Cottages & Northumberland Blog

Islestone cottage in Beadnell

2011-12-17T01:38:00.000-08:00

Islestone cottage is one of the larger houses in Beadnell and we are delighted to be able to direct interested viewers to this mini website for Islestone.

Best agency in Northumberland?

2011-12-16T01:35:00.000-08:00

All the Northumberland agencies like to believe that they offer the best service to their clients. The reality is that they all offer their own unique professionalism.Here at Northumbria byways we are proud to sponsor a small website dedicated to offering quality advice to holiday cottage owners. Have a look at Bookourcottage.com and let us know what you think.

Kyloe hills

2011-12-15T01:56:00.000-08:00

The Kyloe hills are the gentle hills between Wooler and the busy coastal strip around Lindisfarne and Bamburgh. Most visitors just pass straight through but there is a lot to see here. From the wonderful views atop Bowden Doors to the mystical charms of Old Bewick Church this is an area worth spending time exploring.
You can a read a little more on this blog about the Kyloe hills.

Cottages for large families

2011-12-14T01:36:00.000-08:00

Around Christmas we usually have a number of requests from families organising a get together. They always ask for enough room so that everyone can spreadout and relax. Some of the cottages we have suggested include

Wreighburn.Located along the river Coquet just outside Rothbury this cottage has large grounds and river frontage. There is also a tennis court and lovely views from the south facing gardens.

Hannah Hauxwell was an unlikely celebrity from the 1970's. Living high up in Teesdale with no electricity and surviving on a pittance she reminded many people of values from our past. The Red Lion Cottage at Cotherstone will afford its guests the opportunity to explore this lovely area.

The Northumberland coast around Beadnell is very popular. Not only does it have a good beach but you also have easy access to Seahouses, Bamburgh and Craster. Broadwood house is a large modern conversion ideally placed to explore this beautiful part of the county.

Finally a short note to say that we have started a small website to offer help and advice to cottage owners. So why not check out bookourcottage.com?

Other blog posts which might be of interest

Memories from the British Tibetan expedition and Craster harbour.

Christmas walking

2011-12-13T01:42:00.000-08:00

Patrick from Footsteps in Northumberland has just sent over his christmas walking schedule which looks really good. We have copied the schedule below and hope that you find it of interest

Contact Information

Patrick Norris

Tel. 07847 506399

E. Patrick.norris@footsteps-in-northumberland.co.uk

Web www.footsteps-in-northumberland.co.uk

Twitter @PatrickNorris1

Date

Walk title and description

26 December

St. Cuthbert’s Cave; a lovely walk through gentle rolling countryside to this remarkable site, a place of pilgrimage for centuries.

27th December

Humbleton Hill; Stretch your legs on a walk to the top of Humbleton Hill on the very edge of the National Park. An Iron Age Hill Fort can be found here as well as amazing all round views.

28th December

Craster to Low Newton; Dunstanburgh Castle and one of England’s great coast walks are part of this walk. We follow the coast path to Low Newton, returning via the network of inland paths, visiting a nature reserve bird hide along the way.

29th December

Beal Point to Fenwick Granary; our favourite coast walk with splendid views of Holy Island, great for wildlife and lots of history.

30th December

The College Valley, Hethpool and Great Hetha; we follow part of the Hill Fort Trail, pop into and out of Scotland and walk a section of the Pennine Way, a great walk this one.

1st January

Hepburn Crag and Ros Castle; we follow woodland and moorland paths, before we reach the top of Ros Castle, one of the best viewing points in Northumberland.

 Each walk is 6 miles (10 km) long and takes between 3 and 4 hours to complete.

 Please book your places on the walk and to get information about the start point.

 All walks start at 0930, please wrap up well and wear suitable footwear.

 The cost per adult is £10.00, children and young people under 12 - £5.00.

 Walks may be cancelled if the weather conditions are poor.

 Visit our website for more information www.footsteps-in-northumberland.co.uk

Footsteps

Walking the beauty of Northumberland

Our Christmas week walking programme

Looking towards The Cheviot Hills from Hepburn Crag a Footsteps walk in Northumberland

This is Northumberland

2011-12-13T01:20:00.000-08:00

It has only been live for a couple of months but already This is Northumberland is attracting a lot of visitors. There have been some quite good blog posts including :

1. Hexham Hydro, bringing green energy to the market town without disrupting the salmon who run the Tyne.

2. Remembering the fallen from WW1. Sad recollections of a period nearly 100 years ago.

It is also worth having a look at their youtube channel here.

