The comforts of the Coach House
We have been counting down seemingly endless sleeps, until our holiday in Northumberland.
This time my mum, Granny Ev is joining us on our family adventure at Amanda Warlock's delightful five-star Coach House in the Northumberland village of Lowick.
As we travel down the A1 we spot a rare chance for a Scottish sporting victory. Last time we crossed the Border we noticed two cars parked at the burger van on the Scottish side of the Border versus nil on the English side, and so a new family sport was born.
This time Scotland romped home with six vehicles to a very poor showing from the English, possibly an indicator of the state of our nation's health.
To break the journey we stop just south of Berwick at Scremerston.
My houseproud partner, tends to accidentally destroy our two gals' pottery masterpieces so we've decided to pause en route for a bit of pottery painting at Pot-A-Doodle Do.
The ominously named Borewell Farm has diversified, so alongside a herd of prime Aberdeen Angus cattle, you can find a converted outbuilding full of children frantically painting pottery.
Tasty home baking is provided for "boring" parents in the café alongside the bright and airy painting shed. The artistic amongst our party eventually choose a kitten and fish to decorate.
This time my mum, Granny Ev is joining us on our family adventure at Amanda Warlock's delightful five-star Coach House in the Northumberland village of Lowick.
As we travel down the A1 we spot a rare chance for a Scottish sporting victory. Last time we crossed the Border we noticed two cars parked at the burger van on the Scottish side of the Border versus nil on the English side, and so a new family sport was born.
This time Scotland romped home with six vehicles to a very poor showing from the English, possibly an indicator of the state of our nation's health.
To break the journey we stop just south of Berwick at Scremerston.
My houseproud partner, tends to accidentally destroy our two gals' pottery masterpieces so we've decided to pause en route for a bit of pottery painting at Pot-A-Doodle Do.
The ominously named Borewell Farm has diversified, so alongside a herd of prime Aberdeen Angus cattle, you can find a converted outbuilding full of children frantically painting pottery.
Tasty home baking is provided for "boring" parents in the café alongside the bright and airy painting shed. The artistic amongst our party eventually choose a kitten and fish to decorate.
They thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and if they end up being the next Tracey Emin, Graham might just regret his overzealous duster.
We stop for lunch at The Barn at Beal, further down the road. Rod Little, a farmer and a pretty shrewd cookie, turned disused outbuildings on his family farm into a wonderful tourist attraction in partnership with English Heritage.
He banked on the passing trade from the half-million visitors to Lindisfarne each year. The location is exceptional, looking out over the estuary towards Holy Island.
The landscape is borrowed by the building via full-length picture windows, which means you can experience the views without having to brave howling winds.
And the grub's delicious, too. But the kids are desperate to reach the holiday house, so we head inland and leave exploring the farm and the tidal island of Lindisfarne for another time.
The Coach House is situated at one end of the attractive village of Lowick. Essentially a one-road town, it does boast a village shop and two pubs.
Stepping inside the entrance hall you cannot fail to be charmed by this 19th-century conversion.
The open-plan living area comes complete with Charnwood wood-burning stove and a beautifully appointed kitchen and dining area.
The bedrooms feature the original exposed wooden beams. The interior has been beautifully decorated in a crisp cool style by owners Peter and Amanda, who returned to Northumberland from Oxfordshire because they wanted to live their lives at a different pace.
A pony paddock next door was a huge draw for Eve, who instantly bonded with the mare, Streamer and the yearling, Spearmint.
Next door's hens provided the eggs in the welcome pack – how about that for low food miles?
The following day we head off to Seahouses and then scamper along the expansive sands at Beadnell Bay beach, before attempting to end the day with a quick visit to the Alnwick Garden.
Hope manages to disgrace us all by putting on a fine exhibition of a full-blown tantrum.
Like the Red Sea, the crowds part as she is frogmarched back to the car.
Tempers restored back in the calm of the Coach House, we all enjoy our evening meal outside, in the delightful patio area.
The final day dawns, and it is with a heavy heart that we wave goodbye to the Coach House, as it really felt like home.
As a final hurrah, we stop off at the Heatherslaw Light Railway, at the nearby village of Forge.
The steam railway runs between Forge and Etal along two miles of track – a return journey of around 50 minutes.
The girls loved the experience of chugging through the countryside at a sedate pace. We lunch at the Lavender Tearooms in the heart of the picturesque village of Etal.
Sadly, our holiday is over and it's time to say "Home James" but wild horses couldn't drag us away if we had a choice in the matter.
We stop for lunch at The Barn at Beal, further down the road. Rod Little, a farmer and a pretty shrewd cookie, turned disused outbuildings on his family farm into a wonderful tourist attraction in partnership with English Heritage.
He banked on the passing trade from the half-million visitors to Lindisfarne each year. The location is exceptional, looking out over the estuary towards Holy Island.
The landscape is borrowed by the building via full-length picture windows, which means you can experience the views without having to brave howling winds.
And the grub's delicious, too. But the kids are desperate to reach the holiday house, so we head inland and leave exploring the farm and the tidal island of Lindisfarne for another time.
The Coach House is situated at one end of the attractive village of Lowick. Essentially a one-road town, it does boast a village shop and two pubs.
Stepping inside the entrance hall you cannot fail to be charmed by this 19th-century conversion.
The open-plan living area comes complete with Charnwood wood-burning stove and a beautifully appointed kitchen and dining area.
The bedrooms feature the original exposed wooden beams. The interior has been beautifully decorated in a crisp cool style by owners Peter and Amanda, who returned to Northumberland from Oxfordshire because they wanted to live their lives at a different pace.
A pony paddock next door was a huge draw for Eve, who instantly bonded with the mare, Streamer and the yearling, Spearmint.
Next door's hens provided the eggs in the welcome pack – how about that for low food miles?
The following day we head off to Seahouses and then scamper along the expansive sands at Beadnell Bay beach, before attempting to end the day with a quick visit to the Alnwick Garden.
Hope manages to disgrace us all by putting on a fine exhibition of a full-blown tantrum.
Like the Red Sea, the crowds part as she is frogmarched back to the car.
Tempers restored back in the calm of the Coach House, we all enjoy our evening meal outside, in the delightful patio area.
The final day dawns, and it is with a heavy heart that we wave goodbye to the Coach House, as it really felt like home.
As a final hurrah, we stop off at the Heatherslaw Light Railway, at the nearby village of Forge.
The steam railway runs between Forge and Etal along two miles of track – a return journey of around 50 minutes.
The girls loved the experience of chugging through the countryside at a sedate pace. We lunch at the Lavender Tearooms in the heart of the picturesque village of Etal.
Sadly, our holiday is over and it's time to say "Home James" but wild horses couldn't drag us away if we had a choice in the matter.
HOW TO GET THERE ¦ Take the A1 south from Edinburgh to the crossroads for Holy Island. Turn right, for Kentstone, then right on to the B6353 for Wooler. Lowick is three miles further on.
WHERE TO STAY ¦ The Coach House, Lowick Northumberland www.sykescotta ges.co.uk, sleeps six
AND THERE'S MORE ¦ Pot-A-Doodle Do, Scremerston, Northumberland
The Barn at Beal, near Berwick upon Tweed
This article first appeared in Scotsman Magazine 01/08/2009
This article first appeared in Scotsman Magazine 01/08/2009
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