An elegant and very welcoming luxury B&B in a gorgeous Northumberland location
It would be hard to imagine anywhere more peaceful than this gorgeous three-bedroom B&B, tucked away in the tiny village of Chillingham in north Northumberland, very close to Bamburgh and its huge sandy beaches and the Cheviot Hills in Northumberland National Park, and near to the long-distance St Cuthberts Way. Set amid glorious countryside, it's a tempting stop-off for walkers looking for a bit of comfort, but really anyone would appreciate its to-the-manor-born elegance and the warm attentions of owners Ed and Mhairi Seymour, who are keen to make every guest's stay as special as possible.
First the rooms, which are on the first floor of this handsome and rather quirky late-18th-century property – each extremely spacious and beautifully furnished, with a homeliness and attention to detail that would be impressive in a five-star hotel, let alone a B&B in rural Northumberland. All rooms are light and welcoming, with views over the garden and to the castle grounds and gatehouse beyond, and are provided with Smart TVs, Roberts radios, good WiFi and tea- and coffee-making facilities. Two have super-king-size beds which can be configured as twins (the third has a regular king-size), with colourful and stylish bespoke headboards, while two of the bathrooms have separate showers as well as lovely deep baths, and the other has a deep bath with a hand-held shower attachment. All come with robes and White Company toiletries.
Among the public spaces, there's a cosy 'Morning Room' with a wood-burning stove, full of books for lazy days, a large relaxing drawing room with a wood-burning stove, and a sociable dining room complete with an open fire where they serve breakfast on demand between 8.30am and 10.30am (especially late-risers can opt for brunch instead, which is served until midday). Breakfasts are delicious and encompass everything from a sumptuous 'Full Northumbrian' to pancakes, smashed avocados on sourdough toast and much more, most of it made with local ingredients. Mhairi (a cook by trade) will provide dinner too, if you book all the property's three rooms.
This isn't Ed and Mhairi's first hospitality business, either in the UK or abroad, and not only do they really know what they're doing, they are also huge advocates of the local area and happy to help you seek out the best places to see and things to do. They have dogs, so unfortunately you can't bring your own – unless you take all 3 bedrooms – but if you're missing your own hound, you're welcome to take one of theirs for a walk, and there are lots of routes to choose from nearby. The village itself is home to its own castle (bang opposite the B&B), and the Visitors Centre for the world-famous Wild Cattle of Chillingham is a two-minute stroll away. If you want to explore further, it's worth knowing you're only a few miles from the magnificent Northumberland Coast and Bamburgh Castle; you can also be in historic Alnwick with its Castle and gardens in 20 minutes, and the magical Farne Islands and Holy Island of Lindisfarne are easily reached too. All in all, if you're looking for somewhere comfortable and elegant to stay in a beautiful part of Northumberland, it would be hard to find a better or more welcoming place.
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