The Cockles

Northumberland attracts visitors for its castles, heritage coast and market towns, and The Cockles sits well for exploring all three. Morpeth lies a few minutes' drive away, with its restaurants, pubs, shops and riverside walks, while the beaches near Druridge Bay are roughly 8 miles east. Alnwick Castle, Bamburgh and the start of the Heritage Coast are all within an easy day's reach, and the property works equally well as a base for heading inland to Hadrian's Wall or the National Park.

The cottage is a detached bungalow on the owners' smallholding. Inside, everything is on one level: an open-plan living and dining space with a sofa bed, a kitchen equipped for cooking proper meals, a bedroom with a kingsize bed, and a shower room. Decking wraps around the building with garden furniture and a sitting-out area, overlooking the grounds you share with the owners and their horses. One car can park on site. Wi-Fi, electricity, bed linen and towels are included; there is no smoking inside.

The layout sleeps four, though it suits a couple or small family best. If you have a horse, stabling is available. Bridle paths lead straight from the door, and the countryside setting makes it popular with walkers.