It all started, as many of my best ideas do, sitting around a roaring fire on the banks of the Tweed in the wee hours, dram in hand, dogs snoring by my feet. Having spent years singing the praises of this wild and beautiful part of the world to anyone who would listen, it struck me that night that my passion for Northumberland had gone beyond inviting friends to stay. No longer able to accommodate the growing fanbase of like-minded friends - and friends of friends – who were being won over by this understated part of the world, I had been quizzing local friends and acquaintances about the best private homes available for holiday use. Once I’d matched my visitors with the perfect property, I would send them handwritten notes with details of our family’s favourite haunts, from epic rambles and cycling routes to where to find the best fish & chips and those hidden picnic spots that no one else knows about. They came back, again and again. And each one sowed another little Crabtree & Crabtree seed. Fast forward 15 years and Crabtree & Crabtree has blossomed into a dedicated team of local experts who manage a sought-after collection of holiday cottages dotted across the North East of England and South of Scotland. For all our growth, we remain as committed as ever to seeking out the most stylish, authentic homes filled with warmth and character, and matching them to suit specific budgets and requirements. We are listeners, thinkers and doers. We make things happen and constantly evolve to anticipate and meet the needs of our guests. Set in some of the most beautiful spots in Great Britain, our stylish self-catered properties offer the option to add as much luxury as you wish and actively encourage a slower pace of life and appreciation of innocent pleasures: unrushed time spent with loved ones, countryside rambles, epic beach cricket games and lazy sun-dappled afternoons playing pooh sticks… Emma Crabtree Founder and Director
