The Smithy in Crookham

Local amenities The cottage sits just 3.5 miles from Cornhill-on-Tweed which has an excellent village shop selling a super selection of fresh local produce, including picnic hampers and scrummy home baking. It is also home to the highly regarded Collingwood Arms which has a pub as well as a superb restaurant for lingering lunches or fine evening dining. Alternatively, pop your wellies on and take a fifteen minute stroll over the field and woodland margins to the popular Bluebell Inn for a relaxing drink after supper. A more extensive range of shops, pubs and cafes can be found in the quaint market town of Coldstream (5 miles) where the shopping is small and friendly with a good mix of independent outlets running the length of the High Street, including a family butchers, fruit and veg shop, bakery and small Co-op supermarket for holiday provisions. The Coldstream Gallery is a lovely spot to browse art, ceramics and jewellery by local designers; or pop into Calico Interiors for lifestyle gifts and accessories before coffee and cake at the charmingly named ‘Mad Hatter’ nearby. A number of larger supermarkets, including a Marks & Spencers food outlet can be found in the historic town of Berwick-upon-Tweed (13 miles), or picturesque Kelso (14 miles) which has an excellent selection of independent shops set around a Flemish style market square. Activities and attractions The cottage is located in the heart of North Northumberland and is exceptionally well placed for exploring the wider area. Seven miles in one direction will take you to the edge of the Northumberland National Park, a designated area of outstanding natural beauty with over 400 square miles of stunning landscapes, criss-crossed by over 700 miles of walking, biking and riding trails which follow the routes of ancient cattle drovers, taking in Iron Age stone fortifications and traces of Bronze Age hillforts amidst the tranquil and rugged landscape. Hop into your walking boots and you can join Northumberland Park Rangers for a guided walk from Wooler where you will learn much about the heritage and wildlife of the area, or follow sections of St. Cuthbert’s Way and enjoy some outstanding vistas along the route as it winds its way to the dune-fringed sands on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. For cycling, you will find everything from gentle low-level meanders to big hill country treks, including long-distance routes such as the Pennine Cycleway or the cycle challenges of the Wooler Wheel Hub. For families, the Breamish Valley is a popular area with pretty river picnic spots where children can paddle, followed by a walk to the lovely waterfall at Linhope Spout where you may even spot some wild Cheviot goats along the way. Alternatively, a warm welcome awaits you at Ford & Etal Estates (3 miles) which has a super range of family friendly activities with over twenty attractions to explore. Take a ride on Bunty on the very charming 15” gauge steam railway, follow the mouse trail around the Heatherslaw Corn mill or there is fishing, canoeing, cycle hire and a riding centre all nearby. For art lovers, a must-visit is the pre-Raphaelite murals at the Lady Waterford Hall, or explore the ruins of Etal Castle or the local heritage sites of nearby Flodden or Duddo Standing Stones, Northumberland’s equivalent of Stonehenge. The stunning heritage coastline is just a short half-hour drive away with miles of pristine sandy beaches, jolly pubs serving the freshest fish and chips, and picture postcard coastal villages with charming galleries and gift shops. Experience the exhilarating thrill of kitesurfing at Bamburgh, coasteering at Beadnell or perhaps just the simple pleasures of a picnic and a game of beach cricket on sands which remain almost deserted even in the summer months. History buffs will be enchanted by the rich heritage of the area, where dramatic castles and grand stately homes punctuate the landscape here, including imposing Bamburgh perched on its rocky outcrop above Bamburgh Beach; Alnwick, star of the Harry Potter films; or Chillingham, said to be the most haunted castle in Britain and home to the only wild cattle in the world. Fishing is available on the River Till about a ten minute drive and is one of the area's best kept secrets with an impressive sea trout run each spring said to be the best in the country. Trout permits are available for as little as £5 per day and rods, reels and waders can be hired locally.