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Alnwick, Northumberland

Lookout Cottage

The area surrounding Lookout Cottage, Northumberland
The area surrounding Lookout Cottage, Northumberland | © National Trust / Mike Henton
The kitchen, dining and sitting room at Lookout Cottage, Northumberland
The exterior of Lookout Cottage, Northumberland

Lookout Cottage

A former lookout, this simple but snug cottage is next to a HM Coastguard radio room.

Grid of 14 images
The kitchen, dining and sitting room at Lookout Cottage, Northumberland
The exterior of Lookout Cottage, Northumberland
The area surrounding Lookout Cottage, Northumberland
The kitchen, dining and sitting room at Lookout Cottage, Northumberland
The kitchen, dining and sitting room at Lookout Cottage, Northumberland
The kitchen, dining and sitting room at Lookout Cottage, Northumberland
The bedroom at Lookout Cottage, Northumberland
The shower room at Lookout Cottage, Northumberland
The bedroom at Lookout Cottage, Northumberland
The WC at Lookout Cottage, Northumberland
The area surrounding Lookout Cottage, Northumberland
The garden at Lookout Cottage, Northumberland
The area surrounding Lookout Cottage, Northumberland
The area surrounding Lookout Cottage, Northumberland

© National Trust / Mike Henton

A former lookout, this simple but snug cottage is next to a HM Coastguard radio room.

At a glance

Guests
4
Bedrooms
1
Number of dogs welcome
2
Reference
017001
Acorn rating

About Lookout Cottage

Standing tall in a dreamy position just above the golden sands of Embleton beach is this former lookout. 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 bunkers where the coastguards used to sleep. There’s an outside toilet too, which is built into the walls of its garden. 

Snug and homely inside, Lookout Cottage has one four-sleeper bedroom, a shower room and an inviting living and kitchen area, which when the log-burning is going, feels exceptionally cosy. As this is partly still a working coastguard service, the north room of the cottage houses HM Coastguard radio equipment.

From here you’ll be able to walk along the vast silver sands of the coast. And if conditions are right, you may even be able to witness the Northern Lights in the winter months. Your walks could lead you to coastal castle Dunstanburgh, or you could drive there in 10 minutes. 
 

Features and facilities

  • Wi-Fi, available
  • Garden, available
  • EV charging, not available
  • Fridge, available
  • Freezer, available
  • Microwave, available
  • Open fire / wood burner, available
  • Television, available
  • DVD, available
  • Washing machine, not available
  • Dishwasher, not available
  • Tumble dryer, not available
  • BBQ, not available
  • Cot & high chair, not available

Location

Accessibility

Careful driving advised - access across field. Parking next to cottage in good weather - at bottom of hill at other times. Find more information in the Accessibility Guide. Accessibility questions? Email holiday.enquiries@nationaltrust.org.uk or call us on 0344 800 2070.

Read our accessibility guide 

Layout

Ground floor layout

Sitting/dining room with multi-fuel stove, kitchen area, bedroom with double bed and two original built-in bunks, smaller than average at 2'3" x 5'7", and en-suite shower and washbasin. The lavatory is in a building outside of the cottage, this has heating and lighting.

More information

Heating: Electric heating included.

Access: Access to the cottage is across a field, so careful driving is advised.

Parking: Cars can be parked next to the cottage when good weather permits. There is a designated parking space at the bottom of the hill where guests can leave their car at all other times. Additional car parking available in public pay and display car park across the lane from the cottage.

Please note: The lavatory is in a building outside of the cottage in the garden, this has heating and lighting.

The north room of the cottage houses HM Coastguard radio equipment. Sounds may be heard and engineers may visit the property at any time but access is separate to the holiday cottage.