Brunton House and Cottages

12/06/2024

It was such a joy to have Henri Courtauld and Bridget Elworthy at Brunton.

I took them to the field in front of Brunton House, which is growing wheat at the moment and then the permanent grass field opposite, near the lake.

We wanted to look at the soil and what differences there might be between these two settings ~
1. A cultivated organic field, which has had no chemical fertilisers for 20 years, and a rotation of crops and grass, which sheep and cattle have then grazed.
2. A permanent grass ‘rig and furrow’ field which has not been ploughed since the Middle Ages. Perhaps for 500 years. Again no chemical fertilisers and also no disturbance of the soil structure at all. Lots of stock on it - mixed grazing with sheep and cattle and their different ways of using the area.

Sheep generally opt for immature grasses and weeds and graze closer to the cow pats, so taking in places that are not normally grazed by cattle. The cattle eat more legumes, like clover and more mature forage and their heavier weight breaks up tussocks.

I did a very basic ‘soul texture analysis’, shaking some soil in a jar of water for five minutes. (That is quite a long time actually.) I am waiting for Mark’s more definitive tests to see what they say. What is the microbial activity in our soil - and how do we go about improving it?

We need to know where we are, so we can measure how we are progressing. Should be our aim for most things in our lives perhaps?

At least we know at Brunton we are in Northumberland and that’s a great starting point!

07/06/2024

A bonfire was lit in the old kitchen garden and made the most dramatic light and shadows and smokey trails over Brunton House.

By chance Bill arrived, when I was there, all the way from Wiltshire for the photography group staying at Brunton House and Stable Cottage. We both marvelled at the sight.

06/06/2024

04/06/2024

28/05/2024

Another glowing from one of our lovely, returning guests.

20/05/2024

We've only gone and done it again 😍. Thank you so much to everyone who has taken the time leave us a review and/or feedback Tripadvisor

20/05/2024

Brunton House and the wonderful Lou Blackett look after our guests impeccably again Tripadvisor

20/05/2024

Another Tripadvisor for Brunton Burn. This cottage is for 2 people is a firm guest favourite.

02/05/2024

And the tulips go on…

26/04/2024

Brunton House - waking up with spring.

25/04/2024

All our 5 new cottages have been taken by guests today. A 70th birthday celebration in the Granary and new and returning guests in Garden Cottage, Brunton Lake, Long Byre and Swallow Dean.

Guests can arrive on a Monday or a Thursday. There is a steady turn over but each set of guests should feel ‘their cottage’ is their retreat, and they are the only ones who have ever been there!

18/04/2024

Read the full for Brunton Lake left on Tripadvisor - we never tire of seeing these, and never take them for granted!

18/04/2024

The first of 2 on Tripadvisor today - thank you again for your kind words

11/04/2024

Tulips and lambs and blossom and fig beginnings - we can forget the rainfall and wet for a moment.

Come to Brunton and leave your cares behind. In the shake of a lamb’s tail you’ll feel very at home, without the home responsibilities. Leave those to us!

02/04/2024

Another wonderful on Tripadvisor

30/03/2024

Tripadvisor

30/03/2024

Happy Easter to one and all.

22/03/2024

A blue sky over Brunton. Grass cut and tulips coming up. All seems good.

13/03/2024

Looking back at the old farm buildings - the courtyard had been covered to house cattle in the winter months and was then used as a store.

We couldn’t really see the burn, let alone appreciate how beautiful it was.

The farm buildings at Brunton served their purpose and now we have modern, practical farm sheds just half a mile away.

Moving on but not forgetting the past - now we can discover and re-tell the history of Brunton, as we can see it all more clearly.

11/03/2024

Stable Cottage, our original dog-friendly cottage still receiving rave on Tripadvisor. Thank you so much!

07/03/2024

These guests stayed in several properties and christened our new group dining space, the Blacksmith's Shop. Do read the full review if you get a chance

26/02/2024

Swimming yesterday was very…very cold, but we did feel good afterwards. And a drink by the fire newton helped to make us feel even better.

23/02/2024

What a wonderful on Tripadvisor from our recent guest Sue - thank you

23/02/2024

Such a beautiful morning - Brunton House made me smile.

22/02/2024

Picking the flowers for the cottages gives me a good reason to get out in the garden at Fallodon and then head off to Brunton (all of two miles away).

It makes me consider my planting through the year and makes me look at the cottage as a first time guest might - does it look welcoming?

I think our guests do feel welcome.

20/02/2024

Check out this latest review of Brunton Burn on !

19/02/2024

We went for a walk on Holy Island yesterday - such an incredible place. Makes you feel very insignificant, and the tides are what dictate life.

17/02/2024

A few years ago I decided to make the most of our boxed Barbie outfits from 1970, which we found in an old cupboard, and framed, because I thought they were so wonderful. Mark’s great grandmother was American and we think she gave them to his sisters.

I hung them at home, unappreciated by my family who have different approaches to art and fashion history to me.

Some people may be grateful that this style of home decor is not all over Brunton. Give me time….

07/02/2024

The sea is so, so cold at the moment that the thought of a comforting warm bath is more enticing.

Brunton House has baths and showers aplenty - 8 in all - and those that go swimming in February in the sea get to chose which bathroom is theirs first.