Cosy cottages

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4 DECEMBER 2003
What Madonna, Sir Paul McCartney and Sting have in common goes far beyond being famous names in the world of music. These stars all enjoy the epitome of English country life, taking time out from their whirlwind careers to relax in a cosy country cottage.

Take breezy walks, enjoy a pub lunch and curl up in front of an open fire. For the famous and not-so-famous, we offer the recipe for a perfect weekend in the country.

Northumbria: Walkmill House, Eglingham
Wild, rugged and with an awesome coastline, stunning Northumbria is too often neglected as tourists rush through it on the way to Scotland. But they don’t know what they’re missing.

The perfect base for exploring the area is welcoming Walkmill House in the conservation village of Eglingham. Its name relates to an ancient process associated with woolmaking and it was even built from recycled materials.

A party of seven can take over the house, which comes with all mod cons – although you might find you have to draw lots for the master bedroom, which boasts a kingsize bed and ensuite bathroom. If you’re taking young children you’ll also appreciate the verandah, barbecue and large, child-safe garden bordering a wooded valley and stream.

What to see: The village has a good pub and restaurant, the Tankerville Arms, and there’s a clutch of craggy castles for interesting day trips nearby, including Bamburgh, Dunstanburgh and Alnwick Castle, as seen on the big screen in the Harry Potter films. The pièce de resistance is Hadrian’s Wall, ancient Rome’s 73-mile north-south divider.