Sea Breeze

As close to the sea as you can be without being on the beach, Sea Breeze is a chic seaside bolthole for six that’s positioned so close to the shoreline that you could almost dive straight into the water.

While also being right on the coast, Sea Breeze, is set in the quaint fishing village of Craster, whose narrow lanes and picturesque harbour have barely changed over the centuries. Named in The Times as one of the UK's top seven quirkiest seaside villages, brightly coloured fishing boats still slip out of the harbour in the early hours to bring in the catch of the day. With a kipper smokery at the heart of the village, plus an excellent pub, The Jolly Fisherman, seafood is rightly lauded here.

Back at the cottage a traditional stone exterior belies the chic, soothing interiors: where a calming coastal theme runs through the cottage, drawing on a sophisticated palette of soft blues, creams and taupe lifted with joyous pops of coral, rattan touches and elegant furniture made from reclaimed wood.

Breaking all the usual lay-out rules, Sea Breeze includes one bedroom on its ground floor and then throws in an upstairs sitting room. This latter space is so positioned to further capitalise on those majestic views — past offshore rocks and out to sea as the coast continues southwards. Large picture windows allow for happy sea gazing, making this room a delightful spot to settle down with a sundowner – shaken up at the drinks trolley in the corner. Or, if you’d prefer to feel that sea breeze on your face, this room leads out to a balcony.

There’s another, snug-like sitting room downstairs, centred around a warming log-burner, as well as a narrow sunroom in which you might sit with a cup of tea in the morning and enjoy a moment of calm before the rest of the house awakes. Just beyond is the patio, elevated to afford those same seaside vistas, featuring sofas and a dining table you’ll no doubt enjoy al fresco breakfasts, lunches and dinners here when the weather is fine. Then comes the fully enclosed lawned garden with wrap-around patio.

The ground floor also contains a white-panelled kitchen, offering direct access to that outdoor dining table plus its own indoor version. Catching the eye, a jet-black range cooker here typifies Sea Breeze’s chic interiors.

On the ground-floor there’s a chic double bedroom with a French-style upholstered headboard and adjacent shower room. The other two bedrooms can be found upstairs. One is a twin which can be configured to a super king, and the other a large double with an en-suite and its own sea views. This floor also benefits from an additional first-floor family bathroom with a walk-in shower and Jacuzzi bathtub.

Ideally located, Sea Breeze is just one minute’s walk from Craster, which also contains an art gallery, café and seaside playground; that harbour is great for rock-pooling, too. Not only that, but you’ll also possess two of Craster’s hottest commodities: parking spaces.

For those looking to explore further than the village itself, the long sandy sweep of Embleton beach is well worth a visit. The Northumberland Coastal Path also heads north from here across dune-lined headlands to the ruined Dunstanburgh Castle. Always accompanied by uplifting doses of salty sea air, you can walk all the way to Warkworth or just loop back on yourself and enjoy a pub lunch back in Craster. Or, for adventures by car, Holy Island is within a 45-minute drive, as are more great sandy beaches and more classic castles at Alnwick and Bamburgh.