the A66 and right… Read More on the Pennine way in beautiful Teesdale
January 20, 2023Had a lovely stay at The Unicorn, our apartment was huge! The bedrooms and bathroom were all really tastefully decorated and beds were so comfortable. We had our evening meal… Read More in the restaurant and it was lovely, I had the steak and ale pie, then apple pie and custard. Really enjoyed it, and have to say even though it was busy, the staff were really great and attentive.
I would definitely stay at the Unicorn again, am planning to visit with my partner and the dog, and explore the nearby attractions and stay for Sunday lunch next time.
Thanks for making my friends and I so welcome on our first visit
February 13, 2023 -
Lovely stay! Highly recommend! – Had a lovely stay at the Ancient Unicorn! Team were so friendly and welcoming. The room was beautiful, spotless and had everything we needed. Food was delicious too. Highly recommend,… Read More we will definitely be back! Thank you for a beautiful stay! ❣️
March 3, 2023Brilliant stay with the family – Recently come back from a two day stay at the unicorn with family and friends, and what a stay we had . The hotels decor is gorgeous , rooms are… Read More spotless , and the service and food was brilliant.
The Unicorn is in a Gorgeous area and only a short drive to bowes museum and Barnard castle which are a great day out . Highly recommend , we can’t wait to come and stay again in the summer .
February 26, 2023Brilliant hotel and restaurant – Just had the weekend at the hotel and the rooms are amazing staff were lovely and food was amazing! Highly recommend for a weekend away with your partner or family.… Read More I will be coming back soon that’s for sure
February 13, 2023 -
Sunday lunch – So glad to have a village pub back up and running , just had a wonderful Sunday lunch with perfect roast potatoes and parsnips highly recommend. Good luck to all… Read More their lovely staff and nice warm welcome
January 29, 2023Great weekend stay – Great Resturant and bar with plenty of options for lunch and evening meal, with lovely comfy rooms perfect for a weekend getaway. Plenty of different rooms to chose from when… Read More I looked on the website friendly staff highly recommend this place to anyone
February 8, 2023Lunch only – We booked a table for 4, for a Saturday lunch, at the newly opened, and refurbished Unicorn. Our meals were all excellent, hot, and good portions. We got service with… Read More a smile, from the pleasant staff, totally different to the previous regime, will certainly go again.
March 8, 2023 -
Couple of lovely meals in here recently . Sausage and mash particularly tasty. Service with a smile and we were made very welcome. New folk have made such a difference.… Read More Long may this excellent start last. Refurbishment of rooms as well.
January 20, 2023Great friendly place – Stayed last night, lovely clean warm room. Lovely bathroom with shower and bath. Decor was lovely. Went over to bar which was full of locals and very friendly. The restaurant… Read More was fully booked but Karli who was amazing got us seated in the snug. Food and service was great, just a lovely atmosphere. Would most certainly recommend. Lovely place and managed great by Karli
February 12, 2023Lunch – Last minute booking as we didn’t realise that it had re-opened. Evidently invested a significant amount of money into the property, the locals that we spoke to were incredibly… Read More happy that they had a community pub again. Service was excellent and so was the food. We will definitely be back
January 22, 2023 -
Stayed here for one night (18/03/23) with my partner. Excellent location with a warm welcome on arrival! The staff were really friendly and the check in was quick and simple.
… Read More /> We stayed in a double room which was spacious, clean and most importantly had a comfy bed to sleep in!
We decided to stay at the hotel for tea and not venture out which turned out to be a great choice! The food was awesome!
Il definitely stay here again in the future and would highly recommend it to anyone who was looking for a family friendly stay in a great location with lots of history with quality food!
March 20, 2023Excellent stay – Had a lovely stay at the weekend. The rooms were absolutely perfect for our family and had everything we needed. Had an evening meal and breakfast , the food was… Read More exceptional. Staff were so friendly and very welcoming. The snow in the courtyard was an added bonus for the kids as ours on the east coast disappeared within a few hours so this was the highlight of the weekend for them. Thank you so much for a lovely stay
March 15, 2023
Where to find us
Things to do?
When you stay at the Ancient Unicorn there is plenty to explore in the beautiful, unspoiled area of Teesdale.
The countryside is stunning – changing with the seasons and you can walk for miles and see no-one. The Pennine Way passes through Bowes so you can take in part of this historic route, exploring the ruined castle in the village or just soaking up the stunning views from the bench by the castle. A dream for photographers and artists!
Local walks in this area
The walks near The Ancient Unicorn are perfect for anyone who loves the great outdoors. Whether you’re looking for a leisurely stroll or a more challenging hike, you’ll find something to suit your needs. The local countryside is beautiful, with rolling hills, wooded areas, and stunning river views. The historic landmarks along the way add an extra layer of interest to the walks, making them perfect for history buffs and nature lovers alike. So, put on your walking boots and explore the beautiful countryside around The Ancient Unicorn!