The Watchtower

The location and view from the lounge<br/><br/>The house was filthy, dusty, cobwebs everywhere. Dead insects and spiders in every room. Previous occupant's knickers were found in one of the bedrooms. Lots of things were broken/damaged.

The Watchtower is filthy with major health & safety issues. It has not been cleaned in months and dead spiders in cobwebs everywhere, a broken toilet, shower door and windows that don’t close. Dried on food on plates and dirty hob. The host was contacted on several occasions and only automated responses received. Do not book this property.

Views and the general vibe of the property was good, but unfortunately very tired and a few health and safety issues that I will contact the agency about directly. Can imagine it was once well loved but needs a bit of TLC now.<br/><br/>Not clean, bats living in the main area, repairs needed in certain areas

Gorgeous views and quirky place

Location was excellent - beautiful views over the estuary<br/><br/>Given its price point, we were expecting the finish and facilities of this property to be far better than they were. It felt really tired. One room even had an unpainted plastered ceiling. Mould in the bathroom shower. Cobwebs in the beams. Felt really uncared for which is such a shame as it is basically a great venue in a lovely location.

See complaint made via email<br/><br/>as above

Our stay was just OK... this place has the potential to be great but unfortunately needs some serious TLC. Cobwebs everywhere (the entrance by the front door particularly is bad) and everywhere just needs a deep clean. It doesn't look like all of the previous reviews have been addressed - I.e. ensuite toilet seat still dodgy, no soap in both soap dispensers in bathrooms. One of the rooms had a freshly plastered ceiling with the ceiling light not attached back on properly. The instructions of where to park could be clearer too (our sat navigation took us to the back of the building when we should have gone to the front). <br/>Also watch out there is an additional non-refundable £25 fee, or a £250 fee (where you should get refunded £240 after your stay).

Warren Mill is a great area near to Bamburgh and Seahouses but we also went to Cragside, Alnwick and Holy Island. <br/>The house was big enough for six of us. The lift was great for our elderly parents. The living area had great views. The shower was powerful and the beds were comfortable.

Location<br/><br/>Only one toilet in good working condition. A little tired in areas .

Lovely and spacious, 2 mile away from Bamburgh and 5 ish from Seahouses. Lovely view of the bay. Bedrooms are spacious and comfortable. We loved our stay.<br/><br/>I wouldn’t be so harsh to say we ‘didn’t like’ but the ensuite toilet seat is broken and slips off when you sit on it. Not ideal. In fact it was irritating tbh. The fridge had a pungent smell of rotten milk. Once again not ideal. But easy to fix I’d hope.

Location was amazing. Enough space for family with 3 teenagers.<br/><br/>Lack of information from Host And Stay, I had to chase them for property access details on day of travel. Lightbulbs missing from kitchen, shower room. Couldn't get the extractor hood for hob to work. Extractor fan in en suite was filthy and thus poorly working, much improved once we cleaned it. Window seals in master bedroom perished and thus draughty and noisy. Too many cobwebs, ok high ceiling are difficult to deal with but bathroom window and fitted furniture around bed are easily cleaned. Flooring in kitchen/ dining area in heed of repair. No details on recycling.

Lovely area. Beautiful beaches and fabulous birdwatching

N/A <br/> <br/>The living areas were on the first floor and a lift was located in the property on the ground floor to take you up to the first.<br/><br/>We were very disappointed with the condition of this property. <br/> <br/>Our comments: <br/> <br/>- the extractor fan and hob light in the kitchen was not working. <br/>- we had to use a wedge to keep the bedroom door closed. <br/>- the toilet seat fixing in the ensuite shower room was broken. <br/>-the hook on the ensuite shower room door was missing so nowhere to hang towel or dressing gowns. <br/>- nowhere to hang or dry towels. <br/>- the wash hand basin in the ensuite was very slow to empty. <br/>- the expelair fan in the ensuite screeched occasionally as did the shower. <br/>- there was no seive or colander. <br/>- several light bulbs were not working. <br/>- the lino was torn in the main living area. <br/> <br/>We consider this property was below the standard we expected.

