The Coastal Retreats team shares some of their ‘early morning’ experiences and why resetting your outlook, and alarm, on the day ahead can reap unexpected benefits. Peace and quiet on Holy Island Fiona Mckeith, Director: There’s nothing quite like experiencing a major tourist attraction before all the tourists arrive! Holy Island has an otherworldly feel … Continued
Have you heard the phrase; ‘Focus on what you can do instead of what you can’t’? With that in mind, here’s what you can definitely enjoy in Northumberland this autumn. The beaches The Beach Guide lists 31 beaches for Northumberland. That’s more than one for every day of your holiday. For walks, watersports or huddling … Continued
A place for family of for couples holidaying together, three-bedroom The Lantern House is like a sparkling seashell that catches your eye in the sand – a slice of beach house heaven with a New England clapboard style exterior and a glamorous French chic interior. Just minutes by foot from the sands of Beadnell Bay, … Continued
In a recent Facebook competition, we asked you to tell us which is your favourite Northumberland season. Many of you said that you loved Northumberland all year round and that each season was appealing in its own way. But a Northumberland autumn made it to the top with 36% of the vote, closely followed by … Continued
From as far back as 635, people have been drawn to Holy Island. Whether that’s the monks who arrived after St Aidan founded a monastery on the isle, the Viking raiders drawn by its religious wealth or, in more recent times, the thousands of visitors who make a pilgrimage to this ‘magical’ spot. With a … Continued
Our lowdown on events, attractions reopening, rainy day activities and where best to base your family getaway this February half term. Castle and coastal fun in Bamburgh Immerse yourself in more than 1,400 years of history at Bamburgh Castle when it reopens on February 8 for the 2020 season. Walk its battlements, lord it up … Continued
Our suggestions for keeping the children entertained whatever the weather Rosebud is a cottage of contrasts. It is surrounded by fields and hills, close to the Northumberland National Park and the country villages of Belford and Wooler, yet just 20 minutes from Bamburgh’s wide sandy beach and the coast. There’s a unique and distinct feel … Continued
Winter is a magical time to visit Northumberland. The summer crowds have gone, leaving its beautiful beaches and castles to be explored in peace. Warming fires are the stars of the show, made for huddling around playing games, watching movies and sharing hearty meals. It’s also the place for me-time and a true escape from … Continued
If you like your Christmases traditional, cold and wintry, with hearty food, twinkling lights and dashes of festive magic, then Northumberland is for you. Imagine a Narnia-esqe destination where you’ll wrap up warm and walk the wide sandy beaches with magnificent castles marking your way and find quaint pubs at the end of your journey … Continued
October half term offers the chance for a family getaway before the craziness of the countdown to Christmas begins. Autumnal sunshine, colours and feasts mix with log fires and spooky shenanigans for a holiday that’ll certainly blow away the cobwebs. Be inspired by these Retreats and our recommendations of what’s nearby to eat and visit. … Continued
Shelley Franklin won a £100 Coastal Retreats voucher in July’s 24 hours with… guest blog competition for her review of her stay at Seafarer’s and trip to Holy Island. We’d checked the tide timetables, the weather forecast was good, so today we were going to Holy Island. The causeway wasn’t due to clear until 11.45am, … Continued
We recently visited the Long Nanny seabird nesting site between Beadnell and Low Newton where we discovered one of the ultimate long distant migrants and a rare chattering seabird with an aerial courtship display. Take a stroll to the southern end of Beadnell Beach to Long Nanny and you’ll find yourself in one of the best spots in the UK to see breeding … Continued
Cameras at the ready, here’s 9 of Northumberland’s most picture-worthy places as captured on Instagram. Alnwick Castle View this post on Instagram A post shared by Andrea David 🎬 (@filmtourismus) on Jul 23, 2018 at 10:34am PDT As one of the film locations for some of the Harry Potter movies, Alnwick Castle regularly … Continued
July is one of the best times of the year to head to Northumberland. You can enjoy its unique coastline and scenery when the weather is warmer and much more pleasant than being in the city. With the coastal breeze on your back, you’ll definitely be glad to escape the sticky hot city streets for … Continued
Helena Ablard won a £100 Coastal Retreats voucher in May’s 24 hours with… guest blog competition for her write-up of her family holiday at Bamburgh Six. Like every other morning this week we couldn’t wait to open the curtains and see by far one of the best views we have ever seen from our window. … Continued
Our recommendations of where to visit on a mid-week break in Northumberland. With 30 miles of coast, 70 castles sites and numerous islands, you’d be hard-pressed to see everything in Northumberland in one visit. Here we’ve compiled what we think any first-time visitor should experience on a four-day trip to Northumberland. Where to stay From … Continued
Liz O’Brien won a £100 Coastal Retreats voucher in April’s 24 hours with… guest blog competition for her springtime account of her stay at The Lodge@Shirewater. As I pulled into The Lodge@Shirewater for my second visit in four months, I wondered if the owners would notice if I never left. Unfortunately I suspect they are … Continued
The wave of warm weather that was so welcome over the Easter weekend has certainly got us in the mood for summer days, which will be here a whole lot sooner than you think! In fact, with the first May bank holiday weekend landing so delightfully at our doors this weekend, we thought it was … Continued
