The Old Watchtower

Our second stay at the Old Watch Tower.

Its a lovely property in a lovely town in a lovely area but the best part for us is the stunning view over the estuary from the sheltered terrace of the property. Just perfect for sitting outside in the evening with a glass of wine, watching the sun go down....then back outside again in the morning for breakfast "en terrace". We could never tire of that view.

Lovely small property in the heart of the village with lovely views.

Good parking. There is a spiral staircase which would not be suitable for people with significant mobility issues.

Beautifully situated and characterful cottage.

We enjoyed our stay enormously although stairs were challenging for our old bones. View and proximity (100 yards) to shop bistro and pub more than made up for this. We are very likely to return to this rich region of England.

Unique property with great views of the Aln estuary.

It is surrounded by very well kept and colourful gardens. The reverse living gives a very light upstairs room which catches the sun for most of the day (helped by great weather during my two week stay) The patio is also a sun trap. There are lots of local walks without the need to use the car, and not far away Alnwick and Howick Hall gardens where the spring flowers were at their best.

The property is beautifully decorated and furnished but compact.

Warm and a comfy bed. A good shower. Lovely views from the house and patio.and central to Alnmouth. Friendly owners.

Shower excellent when user sets correctly.

No freezer compartment in fridge a downside. Outdoor seating very good. Overall good value at March prices.

Only suitable for agile people as steep stairs up to front door and internal spiral staircase also requires agility.

Not a problem for us but anyone considering booking should be aware. A very small interior but priced accordingly and in a very good location with parking. The shower has very low power and would be unacceptable for any long stay and the lack of even a small freezer compartment in the fridge is not ideal.

Such a peaceful,warm and cozy retreat.

I felt like I was in the middle of the countryside with anazing views but a minutes walk from lovely cafes, and quiet pubs. Would highly recomend for a break from hustle and bustle.

We had another wonderful stay at the Old Watch Tower.

It's equipped with everything needed for a lovely stay and even in October it felt warm and cosy. The only reason we couldn't award 5 stars was that whilst the easy chairs were adequate we missed the comfortable settee that was there previously.

We had a wonderful stay, loved the personal touches (snacks,water,milk,biscuits) waiting for us on arrival.

Comfortable for our needs, everything there that we needed. Will definitely come again.

Position is good and parking space very welcome.

Views lovely and bed comfortable. Plenty of heating. Place need some attention and update though. Could not turn off towel rail due to faulty ceiling switch. Extractor fan vent in shower room full of dust. Wash basin in bedroom not ideal and taps old. Hot tap very difficult to turn off fully. Curtains need sorting out in bedroom. This is mentioned in other reviews. Living room furniture not comfortable. TV tiny. Everything required was fitted into the property but not much room left for things brought with us. Considering the price charged it looked tired and needs a good upgrade.

Excellent location very comfortable once we got used to upside down living!

Great to have a guaranteed car parking space. Thoroughly enjoyed the week.

Over all we had a great holiday and would recommend this property to others.

There are some issues which need addressing such as: Fan in bathroom dirty and cobwebs near the toilet. Uncomfortable lounge chairs. The pull cord mechanism for the right sided curtain in the bedroom is broken. A fridge with a small freezer section would be useful. Better instructions on how to use the oven would be good. First aid kit out of date. None of the above impacted on our holiday, the property is situated in a lovely quiet area with beautiful views and the parking is an absolute bonus. We wouldn't hesitate to stay here again.

We had an idyllic stay at the Old Watchtower.

It is small and compact but it had everything we needed for our stay. The patio area overlooking the estuary was just perfect and we spent a lot of our time on there, sipping a drink and enjoying the views. The dedicated parking place is a must for Alnmouth and we wouldn't have booked without it. Regarding some previous comments, yes the spiral stairs inside are tight and need your full attention if perhaps you are older. The external stone steps to the upstairs kitchen/diner are a better option if the weather is fine. The "waiting room" chairs previously mentioned are a rather comfortable modern Scandi design that we loved. We would certainly book to come here again.

The old Watchtower is a fabulous property but we feel for a certain age group ( bad knees& hips)they would find this property a challenge, the stone steps at the side and the spiral staircase!