No breakfast<br/><br/>Cottage not prepared properly

Spacious, position and comfortable

The view <br/>the beds very comfy <br/>General decor. <br/>Quirky and a bit different.<br/><br/>Wi-Fi poor especially downstairs. <br/>En suite in main bedroom too small. <br/>Wooden floor upstairs needs repairing. Trip hazard <br/>Installed Heating not sufficient in certain rooms. Had to move portable heaters around. <br/>No mirrors in any bedroom. <br/>Tableware and glasses bit of a mish mash <br/>Window looking into entrance stairwell in twin bedroom needs a curtain or blocking up. <br/>The exit from complex onto road a bit hairy!

I was looking forward to staying at the Watchtower due to the lovely location and the unusual building. However, before we arrived we were told that one of the bedrooms was no longer available for use, and no partial refund was offered (we had paid for three bedroomed accommodation not two). On arrival the place was in need of a bit of maintenance, some of the seating in the living area was stained, the towel rail was loose in the kitchen, the toilet seat in the ensuite toilet was broken, the window in the twin room did not shut properly so it was draughty, the en suite shower was difficult to turn on and off, one of the large velux windows did not open in the living room and lots of light bulbs in the spot lights needed replacing. The vellum windows were very dirty so it was difficult to see Budle Bay and use the telescope. This took more than the edge of our stay.

Flat in lovely location.

Quirky - lovely thoughtful decor- very quiet- spacious<br/><br/>Nothing

The Good: beautiful location & the duplex has stunning views across estuary, home to 100s of wild birds; more than enough living & sleeping space for 2; nice comfy sofa in living room & big tv; nice ceramic hob; plenty of clean towels & hot water, a big bath; comfy bed (king in biggest b/room).<br/>The Bad: level of maintenance & cleanliness not v good. Cobwebs in corners of some rooms, visible splashes/marks down bathroom wall, missing light in kitchen, & soap dispenser in bathroom empty. Uneven floor tiles. Ensuite shower room tiny. Directions & where to park not that clear - luckily read previous reviews which explained this.<br/>The Ugly: went to use dishwasher & the fascia fell off!! Still usable but looked like a bad DIY job. The fridge was smelly, noisy & not properly clean. The ensuite toilet lid was loose & the cistern doesn't always stop filling.<br/>Enjoyed our stay in spite of this, but wish we'd read reviews on Host & Stay beforehand, not just those on Airbnb.

The whole place was lovely, great location and views, plenty parking, nicely furnished and equipped, comfy bedrooms, all very clean well decorated and spacious.

Great location, stunning view. Good size accommodation, just needs a really good clean. Beds were comfortable. Fully equipped kitchen but needs a deep clean. Cobwebs everywhere. Window needs a good clean.

Great space <br/>Super for dogs<br/>Great view<br/>Good choice of kitchen cooking dishes and pans<br/><br/>Toilet off large bedroom seat coming off… flush sticking … <br/>Could be a little cleaner… wear and tear

Location was great, communication with property or the different people I dealt with was a problem, one hand not knowing what the others have done, I paid there waiver fee, and when I asked for the code to enter properlty on day, I got accused of not paying and then telling me “ well we sent you emails reminding you but you haven’t paid, that’s why we haven’t sent code” after asking him to check again, I got a oh sorry yeah I can see you have paid, with a little less attitude. <br/>Floor in the upstairs coming up enough for kids to trip on it, lovely views and part of the country but think the house is leaning a bit to heavy on them, and could do with some tlc, it really could be lovely.<br/><br/>Read above

Amazing location on Northumbrian coast<br/><br/>If I were to write a snagging list for the property it would be quite long. Lots and lots of little things which all together added up to rank as a disappointing apartment. Most seriously some of the metal treads on the stairs were lose and a serious hazard. The laminate flooring in the main room upstairs was split in places, coming away in others and missing altogether in one place. Missing bulbs, fixtures lose and en-suite toilet a joke (as was the en-suite itself, small cupboard would be more appropriate and quite unnecessary given the size of the room it’s in). The kitchen is poor. There is nowhere to store food, there is not enough cutlery,glass or cups. The utensils are the cheapest available and are mostly useless.<br/>I could go on… I would recommend that the owners spend a week living in the place and arrange for all the shortcomings to be addressed. Currently this apartment falls well below the standard I would expect from the premium price tag paid.<br/>It is a wonderful location (all be it with a difficult entry drive at the front). However I could not recommend this place until all the issues have been addressed.

