October 31st, 2009 admin
Lindisfarne, or the Holy Island as people often call it, has a national reputation as a wildlife haven, home to a wealth of rare bird breeds and a national nature reserve. Access is available just twice a day at low tides by means of a 3 mile long causeway, built in 1954. The island is within the Northumberland Coast, classed as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and most parts of the island are protected by the National Nature Reserve to help safeguard the internationally important wintering bird population.
If you appreciate the great outdoors and have a penchant for birds then choose from a wealth of cottages to rent in Northumberland and get your binoculars packed. Species which the reserve is responsible for protecting include Pale bellied Brent Goose, a small goose, about 60 cm long with a short, stubby bill. The Wigeon, a dabbling duck, the Teal, Pintail, Dunlin and the Bar Tailed Godwit, a large wader in the family Scolopacidae, to name but a few.
Due to its location, the Holy Island makes a wonderful place for observing migrating birds arriving from the East, some of which include large numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare both part of the thrush family and the more sparser species like the Siberian birds including the Yellow Browed Warblers, one of the smallest “Old World warblers”, 9.5-10 cm long, its song is weak and high pitched and the call faintly disyllabic.
A total of 300 species of birds have been recorded on Holy Island and the reserve, with some of the rarest species included like Radde’s Warbler, Dusky Warbler and Red Flanked Bluetail, a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, The area therefore is not surprisingly popular with bird watchers coming far and wide each year to spot species and it is widely recognised as a place not to be missed on any bird watchers diary with Autumn and Winter the ideal time to go. Booking from one a host of Northumberland cottages as your retreat each night will provide you all the homely comforts you’ll need after a day of Autumnal weather and bird watching on the Holy Island.
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October 21st, 2009 admin
Those innovative fellows over at Northumberland Tourism have come over all web 2.0 and have decided to engage with potential visitors through social media website Facebook. They are inviting those interested in visiting Northumberland to join their group and take part in their Autumn Warmth initiative. Users can view hundreds of photos that have been grouped into over 40 themed albums. In addition to that there will be fresh content promoting forthcoming events and information on the huge range of activities available to a visitor to the area.
These photo albums will give interested visitors the opportunity to get a flavour of the county before booking a holiday. It will help them to decide which area to stay in and give them ideas of all the beautiful places they could visit.
And it’s not just Northumberland Tourism that will be showcasing the county’s unique attractions. Users will be able to interact with one another and share photos and stories of their own Northumberland experiences. This could prove to be an invaluable resource for a visitor planning a trip to Northumberland as it is the ideal way to get the inside scoop on those special hidden places not mentioned in the guide books.
I think this Autumn Warmth campaign is a great idea and the ability to directly engage with Northumberland Tourism and other visitors to Northumberland is an exciting prospect. If you want to know where the best Northumberland Cottages are just ask. Other users are more inclined to give an honest opinion than a guidebook and they may even be able to post their own personal photos of the cottage they have stayed in. In addition to that they may point you in the direction of an interesting walk or deserted beach you wouldn’t have found without their help.
It’s also going to be handy having regular updates on events in the area. Too often you visit an area and see a roadside sign promoting a fair or market you would like to attend only to realise it had happened the day before. With Northumberland Tourism’s Facebook updates you can plan which events you want to attend before you go.
And if you enjoy a cottage holiday in Northumbria don’t forget to share your experiences (and your photos!) with others on Facebook when you get back home.
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October 19th, 2009 admin
Foray into the world of self catering holidays and you won’t be disappointed. Eradicate the time restrictions put on you and your family for meal times, save the disappointment of a limiting and repetitive menu choice, avoid having to share your table with the family from hell. Self catering holidays give you the ultimate freedom and flexibility. For families and large groups, staying in a self catering cottage can often end up a much more affordable option than hotels and it also accommodates the entire party size, rather than splitting it up per room. Children can be put to bed to co inside with their normal routine and adults can continue to socialise together long into the evening in a most enjoyable and safe environment. If you are considering self catering for the first time then here are a few handy tips to get you started:
- Decide where you and your party want to stay. It goes without saying but choosing the destination, what the area has to offer and how accessible it is will make the difference between a great holiday and not such a great holiday. Search the length and breadth of the country from Self catering cottages in Northumberland to Cornwall and the Cotswolds to compare counties and what’s on offer.
- Search for cottages that meet your requirement. Once you have agreed on your destination look for cottages that will best suit you and your parties requirements. Popular requests tend to be the following: ‘pets welcome, ‘nearby pub’, ‘Wood burner’, ‘cot available’ ‘garden’ ‘parking’ etc. Make sure the cottage accommodates your party size and fits your criteria best.
- Agree prior to travelling who will be sleeping where to avoid disappointment and arguments on arrival. If you are holidaying with another party it is advisable to all agree on whose sleeping where to avoid unnecessary conflict at the start of your holiday.