New Vindolanda video

2011-11-22T04:17:00.000-08:00

We prepared this video slideshow to show Vindolanda as if you were walking around the excavations, reading the story boards and enjoying the views.

Other useful references

Looking for cottages nearby? Have a look around Lanercost.

Chesterholme video

2011-11-21T04:17:00.000-08:00

Chesterholme. The museum, gardens and of course the reproduction temple provide a wellcome diversion when visiting Vindolanda. This short video will hopefully convey a feeling for what the place is like

Other useful references:

More pictures from vindolanda
Looking for cottages near Hexham?

Late availability Alnmouth - Nov and Dec 2011

2011-11-14T07:45:00.000-08:00

Alnmouth availability for November and December 2011. We have a popular cottage, Pilgrim's rest, nearby.

To quote
This attractive cottage a former coachman's quarters adjoins a beautiful Grade II listed stone pele tower and house dating back to 1380. The village is near both the historic town of Alnwick (3 miles) with its famous gardens and magnificent castle and the fabulous coast of Northumberland. The nearest beach is 2.5 miles away. Holiday makers have full use of the owners' stunning secluded garden with patio area, lawns and flower beds set in 1 acre of land. Shilbottle is ideally situated, being only 1 mile from the A1, for visiting all parts of this historic region including the coast, the Cheviot Hills, the Borders and Hadrian's Wall. Nearby Alnmouth railway station makes visiting Edinburgh or Newcastle for the day an easy option. Coastal golf courses, river/sea angling and horse riding all nearby. Watercolour painting workshops available in the garden studio of the artist owner by arrangement in advance.

Late availabiltyy Berwick - 2011

2011-11-14T07:39:00.000-08:00

We have Marmion cottage at Norham with availability up and until just before Christmas.

Details as follows:
This detached single storey stone cottage dating back to the 18th Century nestles in the pretty Borders village of Norham. This historic village stands on the banks of the River Tweed and boasts an imposing 12th Century Castle. The cottage is exceptionally spacious and decorated in a traditional style. There are open fires in both the sitting room and the kitchen/diner making it a snug homely base to return to after a day exploring the castles, National Parks and spectacular beaches. The Northern end of the Heritage Coast at Berwick upon Tweed is only 7 miles. The Elizabethan Ramparts were built in the 16th Century to surround and protect the town. Edinburgh takes 40 minutes by train from Berwick removing the hassle of where to park. Norham has an excellent butcher, a bakery, a newsagent, a church and 2 pubs. A short drive to Swinton is the award winning restaurant The Wheatsheaf. Fishing can be arranged on the Rivers Tweed and Till by the owner.

Late availability in Rothbury, Northumberland

2011-11-14T07:33:00.000-08:00

Fancy a break in Rothbury for November or December 2011? Well we have Conway cottage with some free weeks.This is a popular house so you will have to be quick with your booking as some of the weeks are now taken.

To quote from the description

"Originally home to the blacksmith, Conway Cottage dates back to the mid 1800’s and is Grade II listed. This stone built cottage stands in a walled courtyard hidden away behind the main street of Rothbury. Having recently undergone full restoration the cottage now provides exceptionally clean and relaxing surroundings retaining charm and character. The courtyard is perfect for relaxed alfresco dining on summer evenings. Rothbury stands on the banks of the River Coquet, at the foot of the Simonside Hills and is known as the Gateway to the Northumberland National Park. The town boasts shops selling locally produced food, charming cafes, a golf course and the Cragside Estate. The estate is famous for its fantastic display of rhododendrons. The endless network of walks and trails, suitable for all abilities, makes this region popular with walkers and cyclists. Alnwick famous for its magnificent castle and gardens is a short drive then onwards to the Heritage coastline with miles of sandy beaches and rocky coves. Walking, cycling, golf and swimming pool all available locally."

Late availability in Otterburn.

2011-11-14T07:27:00.000-08:00

The Drovers Rest offers November and December availability for 2011. Situated within the Northumberland National Park it provides a great opportunity to get away from it all.

