Lockdown rules now vary across the UK. Check the postcode of your destination before travelling as the local rules may differ from your own. Please note our writers visited these hotels prior to the coronavirus pandemic
As England’s least crowded county, Northumberland offers plenty of space for retreating from the crowds into your own private world. No bustling cities; no commuter traffic. The coast beckons with miles of dune-backed beaches while inland there are the soft green Cheviot Hills and wilder moorland, plus spectacular Hadrian’s Wall with its horizon-stretching views. Sprinkled around are sturdy villages with welcoming inns or charming small hotels that are perfect for quiet stays. Then there are the grander affairs like castles and Georgian stately homes – several of which tempt with a spa or an indulgent afternoon tea (or both). Here’s our pick of the most romantic hotels in Northumberland in locations including Chathill, Eshott, Blanchland, Alnwick, Otterburn, Corbridge, and near Hadrian’s Wall.
Doxford Hall Hotel & Spa
Chathill, Northumberland, England
Doxford Hall is close to the stunning Northumberland coastline and feels secluded. The core of the house is classic Georgian, with large sash windows, Doric pillars, satisfying symmetry, and plenty of elegant sofas. Bedrooms are light-filled, ridiculously large and handsomely furnished. Thick curtains and floaty muslin drapes add elegance. Set in 10 acres of gardens and woodland, featuring a yew-tree maze, there’s also a paved terrace that makes a nice spot for afternoon tea. A small spa includes a pool and sauna.
From
£
115
per night
Rates provided by
Booking.com
Eshott Hall
Eshott, Northumberland, England
A Georgian country house that charms with all the essentials: a creeper-covered façade, window seats, panelled walls and plasterwork ceilings. Public rooms are elegant and furnished with antiques and ornaments. Watching the wildlife – pheasants, deer plus red squirrels, if you’re lucky – through the huge sash windows is a treat. There’s a tennis court, croquet lawn and woodland walks. Bedrooms are generous and all have good views. The two AA Rosettes dining room sources some fruit and vegetables from the walled kitchen garden.
From
£
100
per night
Rates provided by
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The Joiners Arms
Alnwick, Northumberland, England
A destination pub with five flirty bedrooms; this is a weekend treat getaway sort of place. The all-day menu offers crowd-pleasing, above-average pub staples, often with an interesting twist such as haggis sausage roll with whisky dipping sauce. The five rooms are big and sexy with deep-pile carpets, bold colours and a shameless ‘boudoir’ style – three have enormous baths set on plinths in the bedroom. Up the romance with a romantic turn-down or bath butler service, which might include candles, rose petals or a bottle of prosecco.
From
£
155
per night
Rates provided by
Booking.com
Langley Castle
Northumberland, England
This is the real deal: a 14th-century castle – all battlements and seven-foot thick walls – where you can swan around in grand rooms with window seats and huge fireplaces. Only the top bedrooms are in the castle though; most make do with the impressive view from the converted lodge and coach house. Head off for a historical tour of the castle or make the most of walking trails in the grounds before you settle down for a candlelit dinner. Even this is a performance – canapés in the drawing room, amuse-bouche, a flourish of starched napkins – but be sure to bring your credit card.
From
£
116
per night
Rates provided by
Booking.com
Layside
Hexham, Northumberland, England
The gloriously isolated, contemporary-style, three-suite log cabin is designed to both blend into the landscape and be environmentally friendly: think sustainable timber, thick insulation, a low-level roof and floor-to-ceiling windows hidden at the rear. It’s cleverly arranged so that the three rooms (with individual entrances) don’t overlook each other, offering maximum privacy and uninterrupted views south over fields and moorland. Room service is an indulgent affair; meal hampers filled with creative home-cooked delights are brought to your door.
From
£
98
per night
Lord Crewe Arms
Blanchland, County Durham, England
A lord-of-the-manor building, in a pin-neat estate village, that oozes atmosphere at every stone-flagged turn. The original fabric of the building – the Abbot’s lodging of a 12th-century priory – has been blended with a 21st-century country-manor look: flagged floors, exposed stone and vast fireplaces mix with pale-painted floorboards, tartan cushions and modern ironwork candelabras. It’s big yet cosy, with lots of quirky corners. Outdoors-lovers are well catered for, with free bicycles, wellingtons and walking and cycling routes.
From
£
176
per night
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Matfen Hall
Northumberland, England
This is a stately pile of a hotel, close to Hadrian’s Wall, that has managed to add a spa, leisure centre and golf courses without losing its grandeur. The impressive, 19th-century Gothic mansion – all vast mullioned windows, balustraded roof, towering chimneys – is the ancestral home of the Blackett family. The 16 rooms in the original house are very grand with magnificent windows overlooking the golf course or woodland, some with plasterwork ceilings and four-poster beds or fireplaces. Expect polished cooking with a robust Northumbrian feel in the two AA-Rosette restaurant.
From
£
110
per night
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The Northumberland Arms
West Thirston, Northumberland, England
This handsome village inn and renowned foodie destination has a commanding position at the edge of the well-heeled village of Felton. It was built in the 1820s by the 3rd Duke of Northumberland as a coaching inn for visitors to his home at nearby Alnwick Castle. Inside, there’s a smart but relaxed rustic look, with flagged or stripped-wood floors, exposed-stone walls and wood-burning stoves, while the six large bedrooms have a country house feel executed with a deft modern touch and a dollop of whimsy. The cooking is assured with upmarket pub classics, and breakfasts are a cut above the usual.
From
£
80
per night
Walwick Hall
Humshaugh, Northumberland, England
Just yards from Hadrian’s Wall, Walwick Hall feels remote yet isn’t too far from the market towns of Hexham and Corbridge. A tennis court, gym, pool, plus fishing packages suit action-seekers, while a small spa, comfortable drawing room, clubby bar, terrace and large lawns suit those wanting to chill out. The 10 rooms and suites are comfortably traditional yet done with a light but confident hand, and bathrooms mostly have free-standing baths. The confident cooking gives traditional dishes a modern twist with everything made from scratch.
From
£
195
per night
William de Percy Inn
Otterburn, England
The smart, slate-grey and white exterior of the former coaching inn gives no clue that all may not be traditional inside. Interiors are rustic-chic – flagged floors, exposed beams and brickwork, scrubbed tables, mismatched chairs and floral banquettes – mixed with a French-boudoir vibe. Unashamedly flirty bedrooms have been designed for fun and indulgence. Carpets are thick and soft, walls are dark and rich, while pops of jewel-bright colours are found in velvet curtains and throws. Top-level rooms might include a gold-coloured slipper-bath.
From
£
130
per night
Rates provided by
Booking.com
This article was originally published by Telegraph.co.uk. Read the original article here.