Families residing in fishing village are divided over inflow of vacationers

Families living in the fishing village which topped the UK table for holiday lets profit growth are divided over the influx of tourists.

The quiet Northumbrian seaside village of Seahouses has left longtime rival holiday destinations such as Cornwall in the rearview mirror as a boom in tourism has caused a surge in rental profits in the region. 

But the rise of visitors to the town, which lies on the northeast coast of England, has caused division amongst the locals – with some claiming they love tourists, while others moan they bring it down.

The popularity has been good for the owners of the holiday rentals, with recent data showing rental income was up 36 per cent to £29,700 in 2023.

However local residents have criticised the spiralling housing prices for causing young people to move away because they can’t afford to buy houses in the area any longer.

Tourists are being attracted to the village due to its stunning location, where it is easy to catch a boat from the harbour to the Farne Islands, which are internationally renowned for their breeding colonies of seals and puffins.

Another attraction of Seahouses is that it is a mere stone’s throw from Instagrammable Bamburgh Castle, built in the 12th century, which stands on top of a hill overlooking a long, sandy beach.

Gillian Stewart, 62, a store owner on the high street says the number of tourists flocking to the village has steadily increased after popular shows like Vera put the coast on the map.

She said: ‘I’ve had this store for 24 years and one in Amble for 26 years.

‘When I first started, the season would be May to October. Now it’s March until December.

‘The increase has been happening for the last ten years. It’s because of Robson Green and Vera filming in the area.

‘It’s got everything, you have The Farne Islands, Holy Island, Bamburgh Castle. It’s also got the villages up to here like Amble.

‘The beaches are beautiful. It’s a coastal route.

‘People also come here because there’s nice weather until late in the year.’

One anonymous local spoke of how residents love the tourists because keep the village in business.

She said: ‘In places like Devon and Cornwall they seem to hate the tourists but I don’t understand anyone that does.

‘The tourists keep us in business. We wouldn’t have anything else.

‘There are very few fishing boats that leave from the harbour, it’s all trips to The Farne Islands. We wouldn’t have the restaurants or nice pubs that we do.

‘Yes, the houses are expensive but where are they not? My son lives in London and he can’t afford a home there.

‘If there were no tourists the houses would be cheaper but we wouldn’t have any jobs to buy a house with.

‘Everything is well kept because of the tourists.

‘People love to come to all the villages around here. We have really nice restaurants and hotels.

‘You’re close to Bambrugh castle and the puffins.

‘Everyone is friendly, including the tourists.’

But, some locals fumed the stunning village has become littered with tacky takeaways and tourist shops to cater to visitors.

The local high street has a number of kebab outlets, cheap chippies and bargain stores – and there is a strong scent of fish and chips in the air.

The traffic has also become a source of nuisance, with car parks bursting at the seams and vehicles polluting the sea air.

Large buses filled with schoolchildren and holiday-makers are a frequent sight.

And crossing the road has become so difficult there are often lines of pedestrians waiting to get across the street.

Monica Burke, 70, moved to Seahouses 50 years ago.

The shop assistant said: ‘The place I moved to no longer exists. It’s like mini Blackpool here.

‘I wouldn’t come here for a day out unless I was visiting the local islands.

‘It’s become really crowded and busy. There are so many cars and pollution because of it.

‘It all started in lockdown when people started going on staycations.

‘Young people can’t afford to buy houses and have to move away. There are always homes on sale but they are used for second properties and holiday lets.

‘There are stores that cater to tourists now. We only have one supermarket, which is mediocre, anyone here would tell you they would rather have a big supermarket.

‘Because it’s the only one here, and most customers are tourists, they charge more. There are massive queues to get to the tills.

‘In tourist season they will run out of bread and other items and I just think, ‘How do you let that happen?’

‘The litter is a disgrace which is a reflection of the general deterioration and standards of the human race.

‘It’s disgraceful.’

Tourists are continuing to arrive due to the closeness to Lindisfarne, also called Holy Island, where Irish monks settled in 635, making it one of the most important centres of early English Christianity in the world.

And for those who love a meander, the streets are lined with boutique shops as well as quirky cafes, restaurants and pubs.

Tourists have claimed Seahouses is ‘better than Cornwall’ after holiday let owners in the fishing village enjoyed the biggest hike in rental income in the UK.

Though the much loved southern county remains Britain’s favourite destination to take a break, rental profits have soared by more than a third in the northern resort.

In contrast, owners in Cornwall experienced a hike of just eight per cent in 2023 compared to the previous year, according to research by Sykes Holiday Cottages.

Rob and Sharon Baxter, of Nottingham, have been holidaying in the area for the last 21 years – and prefer it to popular Cornwall.

Sharon, 64, a retired medical secretary said: ‘We come here every year. This year we’ll be here twice.

‘There are so many places to go and the coastline is stunning.

‘Cornwall always feels busy to me but it’s peaceful up here. Even when there are a lot of people there’s always somewhere quiet to sit on the beach.

‘It’s just beautiful and there’s always room for everyone. People are friendlier here than down south.

‘It feels like coming home whenever we arrive.

‘It’s nice and relaxing. You can do as much or as little as you want.

‘I think Seahouses was always seen as cheaper than Cornwall and maybe that’s why more people are coming. Once you come here you always want to come back.’

Rob, a retired telecom engineer, 65, said he has noticed prices in the area shoot up during school holidays.

He added: ‘The cottage we want to stay in, in Bamburgh, cost £700 in the first week of October but during the half term break it’s £1,500.

‘They are making money off people having to take holidays in half term.’

Clare Harrison, 59, was visiting the area from Preston in Lancashire.

The shop assistant said: ‘We’ve been here before and it’s a lovely area.

‘It’s not as busy as Cornwall but there’s quite a few holiday lets.

‘People are so friendly and we have come out of season before when it’s quiet.

‘There are a lot of lovely places in Northumberland like Kielder and Hexham.

‘There are some great shops and restaurants to try.

‘We travelled here in our camper van but we’ve used holiday lets before. A lot of people like holiday lets as you get a local experience and use their shops and the bakery.

‘You just have to bring your car and a suitcase and you’re in the centre. There’s no hassle like when you’re travelling abroad.’

Fellow store owner Kerry Laughlin, 52, added: ‘It’s really central to The Farne Islands and boat trips from here.

‘It’s the only place between Bambrugh and Beadnell.

‘It’s a busy little place. You have a lot of nearby villages that people want to visit.’