The Gardens of Northumberland are a surprising exploration with inspiration a foot.

Cragside Garden & House. The Armstrongs. The inventors residence is home to a fairytale house built into a crag full of firsts & inventions. Hydro Electricity & Self sufficiency. You can drive on the 5 mile Estate drive. The Rohedaddrums are in Full Bloom around June. Walk around the Gardens and Greenhouse, Lakes, with often the feeling you have the place to yourself. Visit The House. Great Day out. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/cragside/history-of-cragside

Wallington Hall & Walled Garden once home to The Trevellyans. Lovely Gardens to Meander around. Willow Art sculptures and Victorian Green House for Giant specimans. You can hire bikes at Wallington Theres the Dragon Trail. A 1.5 km cycle trail and a 4.5km cycle trail around the gardens and grounds. The House has a great collection of Ceramics & Books. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/wallington

Belsay Hall &Gardens Enchanting gardens and otherwordlyness. A fourteenth century castle with nineteenth century house and garden. Sir Charles Monck’s neoclassical house. The unique Greek Revival mansion, a medieval castle and 30 acres of fabulous gardens to explore, Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens offers a grand day out for visitors of all ages.

Inside, a video recounts Belsay’s story as told by ‘the Wild Man’, a mythical figure inspired by the Middletons’ crest.

Wander the rocky ravines of the quarry garden between the hall and castle, and take the Wild Man Trail to the spectacular playground located near the Coach House Café. Include the Crag Wood scenic walk and a brilliant second-hand bookshop https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/belsay-hall-castle-and-gardens/

Howick Hall displays The Ultra Violet rainbow of Pastel colours in the Rodedandrum & Magnolia Wedding Gardens of Howick Hall that radiate violet, lemon & pink hues. The EarlGrey Tea and Cakes are great. You can walk down the path to the Beach. https://howickhallgardens.com/

Kirkely Hall Collage walled garden within the collage grounds can be visited combined with a visit to Kirkley Hall Zoo it is a surprise of colourful trees and plants with an ancient resident of the Willowby Pine, the oldest prehistoric tree and beautiful specimans of Maples, Magnolias & twisted Hazels. A prized fig tree. The Neroli perfumed leaves of the Mexican Sundance shrub. Theres Vervains & Verbenas. http://www.kirkleyhallzoo.co.uk/