Holiday rentals in Seahouses

There aren’t many golden beaches where you can swim and sunbathe in sight of a 1,400-year-old castle and a holy island. But that’s just part of the delight of Seahouses, a fishing village that manages to be just as charming as the scenery packed around it. Set on a stunning bit of the Northumberland coast in northeastern England, this community is centred on its harbour, built in 1889, back when there was no village here at all, only “sea houses” built by residents of nearby North Sunderland.

Boat trips can help you encounter a bevy of wildlife from colonies of Atlantic grey seals to breeding puffins; or you can catch the waves with a body board, or stay shoreside and wander through miles of sand dunes at Annstead Links, a coastal nature reserve. Within the village you’ll find a number of gift shops, as well as independent butchers, bakers, and of course fishmongers, including a 150-year-old smokehouse.

If you’re here to laze around on the beach, aim to book one of the area’s cottages for summer, since the weather on the northeastern coast can make proper bathing a little brisk at other times of year. But this part of Northumberland looks fine all year long — it’s a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, after all. Just pack appropriately with layers and waterproofs and you’ll be prepared for anything. In August, you’ll see a group of cycling enthusiasts setting off on the 60-mile Great North Bike Ride to Tynemouth. August is also the month when the annual Lifeboat Fete is held. Boat trips to the Farne Islands run between March and October; bird breeding season is May to July, while seal pups are born in late autumn.

Bamburgh Castle

Constructed on top of black volcanic rock, this vast castle (still in private hands) looms 150 feet above the coast, and is no less impressive on the inside. The intricate teak hammer-beam ceiling of its monumental Kings Hall may, in fact, be a piece of Victorian artifice, but there have been kings on this site since the 6th century, and its state rooms are still piled with treasures.

The Farne Islands

Three miles off the coast, this group of roughly 20 islands (some submerged at high tide) contains one of the most important seabird sanctuaries in Britain, with dozens of species including puffins, terns, guillemots, kittiwakes, and razorbills. Staple Island is the chief one for bird-spotting, while Longstone Island houses a lighthouse that you can visit between April and October. You can also scuba dive at a number of shipwreck sites around the islands.

The Northumberland Coast Path

Running right through Seahouses, this coastal path is one of the best ways to explore the dramatic landscape that makes the area so beloved. The walk to Bamburgh is only three miles, but explore southwards and you’ll find plenty to keep you walking, from sweeping Beadnell Bay to the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle.