The Stables at Brinkburn

As part of adjacent Brinkburn Priory, The Stables once hosted horses and their riders, who slept above. These days it’s a quietly impressive and incredibly comfortable Grade II listed holiday home – the largest of six self-catering properties on the gorgeous Brinkburn estate – with families or groups of friends replacing foals and grooms.

Expect to immediately be charmed on arrival by the honey-stone facade climbed by verdant creepers. Flagstone paths and potted plants lead to the front door, beyond which await bright Scandi-style interiors – which balance lots of white, lots of pine and acres of space with warm exposed stone walls, contemporary bubble chandeliers and vintage touches such as classically-framed portraiture and antique furniture.

Visitors first enter the snug, a cosy opaline blue room with high ceilings, velvet-edged floral sofas and a welcoming log-burning stove. Next comes the stylish, white-washed dining room where ten people can gather to enjoy long breakfasts or convivial suppers illuminated by light flooding through the vast floor-to-ceiling windows. A contemporary open-plan kitchen and living area then follow, where domed wicker lampshades hang suspended over a minimalist white island - its many appliances cleverly integrated into fixtures - and more casual seating can be found in the shape of squishy cream leather sofas arranged around a slim log burner. Up a few steps, a utility room ready for bikes or dogs, a loo and a single bedroom round off the ground floor.

Upstairs, await three more luxurious sleeping quarters, two sharing a hotel-style bathroom complete with a deep freestanding bath and a walk-in shower. One of those is convertible into a twin room, and the last is the en-suite master bedroom, which also connects to a ‘family room’ with space for a travel cot or Z bed (both of which can be provided on request) for tiny tots.

Outside, The Stables’ exclusive patio terrace contains a corner sofa and table, while a nearby firepit has glorious river views.

Separated by a private gate, Brinkburn Priory is only a minute’s walk away. Featuring distinctive witches’-hat towers, it was built in 1135 by Augustinian monks delighted at the seclusion of this steep, wooded valley around the snaking River Coquet. Centuries later, the now-private residence was painted by Turner before seeing a gothic manor house added.

With the Priory now an English Heritage property, you’ll need to pay (or be a member) to enter and admire its stained-glass windows or William Hill organ. Around the wider, wonderful Brinkburn estate, there’s a gorgeous river trail to walk, plus a designated spot for wild swimmers just upstream from The Stables.

Ready to explore further? Alnwick Castle and the pretty market town of Rothbury are close, while Coquetdale, the Coquet’s upper section, is a wonderfully wild expanse of open moorland and rocky outcrops extending into the Cheviot Hills and Northumberland National Park. You’re also within 15 miles of Alnmouth’s bay beach, and just an hour’s drive from Hadrian’s Wall.

ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATION

For guests looking to holiday together, this property can be booked alongside the neighbouring property Prioiry Cottage (sleeps 2). The Stables & Priory Cottage can be booked as a single unit sleeping 10. A further four cottages in a terrace row at the entrance of the estate, Bel House (sleeps 4), Blakey House (sleeps 4), Cuthbert House (sleeps 4), and Mullins House (sleeps 4), are located 0.5 miles away. Blakey & Cuthbert House can be booked as a single unit sleeping 8.