Autumn is upon us and there's a lot to be said for it. Above all, Dark Skies season is approaching, when the clocks change and the middle part of November sees some of the UK's darkest skies –≠ definitely time for a spot of stargazing! Read on for things to do and places to stay in Northumberland, a grand house and re-wilding project in East Anglia, digital de-toxing on a double decker in Shropshire, and much more...
Northumberland
Unsurprisingly, one of the best places to appreciate England's night skies is in its least populated county, Northumberland, whose wild remoteness and historic sights have made it increasingly popular with visitors over recent years. About time too: locals have been enjoying it for years without telling anyone else, and there is not only loads to see and do but also some fabulous places to stay and eat, both along the rugged coast and inland across the moorland, forest and farmland of the Northumberland National Park. It's hard to pick out individual sights, but I'd say don't miss Alnwick (with its Harry Potter castle) and also Bamburgh Castle, soaring above the coast a little way north. If you can, visit Holy Island and Lindisfarne, accessible by way of a tidal causeway. Make time too if you can for a trip to the Farne Islands to see its puffins and seals, and further south there is of course Hadrian's Wall
Where to Stay in Northumberland
On a recent trip to Northumberland I stayed at Beadnell Towers, a boutique hotel and restaurant in the small coastal village of Beadnell, just south of Bamburgh Castle, whose slick bedrooms and excellent restaurant have a timeless sense of style – as does the equally contemporary yet classic Cookie Jar, situated just in the buzzy nearby town of Alnwick. These are sharp, stylish places to stay, in one of the most beautiful parts of the country, and I couldn't think of better places to appreciate Northumberland's autumn skies, which will be at their best next month between 17 and 24 November.
If you are after a touch of to-the-manor class and more amenities, you could also try Matfen Hall, not far from Hadrian's Wall, which offer a spa, pool and gym along with two restaurants and some beautifully kept grounds: the quintessential country house hotel experience. At the other end of the scale, there's The Sill at Hadrian's Wall, one of the YHA's most contemporary properties and one of its most eco-conscious too – renewable energy is used throughout and you can even walk on the green roof!
Wild East: Somerleyton Hall and the Fritton Estate
Recently I visited the Somerleyton Estate, which straddles the border between Suffolk and Norfolk. The current lord of the manor – Hugh Crossley – still lives at Somerleyton Hall, which you may recognise from its 15 minutes of fame as a stand-in for Sandringham in the TV series 'The Crown'. You can tour the house and gardens, and also – as I did – overnight across the county line at Fritton Lake, where you can enjoy the Clubhouse rooms and the facilities of what is a basically a private members club – Soho House meets East Anglia, if you like. These include a heated open-air pool, tennis courts and croquet, and boating and wild swimming in the magnificent lake. Lord Hugh also heads up the 'Wild East' scheme to re-wild over 1000 acres of the estate, which you can view some of this by landrover and buy merch in the shop, which is also brimming with estate produce.
Cool Place of the Month: Kinton Escapes., Shropshire
We're on a mission to find palces you can switch off from the digital world so what better place to choose as our Cool Place this month than Kinton Escapes, a very comfortable rural retreat deep in the rolling Shropshire Hills with no TV, no wifi and only a limited mobile phone signal. You can choose between a rustic cabin, cosy yurt or a converted double-decker bus and unless you venture out on a walk(to the nearby Stipsersones, or a visit to the local pub, your host Frankie might be the only person you see while you're here.
Hot Deal of the Month: Carvers Hill Estate, Wiltshire
New to Cool Places are the luxury cabins at Carvers Hill, a brand new vineyard in the North Wessex Downs where you can stay in a beautifully equipped wooden cabin deep amid the vines. Again this is a stay that's thoroughly rooted in nature, with no wifi or TV and evenings spent around the firepit gazing up at star-filled skies. And the best news is they are offering 20% off all stays until the end of March next year if you book before the end of October.
