Frequently asked questions
Do you accept pets?
Unfortunately not, we cater for allergy sufferers so we don't allow pets.
Does the cottage have WIFI?
There is no internet in Bank Top Cottage. Due to the old age (built in the 1700's) and the location of the property (on the sea edge), there has never been a phone line run to the property and we have tried many times over the years to get Openreach and other companies to lay one, but it has so far been impossible.
There is 4G within the village that is accessible from the cottage that can be used for internet surfing (not video streaming). Please do check area coverage with your carrier. The Drift cafe, just 5 minutes away, has free wifi for customers if you need it.
Whilst we have tried devices such as dongles, we have found that these caused more problems than they're worth with patchy connectivity through the thick sandstone walls.
Our guests often tell us they enjoy their holiday without connectivity: without the constant need to check emails or update social media. Whilst it won't be suitable for everyone, it does make for one relaxing holiday.
How close are shops to the cottage?
The closest food shop is approximately 1.5 miles away. Here is a list of the local food shops:
Co-operative food, post office - Lynemouth 1.5 miles
Asda, Aldi, Lidl - Ashington 5 miles
Morissons, Marks & Spencer food, Lidl - Morpeth 9 miles
Are there any pubs or places to eat nearby?
There a many great places to eat in the county, some of the closest are:
The Drift Cafe, Cresswell - serves homemade cakes and light bites and is open most of the year.
The Plough Inn, Ellington Village - 1.5 miles - serves pub food and local ales.
The Widdrington Inn, Widdrington Village - 2 miles - serves locally sourced food with an award-winning chef.
The Old Boathouse, Amble - 9 miles - is a bistro style seafood restaurant located on the harbour.
Sea & Soil, Amble - 9 miles - stylish family-run bistro with wonderfully presented food
The Running Fox Bakery, Felton - 10 miles - serves a lovely afternoon tea and homemade cakes of all varieties
The Northumberland Arms, Felton - 10 miles - lovely 18th century building with bar and restaurant overlooking the river Coquet
Bertram's Tearoom, Warkworth - 11 miles - rustic cafe serving hot and cold snacks right in the heart of the historic village of Warkworth
Some of these premises may be operating under different than usual opening times or procedures due to Covid-19 guidelines. We advise to check directly with the restaurant or cafe before visiting them.
Can more than 2 people stay in the cottage?
No: our holiday let insurance only covers for 2 people over the age of 18 to stay overnight in Bank Top Cottage. You are more than welcome to have visitors during the day as long as they don't sleep over.
What deposit amount do you need to secure a booking?
We take a non-refundable deposit of 25% of the accommodation cost at the time of booking. The outstanding balance is payable 60 days before you arrive, as well as a £100 security deposit which is refundable to you in full upon you leaving the cottage without any damage.
We accept online debit/credit card payments, Paypal or Bank Transfer.
We strongly encourage all of our guests to obtain suitable travel insurance at the time of their booking to cover any cancellations. If you choose not to, then you accept any loss you may incur should your booking be cancelled. You can find out more information by visiting our Terms & Conditions page (link is located at the bottom of this page). If a lockdown relating to Covid-19 occurs and your booking is affected, we will move your booking to a safer point in the future, transferring all money paid to new dates of your choosing.
Do you leave a welcome pack for guests?
We leave a bespoke welcome hamper full of local produce which includes ground coffee and Northumberland Tea as well as a mixed selection of vegan seasonal products from a wide range of small businesses in the North East. We also leave a small selection of eco-friendly, luxury Duck Island toiletries in the bathroom. These are complimentary and are there to settle you in for your stay at Bank Top Cottage - they will last a few days but you will most likely need to buy more if you're staying longer than a few nights.
What is your eco-status?
We are very conscious of the growing need to be more enviromentally-aware and are moving towards making the cottage as eco-friendly as possible.
Everything we leave for guests including the welcome pack, the washing-up supplies and the spa toiletries in the bathroom do not contain ingredients derived from animals and none are tested on animals. Bank Top Cottage was furnished before we were aiming to be free from animal products so there is a leather couch in the cottage - we will maintain the couch to its full lifespan, until it needs replacing with something man-made.
The bedding we provide is anti-allergy, synthetic and the towels and duvet covers are cotton. We clean the cottage with only natural products.
The cottage is all electric; we use a renewable energy provider to power the cottage.
If you have any questions, please get in touch! We are always looking for more ways to become more environmentally aware.
I want to make my stay extra special, can you help?
If there is anything we can do to help make your stay a memorable one, please just let us know. We have set up the cottage for surprise romantic getaways with rose petals on the bed and gifts around the property, and even filled the cottage with balloons and decorations ready for a proposal!
If you have ideas, we will work with you to make them happen, email us: ewa@banktopcottage.uk
Do you do stays of 1 or 2 nights?
We do short stays of a minimum of 3 nights (Friday to Monday) or 4 nights (Monday to Friday) and week breaks of 7 nights (Friday to Friday or Monday to Monday). For longer stays please get in touch.
What is there to do in Northumberland?
Northumberland is one of the most historical and rugged counties in England and there are many interesting places to visit, all within easy reach of Bank Top Cottage.
Due to Covid-19 some of these sites may have different opening times and booking protocols, we advise you to check with them directly for the latest information.
Woodhorn Museum:
Just up the road from Bank Top Cottage, Woodhorn museum was once a working colliery and now showcases the North East's infamous mining heritage as well as local art exhibitions.
Amble village and harbour:
Located on the north end of Druridge Bay, Amble the 'friendliest port' is perfect for fish and chips and ice cream. There are many restaurants, cafes and shops as well as the Amble Harbour Village which consists of 15 small units selling art, crafts, local foods and jewellery. You can even take a boat trip out to Coquet island which is the island and lighthouse that are visible from Bank Top Cottage!
Morpeth market town:
Located a bit further inland, Morpeth is rich in history and perfect if you fancy a bit of shopping trip. With a mix of old and new shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs, and the Wednesday market there's so much to see. For a bit more history, the 13th century Chantry houses the Bagpipe museum and Northumbrian Arts and Craft Gallery.
Farne Islands:
Take one of the many boat trips from Seahouses harbour out to this cluster of islands just off the Northumberland coast. It's a bird watcher's paradise as these islands are the breeding ground for over 150000 seabirds in summer. If birds aren't your thing, then the dolphin trips, the seal trips or the sunset trips are well worth a look.
Holy Island of Lindisfarne:
Only accessible at low tide, Holy Island has a rich history with the Lindisfarne Priory dating back to the 12th century. The beautiful village and Lindisfarne castle are well worth exploring, but please pay attention to the tide times before setting off!
Hadrian's Wall at Sycamore Gap:
A famous landmark and photographer's favourite, this stretch of the famous Hadrians Wall is a beautiful walk surrounded by greenery.
Vindolanda:
A Roman fort and village that has helped historians learn about life in Roman times, with many discoveries being unearthed here. Between April and September each year, you can watch real excavation work being done and the museum is a must-see for it's constantly changing artefacts.
Alnwick Market Town and Alnwick Castle and Gardens:
Alnwick is a beautiful town with many quaint cafes and eateries. The castle is famous for being used to film the Harry Potter movies and you can even learn to ride a broomstick (open to all ages!). The gardens are beautiful and unique offering sections that are a bit different such as the Cherry Orchard, the Bamboo Labyrinth, the Poison Garden and one of the worlds largest treehouses where you can enjoy a romantic meal.