!!

If you’re thinking of relaxing in a lovely comfy settee forget it.

The property now has 2 quite uncomfortable chairs befitting a waiting room. I certainly wouldn’t have booked the property if I’d known. Decor a little tired as many have said already. Curtains in the bedroom are a struggle to open and close, particularly the right side. Other than that we enjoyed our holiday. Shower is great and very comfy bed.

The internal was extremely difficult to use

Once again thank you for a wonderful holiday.

The Old Watchtower has stunning views. The property is well equipped for a comfortable stay, and has excellent WIFI connection. We stayed for 3 weeks again, and each week we had fresh linen delivered to the door. The heating kept us warm especially when the snow and ice arrived. When it was time to leave, we popped into the office to ask if we could vacate a little later due to the weather and driving conditions, Nikki, the owner was very kind and accommodating in allowing us to vacate by 10.30am. Excellent customer services promptly dealing with our request. Thank you for the complimentary bottle of wine and crisps which was much appreciated. The property was very clean and tidy upon arrival. The screen that has been taken down around the patio area, we found to be positive as we could see the views clearer and was able to take photographs. The property is just a few minutes away from the beach and golf course. Thank you once again.

What a lovely bolt hole!

And very nicely situated in Alnmouth with lovely views over the estuary I loved it!!

Lovely comfortable home.

However I telephoned Sykes cottages three times to request a query I had to the owner. The first two just did not reply after speaking with them personally on the phone. The third replied via email with the answer. I did not think the customer service team were very good at all under my circumstances. (Bereavement). However meeting the owner when at the property she told me there was no phone call from Sykes Cottages whatsoever! My request was never mentioned. So I do believe they did not get in touch at all. (Honesty is the best policy)!!

Enjoyed our stay.

This is 2nd time in the property. Already booked for next year. Comfortable with great views of harbour. Most importantly it has a parking spot, which you really need in Alnmouth.

We really enjoyed our stay at the old watchtower, it is a beautiful building with gorgeous views, we thought it was a little bit tired but very clean, we were disappointed that the screen around the patio area had been taken down as there was no protection from the wind, which was very strong but was lovely and sunny, so if the screen was there we would have been sheltered and able to enjoy the outside space with the beautiful views.

Unfortunately on our last night there was a storm and the shower room was leaking, it came through all of the electrical pull cords, tripping the electricity, so we were unable to shower before we left, after saying all of that we had a great week.

Lovely little property set in a wonderful village for getting out and about exploring Northumberland.

Stunning views over the estuary, very close to the beach, golf course, shops, pubs and eating venues. Everyone really friendly and helpful. We really enjoyed our stay and would definitely return and recommend.

As soon as I stepped into the garden after arriving I fell in love with the Old Watchtower.

The building is so 'cute' (sorry can't think of a better word!). It is an old building so we were mindful of that, but everything we needed for our week's stay was provided. The first 2 days were wet and cold and we suffered from a little condensation upstairs but the heating (and some open windows when we were out) sorted that out. The sun came out for the rest of the stay thankfully. Thank you so much for the welcome wine and snacks, they were gratefully consumed. We ran out of bin liners half way through our stay but my phone call was answered immediately and this was rectified. Amazing views of the river Aln and overlooking beautifully tended gardens (well done Paul). Thank you for our wonderful weekend stay in Northumberland.

We have stayed in many properties in Alnmouth and this was, by far, the best.

We loved its position and the wonderful views. and appreciated the off road parking. The kitchen was well equipped, though we ate out every evening. The only thing we missed was a freezing departure in the fridge. We hope to return again very soon.

Thanks As usual Wonderful week in the old watch tower J

Thoroughly enjoyed The Watch Tower, the views where amazing, the location was outstanding and our private patio gave us a beautiful view over the gardens to enjoy our morning coffee and listen to the many bird choruses

When we entered the property it smelt very musty, with heat this subsided.

However I noticed significant signs of dampness around the windows in the lower floor bedroom. The bathroom heater was not working, I noticed this was first reported in December 2023 and is still not working. On the penultimate day I noticed that the lining to the downstairs curtai ns had mold on both sides of the window. I reported this to Sykes, I was informed that it was for the owner to deal with. As this is stated in the contract. The owner has neither been in contact, offered no apology or recompense. A very damp and dissapointing experience!!

