Excellence Luxury Villas · Northumberland
Luxury Holiday Cottages and Houses in Northumberland
Cottages and country houses between empty beaches, Border castles and the line of Hadrian's Wall
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Castles on the shore, Romans on the hills
England's northernmost county keeps its best things quiet. Northumberland's coast is a long run of wide, often empty beaches, with a castle every few miles, Bamburgh's on its basalt crag and Dunstanburgh's in ruins above the sea. Inland, the hills climb towards the Cheviots and the Scottish border, and Hadrian's Wall crosses the moorland to the south.
Our Northumberland collection runs to 42 properties: stone cottages in Seahouses and the villages near Bamburgh, sea-view apartments in Alnmouth, converted stables and coach houses on the Belsay estate, and larger country houses for family gatherings.
Below is a guide to the coast, the countryside and the best time to come.
Northumberland at a glance
- Properties
- 42 cottages, houses and apartments, with up to 15 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £1,100 to £2,700 a week, from around £800
- Best areas
- Bamburgh, Seahouses and Alnmouth on the coast; Belsay and Hadrian's Wall country inland
- Highlights
- Bamburgh Castle, Holy Island, the Farne Islands, Hadrian's Wall and Kielder's dark skies
- Getting there
- Newcastle airport, or the East Coast Main Line to Alnmouth and Berwick-upon-Tweed
Browse all 42 properties in Northumberlandor see them on the map
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Rent Thistlebrook Hall United Kingdom10 bedrooms
Bamburgh House United Kingdom8 bedrooms
Belsay Tower Estate United Kingdom15 bedrooms
Belsay Manor House United Kingdom10 bedroomsWhere to stay in Northumberland
Bamburgh and Seahouses for castles, beaches and the Farne Islands, Alnmouth for an estuary village close to Alnwick, and Belsay and the Tyne country for gardens, estates and Hadrian's Wall.
Bamburgh, Seahouses and the islands
The coast between Alnmouth and Berwick is a protected National Landscape, and it is easy to see why. Bamburgh Castle stands above miles of dune-backed sand, and from the harbour at Seahouses boats cross to the Farne Islands for puffins in early summer and grey seals all year.
Further north, Holy Island is cut off twice a day by the tide, with the ruins of Lindisfarne Priory, where St Aidan founded his monastery in the seventh century. To the south, the path from Craster to Dunstanburgh Castle is one of the finest short walks in England, ideally followed by a kipper sandwich in the village.
Browse the Northumberland Coast
An estuary village and a ducal town
Alnmouth is a small village of coloured houses at the mouth of the River Aln, with a broad beach, a golf links and a railway station on the main line from London and Edinburgh. It makes an easy, sociable base for a family holiday.
A few miles inland, Alnwick has the castle of the Percy family, which children will recognise from the Harry Potter films, and the Alnwick Garden, with its grand cascade and a Poison Garden visited only with a guide. Leave time for Barter Books, a vast second-hand bookshop in the old Victorian railway station.
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Country estates and Roman frontier
Belsay, around half an hour north west of Newcastle, is best known for Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens, cared for by English Heritage: a Greek Revival hall, a medieval tower and a quarry garden of ferns and rock faces. Our cottages on the Belsay estate suit families and friends who want the countryside with the city close at hand.
To the west, Hadrian's Wall, part of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage Site, runs across the hills past Chesters, Housesteads and Vindolanda. Beyond lies Kielder, at the heart of Europe's largest area of protected night sky.
Browse properties in Belsay
Kippers, oysters and long light evenings
Northumberland eats well and without fuss: Craster kippers smoked over oak, oysters from Lindisfarne, crab from the coast and pan haggerty, the county's dish of potatoes, onion and cheese, on a cold evening.
May to July is the time for puffins on the Farnes and the longest days on the beaches. Autumn brings grey seal pups and russet moorland, and the dark winter months are best for stargazing at Kielder. Our concierge can book boat trips, restaurant tables, castle visits and guided walks along the Wall.
Ask our conciergeFeatured properties in Northumberland
Rent Horseshoe Hideaway United Kingdom5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £2,632 a week
Belsay Annex Wing United Kingdom5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £2,495 a week
House Helm Rowan Chollerton: Luxury 3-Bedroom House with Countryside Views – Northumberland3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £2,471 a week
Villa Heather Acomb Hexham: 2-Bedroom Luxury Villa with Heated Pool – Hexham Britain2 bedrooms · sleeps 4From £2,472 a week
House Helm Fraoch Cresswell: Luxury 4-Bedroom House with Seaview & Beachfront – Northumberland4 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £2,303 a week
House Helm Frazer Bamburgh: Luxury 3-Bedroom Villa with Sea Views & Pet-Friendly Amenities – Northumberland Coast3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £2,205 a week
Apartment Helm Heather Alnmouth: Luxury 4-Bedroom Apartment with Seaview & Private Parking – Northumberland4 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £2,128 a week
Apartment Helm Fraoch Alnmouth: Charming 4-Bedroom Apartment with Sea View – Northumberland Coast4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £2,114 a weekSearch all 42 properties in Northumberlandor see them on the map
Why book your house in Northumberland with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
Northumberland's properties are spread from tidal coast to remote hill country, and we know which cottages are a walk from the beach, which estates suit a family gathering and how the tides will shape your days. With 42 properties in Northumberland, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Boat trips to the Farne Islands, Holy Island tide planning, castle and garden visits, guided walks on Hadrian's Wall, stargazing at Kielder, restaurant reservations and transfers from Newcastle. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to stay in Northumberland?
Bamburgh and Seahouses suit beaches, castles and the Farne Islands, and Alnmouth is a good base for Alnwick and the train. Belsay and the countryside towards Hadrian's Wall suit walkers, history lovers and those who want Newcastle within reach.
When is the best time to visit Northumberland?
May to September brings the warmest weather and the longest days, with puffins on the Farne Islands from late spring to midsummer. Autumn is quieter and good for walking and seal pups, and winter is best for dark skies.
Can you drive to Holy Island?
Yes, along a tidal causeway, but only at low tide. Safe crossing times change daily and are published in advance, so always check them before you set off. Every year some drivers get it wrong and have to be rescued.
Can you arrange a private chef at a house in Northumberland?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury propertie in Northumberland cost?
Across our 42 properties in Northumberland, weekly rates typically range from £1,100 to £2,700, with the most affordable from around £800 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How do I get to Northumberland?
Newcastle airport is the closest, with most of the coast around 40 minutes to an hour away by car. Trains on the East Coast Main Line stop at Alnmouth and Berwick-upon-Tweed. Our concierge can arrange transfers.
Are there houses in Northumberland for large groups?
Yes. Our Northumberland collection includes properties with up to 15 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your house in Northumberland
42 cottages and country houses in Northumberland, booked direct with our concierge on hand