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Overview
A charming, wood-cladded cottage opposite extensive sand dunes leading to Bamburgh’s famous golden sands.
Bamburgh Castle and the centre of Bamburgh village are just a short walk away.
Driftwood Retreat (a version of Driftwood for fewer guests), is the ideal solution for smaller parties who don’t want to compromise on space, offering Driftwood’s spacious living areas and access to two of the bedrooms and bathrooms at a reduced rate out of high season.
Driftwood dates from 1898, one of the iconic ‘Armstrong Cottages’ built by the first Lord Armstrong for workmen employed during the restoration of Bamburgh Castle which started in 1894.
With a nod to its enviable location, the light and airy contemporary interior features a coastal colour palette with spacious and comfortable accommodation all on one level for up to four guests. Driftwood Retreat has two large bedrooms and two bath/shower rooms. There is a large dining/kitchen featuring oak units with granite worktops and a utility room. The large sitting room, with views of the castle and dunes, has plenty of comfortable seating, a woodburning stove and a Sky Q package for cosying up after winter beach walks.
Driftwood’s front garden overlooks the dunes and castle whilst to the rear there is a sheltered, suntrap back garden with an extensive patio with seating, dining and barbecue areas. There is private parking at the rear for three cars and two 7kW EV chargers.
Walk across the sand dunes opposite the house to Bamburgh’s dog-friendly beach punctuated by the dramatic backdrop of Bamburgh Castle. A ten-minute stroll past the castle will take you into the heart of the village where you will find an excellent range of local amenities.
Property details
GROUND FLOOR
The accommodation is on one level. Access from the parking area to the patio at the rear is down three wide steps with a handrail.
Comfortable sitting room with large windows looking out to the dunes and Bamburgh Castle. Two large sofas and one double sofa, coffee tables, 55" UHD 4K HDR Smart TV with Sky Q and a Blu-ray DVD player. There are books for adults and children and a good selection of board games. Stovax Studio inset wood burner, for cosy evenings.
Kitchen with Rangemaster cooker with ceramic hob, double oven and grill, dishwasher, fridge, microwave, toaster, kettle and Nespresso coffee maker (takes Original Capsules). Denby Imperial crockery, plenty of quality utensils and glasses. Wall-mounted 43" UHD 4K HDR Smart TV with Sky Q, DAB radio, selection of cookery books. Dining area set within the bay window. Wooden dining table to sit eight, cushioned window seat and four chairs.
Spacious utility room with washer/dryer, fridge/freezer. Ample storage for outdoor wear and footwear. Cupboard containing Henry vacuum cleaner, clothes airer, ironing board and iron.
Bedroom one (to rear of property) with king size bed, side tables, chest of drawers, hanging rail.
Bedroom two (to rear of property) with zip and link option which can be configured to a super king or twin, side tables, chest of drawers and hanging rail.
Family bathroom with P-shaped bath and shower over, heated towel rail, basin and WC.
Large shower room with shower, heated towel rail, basin and WC.
OUTSIDE
Enclosed gardens to front and rear.
The sheltered, south-west facing rear garden has a large patio with a corner sofa, a matching chair and table. Further along the patio is a large circular dining table with eight chairs. To the side of the patio is a barbecue area suitable for using disposable barbecues.
The lawn has a Brabantia rotary washing line and at the rear of the house there is a Mucky Pups warm water shower for cleaning sandy feet and paws.
The front garden has a lawn and colourful borders of fuchsias and perennials.
To the side of the parking area is the bin store. There are three large wheelie bins for general waste, recycling and glass. Alongside this is the log store containing plenty of logs and kindling.
PARKING
Private off-road parking for three cars to the rear of the cottage.
ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING
Two Easee One Type 2 untethered 7kW Electric Vehicle chargers are provided for guest use only in the parking area. There is no charge for using the EV chargers, but you will need to provide your own charging leads compatible with a Type 2 charging socket.
For safety reasons, please only use the dedicated charger for car charging at this property. Discover alternative electric vehicle charging points here.
BABIES & CHILDREN
A travel cot and highchair are available on request.
DOGS
Two adult dogs are welcome at a charge of £20 per dog per stay. There is a Mucky Pups warm water shower at the rear of the property for cleaning sandy paws. Dogs are not allowed in the bedrooms or on the furniture.
GUEST AMENITIES
The beds have non-feather duvets and pillows. Quality bedding and towels are provided along with luxurious toiletries. A hairdryer is provided in each bedroom.
