Frozen

Northumberland village is one of the UK’s most picturesque fishing villages, boasting charming cottages, sweeping views of the sea and plenty of fresh air — perfect for a serene getaway.

Tucked away in the heart of the Northumbrian coast lies a charming fishing village with a dark history, seemingly frozen in time.

Located approximately six miles east of the lively market town of Alnwick, this historic fishing hamlet is a must-see for those looking to experience the UK’s natural splendour away from the masses. As the next village up the coast from Alnmouth, it offers a stark contrast to Alnmouth’s abundant facilities and leisure spots.

This captivating village is famed for its picturesque chocolate-box cottages and iconic blue coble fishing boats, which have been a hallmark of the region for centuries and are still utilised by local fishermen today. Interestingly, this fishing village doesn’t have a formal harbour, so boats are hauled ashore by tractors, making it an ideal location for rock pooling and coastal walks.

The beautiful coastal village of Boulmer boasts a small population (likely less than 120 residents) and primarily consists of a long row of cottages and houses providing uninterrupted views of the North Sea. It’s regarded as one of Northumberland’s last authentic fishing villages, and little has altered within its confines over the past century.

The tranquil village is an ideal spot for those seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of tourist hotspots, offering a peaceful setting for relaxation. However, Boulmer doesn’t offer much in terms of recreational activities, reports Chronicle Live.

The Fishing Boat Inn is the only place to eat and drink in this village. Despite its somewhat murky history, akin to Boulmer itself, it’s now a favourite haunt for locals looking for a pint and a bite to eat. Indeed, there isn’t a single retail shop in Boulmer, so anyone hoping for a shopping spree would need to travel approximately a mile and a half to the village of Longhoughton or 13 miles to the town of Alnwick.

Historically, a significant shift in the village’s routine came with the opening of the Royal Air Force (RAF) base in Boulmer. Located on the outskirts of the fishing village, RAF Boulmer became operational during World War II and is arguably more renowned than the village itself.

The base continues to play a crucial role in the UK’s defence and serves as a key search and rescue base for the Royal Air Force.

Aside from the arrival of the Royal Air Force, little has changed in Boulmer over the past century. It remains one of the few traditional fishing villages still found along Northumberland’s coast.

Nefarious past

Boulmer could be dubbed the smuggling hub of the North, given its rich and complex history with smugglers and pirates. The 18th and 19th centuries marked the height of smuggling activities in Boulmer, as pirates and smugglers from across the Northumbrian coast and Scotland flocked to the small fishing village to trade their illicit goods.

The Fishing Boat Inn was at the epicentre of this unlawful activity, serving as a base for these criminals.

In fact, during the 18th century, William Faa – also known as the King of the Gypsies and one of Britain’s most infamous smugglers – resided just 35 miles away from Boulmer, in the Scottish village of Kirk Yetholm. Reportedly, the landlords of the Fishing Boat Inn were quite accommodating during Boulmer’s smuggling heyday.

Nowadays, Boulmer is a tranquil fishing village boasting picturesque views, with the Fishing Boat Inn being its main attraction.

How to get there

Boulmer can be accessed by car via the village of Longhoughton or from the south through the village of Lesbury. Parking is available in the Fishing Boat Inn’s car park and directly on the seafront.

A limited bus service operates through the village, so visitors relying solely on public transport should check the latest updates and schedules before planning their trip.

A huge pop star was revealed as Goldfish, the lead singer of a group called No Trout, in the launch episode of The Masked Singer as the hit series returned to ITV on Saturday

Anne-Marie was revealed as Goldfish on the launch episode of The Masked Singer. In a first for the programme, the first two episodes will feature a full band, and the panel also had to guess the identity of the lead singer.

After performing as Bruno Marse and Rose hit Apt part of a group called No Trout, the judges correctly guessed the identity of the singer. Following her unmasking, the songstress said: “When I was at school, I had a very short attention span! I’m used to the voice just going that way [in front of me] but in the thing, it was like ‘Oh, that’s what I sound like!” She then gave her first unmasked performance for the studio audience of her signature track 2002.

Fans were thrilled with the star’s appearance, with one writing on X: “Anne-Marie is sooooo good and such a lovely person, that unmasked performance was beautiful!!” But others had guessed it long before the unmasking took place, with one writing: “Knew it was Anne Marie purely by the way she stood” and another said: “Anne Marie was possibly the most obvious unmasking ever. I knew Goldfish was Anne Marie.”

READ MORE: The Masked Singer fans confused as ITV confirms last-minute schedule changeREAD MORE: The Masked Singer’s Goldfish ‘revealed’ as clue ‘gives it away’ they’re huge pop star

Prior to the revelation, Goldfish asked Davina: “How did it feel to be top of the Christmas tree?” and then asked Jonathan: “They say goldfish have a three-second memory. We’ll be the Judge of that!” Mo received: “54x4x10-166+8=X”, and Maya got a text that says: “I heard you became an award-winning billionaire by swimming upstream!”