Quiet and peaceful place to stay. Lovely views across the bay and plenty of space in the property to fit the family.

We enjoyed our stay. The place was spotless and the bedrooms very comfortable. Only downside was the fact the only shower was in the en-suite bathroom and was not accessible to everyone. Feels like there should be a shower over the bath in the main bathroom.

The Watchtower overlooks the tidal estuary Budle Bay which is on the edge of a nature reserve and home to many different wading birds. The views from the main bedroom and the living space are fantastic. We were woken early by the calls of redshanks, whimbrel and curlew. This part of Northumbria is very beautiful with huge beaches and picturesque castles.<br/>The apartment was comfortable and generous for us three. The kitchen was well appointed and had everything needed for the meals we cooked. There is plenty of fridge and freezer space (the fridge freezer is quite noisy). The en suite shower is very powerful.<br/>We visited Bamburgh and Dunstanburgh castles (the latter a spectacular ruin) and took a great boat trip around the Farne Islands with Serenity cruises. Seahouses is a great little place with independent shops. The walk from The Watchtower to Bamburgh is lovely. There is so much we did not have time to see and we would love to go back

A unique property in an amazing location. Overall we loved our stay, in what is a well-presented, well-provided for property. If anything, we felt that the hosts were under-capitalising on the natural and historical surroundings which could have really enhanced the visitor experience. Overall would definitely recommend.

Location excellent<br/><br/>A few minor maintenance issues, which were reported. <br/>The apartment was on two floors. The Wi-Fi was intermittent on lower floor.

We had a brilliant stay! It was just perfect for our group of 3 couples. Very comfortable with plenty of space and lots to do and see on your doorstep. Highly recommend!

The apartment was lovely with exceptional views across Budle Bay. Great location only a 5 minute drive to Bamburgh.

The quality of the accommodation was very, very good. It was tastefully decorated, spacious and comfortable (especially the beds). Quality throughout. Private inside and is all part of a mill so you didn't feel isolated and felt safe. Excellent location in itself, being next door to (almost) a private river and a bay where you can watch the tides come in and out along with the resident herons, swans, little egrets etc., (remember to take your binoculars, I don't think the telescope works?) and then there is the wider location, only being 2 miles from Bamburgh itself, and the other two must see places of interest nearby being, Seahouses (boat trip to experience the vast nesting birds, puffins etc and seals and then there is Lindisfarne (Holy islands). So excellent accommodation and excellent location. You cant go wrong. <br/>(A bit confusing, but the front is in the back or vice versa. So around the back/front there is a big car park and you can get through to your accommodation through a side gate).<br/><br/>Just lacked that little info to say; the car park is just around the corner, as we initially parked in the front/back as we entered into Warren Mill and parked on someone else space and didn't know about the side gate either.

The apartment was nice and as expected from the listing, it’s on a lovely location. Just be sure to read the notes - you need to either pay a £250 deposit which takes two weeks to get back minus a £10 admin charge, or pay a €30 waiver, so for me it was different to the many Airbnbs I’d booked in the past and I found that annoying for a 2 night booking. You also get many (in my opinion too many) email reminders about this.

The Watchtower suited our group very well - clean, spacious and well equipped; we particularly liked the top-floor open plan living space - bright and comfortable with spectacular views over the estuary<br/><br/>It would have been good to have a shower fitted over the bath in the family bathroom; enquiries about additional parking were not answered

property exceptional but cleaning poor. duvets smelling in guest room<br/><br/>just the cleanliness let it down

the location<br/><br/>The selling point for this property is the views, so it would help to have clean windows. The managing company demand an insurance policy or deposit for breakages, yet they don’t appear to fix anything: laminated flooring broken in several places in the living room; toilet seat in en-suite; fridge in its last legs & noisy; broken kitchen utensils, to name but a few maintenance issues. And there was no warning that scaffolding would be up by one of the bedrooms. The small double is noisy as the floor above hasn’t been laid properly. All in all, charging premium prices requires premium standards. Be warned!

