I stayed in super cosy new Northumberland holiday cottage brought to life by Sunderland couple

Behind the rather inconspicuous white wash exterior of this terraced property is a carefully-curated cottage, aimed at providing a peaceful break in one of the county’s best coastal spots.

It’s about a half-mile saunter into the heart of the village from the cottage, which is in a residential area of North Sunderland, the old inland fishing village that forms part of Seahouses.

Giving this North Sunderland cottage new life was a labour of love for City of Sunderland couple Steph and Steven Marshall.

They took on the holiday let last July and set about elevating it from a three-star accommodation to five.

Because of honouring existing bookings, they had to complete all the renovation works over five weeks, putting their stamp on the property - which opened in December - with touches to make it stand out in a competitive market.

“We’ve been renovating homes for about 10 years and are really into interior design,” explained Steph. “With this, our first holiday let, we took all the best bits from holiday homes we’ve stopped in over the years and ones that really stood out.

“We wanted to make it unique, but we also didn’t want it to be style over substance; making it homely was really important to us. We want guests to feel like that can come back after a day walking in Northumberland and kick off their shoes and relax. Making it pet-friendly was also important.”

With the couple working in construction, they also set about making the property more eco-friendly and energy-efficient, installing solar panels and swerving an electric hot tub with chemicals for a wood-fired hot tub.”

Other touches include all natural, cruelty-free beauty products from Dovecote in Alnwick and eco-friendly cleaning products. Bedding, meanwhile, is anti-allergy.

The couple chose Seahouses for their venture into holiday lets after both growing up with family holidays in and around this unspoilt corner of the country.

Steven said: “One of things that also appealed about Northumberland is just how much the tourist market has picked up, it’s not unusual now to hear American accents when you’re out in the area.

“Post-Covid, staycations also appeal a lot more to people, too. A lot of people got dogs in lockdown and want to be able to take them on holiday with them. Restaurants and bars just get better and better there too, it’s great to see businesses investing in the area.”

How many bedrooms are there?

There’s three double bedrooms in total, two with double beds and one with twin beds.

Each has its own identity, with the master bedroom decorated in coral wallpaper, raffia touches and windows overlooking the quiet estate where I woke to the sound of birdsong and the clip clop of horses.

Next door, the second bedroom, which has a small double, is drenched in a comforting dusky pink and plush furnishings.

We all loved the ceiling in the twin room, which is decorated in effective cloud wallpaper that works well with the soothing blue tone of the room.

There’s a main bathroom with bath and walk in shower upstairs with the bedrooms, as well as a toilet. There’s also a second toilet downstairs with wash basin and a small pantry with a washing machine.

Facilities

The kitchen is really well-stocked, down to the Nespresso and slow-cooker, if you’re planning for nights in.

As you can expect from this place, the kitchen is a stylish affair accessed via a hallway in a comforting mushroom colour.

It’s fully equipped, there wasn’t anything we were after that couldn’t be found in the kitchen, which also includes a range of condiments.

The dining nook, with marble-effect table, is also a really lovely spot for breakfasts.

Through to the lounge, which is again really well-equipped, down to a well-stocked book shelf, record player and games.

Wall paper is a big feature here with a nature-inspired print adding plenty of character to the lounge. Meanwhile, namesake orcas dance around the walls in the downstairs WC.

Back to the lounge and at its heart is a log fire, ideal for curling up in front of - and it kept us toasty throughout out stay.

This is very much a holiday let designed to be a home from home.

Is it pet-friendly?

Yes, as well as up to six guests, the cottage accommodates up to two dogs (well-behaved ones).

Outdoors

There’s a surprisingly large garden at the back, with some landscaping still underway.

It comprises an al fresco dining area, fire pit and seating and a wood-fired hot tub - though you will need to plan ahead to heat it as it takes a couple of hours.

It ties in with the eco-friendly elements of the cottage, including solar panels and eco-friendly cleaning products that are provided.

Parking, meanwhile, is street parking in the residential streets that surround the property. Obviously, there’s some areas reserved for residents, but we didn’t have any bother finding spots for two cars.

*Orca Cottage is available for a minimum of three nights, with prices starting from £800 through https://www.cottagesinnorthumberland.co.uk/