- Find out prior to leaving the properties details. Reputable cottage lettings will have an array of entertainment in the property from board games to cards to a choice of DVD’s. If there is anything you know you will want whilst on holiday that isn’t stated then the chances are it isn’t there, make sure you pack it to save disappointment.
- Shopping. Talk to any experienced ‘self caterer’ and they each have their own views on shopping. I would suggest getting the essentials at your own local supermarket (car space permitting) and then topping up once settled into your cottage. There is nothing worse after a long drive to be faced with no milk and tea bags for a fresh brew. Often cottages won’t be that close to amenities so a dedicated trip will have to be made once there. Even more reason to bring as much as you can initially.
- Work out who’s cooking, when and what. It may sound a little military but again, this saves arguments once there and lets everyone know what is expected of them. Make sure you allow for at least one breakfast, lunch and dinner out so you get to experience some local places and everyone gets a rest from the domestic chores.
Once you start your self catering holiday search you will be faced with an array of companies all competing and a host of businesses that could steer you away from what your criteria is. So if your party has decided on self catering in Northumbria, make sure you don’t end up with a package holiday in Cyprus.
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October 9th, 2009 admin
Half term is looming, and for all those parents who have only just recovered from the long summer holiday and are at a loss as to how to entertain the family for another full week, you have come to the right place. As winter sets in with the dreaded dark nights and rainy days why not pack you and your family off for a fun filled week staying in a Scottish Borders cottage and exploring the countryside surrounding it? ‘But the weather will be just as bad if not worse’ I hear you say, this may be the case, but where land and sea, moors and hills all cohabit to become a truly spectacular area of beauty, this really is the place to visit come rain or shine. Plus, it’s a far cry from the same four walls of your home. So what are you waiting for?
Things to do
Aside from the vast array of forest and woodland areas where cycling and walking is a must, try Craik Forest, Yair Forest and Cragbank wood to blow the cobwebs away, here is a list (not definitive) but a start to help you plan your half term week in the Scottish borders so it is truly unforgettable for the whole family:
- Wildlife Discovery Centre: Get to see puffins, gannets and much more at the award winning 5 Star Scottish Sea Bird Centre, North Bewick, Scotland.
- Chain Bridge Honey Farm, Berwick upon Tweed: Get to see bees at work in a special glass observation hive and learn all about their activity. The kids will be ‘buzzing’ with enthusiasm.
- Jedforest Deer and Farm Park, Jedburgh, Scotland. Visit this working farm where they have everything from bottle feeding the lambs to bird of prey demonstrations. This really is a wonderful day out.
- Gunsgreen House Museum, Eyemouth. Learn all about the smugglers trade and the influences it had on the town, fascinating for adults and kids alike.
- The Place to Potter: Peebles, Scotland. Turn your hand at decorating some fine pottery. Kids will love it and you’ll get to sip tea or coffee whilst they go to town.
Book a Cottage in the Scottish Border soon to avoid disappointment and don’t forget to pack your Macs and Wellies.
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September 18th, 2009 Alex
One of the biggest advantages of renting Northumberland cottages is the closeness of Lindisfarne. And one of the biggest advantages of Lindisfarne can be summed up in two words: Lindisfarne Mead.
For those of you not familiar with mead, you’ve really no excuse; it’s been around for around nine-thousand years. Are you really going to tell me you’ve never had the opportunity to try it for all that time? It’s been drunk by monks, Vikings, the ancient Greeks and Chinese, featured in epic poems, films, stories and songs, and had halls built specifically for its consumption, but you haven’t had it. Really? Really?
Well, fine. You haven’t had mead. That’s fine. Nobody is going to judge you for it. Not if you don’t tell them anyway. That’s a good plan. Don’t tell anybody that you’ve never drunk mead; then they can’t ridicule you.
But what happens when somebody brings it up in conversation? What then? How can you cover up your complete lack of knowledge about mead? I mean, I’ve given you some small facts, but can you spin those into a thorough knowledge?
Let’s face it: you can’t.
Luckily for you, I’m presenting an alternative. There’s a huge amount of cottages to rent in Northumberland, and Northumberland has Lindisfarne, and you know what Lindisfarne has?
That’s right.
Mead.
Only the best mead is brewed on the burial sites of dead saints, and only the best mead is brewed on the sites of Viking attacks and invasions.
So what about mead that’s brewed on the site of both dead saints and Viking invasions?
That’s right.
It’s double best!
A holiday to Northumbria isn’t complete without a trip to Lindisfarne. The island has a lot to offer, and although you do owe it to yourself to take a trip to the brewery and sample some mead, the seal and bird colonies aren’t to be overlooked. Of course, there’s no reason why you can’t drink mead whilst looking at seals and birds. In fact, there’s no reason you can’t drink mead whilst doing most things. In fact, I’m going to get myself some mead right now. Right now!
Enjoy mead responsibly.
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