The view was amazing and the flat was tastefully decorated and comfortable.<br/><br/>The doorway and porch area were filthy just a Clean of the door and a sweep, weeds pulled out would of done . Also the cobwebs inside the chandelier and bedrooms also no bulb in spotlight over sink area no mirrors in bedrooms as we only stayed 2 nights it wasn't a problem for us .

Lovely place for a weekend away. Amazing views. Shame that the family bathroom does not have a shower only a bath but that is our only complaint!

Great location and lovely property. comfortable beds, well equipped and amazing views<br/><br/>Only comment is lots of cobwebs higher up and no welcome pack - usually get a few essentials in rentals.

It's in a lovely location with great views, very near to Bamburgh castle. The main, ensuite bedroom is very comfortable.<br/><br/>The 2nd double bedroom is tiny and there isn't a shower over the bath in the attached bathroom. <br/>The cooker hood didn't work.<br/>There were pieces of the kitchen floor missing.<br/>Toilet seat not fixed correctly so moved around. <br/>Entrance to the property was covered in cobwebs and looked really unsightly.<br/>Light bulbs missing. <br/>This place is expensive and these issues need resolving. Did lodge a complaint and Host & Stay investigated, then told me the owner had agreed to rectify for next guests. They have offered me a discount on a future booking but won't use them again.

Shower did not work, took ages to receive a response and get it fixed.<br/>lights didn’t work in dark stair well.<br/>Both issues had been reported by a previous visitor and obviously not fixed.

Stunning location, the view of the bay and Lindisfarne is magnificent. Very quiet, close to Holy Island and Bamburgh. Clean, comfortable with a lift to the front door!

I liked the location of the accommodation and also the views. The beach theme of the property was good and added detail.<br/><br/>The fridge and freezer was turned off and smelled quite badly. The ice pack to absorb any bad smells had turned mouldy and we had to throw it out. We had to clean the fridge before we could put food in it. The shower in the ensuite came away from the wall a couple of times and we had to re-fit it. There was no light in the stairwell so it was pitch black - the bulb needs replaced.

A lovely place in a wonderful location. Wonderful to wake up everyday and have a cup of tea while looking out over the estuary.

Absolutely beautiful apartment with stunning views! Beds were very comfy and furniture was top standard. Welcome booklet had all information needed and thoroughly enjoyed our time. We will definitely come back!

Good location with lovely views down the estuary.<br/><br/>Having been forced to pay for damage insurance which was not included in the quoted price, we were shocked at the poor maintenance of this property which resulted in a number of safety issues and resulted in my daughter being injured. <br/>There was no lighting in the entrance hall and complete darkness on a very steep staircase which was a significant safety hazard.<br/>The shower hose came out of the wall resulting in water gushing out of the wall and causing my daughter to injure herself.<br/>The light and extractor fan above the cooker was not working resulting in poor lighting around the cooker - another safety issue.<br/>We had no hot water and we’re unable to wash for several hours.<br/>The sink in the en suite bathroom was not draining making it unusable.<br/>Several fixtures were either loose or missing from the bathrooms.<br/>Despite phoning, emailing and submitting 3 separate complaints I have had no satisfactory response from the management company.

Location and views. Living space good, beds very comfy. Additional radiators were effective. Telescope added interest!<br/><br/>A few things didn’t work optimally eg lights in hallway, en suite shower (all reported to agent). Bathroom <br/>fittings felt a little flimsy.

The location is perfect and the aesthetic of the apartment was really fun. <br/><br/>We loved having our own entryway, and the lift was a god send with all our stuff! <br/>Plenty of space too.<br/><br/>There were several things that weren't working, for instance the telescope, which was the mains elling point for us.<br/><br/>The extractor fan and hood light didn't work. The hook on the bathroom door was hanging on its nails. The light fitting in the bathroom kept flickering and going out. <br/><br/>We also though it was bizarre that there's only one shower for a 6 person apartment, which is located through a bedroom. There's plenty of space to add another shower. <br/><br/>We were disappointed to find that you are only dog tolerant, not dog friendly, for example saying dogs aren't allowed on the furniture. <br/><br/>And the place isn't cleaned properly. There was bits of dried cheese all over the dining room chairs, cobwebs everywhere. And the cleaner was waiting for us to leave! Which was very uncomfortable, we weren't late vacating the property. Plus the text sent by H&S the day before we were due to leave, telling us to be lit by 10am was completely unnecessary and again added stress yo what was supposed to be a relaxing weekend.<br/><br/><br/>The booking process was a nightmare, since you have to sign up with a random company, give them all your personal details and pay them a £250 deposit. This had put me off ever booking somewhere that is run by Host and Stay. <br/><br/>We spent the entire weekend fretting about not getting the deposit back. Overall not great.