Write a blog about our Retreats and win a £100 gift voucher We’d love to hear what you think about staying in our Retreats, and so would our guests. Just tell us about one of your holiday days at a Coastal Retreat in the form of a guest blog and you could win a £100 … Continued
Chances are that if you haven’t watched the long-running series, Vera, you have at least heard about it. Characterised by her mac and rainhat, the TV drama about Detective Vera Stanhope was adapted from crime writer Ann Cleeves’s novels of the same name. Such is the popularity of the programme, that you can now take … Continued
Earlier this year, we revealed which were your favourite Northumberland beaches, as voted by you. In a subsequent Facebook competition, we also asked you to name your favourite Northumberland place. It was a close-run contest, with not much difference in the vote between the places in the top three spots, but the overall winner was … Continued
Choose any of our Retreats for Christmas and you’ll be immediately dazzled by the warmth of our welcome and the comfort and finesse of your surroundings. All our Retreats are festively styled from the beginning of December and we provide our complimentary hampers with a seasonal twist for bookings including Christmas Day. Sprinkle into this mix some … Continued
It’s easy to see what you like, and what you really love from our social media feeds. We’ve gone back over the last year and selected the most-liked photos on our Instagram page, revealing some of your favourite Retreats and Northumberland destinations. Which one do you like best? 1: Newton Beach 2. Beadnell Beach 3. … Continued
Why you should consider a day trip to Northumberland National Park All but a handful of our Retreats are situated along the Northumberland coast, and although our love of the beach is definitely strong, heading inland to the Northumberland National Park for at least one day of your holiday will certainly give you a flavour … Continued
If you were on a Coastal Retreats holiday, what would be your ‘Instagram moment’? Our guests shared their stories of holidays in Northumberland. This wildly beautiful, inspiring and uncrowded part of England has some of the best beaches in the country, numerous castles, amazing skies and picturesque fishing villages. But don’t just take our word for … Continued
Our Top 10 things to do guide to some of Northumberland’s year-round highlights is a great place to start planning your getaway, but for those one-off seasonal events that will take your holiday from being memorable to unforgettable, look no further than this compilation of what’s on this summer. Festivals The 80-day Great Exhibition of … Continued
If the sunny weekend has left you longing for a coastal break when the next bank holiday arrives in two weeks’ time, then look no further than these experiences within walking distance of our Retreats. David Attenborough’s favourite Sir David has said The Farne Islands is his favourite spot in the UK to see nature at … Continued
Transport yourself to the wildly beautiful scenes of Northumberland, from its castles to its coastline, through our recommended reading list of books all set in this wonderful part of the UK. 1.The Vera Stanhope Mysteries by Ann Cleeves Many of Ann Cleeves’ crime novels about the middle aged, overweight DCI Vera Stanhope and the cases … Continued
The lowdown on some of Northumberland’s best destinations for a four-day Easter staycation Bamburgh A finalist in Channel 4’s Village of the Year competition, Bamburgh has a lot to offer for such a small place. After all, how many villages can say they have an iconic castle and a wide sandy beach that stretches into the distance. Bamburgh … Continued
Our 7-day guide of family-friendly activities to make the most of the school holidays Day 1 Start the day at the ‘king’ of castles, Bamburgh Castle, which reopens daily from February 10. Feel like royalty in the Great Hall, scare yourself silly in the dungeons and see all kinds of unusual contraptions in the medieval … Continued
Seen by one person every second and with a wingspan larger than a Boeing 757, the chances are even if you have never visited the Angel of the North, you are still likely to have seen it or heard about it. This steel angel sculpture overlooking the A1 motorway in Gateshead celebrates 20 years since it … Continued
Classic British weather need not spoil your fun on a Retreats holiday. There are still lots of adventures to be had – you just need to know where to find them. Here’s our inside knowledge of what to do when you get served a slice of umbrella weather in Northumberland. Have your pick of the … Continued
Beautiful Retreats in unforgettable locations for Summer 2017 Why go? Holidays at Seasalt are fuss free for families. There is so much to entertain the children that you will definitely have the chance to relax, whether that is on the decked area in the private garden or on the comfy Loaf sofas in the Scandinavian chic … Continued
Beautiful Retreats in unforgettable locations for Summer 2017 Why go? High Mill, sleeping up to 10, has ample space for entertainment and relaxation making it an ideal getaway for family and friends get togethers. Enjoy some unforgettable feasts around the table for 10 in the open plan living area or head out to the large … Continued
Our guide to what not to miss during your Retreats holiday Theatre Rory Bremner will be live at The Maltings in Berwick upon Tweed on July 5 with his Partly Political show. Expect a satirical take on Brexit, Trump and Boris. Heartbeak Productions return to The Alnwick Garden on July 16 for another open air … Continued
Beautiful Retreats in unforgettable locations for Summer 2017 Why go? The Beach Pad is a high-end surf shack-styled apartment, sleeping four, with retro and contemporary furnishings and a fun, relaxed summer vibe. Wake up to sea views from the bedroom and spend the evenings enjoying those very same views from the lounge. Close to the … Continued
If you are visiting Northumberland without a car, or you’d like a day out without having to drive, you’ll find the following bus journey planners an excellent resource to easily get around the coastal region and see all the major attractions.
