Peep-O-Sea Cottage

Oh you do like to be beside the seaside? Then this cottage, which cleverly manages to be both classic and contemporary at the same time, will be a dream.

A mere 40 metres from the sandy cove, Peep-O-Sea sits in sleepy Boulmer (pronounced “Boomer”, just to keep you guessing) – one of Northumberland’s last authentic fishing villages. From this same natural harbour, distinctive blue coble boats go out every morning, just as they have done for the past century, in search of crab, cod, conger eels, lobster and salmon.

You might watch them, too, courtesy of Peep-O-Sea’s splendid sea views. There’s also the excellent Fishing Boat Inn (or “FBI” to villagers – and once Northumberland’s smuggling hotspot courtesy of a Scottish gypsy king) about five minutes’ walk away, serving superb seafood as diners relish more ocean vistas. Just to the north is the beautiful, golden Sugar Sands beach, ripe for old-fashioned family outings involving sandcastles and rock-pooling.

Back to the cottage. Spread across a single storey, it suits couples and small families equally well and feels very spacious as the traditional stone exterior gives way to airy open-plan design.

Via the porch, complete with storage for mucky boots, you arrive in a shared sitting room, dining and yellow-tiled kitchen. A lamp above the round table provides pleasant ambience for dining. In the lounge area, a large L-shaped sofa, Smart TV, Pure sound system and a gas log burner-effect stove in the grand inglenook fireplace all encourage rest and relaxation. Board games, cards and books are provided for cosy evenings in too.

Just to remind you of the sea, a marine theme runs through the bedrooms – the first king-sized and en-suite; the second also king-sized or twin and connected to a Jack-and-Jill bathroom, with its blue-tiled soaking tub. As well as pops of coastal blues and greens amid calming pale hues, there’s a lighthouse-illustrated cushion and a porthole-shaped mirror. Leave the windows open and you can also fall asleep to the rhythmic sound of waves.

Another standout feature is Peep-O-Sea’s extensive outside space. The large, enclosed, west-facing patio has a dining table and two sun-loungers. Across this, a cabin-style outhouse contains the washing machine and tumble dryer. There’s then an artificial lawn, also fenced, plus a streetside, coast-facing front garden whose bench lets you watch waves over morning coffees.

Ready to explore? It’s just three miles along the scenic seaboard to Alnmouth, a gorgeous estuary beach town, and five to quaint, kipper-producing Craster. The fairytale castles at Alnwick, Dunstanburgh and Bamburgh are also close, while Coast Path walks or day trips to Holy Island are a cinch.

You may prefer, however, to simply stay put and delight in Boulmer’s rare, rural tranquillity…