The views from the rear of the property were stunning. We liked the lounge area. Two of the bedrooms were a good size. Parking was good. We appreciated the lift.<br/><br/>There were a number of maintenance issues, some of which had clearly been in need of attention some time. It was disappointing that the heating in some areas had not been switched on in advance of our arrival.

The scenery and view was beautiful, the property was very clean and spacious. The property itself is lovely, really close to the beach & a nice river, close to Holy Island etc.<br/><br/>The communication was generally poor. The property is managed by a third party company called Host & Stay. It is not clear from the booking.com website, but they insist that you then pay a £250 deposit (for potential damages) plus a £10 non-refundable 'admin fee' prior to arrival (otherwise they threaten to cancel your booking). <br/> <br/>I thought it was pretty unreasonable to ask for this without making it clear that this would be the case up front when booking, e.g. you don't book a hotel and then expect to pay a separate hidden deposit. In addition after you vacate they then do not immediately refund the deposit to you: they say it can take up to two weeks! Ultimately although the property was beautiful this left a bit of a sour taste. <br/> <br/>Unfortunately the lock box containing the keys was jammed, so although we had a code it was not easy to get into. We called host & stay but it took quite a long time to sort out. They subsequently planned to send the cleaner to help us, but we eventually managed to open it with a bit of muscle power.

beautiful view. quiet location. just great for us

Lovely Airbnb in a beautiful location. Extremely spacious, comfortable and well equipped

The property was perfect for our short break (3 adults, 2 teens). The rooms were clean, well designed and comfortable, with a view over the little estuary that never got boring. <br/>The location was ideal for trips to Banburgh, Seahouses and the surrounding area and the on-site parking made it very convenient. There are shops about 3 miles away, so it would work well for longer stays. We loved visiting Banburgh Castle and took a brilliant trip to Lindisfarne, which is only a short drive away.<br/>I highly recommend taking binoculars as you can spend hours looking at the birds and view of Holy Island from the windows.

Beautiful two story apartment located in peaceful area with amazing views

Fabulous location, wonderful views, and well appointed. Although slightly quirky in its layout, it suited our purposes very well. The disparity in the two double bedrooms could be an issue for two couples travelling together, as one very big with en-suite shower, but the other quite small with no views and shared bathroom, but for our party it worked fine and we loved our stay. Can highly recommend and hope to return again.

Lovely location, with fantastic views. A beautifully furnished, light and airy space that was perfect for our family gathering.

perfect location for the NorthEast. comfortably furnished and well equipped.

Comfortable apartment in a great location with fantastic views from the top floor across to Lindisfarne. A short drive to Bamburgh and some of the North Easts beautiful beaches.

Perfect location to walk along the coast to Bamburgh, Seahouses & Alnwick. Also on a bus route. <br/>Comfortable, clean and spacious with all amenities and stunning views. Good value for money<br/><br/>Only downside to the property is that it only has one shower. The property can accommodate six people so would definitely benefit another shower over the bath, in the main bathroom or even a shower fitting to the taps.

The perfect place to stay for a quiet break with lovely views from the lounge area.<br/><br/>We stayed here for day trips to Bamburgh, Holy Island and Berwick and highly recommend it.

It was an excellent place to stay to visit the surrounding areas. The whole property was beautiful and well stocked with all the things you need. My family and I had a wonderful time and created memories there that will stay with us for the rest of our lives. It was a great break.<br/><br/>There was nothing that I could fault. The whole property was perfect. It caters beautifully. Everything worked and was modern and clean. The beds where comfy.

