12 Retreats to see you through 2020

Look forward to your next Northumberland escape with our month by month guide of where to stay according to the time, the season and what’s happening locally.

January

After the excesses of Christmas, press pause on your everyday life and take some time out to focus on your wellbeing. A stay at two-bedroom Rosebud on the edge of the Northumberland National Park has all the elements to kick start your New Year. There are numerous walks from the door such as the popular St Cuthbert’s Way route, perfect for working off all those festive calories, and its remoteness means you can switch off and enjoy reading by the log burning fire as well as soaking up the insanely beautiful starry night skies seen in this location. Find out more

February

February can be a cold month, but the pastel and coastal colours of Skyfall bring some joie de vivre to this time of year while its elegant and contemporary furnishings add dustings of glamour and romance. If it’s a Valentine’s escape you are after, the sweeping balcony overlooking the Cheviot Hills will score you brownie points, but if you are travelling as a family, its proximity to Bamburgh village with its iconic beach and castle will certainly keep younger members of your party happy. Find out more

March

For a healthy dose of vitamin sea with lashings of blueness reaching right to the horizon’s edge, Craster Rocks is the place to be. Its unique ingredient is its location. It literally hugs the shoreline and is just the tonic after a long winter. From its bedrooms and living space, the sea is all around. Situated at the start of the walk to one of Northumberland’s famous castles and just metres from the centre of Craster with its gastro pub, restaurant, café and art gallery, it certainly deserves its inclusion in The Sunday Times ‘100 Coolest Cottages’ list. Find out more

April

For the first ‘big’ family holiday of the year – the Easter break – The Deck House, just metres from Beadnell Bay, has some of the region’s best watersport activities on its doorstep, a cool relaxed vibe to appeal to all ages, a log burner (the nights can still be a bit chilly at this time of year) and use of private tennis courts. Sleeping seven, it is the kind of place where holidaying is easy from strolls down to the beach to suppers in Beadnell village or short drives to the nearby attractions of the Farne Islands, Bamburgh Castle and Alnwick. Find out more

May

May is the time for a short break with bank holidays at the start and end of the month. This year the early May bank holiday has been moved to Friday, May 8 to coincide with the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day to mark the formal end of World War II. Celebrate the occasion at Bamburgh Five, a decadent apartment for four with uninterrupted views of Bamburgh Castle. From here you are just a minute from the beach, shops and restaurants so you can ditch the car on arrival and explore on foot. Find out more

June

June is one of the best times to visit Northumberland before the height of summer but when the weather is warm and everyone wants to be outdoors. Couple’s cottage, The Lodge@Shirewater has five acres of grounds to stroll around including a river, orchard and woodland. A 20th Century Art Nouveau country house, it evokes a feeling of times past where a digital detox is more than possible, if you so wish. Spend the evenings out on the decked area enjoying the distant sea views of Embleton Bay while eating some freshly cooked produce from the garden and greenhouse, complimentary for guests. Find out more

July

The enviable location of Duneside House, within walking distance of Beadnell Bay, makes it a perfect choice for a classic summer beach break. Sleeping 10, it is ideal for two families or a group of friends. Its open plan living space encourages socialising and its enclosed garden offers an option for al fresco eating and drinking. For ease of holidaying, the bespoke handpainted kitchen has two ovens, a 16-bottle wine cooler, a pod coffee maker and a boiling water tap. Find out more

August

Beat the August crowds all vying for by-the-beach escapes by heading slightly inland, but just a short drive from the coast, to High Mill. An unparalleled choice for family get togethers, it is one of our most spacious Retreats with a large lawned garden, games room and ample space for dining and relaxation. A firm favourite in our collection, it has recently undergone numerous upgrades in its living space, kitchen and bath and shower rooms. Definitely one for family fun. Find out more

September

Some of our larger group Retreats can be booked up to a year in advance, but September can still be available at this time of year for some of our most popular Retreats. Take Beadnell Beach House – our on-the-beach getaway for 12 at Smuggler’s Cove in Beadnell. It only has a couple of short breaks left in the summer months but is free in September, which is an ideal opportunity to book at a slighter cheaper time of year but when the weather is still warm and the crowds have gone. Find out more

October

See Northumberland ablaze in red, gold and orange at The Apple Store in Tughall Steads between Newton and Beadnell. One of the most beautiful times of the year to visit and witness the arrival of autumn, this barn conversion for seven has an orchard abundant with fruit so you can not only see, but taste the glories of the season. A cool, on trend renovation completed recently added some typography wallpaper to the lounge, opened up the living space to maximise the benefit of the log burner and included flourishes of personality to enliven all the rooms. Find out more

November

Lumiere, the UK’s largest light festival, debuted in Durham in 2009 and has become an annual not-to-be-missed showcase of the city. Stay at nearby Number Nine, a former iron worker’s cottage built at the turn of the 20th century and transformed by its owners into an exceptionally stylish cottage with rolling countryside views, to be in easy reach of the event. Sleeping four, the cottage has a gas-fired log burner to keep winter at bay and some excellent walks from the door. A double-ended bath and TV with Netflix mean you can also hit the relax button after a day exploring. Find out more

December

Find me a place where I can wake to views of the coast, spend days by a real open fire and walk no more than a few metres to a pub where the food is delish and the drinks flow. If this is your idea of a Christmas Retreat then The Arch in Craster village is the place where even the most Grinch-like among us will be beaming more elf-like grins. Located just a few paces from The Jolly Fisherman gastro pub, with views of Dunstanburgh Castle on the headland from the master bedroom and a cosy lounge with fireplace in cast iron surround, we’d defy you to find a better place to open this year’s Christmas presents. Find out more

For more recommendations of which Retreat would be most suited to when you are planning to travel, contact us here.

Browse our full collection, here.