Book in for a star-gazing break

VISITORS to holiday cottages at Outchester and Ross near Bamburgh on the #Northumberland Coast this winter are in for a star-studded surprise. 

The owners have been fascinated by the array of stars visible in this part of coastal Northumberland for many years and are members of NASTRO (Northumberland Astronomical Society). As a bonus for their guests and for no extra charge, they have added a custom-built, star-gazing shelter, complete with sliding roof and a state-of-the-art 120mm Pro Refractor telescope.  Adults staying in the cottages can book their time slot and turn up to catch a glimpse of the heavens.

The telescope is so technically advanced that it can be programmed to look for a particular star or galaxy, and will automatically swivel to the optimum view point.

Because of the lack of light pollution in this part of Northumberland (Outchester and Ross are also in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), along with the #DarkSkyPark in West Northumberland, the area is considered one of the best places in England to spot the Milky Way, meteor showers, star clusters, and Orion. The Northumberland coast is also renowned as being one of the best spots outside Norway to see the #AuroraBorealis or Northern Lights.

If visitors prefer a less advanced telescope, two more telescopes are available, also at no extra charge. The 200mm Dobsonian and 60 Pentaflex telescopes are perfect for first time star gazers and relatively easy to use. 

There are 17 four- and five-star holiday properties in total at the coastal locations of Outchester and Ross, including the restored Ducket, a 65ft 18th century stone tower overlooking Holy Island. Three properties are dog-friendly. The cottages at Ross are walking distance of a beach where basking seals can sometimes be spotted. 

Outchester and Ross Cottages sleep from 2 – 6 people and prices range from £300 to £1,020 per property per week.

The owners also run Lindisfarne Oysters at Ross, where visitors can buy fresh oysters directly from the sea.

www.rosscottages.co.uk

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24509941@N00/5738842577">JOH_9584</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license)

Northumberland up for tourism award

NORTHUMBERLAND has been shortlisted in the Best UK Holiday County/Destination category in the 2015 British Travel Awards. 

It is the only northern county to be shortlisted in this section.

The awards are voted for by the public, who have until the end of September to cast their votes at www.vote4northumberland.com

These are some of the county’s main attractions:

• More than 70 castles … more than any other English county. 
• Holy Island, also known as Lindisfarne. 
• Hadrian’s Wall, which stretches for 73 miles from coast-to-coast. 
• The 400-square mile Northumberland National Park, England’s least-populated national park. It has half of England’s population of endangered red squirrels. 
• Kielder Water & Forest Park … it’s the biggest man-made lake in Northern Europe and at more than 250 square miles, the largest working forest in England. 

The winner of the UK’s Best Holiday Destination will be announced on November 25.

www.visitnorthumberland.com

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/34298489@N00/3827848748">St Mary's Lighthouse</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license), http://www.flickr.com/photos/75856324@N00/3051589997">Hadrian's Wall</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/">(license)