Living room in Salt Air, Seahouses |
A last-minute short break in the UK, preferably on the coast? This should be easy to find on the internet but there is so much information out there, it can be incredibly frustrating. Even when you think you have found the perfect cottage by the sea, many websites lack full information, decent photos and, to add to the misery, in order to check availability, users have to contact the owner by filling in a form. No, I don’t want to fill in a form. I want some real time information, to see at a glance whether it’s booked up or not.
Thank heavens I came across the most wonderful holiday company, Coastal Retreats, whose website was an absolute dream. Marketed as ‘refreshingly different self catering cottages’, the properties are based in North East England and are all absolutely gorgeous. For each cottage, the website provides a short video so you can have a peek in each room, available dates are shown, plus prices for short breaks and the starting dates. It really is an excellent website to navigate.
They do a luscious brochure too, so good I took it to bed every night to pore over the pages showing stripped wooden floors and Farrow and Ball walls, log burners and ample sofas. A small family company, Coastal Retreats, together with its sister site, Country Retreats, has a collection of style-inspired properties which are really top notch. Most come with complimentary Leisure Club membership and many cottages are extremely child-friendly, offering toys, dressing up boxes and play gardens. Whether it’s a contemporary pad or a rural retreat, there is a definite designer stamp on them all.
It’s no surprise, then, that we booked a four-night stay in a two-bedroomed apartment, Salt Air, in the small fishing village of Seahouses on the Northumberland coast. It was perfect. Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, dining kitchen, comfortable lounge and not one but two balconies, one at each end, to catch the sun at every opportunity.
Just look at this view by day and by night, with Bamburgh Castle in the distance. And no, I haven’t fiddled with the filter. These are the true colours.
View from Salt Air, Seahouses, towards Bamburgh Castle |
View to Bamburgh Castle at night |
We took Rory and his girlfriend Juliana with us on this trip up North and we all agreed it was a superb location for a holiday, two minutes from the very centre of the bustling village with its harbour and Fish & Chip shops plus it was next door to the Crazy Golf. We all loved the property itself, so new and fresh with interiors designed by Newcastle-based Tatti Interiors. Who wouldn’t love a bedroom with a Penguin Book theme or a corridor with a wallpaper map of the area. (see below)
Where shall we go today? Let’s plan the route on the wall! |
The owners and Coastal Retreats had thought of everything from crabbing buckets in the cupboard to electrical sockets near mirrors (hoorah!) and a welcome pack which included chocolate cake. Plenty of storage, lots of hangers, fully fitted kitchen including a Nespresso machine, landline phone with honesty box and a huge assortment of board games and DVDs.
I know as a family we have been fortunate enough to visit some beautiful hotels and self-catering properties over the years but I have to say this was one of the most wonderful holidays, staying in an apartment we just couldn’t fault. I am now taking the brochure to bed with me again to choose another one.
Salt Air – the perfect seaside getaway? |
Disclosure: we chose this holiday ourselves, negotiating a small discount in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own. For details of Salt Air and other properties, see www.coastalretreats.co.uk
Wow… That sunset view! It looks like they have thought of everything too! Perfect! 🙂
You should have seen me that evening. Kept nipping out to the balcony to take shots as the sun set, just in case the next shot was better than the last one!
It was pretty much perfect, Emma.
I tried to book a holiday in Northumberland this year, although I left it quite late and couldn't find anything suitable. I'm going to look at Coastal Retreats and book something for next year, thanks for the recommendation.
Hope you have some success, Jean. Such a beautiful part of the country.
I never want to ask for information by filling in a form either. What a pain that is.
Your cottage looks really lovely, and what a beautiful location. Sounds like it hit just the right spot with everyone. I'm jealous of the Penguin book wallpaper and the local map. How did they do that?! 🙂
It really puts me off. The companies which do this must lose such a lot of custom. I know I'm impatient but I need to know straight away!
I've no idea how they got the map on the wall, the seam was only just visible. Very clever. Actually I must look into it, would be great to have an accent wall done as a map.
We always rent a cottage when we come to England so thanks for the 2 sites you mentioned.
Have fun searching, Janet!
Hmmmmmm. Might have to consider that for next year. We usually just go for the day but it makes for a very long day. Looks gorgeous.
This was exactly our situation. So many visits to family in Newcastle but only day trips to the coast. It was just fab to spend a few days there. The apartment was part of 10 in a building so there is the option of booking more than one, if there's a bigger group.
Bamburgh Castle alone would be an enticement as it was a filming location for Robin Of Sherwood which I am still a huge fan of.
Bamburgh Castle has always been a favourite of mine. Its location is extraordinary – just sitting there above the dunes. We were just five minutes drive from the town, had a super meal there.
