Living in Seahouses on the Northumberland coast offers an enviable combination of wild and beautiful scenery combined with a thriving community, leisure opportunities, and all the practical amenities you need within easy reach.
Sitting in an officially designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Seahouses attracts visitors looking for unspoilt seaside fun and coastal walks.
But there is much more to the place than the casual visitor will experience, and for those who live in the village there is plenty to enjoy and be part of all year round.
But first. Why is it called Seahouses?
According to Visit Northumberland (https://www.visitnorthumberland.com) it all comes from the construction of a purpose-built fishing community by the sea a mile or so away from the settlement known as North Sunderland (not the Tyne and Wear city of Sunderland, but a village just inland here). These little cottages were literally known as ‘sea houses’.
In an era when the rail network was much more extensive than it is today, there was even a branch line with a station at each of these small settlements and these were named North Sunderland and Seahouses. As the coastal stop became better known to holidaymakers, the whole community became known as Seahouses. However, local people still make a distinction between the names of the two parts of the village.
Though the branch rail line is long gone, having closed in the 1950s, the village has good transport links. Alnmouth railway station (https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/stations/alnmouth) is a half hour drive away and runs services to Edinburgh, London Kings Cross, and Bristol Temple Meads and stops in between including Morpeth and Newcastle. Some trains also stop at Chathill, (https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/stations/chathill) which is only five miles from Seahouses.
Seahouses is also well placed for the roads network with the A1 being just seven miles to the west giving a straightforward route north to Berwick-upon-Tweed and Edinburgh, and south to Newcastle upon Tyne.
For residents with young families there is Seahouses Primary School, which was inspected by Ofsted in March 2023 and given a rating of ‘good’. The inspection report noted that reading is taught very well, pupils’ personal development is prioritised, and that all staff strongly agreed that they are proud to work there.
There are plenty of shops in the village including Trotters Family Bakers (https://www.trottersfamilybakers.co.uk/), which has been trading for more than 50 years.
Independent Food and Drink (https://www.indiefood.co.uk/) sells fruit and vegetables, dairy, baked goods, and other groceries, many locally sourced. They do deliveries too. There’s also a Co-op (https://www.coop.co.uk/store-finder/NE68-7RF/41-main-st) in the village, while Scott’s Butchers (https://scottsbutchers.co.uk) sells meat and other produce as well as coffees, breakfasts, and lunches.
For locally caught fresh fish, try Swallow Fish of Seahouses (https://swallowfish.co.uk), which was established in 1843. They smoke fish there too so you can pick up some kipper fillets, or a side of smoked salmon.
For a big supermarket shop, head to Alnwick, where you’ll find Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Aldi, Lidl, and an M&S Foodhall.
There is a branch of the Belford Medical Practice (https://www.belfordmedicalpractice.nhs.uk) at The Health Centre on James Street in Seahouses – and a Boots pharmacy on Main Street.
There are many opportunities for active leisure time. If you’re keen to be out on the water, get in touch with the Northside Surf School (https://www.northside-surf-school.co.uk/). It’s based in the area and offers both surfing and stand-up paddleboarding lessons.
This part of the coast is a walker’s paradise with beautiful scenery all around. The Northumberland Coast Path is around 60 miles long and goes from Cresswell in the south to Berwick-upon-Tweed in the north, taking in Seahouses on its way.
For cyclists, you’re well placed for the 1,000-mile National Cycle Network Route 1 (NCN1) which goes through Seahouses and winds along the coast to the north and to the south of the village.
Seahouses also has an outdoor bowling club and for footballers there is North Sunderland FC (http://www.northsunderlandfc.co.uk) which meets at Seafield Sports Park in the village and has senior and junior teams.
Seahouses Golf Club (https://seahousesgolf.co.uk/) is in a scenic location and they welcome dogs to the clubhouse and the course.
And there are plenty of opportunities to get to know people at the many clubs in the area. All kinds of interests are catered for.
There’s Seahouses Village Voices choir, who sometimes perform on the harbour; Seahouses and Local Area History Group; and the North Sunderland and Seahouses Gardening Association.
And for entertainment head to The Hub Community Cinema. It opened in 2013 and shows new films and old classics. You can even book a private screening for a birthday party.
And as well as all that, local people can take part in all the fun that the tourists travel here to enjoy, such as strolls on the beach and fish and chips on the harbour. Or contact Billy Shiel’s Boat Trips (https://www.farne-islands.com/) and see where they’re heading. They run trips to Holy Island, or in search of grey seals, as well as sunset cruises and dive charters. It's easy to see why staying in Seahouses just for a summer holiday might not be quite enough. At Ida Homes we are working on a project to create a range of luxurious homes at Shoreston Hall, which is between Seahouses and Bamburgh on the Northumberland coast. We specialise in heritage projects in Northumberland, and we will be using all our expertise to create stunning contemporary homes that are full of character here. It’s an exceptional opportunity and it’s a privilege to work with such a historic building. We intend to apply for planning permission for our Shoreston Hall project later in 2023.