Retro in style with fifties flourishes and modern luxury elements where it matters, Craster Waves is the vision of the owners of adjacent Craster Rocks whose style has been reciprocated in this sea front cottage. Built in the same architectural style as Rocks, Waves compliments its big brother and gives guests a smaller version of … Continued
This half term we’ll be preparing 58 cottages, making 169 beds and hoping for one big dose of autumn sunshine for our guests. But it won’t just be all work and no fun, we’ll be out and about enjoying what Northumberland and Newcastle have to offer. Here’s our top five picks for October half term … Continued
We’ve had a great summer welcoming everyone to our cottages as well as enjoying a spot of relaxation on the Northumberland beaches ourselves. Here’s some of our snapshots – we hope you like them!
Rosebud is our first property to be situated close to the Northumberland National Park with its unique dark sky status. Here’s what to do in this part of Northumberland. Where to visit There are numerous opportunities to explore the National Park from picnics and wild swimming at Linhope Spout Waterfall and walking in The Cheviot … Continued
A charming retreat nestled in the grounds of Hetton Hall with views of the Northumberland National Park’s Simonside Hills, Rosebud is the perfect spot for a family holiday or romantic getaway. With its beautiful stone exterior and rural location, this two-bedroom cottage has been lovingly crafted by guests turned owners who have created a hideaway … Continued
Let us help you plan the perfect romantic weekend in Northumberland. From dining to relaxing – we’ve got it covered. Choosing a romantic retreat For sea views head to Craster Waves; for sheer luxury Bamburgh Five is a clear winner; for a seriously snug getaway with a log burning fire it’s got to be The … Continued
Experience what it is like to stay exclusively in your own country pub at this former 18th century ale house just a short walk from the popular coastal village of Craster and new to our collection for the 2016 summer season. From the beautiful vintage furniture to the grand inglenook fireplace, this Craster holiday cottage … Continued
Friday evening My son is an impatient traveller. Seconds into any journey his six-year-old brain decides we have been going too long and he comes out with the wearing and familiar phrase ‘How long til we get there?’. So this was the beginning of our journey to Driftwood. Two adults, a six year-old boy and … Continued
We have two Retreats – Quayside and The Nelson – in the coastal village of Amble. Here’s what to do in this part of the Northumberland coast. Where to visit On the seafront at Amble you’ll find the new Harbour Village – a lovely shopping experience of 15 wooden retail pods selling cards and prints, … Continued
Family Traveller calls Nook End a ‘countryside meets coastal idyll’ in its May/June issue. Recommended along with Northumberland as a place your kids will love, writer Jane Anderson highlights Coastal Retreats and Nook End for its ‘generous supply of toys and books, funky bunk beds, highchairs and travel cots, proper kids’ crockery and cutlery, games … Continued
Planning a weekend break with friends? Then look no further than the Northumberland coast. A hidden gem of unspoilt beaches and countryside, this area offers plenty of opportunities to relax – all just a few miles from Newcastle City. Where to Stay We have a number of cottages perfect for girls get togethers, whether that … Continued
Where to stay and what to do on an Easter weekend in Northumberland. Why go at Easter? All the major attractions reopen in time for the Easter holiday with many offering Easter egg trails or special one-off events for the four-day weekend. Northumberland was also recently described as ‘England’s most tranquil location’ by Countryfile, winning … Continued
Try this three-day itinerary, sampling the best of Northumberland with kids. Friday 4pm: Arrive at your chosen Coastal or Country Retreat. The heating and lighting will have been turned on prior to your arrival, so put the kettle on and let the kids get stuck into the toys provided. 6pm: Settle down to an evening meal chosen … Continued
Plan your Northumberland getaway with our A-Z guide of things to do A – Alnwick Castle and Gardens The current family home of the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, Alnwick Castle, is open to the public from March to October. See how the other half lives in the State Rooms, relive parts of the Harry … Continued