To quote from the description
"Standing in an elevated position within the Northumberland National Park, with panoramic views over the Rede Valley, this spacious, comfortably furnished, detached property offers excellent accommodation in this wild and remote region. Visitors have access to a large landscaped garden with wooded area, pond with ducks, hens and a variety of wildlife. The cottage lies on the line of an ancient drover’s route from Scotland to London. Kielder Water is within 10 miles and offers sailing, windsurfing and fishing whilst the forest trails are great for walking, cycling or riding. The ancient town of Hexham, 25 miles, has a 7th century Abbey and an excellent range of shops, cafes and a theatre. Hadrian's Wall and the major forts at Housesteads and Vindolanda can be reached in 30 minutes by car and the Border towns of Jedburgh, Hawick and Kelso are also easily accessible. Bellingham is 7 miles. Otterburn 3 miles."

Late availability in Bamburgh - 2011

2011-11-14T07:21:00.000-08:00

Nantucket is an "Armstrong cottage". Built to house estate workers it is really close to the lovely beach between Bamburgh and Seahouses and there is availability for November and December 2011.

To quote
" Built in the late 19th century to accommodate the families of workers renovating nearby Bamburgh Castle, this deceptively spacious Grade II listed cottage is situated on the southern outskirts of the coastal village of Bamburgh, a short walk across the dunes to a magnificent sandy beach. The cottage benefits from a recent update and provides contemporary well designed holiday accommodation, in a quiet location with fields behind. The amenities of the village are within walking distance and 2 miles south is the bustling fishing port of Seahouses from where boat trips to the Farne Islands are available. Budle Bay, 1 mile north, is home to a wide variety of native and migratory wading birds. The many historic castles which are a feature of this part of Northumberland are all within easy reach by car. Wind surfing, sailing, horse riding and fishing can be enjoyed locally and the area has several splendid golf courses."

Late availability in Amble, November and December 2011

2011-11-14T07:17:00.000-08:00

Amble in November or December 2011. We have the Lobster pot which is a popular cottage close to the coast at Amble with availability throughout November and December.
Amble with it's marina and closeness to Warkworth, Alnmouth and Alnwick is a good location for an impromptu break.

"This delightful and romantic little 19th century fisherman's cottage lies just 60 metres from a clean sandy beach in the picturesque seaside hamlet of Low Hauxley where a few boats still fish for lobsters and crabs. Attractive, cosy and atmospheric with its exposed stone walls, co-ordinated colours and fabrics and comfortable furnishings, it provides a holiday base of the very highest standard throughout. Low Hauxley is located on the Heritage Coast to the north of Druridge Bay, a 4 mile stretch of mature sand dunes and beautiful white sands which incorporates Druridge Bay Country Park and several nature reserves. 1.5 miles north, at the mouth of the River Coquet is the small town of Amble which has a fishing fleet and marina. From here it is possible to take a boat trip around Coquet Island, an RSPB reserve a mile or so off shore, famous for its Puffins and rare Roseate Terns."

For more information on our late availability click here

or check out Amble here

Late availability in Allendale - November & December

2011-11-14T02:08:00.000-08:00

We have late availability on a lovely holiday cottage, in Allendale, over November and December 2011.
Have a look at Dale view cottage

Here is an excerpt from the description

"Dale View Cottage is situated in an elevated position on the outskirts of Allendale and commands south-westerly views over the valley and the remote and beautiful countryside of the North Pennines, increasingly referred to as "England's Last Wilderness". This is an excellent holiday location for those interested in outdoor pursuits such as walking and mountain biking, with numerous footpaths and bridleways nearby. The area provides fascinating evidence of generations of lead and mineral mining dating from Roman times and the restored Killhope Wheel at the head of Weardale and nearby Alston's High Mill waterwheel bear testimony to a period when the now peaceful fellsides were the scene of great industrial activity. Hadrian's Wall and the Lake District are less than a 45 minute drive. Allendale is 1 mile. Hexham and Alston are 10 miles."

To see all our late availability cottages click here

Late availability in Northumberland 2011

2011-11-13T07:15:00.000-08:00

As Christmas approaches we still have a few holiday cottages with availability during 2011 and even over the Christmas break. Check out our list here.

Seahouses late availability over xmas 2011

2011-11-13T07:02:00.000-08:00

Late availability over Christmas week at Seahouses in Northumberland.

Special offer on Puffins nest at Seahouses.
Book 5 nights from Friday 23 December, leaving Wednesday 28 December - Only £575.00.

As Christmas rushes towards us the number of cottages with availability over Christmas week will vanish pretty quickly. Why not book a short 5 day break and enjoy Christmas by the sea?

