The neighbouring villages of Bamburgh and Seahouses have been named time and time again as among the top must-visit destinations in the country
Anyone seeking inspiration on where to go in Northumberland this summer no doubt has one particular coastal village on their travel list that has earned national recognition time and time again. This is of course Bamburgh, which has been named both the best seaside destination in the UK and the home of one of the country’s best beaches within the last month alone.
A visit to the village will leave no-one in doubt of why Bamburgh has such an appeal among locals and tourists alike, between the magnificent castle with a rich history spanning over 800 years standing guard over the coastline and the golden sands below it that together make for one of the nation’s most striking beauty spots. Incredibly, these are just one part of a long list of treasures to discover along this stretch of the Northumberland Coast.
A 10-minute drive down the coast leads to the village of Seahouses, which is a trip that anyone visiting Bamburgh simply must take. Seahouses has also had its fair share of national acclaim, having recently been singled out by travel experts at Conde Nast as one of the best wildlife-spotting holidays to undertake in the UK thanks to the boat trips that can be caught from the village harbour out to the Farne Islands, home to a who’s who of seabirds from puffins to razorbills and kittiwakes in their tens of thousands.
There are dozens of places to stay in this part of Northumberland, with one of the top-rated choices on booking website holidaycottages.co.uk being Coastguard Watch. Nestled right in the heart of Seahouses with “phenomenal” views of the harbour as well as Bamburgh’s beach and castle beyond and the Farne Islands out at sea, this three-bedroom cottage is perfectly placed to explore every one of the area’s gems.
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Priced from £1,146 for a seven-night stay with room for up to six guests and two dogs, Coastguard Watch is within easy walking distance of Seahouses’ shops, restaurants and pubs as well as being a stone’s throw away from the beach. With views of the harbour from its Juliet balcony as well as an enclosed courtyard with outdoor furniture to make the most of any warm weather, it’s a popular choice in the summer months.
For those staying here a little longer, another must-visit is the “mystical” Holy Island of Lindisfarne, yet another part of the Northumberland coast named by The Times as one of England’s top beauty spots. The fairytale-like island, reached from Bamburgh via a causeway and cut off by the tide twice a day, is steeped in centuries of rich history as what was once the epicentre of Christianity in Anglo Saxon times.
And for holidaymakers seeking to soak up the great outdoors even more, there are endless walks to enjoy along this part of the Northumberland coast that promise breathtaking scenery with every step. When famous US network National Geographic recently declared that the Northumberland coast “has it all” and that its attractions “warrant weeks of exploration”, it hand-picked the 10-mile walk from Seahouses to fellow fishing village Craster as one of the best trails in the country.
There are dozens more holiday cottages available to book in Seahouses via the likes of holidaycottages.co.uk and Sykes Holiday Cottages. Another quirky option is The Boathouse, a traditional boathouse conversion right next to the harbour which has room for up to five guests and is priced from £565 for a seven-night stay.
In addition, Booking.com has a shortlist of the top 10 hotels and B&Bs in Seahouses based on guest ratings, with the number one choice being the Beach House Hotel. Guests at this four-star hotel have complimentary use of the Ocean Club Spa a few minutes away, and it’s also a popular restaurant and bar perfect for stopping off after an adventure along the Northumberland coast.
Meanwhile, holidaymakers looking to rest their heads over in Bamburgh also have a choice of hotels in and around the village, with the number one choice according to guest ratings on Booking.com being The Victoria Hotel. Priced from £160 per night, this hotel is home to 29 rooms as well as a bar and restaurant, and is just a 10-minute walk away from Bamburgh Castle.
This hotel was hand-picked by The Hotel Guru as the best place to stay for those who want to explore all that Bamburgh has to offer, with the experts writing: “The Victoria Hotel is right in the shadow of Bamburgh Castle, so it’s ideal for seeing the sights in Bamburgh, but also ideal for exploring the whole region. Some rooms have castle views, but some have rural views, giving the feel of a countryside escape. It’s great value too.”
