Title: Things To Do And Where To Stay In Rothbury Word Count: 610 Summary: Rothbury is one of the most scenic small towns in the ancient county of Northumberland, and makes an excellent base from which to discover the beautiful landscape of this most picturesque of English regions. Situated in rolling countryside, Rothbury is host to a number of bed and breakfasts that will help make your stay in Northumberland a pleasurable one. However, there are plenty of other accommodation options open to the visitor, and one of the more popular is to book a se... Keywords: self catering, lodge, bed and breakfast, rothbury, northumberland Article Body: Rothbury is one of the most scenic small towns in the ancient county of Northumberland, and makes an excellent base from which to discover the beautiful landscape of this most picturesque of English regions. Situated in rolling countryside, Rothbury is host to a number of bed and breakfasts that will help make your stay in Northumberland a pleasurable one. However, there are plenty of other accommodation options open to the visitor, and one of the more popular is to book a self catering stay in one of the many lodges and holiday cottages dotted around Rothbury and the surrounding area. Rothbury is a small town of some two and a half thousand people, which sits near Northumberland National Park. Indeed, nearly a quarter of all the land in Northumberland is protected on natural heritage grounds, and Rothbury is situated very close to its fantastic coastline, which is a visitor attraction in its own right. The ancient monastery at Lindisfarne, also known as Holy Island, is not far away, and has proved an enduring favourite with visitors for many years. Rothbury and its surrounding area is very popular with hikers, walkers, and anyone with a love of the great outdoors, and it pays to take some time to explore the countryside in a way that staying in a big town simply doesn’t allow you to do. As we’ll see, it’s a perfect base for a self catering holiday in the north of England, and there are hundreds of holiday cottages and lodges in the surrounding region for you to choose from at your leisure. Rothbury is located a few miles southwest of historic Alnwick, with its famous castle erected over nine hundred years ago, and probably now best known for its role as the stand-in for Hogwarts School in the Harry Potter movies. It is also handy for Morpeth, which is nowadays the administrative capital of Northumberland, and a charming market town in its own right. Other local attractions include Northumberland National Park, Hadrian’s Wall (which is just 45 minutes from Rothbury) and the beautiful Cheviot Hills, which attract walkers from all over the country. A popular sight for visitors is the magnificent country house at Cragside, which was once home to noted industrialist Lord Armstrong and which has been administered by the National Trust since 1977. Cragside was the first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectric power, and boasts one of Europe’s largest and finest rock gardens. It’s well worth a visit. As well as the beautiful scenery of Northumberland, of course, a self catering holiday in Rothbury also allows you to explore neighbouring areas like Newcastle, travel down into Yorkshire, or up to the Scottish Borders with its historic market towns such as Selkirk or Hawick. If you are looking for a self catering holiday in Northumberland, there is a wide range of holiday cottages and lodges available for all requirements, budgets, and size of party. Situated just a few miles to the east of Rothbury, Swarland Old Hall is a small, family-run farm located in the heart of some of Northumberland’s most spectacular scenery. Swarland Old Hall offers both self-catering and bed-and-breakfast accommodation, which has won awards for its service, hospitality and quality. The self-catering lodges sleep between six and eight guests in three bedrooms, all equipped with private bathroom. In addition, there is a fully fitted kitchen in each lodge as well as a host of other facilities to help make your stay a pleasant and comfortable one. If you decide to make your stay in Northumberland into a self catering holiday, Swarland Old Hall is an excellent choice.