Lookout Cottage

This former lookout stands tall in a dreamy position just above the golden sands of the beach in Embleton Bay. It was built in 1822 and was used to combat smuggling on the coastline.

Inside, quirks of its 19th-century past remain, from the wood-panelled walls to the original bunks where the coastguards used to sleep. It's snug and homely, with an inviting living space with woodburner. There's one bedroom that sleeps four, making it ideal for a family holiday, as the bunkbeds are small and best suited for children.

As this is partly still a working coastguard service, the north room of the cottage houses HM Coastguard radio equipment.

You can walk down to the fine, sandy beach, with good surf conditions, rockpools and plenty of space for kite-flying, and the pub in Low Newton, serving locally caught seafood and own-brewed beer. You can also walk to Dunstanburgh Castle, a ruined 14th-century coastal fortress, or drive there in 10 minutes. If the conditions are right, you may even be able to witness the Northern Lights in the winter months.

It's only a 15-minute drive to Seahouses, where you can join a boat to the Farne Islands – a paradise for wildlife lovers and photographers. These islands are home to one of the largest grey seal colonies on the east coast of England, and over 40,000 paris of puffins breed here from May to July. 

There are two other cottages in the bay, Rockside Cottage (sleeps four, dog friendly) and Risemoor (sleeps six, dog friendly).