An absolutely beautiful property with lovely views across the estuary.

The owner met us on arrival and pointed out there was a broken shower room heater but this didn't detract from our overall stay. The only surprise was we weren't expecting a spiral staircase but we soon got used to it. During our stay we had a gorgeous sunrise to experience in this unique upside down living property.

Lovely cottage with great views over the estuary.

We really appreciated the underfloor heating. It would be better to have more than two side plates and the heater in the bathroom cut out very quickly

The Old Watchtower was great.

Clean, warm, comfortable & well presented.If you are looking for a quiet getaway for 2 this is ideal.Nikki was helpful & on hand if needed.There was a cute little Christmas tree, a wreath on the door & goodies too which was very nice.

A lovely location, great for two.

Fabulous views. Bed was very comfortable. Kitchen is tired though with non matching items and only 2 large mugs. Could benefit from a jug and bowl to use in the microwave and a better teapot! Otherwise most enjoyable and the Christmas lights were lovely.

A lovely quaint property in a central location, renovated to a bight standard BUT the shower……impossible to regulate, it veered between freezing cold and scaldingly hot.

We had to shower in between those extremes for a few seconds in what is a very cold room Sadly for that reason we will not repeat the experience!!

Thank you once again for a truly wonderful holiday.

The Watchtower was well equipped, with everything provided for a comfortable stay. As we stayed for three weeks, clean linen was delivered to our door. The property was lovely and warm with underfloor heating in the living and kitchen area and a storage heater in the bedroom. The views from the windows are stunning. The location provides peace and quiet. We have already booked again for next year. Thank you again.

The first three days were hell.

This was reported but no action has been taken by either the owner or management at Northumbrian Coast and Country cottages. An outside force was blamed when actually the owner could have easily avoided our hellish three afternoon/evening experiences. She avoided this discomfort herself by leaving the area on Friday until Monday (as did other permanent residents nearby) but happily taking our money and leaving us to put up with the situation that we had no means of knowing about. ‘Peaceful and relaxing’ it was not. As this property was booked through the agent we hold them responsible for taking our complain seriously on a human level and using a little imagination of how this property failed our need for the restful October holiday in lovely peaceful Alnmouth that we rightfully expected. We are certain that the individual staff of NCCC if finding them selves in this unprotected Tower right next to a tent with very loud bands and drinking people for three days would be complaining loudly. It is also worth mentioning that the owner, on hearing our complaint, instantly lied and said it was supposed to be an acoustic festival. We spoke to local people including a senior member of staff at the pub who has been involved in the festival for some years all who stated that the festival was very loud last year and previous years. The owner was aware of what was in store for us as she packed her bags for her weekend away. We had booked this holiday nearly a year ago and she could easily have mentioned that we might like to book different dates if we were not planning to be at the festival. DESPICABLE.

Great stay at the Watchtower.

Loved the private patio with estuary views and sun nearly all day. All in good order and clear instructions on how to operate things. An issue with the new heating was quickly resolved. Again lovely estuary views from lounge dining area. Great to see how the river changed with the tides. We have stayed at both the watchtower and the coach house and would recommend them both. Great location in the centre of the high street so good for shops and dining options. Private parking adjacent to the property.

The Old Watch Tower is in a superb location and has beautiful views.

The property was clean but the lack of maintenance (bedroom window wood surround urgently needs replacing, small issues with the oven controls and the dishwasher feed) was a drawback. There is very little ventilation in the bedroom because we were averse to opening it, this resulted in heavy condensation overnight. Northumbrian Cottage employees were prompt in replacing the old bedsheet which had small holes in it and attempted to rectify the hot water issue- either cold or scalding hot- this worked in the bedroom vanity unit but not in the kitchen where we had no hot water after his visit. Guidance/ instructions about how to regulate the supply of hot water would have been a great help. The employee also saw the wood surround for the bedroom window. He explained that in an old listed property such issues were to be expected. At the price charged for a week's stay we expected to have a smart TV- even though we were aware that not all facilities could be modernised. It is a lovely building and has much to recommend it but perhaps more suited to a younger and more resilient age group.

