Despite the peaceful, rural location, there are excellent amenities close by. For provisions, you can purchase award-winning organic meat and charcuterie from neighbouring Peelham Farm who can arrange for a fantastic selection of free-range organic pork, lamb or gourmet goodies to be delivered to your holiday home for the start of your stay. There is also a well-stocked village shop at Ayton (3 miles) selling local produce from Heatherslaw Bakery, Chainbridge Honey, quality meats from R G Foreman, and fresh fish from Waddell’s.

More extensive amenities can be found in the historic town of Berwick-upon-Tweed (6.5 miles) which has a mix of high street and independent shopping, as well as two large supermarkets, a Marks & Spencers food outlet, and a good selection of cafes, pubs and restaurants, including the popular Maltings Kitchen with adjoining arts and theatre venue.

Alternatively head to the pretty fishing village of Eyemouth (5.5 miles) where you can purchase lobster, scallops or wild Scottish salmon fresh from the day’s catches, or there are a number of local smoke houses preparing fish, meats and cheeses using traditional oak-cured methods. For dining, watch the comings-and-goings of this busy port over a relaxed lunch at award winning Oblo Bar & Bistro, visit Giacopazzi’s for a delicious homemade ice-cream, or head inland for an evening meal at The Allanton Inn (6 miles) renowned for serving fresh, local, seasonal food and an excellent selection of real ales and fine wines.

As well as gentle walks on the footpaths around the owner’s 200 acre arable farm, there are several established walking routes nearby. You can link into ‘Eddie’s’ Trail from nearby Ayton, a 6 mile circular route which takes in the baronial splendour of Ayton Castle and then threads its way through woodland, grassy lanes and riverside paths all the way down the coast to the pretty fishing port of Eyemouth. Here you can spend a day pottering around the harbour, enjoy a spot of fishing from the quayside, or perhaps pack an easel for an afternoon painting the colourful fishing boats or seascapes of the area with tuition from a renowned local artist.

For something different, why not take a mighty ride on a powerboat with Eyemouth Rib Trips, or for birdwatchers, photographers or naturalists, take a more leisurely cruise touring the stunning cliffs and coves of the Berwickshire coastline where you will spot thousands of seabirds and seals around the St. Abbs Nature Reserve before returning via the sea caves at Burnmouth - a legendary smugglers haunt! As one of Europe’s top five dive sites, the area offers fantastic scenic diving teeming with rich marine life as well as over 100 technical wrecks to explore including SS Glanmire and HMS Pathfinder.

Serious walkers and cyclists can link into a number of long distance routes including the Berwickshire Coastal Path, St.Cuthberts Way or the Sandstone Way which take in the spectacular scenery and rich wildlife of the area, but which all have easier stretches and shorter routes for those seeking a more leisurely pace. Alternatively the vast open spaces and heather-clad hillsides of the Cheviot Hills and Northumberland National Park provide endless opportunities for horse riding, biking and walking with iconic landmarks, big sky views and plenty of cosy pubs and picturesque villages for a coffee and cake stop.

For families, the area is a wonderful playground with something for all ages. Glorious beaches for sandcastle building, sheltered coves for surfing and bodyboarding, rocky inlets for coasteering and inland waterways for kayaking. Berwick and Eyemouth both have leisure pools for wet-weather days, there’s a cinema at The Maltings, and a craft and paint studio at nearby Pot-a-Doodle-Do. Explore the interactive activities at Gunsgreen House, head inland to the charming 15” gauge steam railway at Ford & Etal, or head further up the coast towards Dunbar (26 miles) where you can try your hand at wake-boarding, tear up and down the lake on large inflatable rings, or test your skill on the ropes course over water.

Finally take time to tour the wider area where castles and fortifications stand as historic reminders of the area’s rich and dramatic past. Wander the medieval town walls and cobbled lanes of Berwick, explore the beautiful grounds and mansion of family-friendly Paxton House, cross the causeway to the mystical Holy Island of Lindisfarne or visit the magnificent castles at Bamburgh, Dunstanburgh and Alnwick.

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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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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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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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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Shooting

For sheer variety alone Northumberland and the Scottish Borders are irresistible to any gun.

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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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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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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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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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