The equation, which gives an answer of 2002, was possibly the biggest clue yet. The pop track was released by Anne-Marie in 2018, and references the period of time in which music icons like Britney Spears, Jay-Z and N*Sync ruled the charts. Eager fans who had spotted a preview of the series had already guessed who was behind the mask before it even went to air.

Previously, it was claimed that the new format with the bands was a way of keeping viewers guessing.

The Sun reported that a source said: “As The Masked Singer heads into series seven in the UK, bosses are keeping everyone on their toes by upping the ante on clues and throwing in even more unmaskings. “The franchise’s first-ever bands are going to blow everyone’s minds – but viewers will be left scratching their heads as to whether the band is a big clue or not. “The celebrities hiding inside might run solo in their real lives, or they might be part of some sort of group, or could even be exactly what it says on the tin – an actual frontman or woman.

“Viewers are going to be more bamboozled than ever, but it’s going to be lots of fun.” Viewers can expect to see four unmaskings in the first two episodes. Goldfish and Emperor Penguin are extra celebrities on top of the 12-person lineup.

Last year, the programme was won by West End legend Samantha Barks, who had dressed up as Puffer Fish throughout the series’ run. Samantha, who found fame on the BBC’s I’d Do Anything alongside Coronation Street actress Jodie Prenger and then starred in the film adaptation of Les Misérables with Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway and Eddie Redmayne.

Upon her victory, she said: “I feel like I’ve lived this double life because I’ve had these crazy experiences, but nobody in my life knows [about] this, so I’ve loved it!

“I’ve had the best time, I really have. Underneath the mask, it’s been hurting my cheeks because I’ve been smiling so hard! Thank you so much!”

Samantha, who is also known for having played the lead in the West End production of Disney’s Frozen, had fought off competition from celebrities like EastEnders legend Natalie Cassidy, singer Macy Gray, and Celebrity Trators star Kate Garraway, amongst a host of others.

Other previous stars to have been brave enough to take part in the fun show include Dionne Warwick, Prue Leith, Daisy May Cooper, Glenn Hoddle, Mel Giedroyc, Sir Lenny Henry and Lorraine Kelly.

The Masked Singer, ITV1/ITVX, Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th January, 6.30pm

Lacock village in Wiltshire is steeped in history and has been used as a filming location for Harry Potter, Downton Abbey, Pride and Prejudice and Wolf Hall, making visitors feel like they’re living in a period drama

A key filming spot for the BBC’s 1995 Pride and Prejudice adaptation, Lacock’s charming cottages and stunning countryside make visitors feel as though they’ve stepped into a period drama.

Its Wiltshire timber-framed buildings and magnificent cloisters have drawn numerous productions beyond Austen’s tale to its grounds. Lacock’s famous medieval Cloister, dating back to around 1450, also houses a verdant Cloister Garth. This striking architectural feature appeared in countless Downton Abbey scenes, and doubled as sections of the castle in the original Harry Potter films. It also featured in the BBC’s Wolf Hall adaptation. One TripAdvisor reviewer awarded the destination five stars, saying: “An absolute must if you are in the area! A beautiful village, which you can visit by parking just across the road in the National Trust car park.

“The village is a pleasure to walk around, totally untouched throughout history and is quintessentially English! From the rows of tiny cottages, the church, the tiny bakery, the village pub and a hotel, it has everything and all these are open and running. We stayed for a couple of hours and then had a wander around the Abbey which is also impressive.”, reports Gloucestershire Live. Another reviewer described the village as “frozen in time”, with Explore the Cotswolds concurring that the location “looks a lot like it would have done 200 years ago.”

Lacock’s magnificent abbey began life as an Augustinian nunnery, shuttered during Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries. Subsequently, John Ivory Talbot constructed the mock-Gothic hall – both are now in the care of the National Trust and available for afternoon exploration. A stone’s throw away stands St Cyriac’s Church. Initially believed to be a Saxon worship site, it later became Norman-controlled. The Church was erected near the close of the 11th century by Edward of Salisbury and William of Eu. The dedication to St Cyriac honours a beloved Norman saint.

The church houses numerous later memorials to the Baynards, Bonhams, Crokes, Sharingtons, Talbots and Awdreys. Yet for Harry Potter enthusiasts, the cloisters steal the show. For one devotee, exploring the cloisters topped her agenda upon arriving in Britain. She wrote: “Harry Potter fans NEED to do this! We’re from Canada. As soon as we landed in London, this was the very first thing we did. We did the Harry Potter Tour of London for Private Groups by Black Taxi. “Our guide was Richard and we can’t say enough good things about him! He was absolutely incredible! Ask him how he knows so much about this…such an interesting person, so knowledgeable and passionate about it all.”