Seahouses, Northumberland
Our properties are both in Seahouses in Northumberland. Boat trips to the Farne Islands leave from the charming harbour, just a few minutes walk away. The islands are managed by the National Trust and a visit never disappoints. Take the opportunity to get up close to seals, puffins and a plethora of other sea birds who make these islands their home.
Seahouses is a great base for touring the area, with beaches on your doorstep. It is a proper, living village, so has all the facilities that are needed for holiday-makers and residents alike (bank, supermarket, restaurants, gift shops, ice-cream, pubs etc.). Picturesque Bamburgh is 3.5 miles away with its iconic Castle, ancient church and Grace Darling Museum. Beautiful scenery, wildlife and amazing history is all around you on this stunning coastline.
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Why Visit Northumberland?
Northumberland really has something for everyone, young and old. Here are some ideas:
  • Seaside Fun - Within minutes of the cottage doors, are stunning beaches, rock pools to explore, fish and chips, crazy golf and boat trips.
  • The Coast - We are in an 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty', offering amazing coastal walks, Cycling, Horse riding, Kite Surfing, and golf.
  • Rural Activities - Northumberland is England's least populated county, so you can always find peace and quiet - even on a Bank Holiday Monday! The Northumberland National Park, the Cheviot Hills and the coast make it a walker's paradise.
  • Wildlife - within a few minutes walk, you can catch a boat trip to the Farne Islands where you can see Puffins, Kittiwakes, Terns, Guillemots etc, as well as Europe's largest colony of Grey Seals. A few miles down the coast there is a colony of the rare Little Terns which nest on the beach. A few miles up the coast, Budle Bay is a great place for birdwatching too. Both our properties have binoculars.
  • Eating Out. From Fish and Chips to gastro-pubs and great restaurant meals - the choice is yours. 
  • Eating In. Just on our doorstep is Swallows, which sells some of the best fresh and oak-smoked fish you can buy anywhere. Or visit Carter's Butcher in Bamburgh to buy the famous "Bamburgh Banger". Both are Rick Stein "Food Heroes".
  • Culture - The Alnwick Playhouse and The Maltings Theatre in Berwick, each have varied programmes of theatre, live music and cinema. There are art galleries to visit throughout the region. Newcastle is just an hour away for a greater selection of performance spaces.
  • Gardens - There are many beautiful gardens to visit: some on a small scale, some more spectacular. Two of the most popular are Alnwick Garden and Howick Garden.
  • Castles - Northumberland has more castles than any other English county, because of its turbulent past. It was on the frontline of wars against Scotland for 100s of years. Later, in the 16th century, the Border Reivers rode across the moorland to steal cattle, sheep and property from each other in lawless times. Today, many of these castles are open to the public, as well as some of the fortified towers (Peel Towers) and fortified farmhouses (Bastles).  Read more here. 
  • Early Christian History - Northumberland was the home to some of the first Christians in England when King Oswald returned from exile on the Scottish Island of Iona, to reclaim the Kingdom of Northumbria in the 7th century - bringing St. Aidan with him. Visit Lindisfarne Priory on Holy Island or see where St Cuthbert lived as a hermit on the Farnes. More on the religious history can be found here.
  • Other History - too much to mention. Evidence of human habitation at Howick 10,000 years ago, amazing iron-age rock art, the Romans at Hadrian's Wall just an hour away from Seahouses, early Christian Heritage, Border Warfare, the Elizabethan defences that still surround Berwick, grand houses and castles, the UK's first hydro-electric lit house (Cragside) etc.
  • Dark Skies - Northumberland has one of the few areas of the UK to have 'Dark Sky' designation , meaning the area is free from light pollution and the stars can be seen at their most vibrant. 
  • Shopping - Seahouses has small gift shops, a Co-op supermarket, a butcher, seafood shop, grocer etc. Alnwick and Berwick have a wider selection of shops. Morpeth and Corbridge are great for ladies fashion shopping. Newcastle and the Gateshead Metro shopping centre offer the normal range of big city shopping experiences.
Photo Galleries - Click to Enlarge
Photographs of Seahouses ​
Northumberland Coast near Seahouses
Bamburgh
Castles and Fortified Farmhouses
Some other local attractions
Northumberland or Northumbria?
​Today these terms are used more or less interchangeably. 'Northumberland' is the modern day county that extends from just north of Newcastle up to the Scottish border and westwards to Cumbria. 'Northumbria' was an ancient mediaeval Kingdom (from 7th century) which extended from the River Humber up to the Firth of Forth in Scotland. Today Northumbria usually refers to modern-day Northumberland.