Rent a wonderful holiday cottage in Northumberland

The county's breathtaking coastline is reason alone to book one of our Northumberland holiday rentals, with wonderful walking (coastal trails and sweeping beaches), iconic castles standing guard and all kinds of birds and other wildlife. Some of our accommodation in Northumberland boasts fantastic sea views too - wake up to sunrise and golden rays shimmering across the waves. Or opt for a cosy Northumberland holiday let in a peaceful country setting, a place where birdsong prevails, a place where you can truly escape and unwind. Such holiday rentals in Northumberland promise all this and more. The majority of our Northumberland accommodation is available for rental the whole year round and you can sometimes take advantage of last minute deals and breaks. Whether you plan ahead or surprise that special someone and whisk them away unexpectedly, our holiday lets in Northumberland are worth serious consideration.

Breathtaking Northumberland scenery

Vast stretches of unspoilt, golden sandy beach, a higher concentration of historic castles than anywhere else in the country, a World Heritage Site in Hadrian's Wall, a dramatic and scenic National Park and not one but two designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty - welcome to Northumberland! Add to the above vibrant towns and cities with thriving shopping, arts and culture, quiet, picturesque fishing villages, excellent holiday accommodation and the legendary warmth of its people, and in a Northumberland cottage holiday you have a mouth-watering holiday prospect, whatever type of break you're looking for.

Nudging Hadrian's Wall Country and the Scottish borders to the north and with the stunning coastal and moor land scenery of the North Pennines to the south, Northumberland is flanked by mile upon mile of beautiful, windswept coast to the east. Vast stretches of tantalisingly empty, sandy beach are punctuated with ruined castles, fortresses and ancient abbeys, all bearing witness to the strategic importance of this ancient land throughout history. The region's heritage is apparent at every turn, making for many fascinating days out at first class visitor attractions for those choosing a Northumbria cottage holiday.

Plenty to see and do in Northumberland

Outdoor lovers will find the space they yearn on a Northumberland cottage holiday. The tranquillity of the open countryside and the rugged beauty of the Northumberland National Park, nestling between the rolling Cheviot Hills and Hadrian's Wall Country, afford the visitor room to breathe and establish a welcome sense of freedom. Walkers and cyclists will feel they have the place to themselves, whether rambling on open moorland or cycling amid ancient forests and gently rolling countryside on a stretch of the Coast-to-Coast cycle route, which passes through the county. Kielder Water, the largest man-made lake in Northern Europe and England's largest area of managed forest, lies within the National Park and is a vast playground for outdoor enthusiasts. Water sports opportunities and mountain bike trails are in abundance, together with guided walks, forest trails and adventure activities for children. Miles of seaside walking is available the length and breadth of the coastline, while the area has many fine 'links' golf courses to challenge the enthusiast, and the coastal fishing villages provide the opportunity for both deep sea and line fishing.

Northumberland's towns and cities provide a vibrant contrast to the tranquillity of the rural landscape. Dynamic Newcastle has a thriving arts scene and cultural attractions of international standard. Alnwick is one of the country's most desirable, picture-postcard towns with a splendid castle, home to the Duke of Northumberland and famous for its Harry Potter connections, and beautiful gardens with the largest cascading water feature in Europe. Meanwhile, Berwick Upon Tweed, sitting on the border between England and Scotland, stands proud as a living lesson in Anglo-Scottish history. And then of course, there's the plethora of other time-forgotten castles, abbeys and manor houses which litter the landscape, providing a lasting memorial to days gone by. One such monument is Cragside House, Gardens and Estate, a palatial Victorian House which once belonged Lord Armstrong, one of the 19th century's most prolific inventors.

Smaller, coastal resorts offer fabulously fresh seafood, picturesque seaside vistas and ancient fortresses. Craster, famous for its traditional smokehouses and kippers and views to nearby Dunstanburgh Castle, which rises majestically at the far reaches of the bay; Embleton, with its fine sweep of dune-backed beach. Beadnell and Low Newton provide lovely coastal walking; Seahouses has a beautiful beach and is the access point to the remote Farne Islands, where some of the best bird watching in the country can be enjoyed from the comfort of a pleasure cruise around the bay. Pretty Alnmouth sits (as its name suggests) where the River Aln meets the sea and has an enviable sandy beach and charming 9 hole links golf course. The village of Bamburgh has yet another superb beach and, in Bamburgh Castle, a magnificent, awe-inspiring sight, justifiably one of the most popular visitor attractions in the region.

Of course, any Northumberland cottage break would be incomplete without a pilgrimage to the area's most revered site; atmospheric Holy Island of Lindisfarne; a tidal island completely cut off from the mainland by North Sea tides twice a day. Described as the 'fountainhead of England's Christian heritage', Lindisfarne Castle, Priory and Heritage Centre stand out as popular visitor attractions, and the island is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with abundant sea birds and a pristine landscape filled with rare plants, flowers and wildlife.

Northumberland cottage holidays offers a welcome breath of fresh air - and a Sykes Northumberland cottage guarantees you the very best of locations. Whether you want your Northumberland holiday home close to the wide open seascapes of Craster, Beadnell, Seahouses or Amble; in a historic market town, such as Morpeth, Alnwick or Berwick, at the heart of a dynamic city such as Newcastle or Durham, or simply far from the madding crowd in any number of the pretty, honey-coloured villages and hamlets in the rural heart of the region, you are sure to find your own home away from home among our hand-picked collection of Northumberland cottages.