A LITTLE-KNOWN seaside town in the UK could be the perfect destination for a staycation this summer.
It’s home to stunning beaches and incredible wildlife, including dolphins that can be spotted from pub beer gardens.
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Seahouses in Northumberland is a holiday destination like no other in the UK, with history and nature combining perfectly around a small town that’s fit to host any family.
Down the road is the impressive Bamburgh castle, a grade I listed building, built in the 11th century.
The castle was restored during the 18th and 19th century and is open to the public.
The fort is separated from Seahouses by a long stretch of sandy beach, with sapphire blue seas stretching out in front.
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The soft white dunes are incredibly popular with locals, especially dog walkers, but are sparse enough that they don’t become crowded, even during the warmer summer months.
However, there’s much more exciting wildlife to spot nearby than just the Northumbrian pooches.
Dolphin and whale watching tours depart from the harbour in the town, but sometimes they aren’t necessary.
A video shared by one of the town’s pubs, the Olde Ship Inn, shows a dolphin leaping out of the sea, captured by a regular from the beer garden.
Dolphins are just one of many species of sea-life that can be spotted in the surrounding waters, with harbour porpoises and grey seals also common.
The local tour boats have even reported spotting walruses, minkie whales and killer whales on rare occasions.
However, during the summer months there is one adorable frequent visitor that is quite easy to spot – the puffin.
Every year, the birds return in May for breeding, which lasts until July.
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The black and white birds, with their characteristic colourful beaks, can be spotted up and down the nearby cliffs and crags, as they wait for their pufflings to hatch, and then fly off.
They aren’t the only sea birds that are known to the area either, with guillemots, cormorants and terns also very popular.
The birds can also be spotted on the island of Lindisfarne, or Holy Island as it’s also known, which is connected to the land by a causeway that disappears under the sea when the tide comes in.
The island used to be inhabited by monks in the 11th century, who made mead, an alcoholic honey drink.
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That practice is still alive and well to this day and visitors can sample the sweet boozy beverage on a visit to the island, where the ruins of the old priory still look grand and august.
The island has a castle of its own as well, and though nowhere near the size of Bamburgh castle across the water, it still offers both a great lookout point and a chance to learn about the area’s rich history.
While mead is the traditional local drink, there are other locally brewed drinks that can be enjoyed – and for a fair price too.
The Schooner, the Black Swan and the Castle are just a few of the pubs in the area, along with the Olde Ship, serving seaside pints to punters.
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The nearby Alnwick Brewery supplies many of the local establishments, and has a taproom of its own a bit further up the road, that’s also well worth a visit.
The area is also famous for its kippers, which come from the town of Craster, a little further along the coast.
However, there are more than enough places to get a good portion of fish and chips, for the perfect holiday chippy tea.
While mead and kippers may be more appealing to parents, there are still plenty of options for keeping kids entertained, beyond castles, wildlife and beaches.
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The town has several amusement arcades in which children can spend hours playing games, making friends or feeding 2ps into a machine, to try and win more 2ps.
Rockpooling and crab-lining are also popular activities, to keep youngsters occupied.
Visitors to the area have a range of options for places to stay, suiting most budgets.
Two nights in the Horncliffe hotel, just 700 yards from the sea, are available from £40pp per night in April.
Meanwhile, the Westfield Paddock caravan site has stays in May from £15pp per night, for two people.
Tent pitches in the nearby Coast and Castles campsite are even more affordable, with a two-night stay for two people available from £32 all-in, or £8pp per night.
With holiday costs rising, with flights particularly affected, staycations are becoming an popular option for UK residents.
And with stunning sandy beaches, amazing wildlife and fascinating history available at Seahouses, as well as plenty of family activities, it could be the perfect choice this summer.
Meanwhile, these are some of the best hot tub staycations to book this year.
And these are some of the most tranquil staycation spots in the country.
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