Enjoy a winter wonderland from your Northumberland cottage

For many people, winter means cups of hot chocolate, early nights, wet pavements, scarves and central heating. But not many people know it's also the perfect opportunity to explore the natural beauty of the British countryside in a totally new way - and in the comfort of any of a range of Northumberland Cottages.

Holiday cottages might make you think of walks through summer forests, lounging on sun-soaked beaches, or sitting in a luxurious garden with a bottle of wine, but have you considered what they can offer for holiday opportunities this winter?

Located in and around an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, cottages to rent in Northumberland can provide a whole range of experiences during the winter months.

Walks or bike rides through the dramatic landscape are still incredible, but for different reasons. With the hills playing host to icy winds, and the strong possibility of snow descending onto them, what, in summer, would be a pleasant stroll becomes a bracing challenge. Where the slopes were previously lush and flowering, they are now completely transformed into something dangerous and beautiful.

Staying in one of the many cottages in Northumberland means that you can easily get to a host of different settings; if rolling hills and wide valleys don't appeal to you, then the winter seas along the coast might. Huge waves breaking against outcrops of rocks, wind rushing and climbing up sheer cliff faces, plants desperately clinging to the rock so as not to be swept away, either by gusts or the North Sea; it is, in a word, incredible.

The historical aspect is not removed during the winter months either. Hadrian's Wall, the many castles and fortresses, and the long-established villages all endure, just as they have for countless years before. In fact, seeing them in the cold, harsh winter shows them in one of their best lights. The summer months may have provided more opportunities to explore their outer walls, but with the wind howling outside, the sun coming up late and departing early, and rain or snow lashing against their thick, stone walls, a much greater appreciation is garnered for what life there would really be like, all from the comfort of your self catering Northumberland cottage!

And, of course, the best part of weathering all of the above, apart from the magnificent splendour of it all, is being able to come back to your cosy, snug cottage, settle beside a warm fireplace, and enjoy a glass of whatever tickles your fancy, knowing you'll collapse into bed and sleep well that night.

Use your winter break wisely this year and make your getaway to the wild beauty of Northumberland's rolling hills and crashing seas for true rejuvenation.

02 October 2009