The Morritt Country House Hotel and its locale have an unusual number of original and noteworthy obscurities. When you visit and stay with us we hope you enjoy these truly remarkable delights.

Gilroy Mural
The Dickens Bar at The Morritt has the only hand painted wall mural by JohnGilroy in the world. The famous Northumbrian artist is best known for his Guinness Irish Stout advertising posters. The Morritt Gilroy murals cover all fourwalls of the bar, depicting a Dickensian scene of life in the 17th century. Humour and history perfectly combine in Gilroy’s masterpiece.

French Chateau
Nestling in the market town of Barnard Castle, the Bowes Museum which opened in1892 is an impressive French Chateau style building housing an internationally significant programme of exhibitions. A further delight is the museum’s 18th century Silver Swan automaton, you can see the swan perform at 2pm every day. Distance from the Morritt 3 miles.

White Water
The River Tees, which courses past The Morritt between Eggleston Abbey and Rokeby Park’s Meeting of the Waters, has some of the bestcanoeing water in North East England. A purpose built canoeing facility is being created at Eggleston Abbey. If thisadrenaline sport is for you as a participant or spectator, the exciting riverracing over the rapids will hit the spot. Distance from the Morritt: 1 mile.

The Wonder of Whorlton
The Whorlton Bridge is an iron and wooden suspension bridge built over over the River Tees in 1831. An A Grade II listed schedule dancient monument, it is unique amongst early British bridges of this type as itis still supported by its original chains. The bridge remains in use and features a toll house at the north end. Distance from the Morritt: 2 miles

England’s Highest Waterfall?
High Force is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in England, also one of the highest with a 21 metre (70 ft) drop tothe plunge pool below, the falls located at Forest-in-Teesdale are part of th eRaby Castle Estate. Distance from the Morritt: 18 miles

Famous Names
Charles Dickens visited Greta Bridge in 1838 to gather background information on the Yorkshire schools for his book, Nicholas Nickleby, partly set in Teesdale.  At the end of the 18th and early 19th Century, famous painters Turner and Cotman painted many of the beauty spots in andaround the Morritt Hotel and River Greta. The Meeting of the Waters is one ofthe best known. Sir Walter Scott, also aregular visitor wrote of the area and particularly of Brignall Banks flowingdown to the river and used Rokeby Park as the setting to his epic poem "Rokeby" in 1812.

Rokeby Venus
Rokeby Park is well known as the original English home of the painting The Toilet of Venus by Diego Velázquez,now known as The Rokeby Venus. The original now hangs in the National Gallery, London and a copy hangs in the saloon at Rokeby Park, open to the public on Monday and Tuesday afternoons between May Bank Holiday and August Bank Holiday. Distance from the Morritt: 0.5 miles

Handmade Locally
Teesdale has a wealth of local producers and makersspecializing in traditional techniquesand delivering their businesses today, including art, graphics, leatherwork, glass engraving, textiles, bespoke furniture and horticulture.