Beadnell Towers

Beadnell Towers – a boutique hotel, restaurant and bar on the Northumberland coast – is one of those places that just feels right, the minute you walk in. We're going to be absolutely fine here, is the general vibe, from the classy rooms to the welcoming bar and restaurant. Don't worry, be happy in fact – and there's plenty to be happy about.

The 18th-century building in the small village of Beadnell has been given a complete makeover, with the rooms displaying a modern, country-house feel, so you can expect original beams and fireplaces, plump cushions and thick, draped curtains, but also individually designed feature walls, bespoke furniture and sharp, stylish bathrooms. All have king-sized or super-king-sized beds. Some rooms have free-standing copper baths (the 'Muckle House' heritage room has two!), while the top-floor 'Craa's Nest' room has windows on three sides and sea and hillside views. There are 18 rooms altogether, one of them fully accessible with an en-suite wet-room, while several of the others on the ground floor are designated as dog-friendly. Your pooch is all right in the bar too, and there's a dog-wash to the side of the hotel, which is handy as you're close to all manner of sandy beach walks.

The bar and restaurant change the tone and style slightly – less country, more seaside, and very cosy and hospitable. The menu's great, strong on fish and locally sourced produce, and the kitchen's open from breakfast until dinner via afternoon tea. It's a really handsome space, whether you're settling down for some oysters, a posh fish pie or a decent steak, and the locals use the bar as the village pub so it has a buzzy feel a lot of the time, especially in summer.

Drag yourself away from the comforts of the Towers and you'll find yourself in one of the most dramatic parts of England, bang on perhaps the finest coastline in the country. The white sand beaches nearby are outstanding, and you can walk north to Seahouses or south towards Dunstanburgh – the former has boat trips out the puffin-filled Farne Islands, the latter is the site of a hugely atmospheric, ruined clifftop castle. Hop in the car and it's a five-mile drive to Bamburgh – site of another extraordinary castle and golden beach – or twenty miles to the causeway crossing to Lindisfarne, known as Holy Island. You really are spoiled for choice, but don't worry – all you have to do when you get back is choose another dish from the tempting menu and sink into your plump bed at brilliant Beadnell Towers.