EVER since the well-heeled section of 18th Century British society deemed it fashionable to dip their toes into the sea, coastal resorts have provided the perfect backdrop to summer holidays for millions of Brits. But while sun, sea and sand undoubtedly go hand in hand, there is still a lot of fun to be had beside the seaside in the depths of winter, as I discovered on a trip to Seahouses, in Northumberland.

Nestled in the middle of the county’s 30 miles of historically fascinating coastline, Seahouses has all the charm you would expect of an archetypal seaside town. The compact town centre boasts an array of independent shops – a rarity in today’s homogeneous high streets – and is just a short drive away from the attractive medieval town of Alnwick. While some might shiver at the thought of spending a weekend on the North-East coast in the deepest, darkest depths of winter, Seahouses is the perfect place to banish the winter blues.

Our accommodation suited the weather perfectly. A minute’s walk from the town centre, Cheviot Cottage provided a cosy bolthole from the near-zero temperatures and gale force winds that rocked Seahouses during our stay. The term "batten down the hatches" could not have been more appropriate as the wind howled around the sturdy cottage and sent wheelie bins crashing over in the courtyard. Housed in what was once an 18th Century inn known as The Badger, Cheviot Cottage oozed warmth from its very rafters. The stone floors and ample original features are a delight for fans of the rustic and rural and the open fire was well-used during our stay.

The cottage boasts two large bedrooms – one with twin beds and the master with a double – providing ample sleeping space for a family of four, but the kitchen is a little on the small size so families may not want to spend too much time cooking up complicated meals indoors. This shouldn’t pose a problem because Seahouses offers many eating out options – including the charming 17th Century The Olde Ship Inn which is a must-visit.

Another advantage of Cheviot Cottage – for dog owners at least – is that four-legged friends are most welcome. Indeed that welcome extends to much of the town, with many pubs openly accommodating well-behaved dogs. It was a good job we had our collies with us because they provided the motivation we needed to leave the cosiness of Cheviot behind, despite Mother Nature’s best efforts to keep us indoors.

The beach was practically deserted and the town centre was very quiet – apart from the pubs which provided ample opportunity for warmth, company and some fine live music on an evening. Call me antisocial, but for me a deserted beach in winter is ultimately more appealing than when it is heaving with sun-seekers in August. The sight and feel of the silvery sand blowing horizontally across the coastline to be swallowed up by the ferocious waves was completely hypnotic. And, let’s be honest, it’s quite rare that British summertime is ever hot enough to comfortably bathe in the North Sea and dry off at leisure. So I would rather soak up the brutal beauty of a place like the Northumberland coastline without the need to convince myself that eating over-priced ice-creams and sharing the beach with hundreds of half-naked sun bathers is a nice way to spend an afternoon.

Cheviot Cottage also proved a perfect base for exploring the wider Northumberland coastline. Having two dogs with us meant that we wanted to avoid spending too long in the car and thankfully there was a multitude of places well worth visiting short journeys away from Seahouses. Craster – famed as being home to the smoked kipper – proved a place worthy of exploration, and the walk along the cliff edge to Dunstanburgh Castle certainly blew away the cobwebs. Alnwick provided shopping opportunities aplenty, while in the other direction, Bamburgh Castle helped bump up our historical education quota for the weekend.

In all, a Cheviot Cottage minibreak provided a bright interlude in an otherwise dark and dreary season. The cottage, along with a multitude of accommodation to suit all tastes, is available to book at Cottages in Northumberland via cottagesinnorthumberland.co.uk