The entrance most often used by guests is at the side of the cottage where there are 3 steps leading up to the door which opens directly into the kitchen. The kitchen is a good size and well fitted with an electric Bosch oven, hob, microwave, toaster, fridge, slimline Siemens dishwasher, Siemens washing machine and small table top freezer. A circular pine table and four chairs enables guests to sit and look out at the river whilst dining. The kitchen is well stocked with plenty of crockery, cutlery, pots, pans, casserole and lasagne dishes. There is also a slow cooker and plenty of mugs and glasses. The kitchen is also kept supplied with useful items such as clingfilm, foil, salt, pepper, spices, vinegar, stock cubes, hand soap, washing up liquid, dishwasher tablets and various cleaning materials. We also provide an initial supply of tea, coffee, sugar, and kitchen paper. NB: We do not provide washing powder or fabric conditioner, although there may be some left by previous guests. There is also a cordless telephone extension in the kitchen, although this can be plugged into any other room of choice.

The Kitchen Table

Hallway A sliding door from the kitchen leads to a spacious, light and airy hallway and all rooms are accessed from here. There is a large storage cupboard/cloakroom just off the hallway with coat hooks, shoe rack, iron, ironing board, Miele vacuum, fold-up single bed*, plus shelves storing various games. The remote control unit for the combi gas boiler central heating system is located on the wall of the hall to the right of the kitchen sliding door. The combi-boiler itself is situated in the loft. *The fold-up bed is only suitable for occasional use and bedding can be provided upon request, but it must be noted that there is no space in the bedrooms for this and it would need to be set up in the lounge or hallway at night if required.

The lounge is accessed from the hallway directly opposite the kitchen doorway.  It is a large homely room furnished with an extremely comfortable 3 piece suite comprising a 3 seater sofa and 2 single armchairs.  There is a TV, video recorder and DVD player all with remote controls. In November 2008 we are taking delivery of a 32" LCD television to improve viewing comfort!  Unfortunately we cannot get reception for a Freeview box, which is one of the disadvantages of being by the side of a river in a medieval village!  However, we are due to have Sky digital television installed in November 2008 to offer guests much more viewing variety.  There is a gas fire, behind which is the Baxi Bermuda Gas boiler and the controls for the central heating/water are on the wall to the right of the fire place. There are French Doors which lead to the Conservatory at the front of the cottage and this really is the most popular place for our guests to sit during the day with its stunning views and wildlife to enjoy, as described earlier.

The Lounge

The conservatory at the front of the cottage is large and spacious enough to hold a bookcase, coffee table, two cane armchairs, a 2-seater cane sofa and footstool, as well as a round wicker table and two wicker chairs.  In the winter or on chillier days/evenings in the summer there are two plug-in thermostatically controlled electric radiators which soon warm the conservatory up.  Of course if the sun is out during the daytime, you will then find the roller blinds fitted at the windows most useful. On the bookcase are a variety of novels to read, which are changed regularly, as well as lots of books of local interest, walks to do and maps, etc.  Binoculars are provided so that the abundance of wild-life outside of the conservatory can be observed. Two information folders are stored under the coffee table – one with details on all the cottage appliances and the other all about Riverview, Warkworth and local information/places of interest.

The Conservatory

Immediately outside of the conservatory, there are a number of bird-feeders and fat balls hanging on the apple tree.  We ask guests to keep these topped up if possible from the seed/fat balls supplied and stored in the garage and everyone is then rewarded by a rich variety of birds coming to feed right outside the window.  There are often regular visits by some adventurous Mallards who pop over from the river to eat the seed that has dropped to the ground from the feeders.
A radio/CD player sits on the window sill and there are also two touch sensitive lamps, as well as spotlights, so a good ambience can be achieved in the conservatory in the darker evenings.  Another useful addition is the Tide Clock, which hangs on the wall and tells you how many hours it is to either high tide or low tide.  This can be useful information before a planned beach walk, although the tide times for the week are always found on the back of the Northumbrian Gazette, a copy of which is always left for our guests when they arrive, together with a complimentary bottle of wine, biscuits and a pint of milk.

An external door leads from the Conservatory onto a small, sheltered balcony in front of the kitchen window, where you can sit on the ‘Love Seat’ and enjoy the views across the river on comfortable seat pads which are stored in the cloakroom if required. French Doors lead from the Conservatory back into the hallway through a small vestibule area, where a number of paintings by local artists and photographs of Warkworth are displayed.  There is also a small round table where you will find many leaflets on the local area and the Guest Book.

Conservatory Tide Clock

The bathroom is off the hallway next to the cloakroom. It is L-shaped in design and is light, bright and airy. In January 2010, this received a total makeover and now boasts a fresh New England coastal look. The Ideal Standard 3 piece suite consists of toilet, wash hand basin and bath with a Grohe mixer tap. There is a separate shower cubicle with wet wall and a superb Grohe shower. There is a safety grab rail by the side of the toilet and a wall mounted one at the shower entrance. There is also a shaving point and an infra red mirror which can be illuminated with the wave of a hand. Liquid Hand soap is provided, as well as Shower Shine, bubble bath and an initial supply of 4 toilet rolls, plus various bathroom cleaners.

In the master bedroom, there is a double divan bed with decorative silver headboard and a non-feather kingsize duvet and four pillows. The room is beautifully co-ordinated in a lavender/lilac colour scheme with Christy bedlinen and Laura Ashley wallpaper. There is a double fitted wardrobe and two single ones, plus overhead storage, as well as a dressing table area with drawers either side and a large mirror on the wall above. On each of the two bedside cabinets is an alarm clock and a bedside lamp. Plenty of hangers are provided in each wardrobe, plus a shoe rack in the double wardrobe. On the dressing table is a flatscreen 19” TV with remote control and in the main drawer you will find a full sized hairdryer.

Two single divan beds are provided with one bedside cabinet between them with an alarm clock, lamp and cute teddy sitting there too. Single non-feather duvets and 2 pillows per bed are provided and all the bedlinen and matching curtains are by Sheridan. A 19” flatscreen TV with remote control is provided and a plug in/battery radio is also available. The room has two built-in wardrobes, a free standing full length mirror unit as well as a mirrored dressing table and stool. French doors lead from the bedroom to the small private courtyard at the rear of the cottage. A Travel cot is provided and when not in use is stored in one of the wardrobes.