HEATING
Gas central heating throughout. Stovax Studio inset wood burner in the sitting room. Logs, kindling, firelighters and matches are supplied all year round.
WI-FI & MOBILE COVERAGE
Mobile reception can vary with some networks receiving no phone signal at the property. Superfast broadband is available and can be used for Wi-Fi calling on phones with this function. Alternatively, for those on networks with poor coverage, a signal can be picked up on the road heading to Seahouses just outside of the village.
GUEST PRIVACY
Driftwood Retreat is the middle property in a row of three terraced cottages on the edge of Bamburgh village on the road leading to Seahouses. Both front and rear gardens are fully enclosed and the enclosed parking area is fenced off from the rear garden.
Location
The centre of the village of Bamburgh is a 10-minute walk away with friendly local shops, quaint tea-rooms, cosy pubs and restaurants as well as miles upon miles of stunning golden sands within walking distance it is part of the reason visitors return to this area year-after-year, and why it remains one of the most popular beach destinations in England.
For dining-out, you can enjoy fantastic fresh seafood at The Potted Lobster located in the heart of the village; The Lord Crewe has doggy-friendly seating areas in the restaurant and beer garden and offers a fine dining experience; The Castle Inn Hotel is the place to go for a hearty pub meal and pretty beer garden; or the Victoria Hotel if you like great pub food and some chat next to the fire. Alternatively try The Wyndenwell for an ice-cream, cake and coffee stop, or the Copper Kettle, a characterful little tea-room serving a selection of freshly baked scones and light-bites. For something a bit more informal en-route to the beach, The Hut sits on the edge of the sand dunes for a delicious bacon butty or a kipper bun.
For provisions, The Pantry is a super deli selling meats, cheeses, preserves, freshly baked bread and smoked fish as well as lots of naughty puddings which all come from renowned local suppliers across the area. For picnics or lunches on-the-go, they will prepare sandwiches on request along with freshly ground coffee, or can arrange for food hampers full of gourmet goodies to be made up for your arrival at your holiday home. R Carter has been the village butchers for 125 years serving only the finest locally produced meat, homemade pies and award winning bacon which is cured and smoked on the premises. The nearest Co-op supermarket can be found in Seahouses (2.6 miles).
Activities
With views of the sand dunes from the front garden, accessing the coast couldn’t be easier. The beach at Bamburgh comprises glorious curves of white sand backed by deep sand dunes, rocky outcrops and dramatic shorelines. and is a wonderful spot for families, walkers and water sports enthusiasts. Surfing and windsurfing is highly rated here with waves naturally breaking to the left and right as a result of the numerous sandbars along its length, and while there is no lifeguard cover on this section, it is seen as a safe spot for swimming. Alternatively, six miles south of Bamburgh, you will find excellent watersports on the golden sands of Beadnell Bay where you can launch boats, rent surfboards, wetsuits and bikes or try your hand at kitesurfing, windsurfing, sea canoeing and waterskiing with accredited instructors.
For young explorers, pack a fishing net along with a sand bucket and enjoy a spot of rock-pooling for tiny shore crabs, starfish or periwinkles at Bamburgh Lighthouse at Harkness Rocks - named by Countryfile as one of the top ten rockpooling areas in Britain. Here you can spend many happy hours dabbling in the plunge pools before taking a gentle wander back along the beach to the village.
The spectacular Bamburgh Castle is also on your doorstep, the outline of which can be seen dominating the skyline for miles around. A visit to the Castle will allow you to experience over two thousand years of fascinating history with dark tales of royal rebellion, turbulent battles, and stories of powerful legend and folklore. The Grace Darling Museum located in the village and offers a wonderful insight into the life of this courageous young woman who was written into the history books in 1838 when she risked her life to row a boat out in treacherous seas to rescue survivors of the luxury steam ship Forfarshire.
As well as boasting its own magnificent Castle, the village is home to the Bamburgh Golf Club - an 18 hole golf course with outstanding views towards Lindisfarne, the Farne Islands and the Cheviot Hills. Rated by Golf World Magazine as ‘quite possibly the most beautiful and beautifully situated golf course in all England’ this tricky links course will both challenge and delight. You will find a cricket pitch under the castle, which regularly hosts games for you to watch. Tennis courts and a children's playground are also nearby for your enjoyment.
