Med

THE TEMPUS, Northumberland is a hotel surrounded by natural serenity and an immersive, sophisticated experience. 

Here’s everything you need to know – from room rates to dining options at the hotel’s restaurant.

Where is the hotel?

Located just 7 miles from Alnwick and just off the A1, The Tempus is just 12 miles from the nearest station in Alnmouth, where taxis can be arranged for an easy journey. 

What is the hotel like?

Sparkling blue sea, rolling sand dunes and sunshine beating down on glorious ancient ruins. I could be on an island in the Med.

But this was a plush hotel in Northumberland.

The barns of this 18th century estate have been tastefully converted into 32 rooms. 

Read more on hotel reviews

SUPER SM-ART

Artist Residence, Bristol hotel review

SUITE DEAL

Andaz Hotel review

What are the rooms like?

Inspired by Alice In Wonderland, the Superior King with a Terrace was decorated with eye popping hot-pink walls, a comfy sofa and two armchairs, alongside a gorgeous gold and marble coffee table.

The bathroom was huge with multiple lighting options, giving guests the choice of a disco shower, while rooms come with a Nespresso machine and biscuits, as well as dressing gowns and slippers.

Double rooms cost from £195 on a B&B basis.

What is there to eat or drink there?

 A gastro pub-style menu at the hotel’s Orangery restaurant combines hearty with sophisticated dining and features favourites such as burrata, succulent beef burgers and salty chips.

I had a veggie ragu pasta while my partner Jonah devoured lamb coupled with shepherd’s pie, followed by a delicious cheese board.

For brekkie, guests can pick a range of cooked options or there’s a continental buffet.

What else is there to do at the hotel?

There are some excellent walks on your doorstep, including a four hour coastal hike, starting at Embleton and ending at the grandiose Bamburgh Castle.

Relatively flat, the trek winds through villages that have lovely cafes and pubs.

We also enjoyed an evening in Alnwick town, which features an array of characterful boozers filled with friendly, chatty locals.

Absolutely a place to go back to. Owners Judith and Nigel were a delight. 

Is the hotel family friendly?

Yes, there are dog-friendly rooms available, as well as family suites. 

Is the hotel accessible?

Yes, The Tempus Northumberland offers ground floor rooms, accessible accommodation and accessible dining spaces.

STRICTLY NEWBIES

All the stars in line to replace Tess and Claudia on Strictly

TUM HELP

The 30g diet hack that ‘PREVENTS deadly bowel cancer’… as cases surge in under-50s

Additionally, there are plenty of ramps making movement around the site easier. 

Looking for a place to stay? For more hotel inspiration click here.

White sand, dark past on the German Baltic

Spend some time on Rügen, Germany’s largest island, on its Baltic coast. White sandy beaches and darker history await. Visit Lauterbach, by the sea. From there, catch the coastal ferry to the tiny fishing village of Baabe, a near three-mile (5km) walk/cycle through rolling countryside and catch the “Raging Roland” steam train back again. Not far away, you can walk the cliffs that inspired Caspar David Friedrich. For a very different day, visit Prora and its massive beachside concrete apartment blocks, originally planned as a Nazi holiday complex, before becoming a Soviet army barracks, and now a part ruin, part reunification commercial and residential redevelopment.
Richard

Deserted beaches on the Danish Riviera

Who needs the scorching Med when you have the Danish Riviera. The water is clean and refreshing. No wetsuits allowed – you’ll be laughed off the beach. Danish summer hols are in July so you’ll have the beach to yourself in August. Book a summer cottage near Gilleleje, a charming fishing village about an hour from Copenhagen. Denmark is expensive, so self-catering is best. Ice-cream at Hansens. Lunch in Gilleleje harbour. Culture at Louisiana modern art museum and Hamlet’s Castle in Helsingør. And day trips to Copenhagen.
Christina

To Hel and back in Poland

Hel is a tiny spit of land north of Gdańsk. Guys selling hot smoked fish meet you as you get off the ferry. Getting there is an adventure in itself, as the ferry takes you past the colossal cranes of Gdańsk’s shipyards. Long sandy beaches, pine forests and a small picturesque village make Hel a fantastic place to spend a few days. Famous for its seals, as well as its seaside, it really is the opposite of its fiery namesake.
Lucy Moore

Swimming and seafood in Sweden

We’ve just returned from a Scandi road trip and had four fantastic, chilled nights on Björkö. It’s only 30 minutes from central Gothenburg by (free!) car ferry and regular buses. Great swimming and beaches; micro breweries and fresh fish; sunsets and sunrises to die for; days out in Gothenburg, including the excellent Liseberg theme park, with no queues for proper scary rides – highly recommended.
James

Rowing in Finland’s Åland archipelago

Fuelled by our kids’ love of flags and a craving for quiet, we chose Åland, thousands of islands scattered between Sweden and Finland like granite gods wept there. We cycled between clouds and old boat sheds, stopping for smoked herring and cardamom pancakes with stewed prunes (sexier than it sounds). By the time Ivar lent us ancient alder oars to row to the next island, knowing they’d be returned by a friend, we’d learned that Åland doesn’t welcome visitors – it absorbs them.
Eliza Ainley

