For some travelling to Northumberland, reaching Bamburgh's stunning castle is the overall aim of their trip.
And the glorious fortress is a fitting way to crown a staycation, especially if you're not travelling further north to Scotland or don't want to risk crossing the Holy Island Causeway. However, there's a much lesser-known bay a little further north of Bamburgh that doesn't get the same plaudits but is well worth a visit.
Budle Bay has a series of huge mud flats which are exposed at low tide and the area is part of the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve. It's hugely popular with birdwatchers, especially in the winter.
Read more: The beautiful sands that are just a stone's throw from one of the best beaches in Europe
With an industrial past, there's now a campsite and a handful of homes, some of which have been converted into high-end holiday lets. One of those is the Fat Badger, which has been named one of the UK's best seaside hotels, lodges and beach houses in an article by Guardian Travel.
Of the Fat Badger, the Guardian wrote: "Light lifts from the water,” Northumberland poet Basil Bunting once wrote, conjuring the mystical interplay of sea, wind and light that draws walkers to the golden beaches of nearby Bamburgh and Ross Back Sands.
"Light streams into this striking three-bedroom, contemporary house, its two-storey floor-to-ceiling windows affording views from the mezzanine living room across countryside to the tidal flats and bird sanctuary of Budle Bay. A short drive from the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, the Fat Badger is a luxurious, industrial-chic house with wood burner and a large patio for star-gazing."
To read the full article on Guardian Travel, click here. To find out more about the Fat Badger, see the listing on holidaycottages.co.uk.
Though there's no doubt Budle Bay is a stunning place to stay on a trip to Northumberland, you should not attempt to walk across its mouth even at low tide - there have been multiple rescues there in recent years.
Where's your favourite place to stay on the Northumberland Coast? Let us know!
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