Excellent position, lovely and peaceful location yet so convenient for both facilities of Alnmouth and the beach.

Secure parking was also important to us. A unique property that is small but more than adequate for 2 people with useable outside space and cracking views. Thanks also for the welcome pack which was very much enjoyed. Would certainly stay here again, superb.....

We had another great stay at the Old WatchTower.

It is well equipped and the views of the estuary and the village from the living area are captivating. Fortunately we are still able to manage the spiral staircase! In short, it has everything we need for a comfortable stay and being able to park at the location is extremely useful in a busy village like Alnmouth.

Historic property in a prime location.

Split level affords unbeatable views of estuary and beyond .Easy parking, well appointed and comfortable .Ideal for 1/2 people .

A unique place to stay.

Very thoughtful of the owners in regards to wine snacks and other essentials left for us. Stayed in March but place was easy to keep warm. Would love to stay in the summer and make the most of the patio and views.

We really enjoyed our stay here.

Perfect for 2 people. The upstairs (living area) in particular was very cosy. Downstairs (sleeping area) was cooler; mainly because we found the storage heater a bit tricky to work. There are also quite a few cords (to operate the hot water for the sink, the shower, the extractor fan, etc.) that take a bit of getting used to. We loved the milk in the fridge and especially the bottle of wine (plus crisps) that were waiting for us on arrival. The location is very central yet very quiet. The view of the estuary is lovely - both from the window and from the excellent patio. Clearer instructions re. the rubbish / recycling (e.g. what to put in each colour bin) would have been helpful. More generally, it looks like all bookings through Sykes are rigid in requiring check-in after 4p.m and check out by 9a.m. - which isn't especially guest-friendly.

A lovely characterful property, perfect for 2 people.

We were there in snow and very low temperatures, the house would really benefit from double glazing (although can't imagine the cost of double-glazing those bespoke ground floor windows) but the heating was sufficient to keep us warm enough.

Problem with in-house instructions/advice re.

pull cords in shower. The pull cords could be labelled which would make life easier. The pull cord for the shower required a very hefty tug which we only learned when a technician from Sykes arrived. The force required would normally cause something to break. Switch for blow heater in shower faulty -only works intermittently. Paintwork on windows/doors very weary. Keybox frustratingly difficult to operate.

Great place to stay, small but comfortable.

The Watch Tower was very clean and comfortable.

Lovely views and a welcoming host.It was handy for good local eating places and accessing Northumberland’s beautiful coast and country side. We had a great holiday,A lovely, interesting well equipped cottage.Thankyou.

Comfortable.

Great location. Lovely views.

Lovely property, centrally located with excellent views over the estuary.

Fully equipped with everything you would require.

It was so different, it was an experience.

Very quiet and the views over the estuary spectacular.

Fantastic location with all the amenities of home.

Take a look at the information leaflets in the basket as there are many walks and beautiful places to explore. Having the doors leading from the bedroom to the patio was so nice. The bottle of wine, milk in the fridge and chocolate biscuits left for us were a nice touch. Yes, this property is cosy small but offers a lovely peaceful get-a-way from the norm.

We liked it.

It was different and we enjoyed the property. Thank you to all concerned, including the owners.

A very comfortable and cosy property.

The living room/kitchen area was small but very well equipped with everything you could conceivably need, as well as lots of local information (including an OS map). The bedroom was a good size with very good quality bedding and towels and plenty of storage space. The property is very handy for the local shop (which is bigger than it looks from the outside, and is also the post office) and all the amenities of the village.

A delightful hideout with a magical view in a glorious and mysterious village.

Very comfortable small property ideal for two people who are OK with steps.

Wonderful location by the river and very close to the excellent local restaurants/pubs and shops. Wonderful beach close by and Ideal location for visiting the sights of the Northumbrian coastline.

Great character property and good location for heading up or down the coast.

The views from the property were fantastic.

We loved the quirkiness of the upstairs living space and kitchen with the spiral staircase down to the bedroom. Very comfy sofa and bed. It was a super holiday in a great location.