Cliff-edge drama in north-west Spain

Based in Oviedo (the ideal compact city), in Asturias, we would explore the coast one day, mountains the next, finding unexpected Gaudí buildings, gingerbread houses in Ribadesella, amazing cemeteries on cliff edges, enjoyable easy driving on perfect roads, gorgeous unspoilt beaches and great weather! Few tourists, thousands of Camino pilgrims along the way and (very weak) cider! Cannot wait to return and yes, we’d love to live there.
Annie Hargreaves

An idyllic island off Brittany, France

Camping Panorama du Rohou, near Paimpol in northern Brittany, has excellent views over to the beautiful Île de Bréhat. Walk down through the forest behind the campsite to take a short ferry ride to the island. Hire a bike or walk to explore its rocky coves and quaint villages. A lighthouse at the far end of the island has great views and is a good spot for a picnic, or to have a Breton galette or crepe at nearby Paradise Rose. Les Scènes de Bréhat is an annual festival with live music at the beginning of July; late-running ferries get you back to the mainland.
Stella

Arctic beach holiday, Norway

When we booked a trip to northern Norway’s stunning Lofoten Islands and Andøya we didn’t expect a beach holiday, but blessed with August temperatures in the high 20s we spent days swimming in the Arctic Ocean. Bleik beach on Andøya is one of the longest in Norway – “bleik” means “white” or “pale” in Norwegian, and the almost empty white sand, coupled with refreshing blue sea and the towering cliffs behind the beach, made for a perfect end to a day’s hiking. Puffins abound here, and whale watching trips are available from Andenes, just a few miles to the north.
Rachel

Seafood and sailing in Hanko, Finland

Hanko, Finland’s southernmost seaside gem, sits on a sandy dune that stretches out into the Baltic Sea. The town comes alive in early July during the celebrated Hanko Regatta, a sailing festival that draws about 200 yachts. To reach Hanko from Helsinki, take the VR train from Helsinki Central for about €15. Rent a bike once you arrive to explore the sandy beaches bordered by an ancient pine forest, historic villas and nature reserve. In the evening, enjoy fresh seafood with Baltic views and sit down for a pint of Lonkero. Don’t miss the spa scene and wild swimming!
Liina

Winning tip: Bike to the beach in North Holland

Aan Noordzee campsite, on the North Holland coast, has a simple, tranquil feel and no entertainment facilities. With separate cycleways everywhere, you can explore the beautiful coastline up to Den Helder and, by ferry, Texel island (sandy beaches, pretty towns and robust Texel sheep). An unspoilt beach walkable from the campsite awaits, with dune footpaths that lead to restaurants built on stilts. The sunsets over the North Sea are stunning. Alkmaar is accessible via a regular bus service.
Nicola Hull

A tiny European island which boats transparent waters, balmy weather and swaying palm trees is giving the Maldives a run for it’s money thanks to it’s idyllic setting

Choosing your holiday getaway can take a lot of time and planning and if you’re after a white sandy beach and crystal clear waters – you’ll more than likely have to jump on a long-haul flight. However people have been raving about a tiny Balearic island, and are comparing it to being the ‘Maldives of the Meditarranean’.

Formentera promises the same sunny weather, palm trees and crystal blue transparent waters, just like the Maldives, without the massive price tag. Situated right next to Ibiza, the two islands may be geographically aligned, but they couldn’t be more opposite.

READ MORE: American visits ‘Wales’ most stunning coastline’ but is floored by price of ice cream

Formentera is peaceful escape and the island is just 12 miles long and a mile-and-a-half wide at its narrowest point and there’s little to do apart from eat, drink and enjoy the soft sand beaches.

Lonely Planet describes the European island, which was also loved by Kate Moss in the 90s, as a ‘beautifully pure, get-away-from-it-all-escape’. The travel guide adds: “Formentera’s pace of life is blissfully languid, designed for lazy days spent lounging on some of Europe’s (dare we say the world’s) most exquisite beaches.”

Playa de Ses Illetes is Formentera’s best known beach and it’s even won Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best award and the coastal spot is located within the Ses Salines National Park and has white sand with bright turquoise water. Platja de Migjorn is also considered one of the island’s prettiest beaches. The longest beach on the island it stretches across 5km.

For those looking to plan a trip to the beautiful island, travellers will need to fly to Ibiza to get to Formentera with direct flights available on British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair and Jet2. They can then catch a ferry from Ibiza. Ferries tend to run frequently and take around 30 minutes.

It also promises 11-hours of sunshine a day and in July and August, the temperature averages 26 degrees on the island and the average temperature is usually above 20 degrees in May, June, September and October as well.

However if you don’t fancy hopping on a plane, the UK boasts stunning landscapes that are the envy of the world, offering a plethora of beautiful spots to discover if you’re planning a staycation this summer. One of the most ‘underrated’ regions offers the top must-do activity for holidaymakers this summer, located on a picturesque island just off Scotland’s coast.

A breathtaking drive along the Isle of Arran’s coast in Scotland has emerged as the top choice, according to a survey of 2,000 adults about their staycation dreams. Often dubbed ‘Scotland in miniature’, the Isle of Arran boasts a range of spectacular landscapes, with the 109km Arran Coastal Way providing views of the coastline, charming villages, and mountain peaks.

Journeying around the stunning Isle of Arran presents ample opportunities to discover remnants of Scotland’s Gaelic and Norse heritage. It features numerous coastal towns, such as Lochranza and Kildonan, where you can enjoy a walk on beautiful beaches and explore ancient castle ruins. Scotland is renowned for its rich culture and history, which you’ll experience at every turn when exploring Arran.

Do you have a story to share? Email [email protected]