Recently refurbished to a high standard, this delightful terrace in a quiet location is only two minutes’ walk from the harbour of the Northumberland town of Seahouses.
Still a working fishing port, Seahouses is the marine gateway to the Farnes, 28 islands that include the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, and others that are home to thousands’-strong colonies of grey seals and puffins.
In this well-presented cottage’s three bedrooms, there is room for five, ideal for a family who likes to be close to where it’s all happening, as well as experiencing nature and England’s ancient history at its best.
This colourful cottage sleeps five in its three upstairs bedrooms, two doubles and a single on the upper level; there is a bathroom on the same floor. There is a shower room on the ground floor with a basin and WC.
With its crisp white walls and laminated floors, the sitting room has a cast-iron stove electric fire and incorporates the dining area. The separate kitchen has an induction touch hob and oven, washer/dryer and dishwasher.
There is parking at the rear for one car and leading out from the kitchen; there is an area with a bench where you can enjoy your early morning coffee.
Seahouses itself has enough charm to provide a fun-filled family holiday and, better still, there is the Northumberland National Park in all its natural glory on the doorstep. You might want to take everyone out for a slap-up fish and chip lunch at the Fisherman’s Kitchen, followed by a round of Crazy Golf on an 18-hole course with views of Stag Rock, the Farne Islands and historic Bamburgh Castle.
Heralding Seahouses’s history is the Grace Darling Museum on the outskirts of the working fishing harbour. When the weather calls time on sea, sand, and shine, this can intrigue the whole family.
Grace Darling, an 18-year-old lighthouse keeper’s young daughter, rescued nine shipwreck survivors off the Northumberland coast during a raging storm. The museum not only chronicles this 19th-century heroine but also provides insight into the RNLI’s history along this stretch of the Northumberland coast.
From Seahouses, it is hard to miss Bamburgh Castle. This age-hold fortress came under threat by a 900s Viking invasion, withstood numerous bombardments until virtually in ruins; it was brought back to its former glory in the 1700s by a family whose ancestors live there to this day.
For something completely different, the nine-acre grounds of this majestic castle plays host to well-being pop-up workshops such as Pilates and yoga that usually take place in summer.
If planned activities aren’t on your schedule, then the three-mile Seahouses to Bamburgh coastal walk will provide a great day out. Pack a picnic and high up on the dunes in the shadow of the castle, enjoy views of the Farne Islands 3.8 miles out to sea and watch surfers catch the waves.
Just 15-minutes off the A1 and an hour from Newcastle, you will be transported to a part of the UK guaranteed to delight. Worldwide there is no comparison to this destination that seamlessly combines our country’s narrative with nature.
Unlike so many other North Sea resorts, Seahouses has somehow staved off the onslaught of high-season hype. There’s a tranquillity here that supersedes the seaside-slick synonymous with other places along the coast.
Take a stroll on the quayside and watch the boats come in; pop into a traditional pub for a pint of Seahouses Ale by Hadrian Border Brewery; tuck into a fresh crab salad in a restaurant with views of Bamburgh Castle; cruise the Farne Islands, or simply sit back and enjoy your unique surroundings.
Sunnie Cottage’s streamlined interior provides choice accommodation for a family that is not just about bucket and sand escapades but passionate about nature, outdoor pursuits and history too. This is the Northumberland Coast, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, home to the Dark Skies Park, the best in England, and jam-packed with historical sights to boot.
In one instance, you can be enjoying freshly caught cod and chips harbourside, and the next, you are taking on the trails on a coastline that forms part of an iconic national park. Whatever your pleasure, Sunnie Cottage is going to be an ideal base.
