Goswick Retreat

Escape to this charming, stone-built holiday home, occupying a prime spot in the fabulous Northumberland countryside. Sleeping eight guests, this four-bedroom getaway offers the best of coast and country. The cottage lies just 3 miles from the tidal causeway to Holy Island and Lindisfarne Nature Reserve where you can explore the castle and historic priory and enjoy scenic walks along the coastal paths. England's northernmost town, Berwick-upon-Tweed is 10 miles, with its iconic bridges, Elizabethan town walls and scenic coastline. Take the train from Berwick for a memorable day trip to Edinburgh. Head to Bamburgh for magnificent Bamburgh Castle (11 miles) and play on the stunning beach or take a boat trip to the Farne Islands from Seahouses. For a range of walks, head for the Cheviot Hills, using the town of Wooler (10.5 miles) as the starting point, or for a round of golf, the club at Goswick is just 6.5 miles away.

Step inside to find three-storey accommodation with a friendly ambience and an abundance of opportunities for enjoying the spectacular views. From the back door, find yourselves in the boot room, where you can unlace your boots, hang your coats and store any outdoor gear. The useful utility space is ideal for popping those damp swimming costumes or wet walking items straight into the washing machine. There is also access to the downstairs shower room and WC. Head into the open-plan kitchen/diner to unpack the groceries you have sourced on your latest excursion and put the kettle on for a cup of tea to enjoy with a slice of Northumberland fruit cake. Unwind at the table in here, then think about what to whip up for your celebratory feast later on, perhaps watching a cooking show on TV for inspiration. From the kitchen/diner, amble through to the beautiful lounge, with its inglenook fireplace housing the wood burner. Stoke this up during the chiller months, then settle on the comfortable brown sofas to catch a film on the Smart TV or simply gaze out at the picturesque views of the distant Cheviot Hills. There is a good selection of books here too. Open the French doors on fine days to bring in a breeze. When you are ready to turn in for the night, climb the stairs up to the first floor of the cottage. Here, you have a south-facing king-size bedroom with a delightful window seat where you can relax with your morning coffee and take in the rural vistas. The family bathroom and two twin bedrooms are also on this level. One of these bedrooms has 2' 6” zip-and-link beds that can be made into a king-size on request. Carefully make your way up the cottage-style stairs to the top floor, where your final bedroom is positioned. Again with astounding views, this features another king-size bed, plus a comfortable seat for reading a final few pages of your book before sleeping. This bedroom also has the luxury of an en-suite shower room.

While away warm days out in the beautiful, enclosed garden. Dine on the patio as you absorb the incredible tranquillity. Light the BBQ to sizzle your supper, then gather around the fire pit and indulge in a little stargazing on clear nights. To the front of the cottage, there is an outside tap, useful for rinsing walking boots and dog paws. Guests here enjoy off-road private parking for three cars.