Check out all our special offers here

Late availability - Warkworth - November 2011

2011-11-13T06:57:00.000-08:00

Castle view in Warkworth has availability throughout November and December up to and including Christmas. To quote from the cottage description

"An exceptionally spacious and tastefully appointed stone cottage tucked away in the heart of this very picturesque and historic coastal village. To the rear of the cottage is a sheltered enclosed garden with a decked area perfect for alfresco dining and relaxing on a summer’s evening. Warkworth lies just a few minutes from the Heritage Coast with easy access to some splendid beaches. "

You can see all our other last minute availability cottages here

Late availability for cottages in Northumberland

and for warkworth in general try Northumbria byways website
or our blog on warkworth and the northumberland coast

Late availability - Alnwick for November and December

2011-11-11T03:38:00.000-08:00

We have the Middle 'in in Alnwick available for November and December 2011. Short breaks are welcomed so you can stay in the luxurious ground floor flat immediately opposite the castle. Why not make a long week end of it and you can also pop down to the beach at Alnmouth.

Other late availability posts include

Wooler

Embleton

Hexham

and

Belford

Late availability - Embleton, Northumberland

2011-11-10T02:04:00.000-08:00

Last minute bookings for Embleton on the Northumberland coast.

We have a Mermaid Cottage which is within a few hundred metres of the sandy bay available for November and December. There is a 20% reduction in this period other than the Christmas and New Year weeks.

Embleton is just north of Craster and a little to the south of Seahouses.

Late availability - Hexham, Northumberland

2011-11-09T04:09:00.000-08:00

Late availability and last minute bookings for Hexham

Sammy's place. Plenty of availability and three day breaks welcomed.

The Beacons £225 for a three night break. Plenty of dates still available.

and the luxurious Broadway apartment has the same £225 price for 3 nights

For more information click through on this link "cottages in hexham"

Late availability Belford - Northumberland

2011-11-09T03:56:00.000-08:00

Late availability for November and December 2011 around Belford Northumberland.

Cheviot Cottage at Lowick has last minute booking availability as well a £175 offer for bookings over Christmas and new year.

Late availability Wooler

2011-11-09T02:39:00.000-08:00

Late Availability - Wooler - November and December 2011.

The Garden flat at Earle has late availability and there is a 10% reduction for all bookings of a week or more in 2011.

Dale Carter - the story behind great photographs

2011-11-09T02:23:00.000-08:00

This blog post comes courtesy of Dale Carter from Northumberland Fine Art. We had often admired Dale's photographs and wondered at the level of professionalism required. Dale has kindly agreed to write about the planning and onsite issues which are required to get these images and his account of a trip to Dunstanburgh castle is below. I hope that you enjoy it !

Dunstanburgh Castle - A different Viewpoint

Thursday 13th October

I'd been wanting to get out and capture a sunrise for weeks, but various circumstances had prevented me from doing so, and the succession of illnesses my baby daughter had had recently mean that I was suffering from a bout of sleep deprivation, and really couldn’t drag myself out of bed that early. But the previous day had been a stunning sunrise, and I felt I had really missed out, so I was going to make a real effort this time.

Before going to bed, I checked the BBC weather website http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather, which not only gives me the weather for the next morning, but also the exact time of sunrise. The weather looked good, clear intervals with a bit of cloud, and the temperature was going to be quite cool. I also check the tides, again using the BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/coast_and_sea/tide_tables, which indicated that the tide would be out, making it ideal conditions for a coastal sunrise. So I packed up my camera gear and left it next to the front door, so that I can leave quickly and quietly the next morning without waking anyone. I had a rucksack with my camera and 3 lenses, another back full of filters and other accessories, and my tripod.

When the alarm went off at 5:30, the first thing I did was stick my head out of the front door to check that the forecast had been correct, and indeed it had, as I could see the stars in the sky. If there was too much cloud cover I was going to go back to bed!

Strangely I still hadn’t decided where I was going to go, one of the nearby castles, but which one I hadn’t decided. I jumped in the car and headed north on the A1 towards Alnwick, my shortlist down to Bamburgh or Dunstanburgh. I quickly needed to make up my mind and turned off at Alnwick to do Dunstanburgh Castle. All the time I was keeping an eye on the sky to my left where the sun would rise, and the first glimpses of an orange tint were starting to appear.

Dunstanburgh Castle is probably one of the most iconic sites on the Northumberland coast. Although there isn’t actually that much of the castle remaining, it really is a photographers dream, lying on a spectacular headland on the coast of between the villages of Embleton to the north and Craster to the south.

