The Mill House at Lindisfarne Bay
The beautiful north Northumberland coastline has miles of sandy beaches to explore from Cocklawburn, Bamburgh, Seahouses, Craster, and down to Alnmouth. Our favourite beaches are on the north shore of Holy Island where you can often go for miles without seeing another soul.
A legacy of its turbulent past, Northumberland has more castles to discover than any other county in England. From the atmospheric ruins of Dunstanburgh and Norham Castles, to those on spectacular beach locations like Bamburgh. For more of a stately home visitor experience, you can try the likes of Warkworth Castle and Alnwick Castle.
The Mill House overlooks the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve, designated because of the abundance of wildlife and flora and fauna. Light-bellied brent geese overwinter on the bay and we see mute swans, shelducks, eider ducks, curlews and redshanks from the house all year round.
We recommend taking one of the popular boat trips from Seahouses to the Farne Islands Nature Reserve to see the colonies of puffins on Staple Island, or terns on Inner Farne. The boats get up close to the grey seal colony as they bask on the rocks. Back at the Mill House, with binoculars, you can see the Lindisfarne Bay seal colony on the sandbanks at low tide.
The historic border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed is the most northerly town in England with its Elizabethan town walls, characterful streets and stone bridge from 1624. For art lovers, there is the Lowry Trail, the Maltings Theatre and Berwick Visual Arts. Bridge Street has a good selection of independent galleries, cafes and shops, including The Green Shop for organic produce and gifts.
Alnwick is well worth a visit for Barter Books (one of the largest second-hand book shops in Britain) and Alnwick Castle and Garden. Wooler is a small market town at the foot of the Cheviot Hills, and the pretty riverside villages of Norham, Ford and Etal are all charming. The River Tweed is famous for fly fishing and Goswick Golf Club (a British Open qualifying course and in England’s top 50 courses) is just a few miles away.
Walkers are spoilt for choice locally, whether it’s a long beach walk, or just a stroll up our quiet road. For long-distance walkers there is St Oswald’s Way or the Northumberland Coastal Path. The beautiful wilds and moorlands of Northumberland National Park and the Cheviot Hills are not far inland, and the College Valley is beautiful in the spring.
St Cuthbert’s Way follows the saint’s footsteps from Melrose the 62 miles to Holy Island. The last section crosses the causeway on the Pilgrim’s Way, a delightful hour’s muddy trek for seasoned walkers best done in bare feet. Be careful to check the safe tide times before you start! Once on the island there are some lovely circular walks around Emmanuel Head, the Priory or up to the Heugh Lookout for a view back over to the Mill House.
Whatever your interests you will find plenty of activities within easy reach. Harry Potter fans can visit Hogwarts at Alnwick Castle, or you can learn about our local heroine in Bamburgh’s Grace Darling Museum. For younger kids we recommend a ride on the Heatherslaw Light Railway along the riverbank to Etal Village, learning about bee-keeping at the Chain Bridge Honey Farm or painting their own pottery at Pot-a-Doodle-Do.
There is a varied choice of restaurants, pubs and cafes in the area including delicious local produce at The White Swan at Warenford and the Red Lion at Milfield. The nearest restaurant is just a two-mile drive, Holy Island has many good pubs and cafes, and Seahouses is the place to go for fish and chips. The Barn at Beal is our favourite, just a ten-minute drive (or a 40-minute walk over the fields) from the house, it offers great food and far-reaching views.
