Boulmer and Howick

Boulmer is a traditional fishing village where the local coble boats are still used to catch crab, lobster and sea salmon. The historic core of the village has changed little in the last 100 years with the oldest houses stretching north along the coast from Boulmer Haven, where a break in the sandstone reef offers shelter for boats. Once notorious for being the smuggling capital of the north, traders used to come to Boulmer to collect illicit goods such as gin and spirits in the 18th and 19th century. Boulmer is also known for its active RAF base, established in 1940.   

Howick is the site of one of Britain’s earliest houses, a small circular hut constructed around 7800BC and providing shelter for a hunter-gatherer community for around 100 years.  Nearby is Howick Hall Gardens, the ancestral home of the Earls Grey. Featuring beautiful gardens, it is well worth a visit.