If you're looking for somewhere to stay with walks heading straight into the Cheviots, the Rose and Thistle Bed and Breakfast in Alwinton is in a cracking spot.
There are five recently refurbished en-suite bedrooms, all named after favourite poets, with breakfast included and a few particularly useful touches if you've spent the day wandering around the hills.
The one that immediately caught my eye was the drying room for boots and clothing. Anyone who's returned from the Cheviots with water squelching between their toes will understand why.
Five recently refurbished rooms
Each of the five bedrooms has its own en-suite shower room, tea and coffee facilities, TV, hairdryer and complimentary toiletries, with south-facing views across the large garden and surrounding countryside.
There's a private entrance for B&B guests and you also have use of the beamed lounge and dining area with its fire, giving you somewhere to sit and relax rather than disappearing straight back to your room.
Breakfast before the hills
Breakfast is included with your stay, with a choice of Full English or Continental served in the beamed dining room. They use locally sourced produce where possible, with vegetarian options available and other dietary requirements catered for if you let them know when booking.
It's a good way to start the day if you're heading straight out into the hills, and considerably more appealing than eating a squashed cereal bar beside the car.
A cracking base for the Cheviots
Alwinton is ideal for exploring the southern Cheviots, with walks heading straight out from the village towards Clennell Street and the Upper Coquet Valley.
The B&B is particularly well set up for walkers too. There's parking and, importantly, a drying room for boots and clothing, so if the Cheviot weather has done its worst you can get everything dried out ready to go again the following morning.
Then when you get back, you've got somewhere to dry your boots, a warm lounge to sit in and the Rose and Thistle bar and restaurant downstairs for food and a drink.
