Special thanks to Tim Stienlet of Burnfoot Holiday Cottages in Northumberland, for supplying this information.
Northumberland
Northumberland has some of the most spectacular unspoiled coastlines in the UK. It was designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1958 and covers 39 miles of stunning coast! The Northumberland Coastal Route provides access to the many towns and villages along this magnificent stretch of coastline. Much of the area is unpopulated with mile after mile of clean and safe award-winning golden sandy beaches, quiet country lanes, and an unequalled sense of freedom.
For the lovers of wildlife, there is the majestic Holy Island, the Farne Islands, Coquet Island, Budle Bay. The list goes on. The 64 mile (103km) long Northumberland Coastal Path forms part of the International North Sea Trail. This can be walked in 6 manageable stages.
Cragside House & Gardens
This is well worth a visit for their unique place in History. This National Trust property was the first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity. Cragside House is the revolutionary home of Lord Armstrong, Victorian inventor and landscape genius, who was a wonder of its age.
Built on a rocky crag high above the Debdon Burn, Cragside is crammed with ingenious gadgets. It is surrounded on all sides by one of the largest rock gardens in Europe. If you are a National Trust member, entry to the Grounds and the House is free with your membership. However, the cost for non-members is not cheap. Therefore I would suggest that non-members plan ahead and make a full day of their visit in order to get full value for money.
Located just a mile or so outside of Rothbury, Cragside’s estate is immense in size as well as stature. On arrival at the estate, its magnificence is plain to see with the visitor centre set beautifully across the lake.
Once parked on one of the tiered car parks I recommend going the to Visitor’s Centre. As your first port of call, it’s actually in the opposite direction from the House. You will however learn a little about the grounds and history. This will help you appreciate the house and gardens more.
There is also a National Trust Shop, Cafe and toilets. While there are also toilets in the main house courtyard, if you are intending on having a long walk around the grounds you might want to use this opportunity to visit the facilities!
Heading now back through the car park and towards the magnificent House, there is much to explore and appreciate here. Points of interest inside the house include the numerous works of art and paintings, one of the first hydraulic lifts in the world, and the stunning ten-ton marble fireplace in the Drawing Room that was ingeniously built into the crag-side itself to support its immense weight. There are extremely knowledgeable volunteers in many of the rooms and a quick chat with these friendly people always adds to the appreciation of each room.
Your insider tip: Cragside Gardens are at their most spectacular in late spring when literally tens of thousands of rhododendrons are in full bloom.
The Grounds themselves are spectacularly landscaped and have a lot to offer. Don’t be in a rush to leave once you’ve ‘seen’ the House. There is a minibus that runs a shuttle service between the key points of the Estate if you aren’t able to walk the rocky crags. My favourite part of the grounds are the Formal Gardens.
To get here head down the crag in the front of the house, over the attractive iron bridge, and follow the signs up the other side of the crag. It’s an effort to get here but the reward is a beautiful garden and breathtaking views of the Coquetdale countryside. Although worth visiting at any time of year, the formal gardens are perhaps at their best in August when a huge long border of Dahlias are in full bloom.
Other things to do in the grounds of the estate include many guided and marked walks. Visit the visitors centre for more information. There is a fantastic Adventure Play Area and labyrinth for the kids, which provided most of my childhood memories of Cragside and has only been improved with time.
Dotted around the estate you will also find various lakes and picnic areas to stop off and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Dogs are welcome on to the estate (not in the house) but must be kept on a lead at all times.
When it comes time to leave, I would recommend driving around the estate before exiting. The standard exit route is to drive towards the house, through the courtyard, and on to an exit a few hundred yards further on. It makes a far nicer drive to ignore this first exit and continue through the estate. There is an almost circular route that takes in some wonderful views. After this lively drive, you will eventually reach another exit, almost back at the visitor centre where you started.
Pet-friendly Burnfoot Holiday Cottages are holiday cottages recently created by the conversion of one of Lord Armstrong’s hydro-electrically powered farm steadings on the Cragside Estate.
See the website www.burnfootholidaycottages.co.uk for more details.