THE STEADING AT WEST LYHAM - stunning, sophisticated five bedroom hideaway

Convenient, ultra-rural setting meets cool, ultra-stylish design

Until recently, The Steading was (as its name suggests) merely an austere farmhouse and yard. Now, however, it has been dramatically transformed and reinvented as a sophisticated five-bedroom hideaway - one filled with light and drenched in style.

That old south-facing yard has become a courtyard containing two water features. Framing three sides of it, The Steading centres upon an open-plan living area which boldly marries old with new. A double-height ceiling sits above above the sleek, monochrome kitchen's large island and sociable breakfast bar. Opposite, a gallery of arched windows overlook minimalist, designer furniture including a plush petrol corner sofa as a black Morsø stove produces warmth whenever needed.

Befitting of interior magazines, this space sets a clean, classy tone maintained throughout. Love it and you'll also love an enormous, equally svelte lounge and attached dining room, both of them exposing more rafters to further the sense of grandeur. Colourful cushions and modern-art prints once again play off neutral-toned walls. Then comes the devoted TV room, complete with its own built-in bar for celebratory evenings. Though the beer pumps here sadly aren't available for guest use, there's nothing to stop any mixologists doing their thing as recipients clink cocktails on adjacent stools.

Split into two separate areas to suit groups, the five bedrooms include a pair able to be set up as either super-king doubles or twins, two further en-suites complete with king-size beds, and a large, shared bathroom featuring a walk-in shower and freestanding tub. Those same luxuries for ablutions adorn the master suite's own bathroom. One of the king-size bedrooms provides a desk for anyone who needs time to work.

Good luck with that, though, for The Steading enjoys a winning location between Northumberland's dramatic coastline and pristine National Park. And while you'll enjoy a blissful sense of rural isolation, the property is actually just a few minutes' drive from Chatton - whose village shop stocks an array of local produce - and the Percy Arms, an inviting country inn famed for its excellent food.

Half an hour's drive is all that's required to reach many of the county's most popular attractions, including Bamburgh Castle above its namesake sandy beach, the Holy Island of Lindisfarne and Alnwick Castle - better known to many as Hogwarts from the Harry Potter films. Outdoorsy types will find endless pleasure in the 400 square miles of sheep-dotted hills, meandering river valleys, wild waterfalls and rugged moorland within Northumberland National Park, itself just 15-20 minutes by car.

Please note that, for still-larger groups. The Steading can be booked in conjunction with The Stables (sleeps 4) and The Smithy (sleeps 2), which lie nearby.