The whole area is bursting with things to do here, dotted by a trail of castles and fortifications interspersed with pretty seaside villages all the way up and down the coast. Cross the causeway to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne to trace the legend of St. Cuthbert, take a boat trip from Seahouses to the outstanding Farne Islands nature reserve and seabird sanctuary, head to Craster to sample their legendary oak smoked kippers, visit the beautiful gardens at Howick Hall, or head inland to experience the medieval splendour of Alnwick Castle with its fantastic child-friendly activity programme inspired by the wizardly magic and broomstick antics of Harry Potter.
Walking and cycling in this area is a delight with an abundance of trails and waymarked routes suitable for all ages and abilities. Take a four mile circular walk from Bamburgh to Budle Bay, where you can experience amazing sunsets over the bay in early evening, or follow the Coast and Castles circular, a dog-friendly stretch involving a moderate walk of 8.5 miles taking in both coast and country. For cyclists, there are family routes, leisure routes, and mountain biking trails with everything from easy coastal stretches to high energy treks in the vast wilderness of the Northumberland National Park which can be easily accessed from Wooler.
C&C experiences
We invite you to enjoy the most coveted and exclusive local experiences available in the North of England and the South of Scotland on your next Crabtree & Crabtree adventure.
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Children and families
Here at Crabtree & Crabtree, we like to think we’ve pulled together some rather nifty ideas to keep tots to teens happy and entertained during your stay.
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Fishing
Welcome to the realm of the king of fish, the mighty River Tweed. Every year thousands of Atlantic Salmon make their way up river, an annual odyssey that is one of nature's miracles.
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Historic houses and castles
With more stately homes, castles and historic sites here than you can shake a proverbial stick at, visitors are quite simply spoilt for choice.
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Wildlife
Our region is home to outstanding scenery which boasts emerald forests, pristine lochs and rivers, heathery hillsides, sweeping moorlands as well as a picture perfect coastline.
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Walking
From the lush green uplands to shimmering sea, the area boasts a hugely diverse and enticing landscape that is perfect for exploring on foot. From gentle rambles to long-distance hikes, there are a vast array of trails and waymarked routes for newbie walkers or experienced alike.
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Golf
There are 40 golf courses in Northumberland, and another 21 in the Scottish Borders offering visitors an incredibly wide and varied range of golfing options.
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Adventure Sports
If you love a challenge or just crave a little excitement away from the day-to-day bustle of working life, we have lots to offer - whether it be watery pursuits, muddy blasts or thrill seeking, adrenaline-charged adventures.
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Cycling & mountain biking
Whether you ride fast or slow, on-road or off-road, there is something uniquely special about enjoying some outdoor time on two wheels. Here in the region we have something for everyone from high-energy mountain biking blasts to gentle forest paths the whole family can enjoy.
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Shooting
For sheer variety alone Northumberland and the Scottish Borders are irresistible to any gun.
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Ancestral history research
Crabtree & Crabtree know that tracing the history of your family can be a wonderful journey of discovery. Here are our top tips for starting your family tree.
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Dog sitting
Our experienced dog sitters will look after your furry friends whilst you are out exploring.
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Additional housekeeping
Award yourself a real break and let us provide a pair (or more) of helping hands.
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Wine delivery
Crabtree & Crabtree have teamed up with Corney & Barrow one of the longest established independent Wine Merchants in the UK to offer a bespoke service.
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Holiday photography
Family holidays, reunions and honeymoons kindle priceless moments that deserve preserving.
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"Wow, thank you to your team, your housekeeping team and the owners for letting us stay in this beautiful and well prepared house. Every detail from the comprehensive manuals to the wonderfully equipped kitchen is beyond compare. The welcome basket, teas, coffees and jams etc, amazing. Now if you can sort the weather we would be grateful...but at least we can hunker down in this lovely cosy house."
The Bramwells"We have just arrived back home after a most enjoyable stay at “Driftwood”. The cottage exceeded all of our expectations and the little touches: hamper, bread & milk, were all an unexpected surprise and gratefully accepted. We thoroughly enjoyed the walks and the wonderful beach, all of which were on our doorstep. The cottage itself was spotlessly clean and a credit to the housekeeper.As far as the booking process was concerned, it could not have been easier. The paperwork was easily dealt with and the arrival instructions were correct in every detail. We would not hesitate in using you again or recommending you to others."
Mr & Mrs BertorelliAvailability
- Two adult dogs are welcome at a charge of £20 per dog per stay.
- Available between October and 21st March only (excluding October Half Term & the Festive fortnight).
- Typical arrival day: Monday and Friday.
- Arrival time: 4pm
- Departure time: 10am
"Using the kitchen’s espresso machine and sipping casual morning coffees while stretched out on the window seat."Sue, Crabtree & Crabtree
