The Clock Tower at Bamburgh Castle

With battlements which seem to rise mythically from a volcanic outcrop, Bamburgh Castle looks out across the dramatic Northumbrian coastline and is one of the country’s best-preserved historic sites. Guests here can enjoy unlimited access to the castle’s rooms and grounds during their stay, providing a unique opportunity to enjoy the coastal panorama long after other visitors have departed. From its Norman origins in the 11^th century to sieges during the Wars of the Roses and its ultimate revival in the Victorian age, this spectacular fortress has maintained a central place in British history. More recently, it has provided the setting for countless films and TV series – the castellated walls reigning over the sandy beach below being a sight quite unlike any other.

Linking the castle’s restored medieval curtain wall to a vast 13^th-century tower and turret, The Clock Tower has been transformed into a unique apartment by Bamburgh Castle’s present-day owner, Francis Watson Armstrong. Formerly known as the Belle Tower, it was once home to a celebrated 125-year-old William Potts clock that faced Bamburgh village. Legend has it that the chiming of the clock disturbed the late Lady Armstrong’s sleep, so she had it moved to the castle’s chapel in 1987.

The three-storey Clock Tower has two entrances, one on the ground floor through a small, sheltered private courtyard, with the other on the second floor. Enter through the main door of the courtyard entrance into a welcoming hallway with hooks for hanging your coats and space for storing your boots. The first of two bedrooms on this floor lies opposite, a warm-toned single room with parquet flooring, antique wooden furniture, and views out to the village cricket pitch and the Cheviot Hills beyond. Along the hallway, the second bedroom is decorated in opulent emerald greens and boasts a king size bed, a dressing table tucked away within a turret, and Morris & Co. textiles inspired by medieval tapestries.

The second double bedroom lies up the staircase, with ruby red walls, a king size bed, and more Morris & Co. patterned fabrics flanking the mullioned windows. A contemporary ensuite bathroom with a rainforest shower lies next door, while another WC can be found out on the landing. The main open-plan living space is set up another staircase on the top floor, where velvet sofas take in views of the coastline and village through dual-aspect windows. Combining a rich colour palette with plump cushions and original artworks, this space encapsulates all the comfortable elegance of modern living to be enjoyed within the castle walls. The kitchen and dining area is situated to the left of the room with an inviting country table and cosy breakfast bar set beneath the window, while a family bathroom can be found across the landing.

There’s also plenty to fill your days beyond the walls of the fortress. Walk for miles along the pristine sandy beach and picnic in the dunes in the warmer months, or head further afield and discover the intriguing history of the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, just north of Bamburgh, or the popular village of Seahouses that lies just to the south, where regular boat trips set out to spot seals and puffins on the Farne Islands.

ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATION

For guests looking to holiday together, the Bamburgh Estate also offer Neville Tower (sleeps 4) in a separate castle apartment. Located in Bamburgh village, there are: Grove House (sleeps 4), Kingfisher Cottage (sleeps 2+2), Rose Cottage (sleeps 4), Curlew Cottage (sleeps 2+2), Sandhills (sleeps 3), St Aidan's Lodge (sleeps 4), Windley (sleep 4) and Wren Cottage (sleeps 3).