You can get to the castle from either of these villages. If you start at Craster there is a well-worn ancient footpath taking you north towards the castle. The shoreline itself is very rocky here, and it's from this viewpoint that William Turner famously painted the castle.

I opted for the other side, starting at Embleton and heading south, which is probably the most photographed view. I parked up in the village and headed towards the Golf Club. Embleton has a stunning sweeping sandy bay, with Dunstanburgh Castle visible in the distance.

It was about 7am by this point, it was very cool and quite breezy, and the sky was getting lighter where the sun would rise, although I still had 45 minutes before it would appear on the horizon. It's something like a 15 minute walk from here to the castle so time was still of the essence as I wasn’t sure where exactly I was going to shoot from.

There’s a footpath that takes you from the golf club down towards the castle. The shot I had in mind was closer to the castle where there are some farm fields, which last time I was there were in stubble, and I thought that stubble fields in the foreground with the castle in the background at sunrise sounded like a good mix. However when I got there, the fields had been ploughed and rolled, so I needed to do something else, and leave that shot for another year.

Time was moving on so, I headed towards the beach to take advantage of the fact the tide was out. I clambered up the sand dunes, and when I reached the summit and could see the beach I was amazed to see the beach packed with other photographers, like a swarm of ants. There must have been 15 or 20. I can only presume it was one of these photography workshops you see advertised in the back of photography magazines. From what I could see, all the decent positions were taken, and they were all patiently waiting for that magic moment. So looking at my watch and keeping an eye on the sky itself, I needed to quickly decide what to do, continue to head down to the beach and muscle in somewhere and risk having a load of other photographers in my shot, or try somewhere else.

The sky was getting quite bright now, so I quickly turned around and headed back to the footpath on the other side of the golf course, and then off towards the castle itself. When I got closer, I checked the shoreline, but again there was a gaggle of other photographers already there waiting, so I continued on right up to the castle itself.

It was now less than 5 minutes until sunrise itself, when quite quickly the sky burst into colour. From where I was, the sun would rise directly behind the castle, but I was up really close. I stopped dead in my tracks and started to set up for a shot. I was up close to the tower, and positioned myself so that I could see the sky through the windows at the other side. Rucksack on the ground I got out my camera and fitted a wide angle lens with being so close, and set up the tripod, attached the camera, used a spirit level to keep things level... this whole setup process can take a minute or so, and lighting conditions can disappear as quickly as they appear, so it was a race against time. I didn't have time to mess around, so I took a few images at various exposures.

I'd never photographed the castle from this position before, only ever from the shorelines to the north or south. I looked over to my right and thought if I ran over there I could get a lot more of the castle into my shot. I knew I didn’t have much time left, so I picked up my gear and literally started to run the best I could over the uneven ground carrying all of my kit. All the time looking at the sky thinking this looks stunning. I wasn’t sure where I wanted to get to for the best shot, but with time at the essence, I thought this will do, and again put my gear on the ground and quickly setup a shot, getting plenty of the sky into the composition.It was fantastic, the sky was stunning, but it only lasted a few more minutes before the light got too intense to shoot and the colours quickly faded..

It's never easy to tell on a cameras tiny display, but I thought I had some decent shots. I packed my gear away, flung it all on my back and headed back up the long footpath towards Embleton to hopefully get home before my daughter headed off to nursery.

So, an unorganised slightly chaotic shoot, resulting in a very pleasing image that I could have no way envisaged when I first set out. Thanks to the crowds on the beach I ended up with a different view of Dunstanburgh Castle.

Dale Carter

Northumberland Fine Art
http://www.northumberlandfineart.com/

Cottage owners - important information.

2011-11-02T02:59:00.000-07:00

We have three interesting articles for our cottage owners.

Chosing an agency

We think that 2012 will be a tough year for tourism throughout the UK. Every cottage owners should understand what their options are and what are the advantages of the various types of letting agencies.
See our article here
http://blog.northumbria-byways.com/2011/10/chosing-agency.html

Marketing a cottage in an isolated location.

We have many cottages in rural and isolated locations. It can take time for these cottages to reach a decent occupancy rate but it can be done and we have many successful rural cottages on our register. This article looks at some of the options for promoting rural cottages.
See our article here
http://blog.northumbria-byways.com/2011/10/marketing-cottage-in-isolated-location.html

Website data.

Every agency will quote their web site statistics. But what is really important? What should you ask for and what should you expect. A short look at the mysterious world of web statistics and the hard facts behind marketing.
See our article here
http://blog.northumbria-byways.com/2011/10/website-data.html