‘Lovely, cosy home from home. Close to beautiful beaches but situated in a quiet village with lovely local walks’

Summer may soon be coming to an end, but let’s be honest – no-one comes on holiday to England’s northernmost county for the climate anyway. And come rain or shine, Northumberland is worth a visit all year round, with its beauty from countryside to coast impossible to dampen no matter the weather.

For holidaymakers booking staycations as something to look forward to during the autumn and winter months, there are plenty of places to stay in Northumberland that are off the beaten track for a peaceful getaway. One choice available on holidaycottages.co.uk that already has bookings filling up into early 2026 is Bremel Barn, a stone barn conversion that can be found in the tiny village of Ellingham.

With popular destinations such as Alnwick and Bamburgh just a 15-minute drive away, Ellingham is perfectly placed for exploring Northumberland’s top attractions, from The Alnwick Garden to Bamburgh Castle. And with room for up to seven guests and two dogs, Bremel Barn is the ideal size for a family getaway to suit all ages.

“This area is a wonderful base for outdoor lovers, with scenic walking and cycling trails, nearby coastal paths, and long, sandy beaches and Ellingham’s village boasts a friendly pub serving meals perfect after a day’s exploration,” say the owners of this characterful holiday cottage.

Bremel Barn is priced from £795 for a seven-night stay. For some cheaper alternatives nearby, fellow holiday let agency Sykes Holiday Cottages has a couple of places available in the nearby village of Tughall, including The Forge from £510 for seven nights which has space for just two guests, Garden Cottage from £589 with room for six, and The Smithy from £629 with room for five, all of which are dog-friendly.

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Or for those who’d rather plump for a luxury hotel getaway, Doxford Hall Hotel and Spa is just a five-minute drive away. Located in 10 acres of private grounds, this grand 200-year-old estate has rooms from around £150 per night with breakfast included, including dog-friendly options, with guests able to take advantage of its swimming pool and spa.

Back at Bremel Barn, one person who stayed here said in their review: “Great cottage with a perfect layout us as a family with grandparents. Location good for getting out to beautiful beaches. Would book again.”

Another guest fed back: “Lovely, cosy home from home – extremely well equipped and most importantly for us, a safe, quiet enclosed garden for our nervous dog. Close to beautiful beaches but situated in a quiet village with lovely local walks. We used the Aga which was a joy to cook on and really appreciated the variety of books and games available on our one rainy day.”

A third visitor to the cottage praised: “We had an amazing week in Bremel Barn with family and dogs. The space was fantastic for the two small boys and the garden was enclosed for our two dogs. We were able to walk to the pub with the dogs and ate there several times which was very good.”

And someone else wrote: “The cottage was in a perfect location to get to all tourist attractions. A lovely cosy cottage in an ideal location. There was everything provided that you needed including plenty of cooking utensils. We will definitely be back again.”

Overall, guests have so far had nothing negative to say about the property, although it’s worth noting that anyone who stays here will likely need a car in order to get to the coast, which is around a three-hour walk away or just under a 15-minute drive. For those who would prefer to be within walking distance, the village is almost straight across from Low Newton-by-the-Sea, which is another top choice for holidaymakers.

This seaside village is almost completely owned by the National Trust, which paints a picture of a place rich in natural beauty and historical charm. From its secluded sandy beach to its cream-washed cottages, this village is perfectly placed for discovering all that the Northumberland coast has to offer.