Meet the Team

Starting with an early morning walk with my Border Collie, who does not permit lie-ins! Then I’d head back home for breakfast before setting out to explore with my partner, daughter and the dog leading the way. We travel near and far, anywhere from our local Creswell beach up to North Berwick and beyond. A dog-friendly pub that serves good Guinness and home-cooked food is usually on the agenda. If we can get a weekend away, we like nothing better than to get off the beaten track to go wild camping, somewhere secluded with nobody around for miles.

In my hometown, starting with a leisurely stroll around the pier and a visit to the little local pod shops in Amble Harbour Village, followed by lunch at Lily’s Landing – the lobster and scallops are to die for! For an equally gorgeous change of scenery from the golden beaches and rolling dunes, I head inland to Thrunton Woods or Hulne Park, both of which offer a number of trails of varying length and difficulty. In the evenings, a couple of drinks at The Fish Shack, watching the boats bring in the catch of the day, or a relaxing stand-up-paddleboarding session along the River Coquet, with Warkworth Castle proudly on the horizon is hard to beat!

With a long walk through the stunning grounds and gardens at the wonderful Castle Howard followed by a trip into Malton, the food capital of Yorkshire, to sample all the delicious fare at the monthly farmers market. On Sundays we would take a trip to explore the magnificent Yorkshire coastline at Hunmanby Gap or Robin Hoods Bay and then have lunch at the Pipe & Glass in South Dalton. On a nice sunny afternoon, it is always a pleasure to head into the city of York and wander around the medieval cobbled streets of the Shambles before meeting up with friends on the riverside terrace of the Star Inn The City and enjoying some local Yorkshire beer or gin!

In my hometown with my family and best friend Laika the dog. First, I would pop over to Shaws Fine Meats and purchase my breakfast including the world’s best Lorne sausage (it’s amazing). Then the kids and I would take Laika for a walk. There’s an adventure walk around the grounds of beautiful Thirlestane Castle, or my favourite is the open countryside just off Lauder Road near the tranquil village of Stow. There are areas here that you could swear are completely undiscovered – your own personal sanctuary. Then after all this, I’d either visit The Flat Cat Gallery or pop to my local haunt The Black Bull Hotel for a nice pint and fantastic food.

Starting with a morning walk alongside my two dogs across the Belford moors, watching the rock climbers arriving for a day of scaling Bowden Doors. The afternoons are generally spent watching a game of cricket in front of the impressive backdrop of Bamburgh Castle, while enjoying an ice cream from Wydenwell (the rum and raisin is to die for!). The perfect weekend would be finished off with a few tipples in one of the many amazing pubs along our coastline offering unobscured views of the Farne Islands and, if we’re lucky, spotting a pod of dolphins.

Along the banks of the River Tweed with my old pony and a picnic made up of goodies bought from the Cornhill Village Shop or Border Baguette in Duns. Or, I’ll head out with friends to explore the local area and to spot some wildlife. My favourite places are Budle Bay for birdwatching, St Abb’s Head National Nature Reserve for spotting seals and Harthope Valley which gives great access to the Cheviot Hills where you might be lucky enough to see a wild goat or two! After working up an appetite, we like to round off the day by stopping for a wood-fired pizza at the Glendale Food Court in Wooler.

Throughout the summer months you’ll find me at Border Berries picking fruity treats to use in my home baking, or treating myself to ice cream and fish and chips from Eyemouth. I highly recommend trying out Giacopazzi’s if you’re over that way – best eaten whilst taking in the view on Coldingham Bay. I love to explore and walk along the beautiful Tweed and nearby beaches or to explore the numerous castles in the area!

Down at the coast, my favourite spot being Cheswick Sands where we have family fun collecting shells and building sandcastles in the golden sands whilst our dog Izzy splashes in the sea. After an energetic beach trip we head to our favourite dog-friendly restaurant – The Cross Inn at Paxton for a delicious Sunday roast. Summer weekends are spent picnicking in the Bowmont Valley, enjoying riverside strolls along the Teviot and Tweed, strawberry picking at Border Berries and enjoying the atmosphere of the local common ridings and family events.

Living sandwiched between the Cheviot Hills and the Lammermuir Hills, I am spoilt for choice. My ideal weekend is spent in my garden with its uninterrupted view of the Cheviots in all its constantly changing glory, tending my chickens and ensuring as much self-sufficiency from my fruit and veg garden as possible. Sundays usually start off with a cup of freshly ground coffee from local producer, Northern Edge (you can visit their roastery in Berwick and enjoy the freshest coffee there) followed by an invigorating walk in the Lammermuirs. For a treat, I would eat at The Cross Inn at Paxton or at The Allanton Inn before rounding off the evening with a glass of homemade liqueur using berries from our bountiful hedgerows.

I love the outdoors and spend lots of time running or rambling in the nearby Cheviots as I train for my next challenge – however I always need a companion, I’ve got a notoriously bad sense of direction and get lost quite easily! This would be followed by an evening in one of my favourite local restaurants and a trip to a wine bar with my husband and friends. For a walk with a difference I highly recommend alpaca trekking in the Cheviot Hills with Beirhope Alpacas!

I usually like to start off my weekend by going to a local café for breakfast, my two favourites being the lovely Apples for Jam in Melrose and Abbey Bridge Coffee House in Jedburgh. After a tasty breakfast, it’s time for a stroll with my three dogs, Hollie, Rowan and Ivy – they enjoy exploring our beautiful local area as much as I do! We love to go for a walk along gorgeous Cheswick Sands so the dogs can splash in the waves before finishing up the day with a delicious Sunday roast at home.