Great view, great place to stay

Accommodation was very comfortable, wonderfully equipped and suberbly clean.<br/>View from lounge windows was a delight.. even if you are not a 'birder' you will enjoy the variety of wildlife on the bay. A fabulous view of the glorious pink sky at dawn.<br/><br/>Unfortunately, ladies need mirrors near power points! Blow drying hair, plucking eyebrows, and applying makeup were all problematic.<br/>There seems to be an intermittent problem with the ensuite toilet - when flushed it does not always shut off the water when used.

Northumberland<br/><br/>What a great and striking landscape to explore. Enjoyed our time immensely :)<br/><br/>The apartment is ideally situated to explore Bamburgh / Lindisfarne and local villages. Supermarkets and pubs accessible.<br/><br/>Apartment has comfortable beds , shower with plenty of hot water, adequately equipped kitchen, wifi works well and access to Netflix etc. <br/>Lift to the apartment great for luggage etc <br/><br/>Great waterside views with migrating birds to be viewed from the apartment. <br/><br/>Whilst part of a complex of apartments - very quiet and peaceful. <br/><br/>General kitchen / lounge is on the top floor and would be comfort for 4 adults. <br/><br/>It’s a managed property and communication was clear and timely. <br/>Would book again if in the region and interested

Lovely place. Clean and tidy. Stunning view over the mud flats.

Great place to stay in superb location. Quiet and comfortable with stunning views. Easy access to Bamburgh / A1.<br/><br/>Perfect for one family.

great property in great location<br/><br/>for owner info: really great apartment however stair case has issue of tread having flooring cover missing and is quite serious tripping hazard. there is a lift however am aware that some people too anxious to use lifts . this is an issue that needs remedying immediately to prevent an accident .

The apartment is nicely done, centred around the stunning view of the Bay. The main windows with telescope is a great addition for bird watching etc. <br/>Location is spot on. Parking is good. <br/>Comfortable and clean.<br/><br/>Not compliant for anyone with a disability or can’t use stairs. <br/>Check in times were disappointing, couldn’t check in till 4pm and out by 10am. Lot of money for essentially 36 hours, having said that we knew we were paying for location and view.

Lovely views from the living area, bedrooms were nice and clean, easy to park and very secure. It was quiet despite being near a road. There were a couple of hiccups but hosts were very quick to respond and sort things out. Thank you!

A lovely property with plenty of parking and accessibility. Even a lift as an alternative to two flights of stairs. <br/>Access to the estuary and walk to Bamburgh beach is 100 yards to a public footpath. Garden area is neat and well maintained. <br/>Lots of seating and a great view while perched on a stool eating breakfast. <br/>Downside was only one shower (en-suite in main bedroom) which was a bit taxing between four of us, let alone possibly six - but overall a nice property in a lovely part of the world.

Very nice spacious and clean flat in a great location.

A stylish and perfect place from which to enjoy the wonders of Northumberland; fantastic view from the livingroom and main bedroom, spotlessly clean and very comfortable. We had a wonderful time.

Beautiful location quiet location plenty of space stunning views

This property is just as described. It has great views over the birding sanctuary. While it is a bit out of town, it is close enough to explore this coast easily and have a quiet place to relax in between excursions. There is a lift to the first floor where the apartment is and there are stairs inside the apartment to the living and kitchen area. The small bathroom has a shower and the larger bathroom has a tub. We enjoyed our stay and recommend it to others.

The house was beautifully decorated and had everything we needed for a comfrotable stay.<br/><br/>It was located right on the beach and in a close proximity to Bamburgh and Seahouses.

Lovely clean well proportioned accommodation in a lovely scenic position handy for Bamburgh and surrounding area. The accommodation has everything you need for a lovely comfortable stay, and is on the route of some great local walks. There are no shops/ bars or restaurants in walking distance so take what you need for your stay unless you are happy to drive out for things.

Amazing views<br/>Great location<br/>Lots of space.

We stayed in this accm with friends. the view is absolutely amazing and it's a superbly aportioned quirky upside down house. Really well laid out with great facilities<br/><br/>A pub in walking distance

Great place, great location, FANTASTIC VALUE. Only negatives are the ensuite running out of hot water after 2 showers in the morning, and not a single tv remote out of 4 appeared to work (not that we wanted to use it much). Overall a great place.