We've got through the siberian blast of early January with the bitter weather, snow drifts and freezing fog.  In just a few weeks the snow has all but melted except for the top of the Cheviots.  The bulbs are just showing through the ground, the snowdrops are flowering and as our Dutch guests said last week, 'the birds are starting to make love'!

We are now planning our events for this season and have some really exciting things going on.  In April we have Jenny Blayney and her course 'Landscapes of the Soul'. This is a walking and painting holiday where you will visit sacred and celtic sites.  No previous painting experience is necessary, just come along and join in.  For more information and a booking form please visit our events page. 

We have just had some fantastic news!  We received a letter today advising us that Spylaw Farm B&B has achieved VisitEngland's new Breakfast Award following this year's assessment.

The new award is sponsored by Kellogg's, recognises both Hotels and Guest Accomodation that offer their guests both a high quality and good choice of breakfast and hospitality that exceeds what would be expected for our the star rating. 

There are only 7% of guest accomodation businesses that receive this award so we are really thrilled.  We look forward to improving and building on this success to offer you the service you deserve for your time out.

We have had a really busy month with lots of activity on self catering and DB&B deals.  The weather has been kind, pretty settled and has ensured that Northumberland has been visited at its best.  The leaves are taking on their Autumn hue with beautiful colours. Sunsets during October have been fantastic, although the nights are beginning to draw in and it is beginning to get a bit chilly.  Not too bad when you have a snug log fire to curl up in front of with a glass of whisky or wine!

It's been great to welcome people from overseas and we have had some delightful guests to stay, all with their own stories to tell.  This has included some foriegn visitors from the USA and Holland.  We do hope they had a comfortable stay and look forward to welcoming them back.  It's interesting to serve them fresh local produce with very few food miles and see their reaction.  Apricots from Northumberland...surely not!  The walled garden helps.  They seem to like the idea that most of the produce is from Spylaw or local producers and it seems to be something that is catching on. 

The local village of Chatton held the Harvest Festival on the 18th October in the lovely old church.  It was so nice to see all the seasonal produce the Cubs had collected and arranged.  There were some wonderful flower arrangements using seasonal fruit and flowers, from the village ladies too.  A real community event.  With plenty going on locally including the Halloween night and fireworks at Chillingham Castle, there are plenty of great nights out for all the family.

The run up to the festive season should be full of fun for everyone.

Well the thunder storms have subsided and the weather is really good.  We managed to get the grass cut for hay on 2nd August, it's been turned twice and now all we need is the bailing.  This will probably happen over the next week or so weather permitting!

New additions have been a clutch of ducklings who suddenly appeared and are now settling in at Spylaw and enjoying the dry weather. The fruits are ripening in the orchard and we've had our first melon and aubergines from the polytunnel. 

We've had a quiet fortnight since we hatched the first ducks, quail, geese and turkeys in the incubator. They have lived in a small pen in the barn as they grow and put on their feathers. We're moving them out this week, if the weather improves, to live in the chicken orchard, just as the next batch of turkeys start to break through their shells.

The Saturday rush for our seasonal veg is very satisfying - we pick the veggies first thing so they are fresh for the veggie box customers, who are looking forward to the first melons from the polytunnel in the next week or two.  There is loads of soft fruit this year as the weather has been much kinder.  The summer puddings we make from them are delicious!

Nearly ready for haymaking which should be over the next few weeks.  It's hard work but satisfying.  We have the small, old fashioned bales which are easier to handle and better for the small flock of shetlands we have.  So if you are holidaying with us you'll be able to watch and perhaps help collect the bales in.

Welcome to our new Blog. Here you'll find the latest update for Spylaw and the surrounding community.  We hope you enjoy it.