The Property
Westcroft offers spacious accommodation for 6 guests in the delightful village of Norham with a pub and excellent village amenities within easy walking distance, and superb walks from the doorstep.
Downstairs the spacious, light-filled sitting room has an open fire and sumptuous sofas. A cosy snug with wood burner adjoins the eat-in kitchen and offers a more informal space for spending convivial time with family and friends as well as providing an ideal play room for younger guests.
French doors lead from the kitchen to a terrace which provides a sheltered spot for outside dining. The fabulous walled garden is a particular highlight. South facing and with extensive planting, it is a delightful spot to relax and is fully enclosed providing privacy as well as a safe environment for children and dogs. At the rear of the garden is a gravelled parking area accessed via a track with open fields behind.
There are excellent walks from the doorstep both from the rear of the property into a network of walks around fields behind the house and from the front of the house there are riverside walks which run for miles both up and down stream.
Local amenities
The property sits in the pretty village of Norham just a stone’s throw from the River Tweed and the border with Scotland. It has good local amenities including a village store, bakery and gunsmith as well as the celebrated Foreman’s Butchers where you will find a fantastic selection of quality produce including locally-sourced meats, pies, cheeses, fine wines and even fishing tackle. There are two pubs in the village, including the dog-friendly and cycle-friendly Mason’s Arms serving real ales and tasty food, and for those who love the traditional British take-away, the fish and chip van on a Thursday night is not to be missed! A short drive (6 miles) will take you to two of the best restaurants in the area - The Collingwood Arms at Cornhill-on-Tweed or The Allanton Inn serving some of the finest local produce amidst relaxed, convivial surroundings.
More extensive amenities can be found in the Elizabethan walled 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. The Maltings is a vibrant theatre and arts venue for an evening of entertainment, while the Swan Leisure Centre offers plenty of family-friendly entertainment on wet-weather days with fitness facilities, wave pool and flumes. The town is also served by the main East Coast rail line with regular services to Edinburgh and Newcastle.
Activities and attractions
The proximity of the property to the River Tweed means that some of the finest salmon fishing can be found right on the doorstep. The Pedwell Beat lies immediately above and below Norham Bridge with the outstanding ruins of Norham Castle forming the historic backdrop of the lower pools on this productive 1.5 mile stretch. The Ladykirk, Canny and Gliddeyhaugh beats all sit nearby with other prime bottom and lower Tweed beats within easy driving distance. The lower Tweed also has good stocks of wild brown trout and grayling with fly fishing on approximately 2 miles of both banks at Ladykirk and Norham from £10 per day. Fishing on the Whiteadder and Till can also yield some excellent results in the right river conditions.
Guests can enjoy some wonderful walks directly from the house on peaceful riverside trails along the Anglo-Scottish border, taking in the ruins of Norham Castle famously depicted in the iconic paintings of J M W Turner as early as 1797. Upstream the Norham Bridge and Milne Graden Walk is a scenic loop of 6.5 miles, or a leisurely walk downstream will take you to the superb Union Chain Bridge which spans the Tweed, once the longest wrought-iron suspension bridge in the world and now the oldest of its type still in use today. From here you can explore the beautiful house and gardens of Paxton House with its child-friendly activity programme, or visit the attractions of the nearby Chain Bridge Honey Farm. You can take a fun boat trip from the jetty at Paxton House to Berwick with stunning views across the estuary, or walk and wander the perfectly preserved fortifications of the historic old town before exploring the rich architecture and seascapes which inspired the paintings of the great artist L S Lowry on his many visits to the area.
The property is an ideal base for exploring coast and country with an abundance of family-friendly activities to keep all ages entertained. Pack a picnic and head to the outstanding heritage coastline which offers mile upon mile of golden sands where you can relax and dabble in the rock pools or try your hand at surfing, bodyboarding, kitesurfing, coasteering or kayaking on the many gentle bays and coves with qualified accredited instructors. Bike or hike on the coastal paths or through the pretty fishing villages of the area, watch soaring windsurfers on the stunning beach at Bamburgh, voted Britain’s top picnic spot in 2013, before heading further down the coast for a little broomstick training at Alnwick Castle! Further inland, Ford & Etal Estates offers a great day out with over 20 family attractions including riding, canoeing, cycling, climbing, and a charming 15” gauge steam railway.
Serious walkers and cyclists can link into a number of long distance routes including St. Cuthbert’s Way, the Berwickshire Coastal Path or the Sandstone Way where you will experience breathtaking scenery, exceptional nature reserves, spectacular castles and grand stately homes as you pass on through. Alternatively the vast open spaces and heather-clad hillsides of the Northumberland National Park provides endless trails, iconic landmarks and big sky views, giving way to forests and rolling parklands with plenty of cosy pubs and picturesque villages for a much deserved rest stop at the end of a busy day.
Accommodation
Ground floor
Sitting room with open fire, large TV with Freeview and Blu-Ray DVD player, DVDs, books and games.
Dining kitchen with range cooker with 2 ovens and 6 ring gas hob, fridge / freezer, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer and radio. Dining table for 6 guests.
Adjoining the kitchen is a cosy snug with log burner.
Cloakroom with WC and basin.
First floor
Bedroom one with 5’ double bed, wardrobe and chest of drawers.
Bedroom two with 5’ double bed, wardrobe and chest of drawers.
Bedroom three with 5’ double bed and chest of drawers.
Bathroom with bath with shower over, basin and WC.
Wifi and mobile coverage
Free wi fi is available. There is adequate mobile coverage on most networks.
Garden and grounds
The property is set in a very pretty, mature, fully-enclosed garden providing privacy as well as space for children and dogs. There is a terrace accessed from the kitchen with outside dining area and BBQ. There is private, off road parking for two cars at the top of the garden.
Catering
Catering is entirely flexible. The house can be taken on a purely self-catered basis or full and partly catered options are available, including a homemade meal and wine delivery service.
Dogs
Two well-behaved dogs are welcome. Owners are requested to keep their dogs downstairs to the kitchen and snug.
Logs
A generous initial supply of logs is provided.