It's a magical area isn't it? Did you go to Lindisfarne? What a lovely apartment too, Are you allowed to give out prices, Trish? Also, how comfortable was that striped sofa?! I've been admiring it for ages on the DFS site!! Thanks for the review and glad you all had a good time. x
Yes we did go to Lindisfarne, the weather was gorgeous that day. More about that trip soon.
Prices will depend on time you go but a four day break varies from about £700 to £850 for four people.
The striped sofa was actually two chairs and, although comfy, I would have actually preferred them to be a sofa as I like to put my feet up. The beige sofa on the right of the picture was good for that!
Such a wonderful part of the world..and that apartment looks really inviting….I feel a weekend break on the horizon at some point, thanks for the heads up re where to stay.
We would definitely go back to the area, so much to do, so many castles and seaside villages.
This looks so good, you're right when a website doesn't have availability shown I click away! I love the décor it looks gorgeous. This isn't a part of the country I know at all, and we've been thinking about a short break if we can squeeze it in!
ps – good luck for results day, it's a bit unmentionable here!
I felt guilty that we hadn't visited much before, instead just staying with my mum when we go up north. You would really enjoy it. Beaches are heavenly too.
I am so stressed for results day. Rory seems very calm but I am on a hot tin roof. Good luck!
This looks like a wonderful place to stay, it sounds like it has everything you need there. I don't know that area at all but it looks lovely. I really like the map wallpaper – I wonder if you can get that for any area?
I just googled custom wallpaper printing and there is a company which is linked to the OS – looks quite straightforward. Don't know how much it costs but you can key in your wall size to find out.
Oh it looks beautiful. We're always looking for places to stay in Yorkshire near to my Dad, so I shall check the website out. x
Although most of their properties are in Northumberland, they do have some lovely cottages in North Yorkshire so certainly worth a look.
In your photos from the balcony there is Lindisfarne Castle in the very far distance, to the right of Bamburgh Castle (more visible on the sunset photo). You may know that but some of your readers won't. Its a great place for a holiday – superb beaches at Seahouses, Bamburgh (including the one north of golf club), Embleton beach with a the walk to Dunstanburgh Castle and Ross Back Sands (if you want an all over tan!).
All that is still to come, Troy. We had a fabulous day on Lindisfarne which I will cover in another post. I will include some photos of Seahouses and its beaches too. So much still to talk about. Didn't make it to Ross Back Sands so there aren't any photos of that, thank heavens.
That wallpaper map is fantastic!! Those views look amazing too, what a lovely location.
We were lucky the weather was so good that the views to Bamburgh Castle and the Farne islands were so clear.
Another place gets written on my list with must see/visit places! Thank you for sharing!
My pleasure!
Wow, this looks stunning!! Can't beat a last minute getaway.
I think that's what made it work so well – no time to dwell on it, just turn up a few days later. We chose well 🙂
I love the map on the wall, what a cool idea and that view is just amazing! Where do I sign up? 😉
I'm sure Coastal Retreats will be very happy to hear from you, Carolin :-))
ooooo never really thought about going away to the northeast coast, off to investigate now!
So much of my childhood memories came flooding back but only from day trips. So lovely to stay a little longer. It truly is a stunning coastline.
What an incredible view you had! Looks gorgeous, glad you had a lovely break x
There aren't many places where you are right on the sea front. I had been looking for ages for just such a spot.
Coastal Retreats looks amazing. When I book accommodation one of the biggest factors is that it doesn't have dodgy decor! Why stay somewhere that looks worse than your own home?!
Ha! Exactly, Liz! I know I shouldn't be snobby but when you are spending money to go away you do want it to be worth going to. I did all the dodgy decor accommodation when I was younger – am more particular now.
That looks like a gorgeous place to stay – your photos of Bamburgh Castle are gorgeous x x
I couldn't believe Bamburgh Castle was just up the road and visible from our balcony – we could look at it all day and it is a splendid castle.
Oh my – that takes me back. Pretty much all my childhood holidays were in or around Seahouses (my Godmother lives just down the coast in Embleton) and looking at that picture I can work out exactly where it is (and my sister's school friend used to own one of the houses on that road!). The Northumbria Coast is on my list of places to visit again as a family of four so this would be perfect. I'm making a note and hoping we can stay there ourselves at some point. Thanks for sharing!
Oh Penny, I am delighted to have brought back childhood memories for you. Salt Air is part of the Seafield Apartments. The company have other properties in Seahouses too so plenty to choose from. Good luck for a future visit with your family x
That place looks great, and not just a greta location and view but smart inside too. I love the idea of coastal retreats – I still have a dream of staying in a lighthouse!
This looks like my kind of holiday. I hadn't heard of Coastal retreats but going to book mark for planning our next holiday. Thanks