With as much time out in my garden as possible tending to the veg patch and collecting the eggs from our free-range chickens! In the evenings, I’ll head to my favourite local eateries to enjoy some of the wonderful local produce; we have so many great companies producing food and drink in the Borders and Northumberland that it’s a joy to eat in or dine out!

On long walks in the Pentland Hills Regional Park with my black Labrador Thistle. There is so much to explore and the incredible views over Edinburgh and East Lothian are always worth the steep ascent! A walk is usually followed by a cup of coffee somewhere. The Secret Herb Garden, which lies at the foothills of the Pentlands, is a particular favourite — it has an amazing garden, café serving homegrown dishes and gin distillery on-site. On Sundays, I will head to the beach at Yellowcraig for a picnic and a stroll with friends. Or, sometimes, we’ll stop at Longniddry for delicious fish and chips — or a battered sausage! — from the Alandas hut which is perched on the seafront.

Heading to East Lothian with friends for a wander around North Berwick and then a stroll on one of the lovely beaches in the area. Gullane has always been a particular favourite – even on a blustery day there’s nothing better than a good stomp through the sand dunes and along the beach, followed by a delicious pub lunch! The Old Clubhouse is a cosy traditional pub and is always great for a drink and a bowl of chips by the fire, or if we’re in the mood for something a little more upscale, The Bonnie Badger by Tom Kitchin makes for a lovely treat.

Going for long walks along the banks of the Tweed with Mrs Brown in tow. This is usually followed by a trip to our local butcher RG Foreman & Son and along to the Berwick Shellfish Company to pick up supplies for the rest of the weekend – I’d particularly recommend the dressed crab. On Sundays I often take a trip to the coast to enjoy beach walks and afternoon tea on Northumberland’s Heritage Coast.

I would start my day with a walk along the beach from Budle Bay to Seahouses with my partner and fox red Labrador, taking a break halfway in Bamburgh for a coffee and delicious cake or pastry in The Wyndenwell cafe. The evening would be finished off with a couple of drinks and some food in The Victoria Hotel in Bamburgh. If the weather is kind to us, we would enjoy a sunset visit to the beach and a paddle in the rock pools.

My ideal weekend would be spent with my husband and son exploring the wonderful local villages, markets and independent shops in Northumberland. I’m new to the area having lived in Southern Spain for over 18 years, so I’m always discovering special new places to explore. I’d while away the hours rummaging in the local charity shops for vinyl records before heading home to cook a delicious evening meal – my most requested from my son is my beef madras. I’m passionate about nature and am obsessed with watching the sea – especially on stormy days – so I’d also make sure to get out and about for a refreshing walk on the beach.

My ideal weekend would begin with a wander through the countryside on my Welsh pony Clipper – there’s nothing like bird spotting, picking berries and experiencing all weathers on horseback. I also love going for hikes on my own feet, either in the Pentland Hills or along the spectacular coastline of Northumberland. I’m always drawn to historic sites, so I’d set out from Craster to the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle before indulging in a pub lunch at The Ship Inn at Low Newton. A visit to Alnwick would also definitely be in order, making sure to browse the shelves at Barter Books for a new gem to add to my (already lengthy) reading list.

Balancing family and ‘me’ time. I’d start with a family goof session involving lots of laughing, then a ramble through Bowmont forest with a podcast and my faithful Lab Simba. Next would be coffee and brunch with a friend at a local cafe like Naked Sourdough, Main Street Trading, or Apples For Jam followed by a mooch around local markets and a brisk afternoon walk, possibly along the River Tweed on the stunning trail from Maxton to Mertoun. After some family downtime, I’d head out for a cocktail or two, or three, with friends at Scott’s of Kelso or Schloss Roxburghe. Sunday morning would be spent in bed, nursing the effects of the previous evening, with a bottomless cup of tea and a good book before hunkering down for a family movie followed by a special Sunday dinner.

Meeting friends for brunch at Apples for Jam in Melrose or Naked Sourdough in Jedburgh, followed by a good old stomp up the Eildon Hills. I love to spend time outdoors and I never run out of stunning places to walk and explore in this beautiful part of the world. In the evening, I’ll either dash up the Cheviot Hills to catch a glorious sunset, or will go out for dinner and drinks. My go-to haunts are The Hoebridge — a family-run restaurant near Melrose with an amazing ever-changing seasonal menu — and the Schloss Roxburghe Hotel for delicious cocktails enjoyed beside the fire.

Time in the brilliant outdoors… with the occasional spot of shopping and good glass of wine! Happy days – walking on the riverside, forest and beach or taking my Dutch bike out for a spin! Top spots – watching the sunset over Floors Castle from Friars Haugh; the breath-taking panoramic views across the Cheviot Hills from Dere Street or from the Waterloo Monument atop Peniel Heugh; the Cornhill Village Shop for yummy picnic lunches; the Collingwood Arms Restaurant for……everything really, and lazy weekend wanders along the stunning coastline.

Being on the coastal edge of Edinburgh I get to enjoy all that the city has to offer whilst being a stone’s throw away from the beautiful East Lothian & Midlothian countryside – the best of both worlds. Therefore, an ideal weekend for me would include a long walk with my husband and dog Sunny – we love the John Muir Reserve near Dunbar or Dalkeith Country Park – followed by dinner at one of the many amazing restaurants in town (Sunny unfortunately has to stay at home for that part). My favourite place to eat is The Ship on the Shore in Leith which does amazing seafood in a relaxed setting. And if I ever want to cook great seafood at home, I head to Clark’s Brothers in Musselburgh for the freshest and best selection of produce.