Jemima Kirkwood
27 October 2019
Gather up your family and come and visit Northumberland this year.
The Christmas season is upon us and we begin to see signs of festive merriment wherever we go. Christmas lights, decorations and homeware are slowly creeping onto the shelves of our local supermarkets and the annual jolly jumpers, advent calendars and stocking fillers are hung with pride at every entrance to every shop. It’s time to really start thinking about that special day!
Fancy doing something different this year? Whilst many would never dream of being anywhere but home, some love the idea of getting away with the family and sampling a new place - Northumberland would be a great choice.
Northumberland during Christmas time is truly magical. Throughout the county there are many traditional markets to suit all ages with artisan stalls selling hand-crafted gifts, art, fashion and food. These are the perfect places to get you in the festive spirit as you sip on mulled wine, nibble on tasty treats, watch the kids ice skate and enjoy live carolling.
You can spend days exploring the coastline discovering beaches for brisk walks or locate the smaller villages of Seahouses, Bamburgh and Belsay and find a nice pub, complete with open fire, to sample some local beer. Northumberland’s National Park is a huge adventure playground offering everything including rock climbing, mountain biking, horse riding, walking and even stargazing. With Northumberland being home to Europe’s largest area of protected night sky, on a clear night you can see millions of stars, the Milky Way and even the Andromeda Galaxy with the naked eye - you might see Santa’s sleigh if you look closely!
Here are five lovely holiday homes that are the perfect place to stay this Christmas with the family.
Set in Northumberland National Park, this cosy barn conversion is the perfect base for families who enjoy getting outdoors. Relax in the welcoming atmosphere of this cottage and enjoy countryside views as you open your presents around the crackling fire. Prepare a delicious Christmas meal in the well-equipped kitchen and taste the delicious fruits of your labour around the family table. With many walks and adventures on your doorstep, you can burn off your roast in no time!
“An attractive cottage in a delightful, peaceful location with beautiful surroundings. Easy to reach the coast and plenty of interesting places to visit.”
Festive highlight close by: Kielder Winter Wonderland – a full day festive adventure through the heart of Kielder Forest.
This three-bedroom cottage is set at the desirable Seahouses Harbour where you can enjoy sea views day in, day out, as well as glorious sunrises and sunsets. Christmas lunch can be cooked in the trendy kitchen, and enjoying at the dining table with views out to sea. With one king-size bedroom, a double and a twin, there is plenty of space for everyone to get a good night’s sleep!
Festive highlight close by: Bamburgh Castle's Christmas Kingdom – A fantastic indoor event showcasing the stately rooms of Bamburgh Castle as a winter wonderland. Expect lights, music, decorations and even some floating angels!
Also in Seahouses, this charming cottage is an ideal base for exploring this historic and breathtaking part of Northumberland. The cosy living room, complete with wood burner, comfy sofas and TV, will become the heart of the house and will encourage many a festive family movie night. Cook and feast on your turkey roast, trimmings and wine in the homely kitchen or pop to a local eatery if you fancy a day off.
“A superb, cosy, well-appointed cottage in an ideal location for exploring not only Seahouses but also to experience everything else that this stunning area has to offer.”
Festive highlight close by: Many of the pubs and restaurants nearby offer festive menus and Christmas Day meals for you and the family.
For more inspiration on how to spend your time take a read of our guide all about Christmas markets in Northumberland.
This is a beautiful property set in the open countryside, just outside the village of Rock; one of the best areas to stargaze and spot Santa! Inside, the cottage is fresh and modern. The living space is separated into two seating areas - a games room and a dining area - whilst the kitchen is separate meaning you can leave the Christmas washing up until the morning. The wood burner will make you all toasty at the end of a chilly day out exploring the different gardens, castles, boat trips and museums this magnificent area has on offer.
“We had a nice time and enjoyed the cottage, being very spacious and quite well equipped (and great Wi-Fi!), nice furniture and quite comfortable.”
Festive highlight close by: Discover Dark Skies – find the best places to stargaze.
This is a cottage full of character and offers a spacious base for your family break. With bright and quirky colour schemes throughout, it creates a homely environment helping you to relax as soon as you enter, and the cosy sitting room will be a lovely place to gather on Christmas morning. Set the table up with crackers and candles, cover it in delicious food and it will surely be a feast to remember. Being close to the sandy beaches of Druridge Bay, you can enjoy a long Boxing Day walk by the ocean.
“The property is bright and cheerful, decorated in a very idiosyncratic style but fun. Lovely, warm, spacious house with a beautifully planned enclosed back garden, so perfect for dogs.”
Festive highlight close by: The Downland Christmas Celebration, Ashington – enjoy jolly drinks and canopes and enjoy a fun and festive time at the Downland Christmas celebration.
Take the dog too!
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Many of these cottages featured welcome the dog too, so you don’t have to spend Christmas apart from your fluffy friend. Check out our dog-friendly guide to Northumberland for lots of good tips on where to take the dog in this amazing area. To view our favourites, browse our guide to the best dog-friendly cottages in Northumberland.
Come to Northumberland for your family Christmas
Christmas is a lovely time to take the family away and these cottages offer a lovely welcoming home to come back to after days out exploring. Our festive cottages come in all shapes and sizes, suiting couples, groups of friends, small families and larger extended ones too!
** All the information was correct at the time of writing this article.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.