Tag: days out

A Day in Newcastle

Posted on June 13, 2022 by - Hadrian's Wall Area Attractions

If you fancy some city vibes then look no further than then iconic and very beautiful city of Newcastle Upon Tyne that lies just 20 miles from St Oswald’s Farm and is an easy drive or a short train journey along the Tyne Valley line from Hexham. This famous Geordie capital offers museums, theatres, historic sites, culture, shopping and all the buzz you would expect from a thriving city centre.

Newcastle sits on the River Tyne alongside it’s twin city Gateshead and was a major shipbuilding and manufacturing hub during the Industrial Revolution. Today, following a massive investment and regeneration programme, the Quayside only gives a hint to it’s once commercial dock and is now home to Gateshead Millennium Bridge, The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art and The Sage music venue which provide a modern and cultural destination alongside the stylish restaurants, bars and clubs. Every Sunday the Quayside hosts an outdoor market that boasts a vibrant and varied showcase of quality goods and produce and with street artists and buskers that ensure a warm and friendly atmosphere.

The Quayside boasts seven bridges that link the cities of Newcastle and Gateshead which are a spectacular sight and impressive to see during the day and beautifully illuminated by night, the Quayside is undoubtedly the perfect place for a stroll or to sit back and enjoy a drink and watch the world go by.

alt="Newcastle Quayside with river and bridges"
Newcastle Gateshead Quayside

Take a trip to Newcastle Castle, this imposing Norman fortress is steeped in history and is a rugged reminder of northern England’s turbulent past. The castle is where the story of Newcastle began and the reason it got its name, however this castle is no stately home and is a grim symbol of royal authority where armies gathered and criminals were imprisoned and executed. Take your camera to the top of the castle to capture spectacular views across the city and the River Tyne.

Newcastle Castle

As you would expect this spectacular city has a great offer when it comes to Museums and Galleries. The Laing Art Gallery offering world class art through it’s exhibitions and events, The Discovery Museum is all about science and local history and with permanent exhibitions such as the ship Turbinia. The Great North Hancock Museum is dedicated to natural history and ancient civilisations and the Centre of Life is a life science centre whose purpose is to inspire everyone to explore and enjoy science and undertakes groundbreaking research.

The Hancock Museum

A trip to any City would not be complete without some shopping and Newcastle is the perfect hub for some retail therapy. Northumberland Street in the city centre is home to all your high street favourites including John Lewis and Fenwicks but you will also find many smaller independents to browse. Head to The Grainger Market which is a busy vibrant indoor market that dates back to 1835 and a place where you can pick up absolutely anything and everything. Well ingrained in Newcastle’s history and heritage, the Grainger Market is actually a Grade I Listed Market, which retains much of the stunning light and airy architecture that was originally designed and is one of the few market halls in the UK that remain in use for its original purpose.

The Grainger Market

The architecture around the Quayside and the City Centre is second to none and a walk from the Quayside up Grey Street to Grey’s Monument takes in some of magnificent Georgian architecture and takes you past the wonderful Grade I listed Theatre Royal which is one of only 9 Grade I listed Theatre Halls in England and often regarded as the finest in the Country.

For more information on everything that’s to see and do in Newcastle & Gateshead please head over to their official tourist website.

Beautiful Belsay

Posted on April 4, 2022 by - Hadrian's Wall Area Attractions, Uncategorised

Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens sit tucked away in the very small but perfectly formed village of Belsay, however there is nothing small about this beautiful English Heritage property with it’s grand Grecian Hall, Medieval Castle and 30 acres of enchanting gardens.

The Grand Hall is an architectural masterpiece, influenced heavily by the temples of ancient Greece, this country house is a true spectacle. Whilst the building itself is unfurnished, beautiful floral print wallpaper from the 1800’s still lines the walls, and from the bedrooms you will enjoy incredible views over rest of the estate. The empty rooms lend themselves to the art installations which are sometimes resident. The Hall with it’s impressive columns was built using rocks from the quarry on the Belsay grounds and was completed in the early 19th century.

alt="Belsay Hall Grecian mansion"
Belsay Hall

The gardens at Belsay are an absolute highlight and with year-round seasonal interest meaning you’ll be impressed whatever time of the year you visit. With one of the biggest collection of rhododendrons in the country you’ll find winter flowering varieties in the Quarry Garden and a magnificent display in the Rhododendron Garden during late Spring. A walk through the ravines cut out of rock bring a jurassic-feeling to the Quarry Garden and with its own microclimate you’ll see all sorts of exotic plants. The formal Yew Garden and Magnolia Terrace bring an entirely different experience and here you will witness the recent restoration by the dedicated garden team who have restored much of the historic fabric of these areas, opening up historic views and restoring biodiversity.

alt="Belsay Hall Quarry Garden"
Quarry Gardens

After visiting the Hall and a meander through the acres of gardens you will find an impressive medieval castle and although in ruins the grandeur of what the castle once was is very evident. Slowly wander through the maze of rooms and you will be treated to traces of elaborate medieval wall paintings. In the manor house style wing you can still see the old cooking range and fireplaces and if your legs are up to it, take the 56 spiral stairs to enjoy the view from the top of the 14th-century defensive ‘pele tower’.

alt="Belsay Hall Castle"
Belsay Castle

Of course any day out wouldn’t be complete without refreshments and Belsay Hall itself has a Victorian Tearoom which is in the hall’s original kitchen and offers lunches and light bites. Alternatively there is a gorgeous independent coffee shop in the village of Belsay, The Blacksmiths Coffee Shop who provide a wide range of home made produce such as scones, sandwiches, quiches, baked potatoes, pies, salads, tray bakes, cakes and much more, although we recommend that you book in advance to be sure to get a table.

To find out more about Belsay Hall and for information on opening times or if you wish to book your visit please go to their website.

If you enjoy days out and taking in the grandeur of historic houses and the beauty of their surrounding garden then a stay in Northumberland is definitely for you. All our availability is up to date on our website so all you have to do is book your stay and look forward to enjoying all Northumberland has to offer. We can’t wait to welcome you here.

Discovering our Museums – Woodhorn

Posted on March 1, 2022 by - Northumberland

Woodhorn Museum brings to life Northumberland’s proud mining heritage and is set on the site of what was once the largest pit village in the world. Woodhorn however is more than just a traditional mining museum, the exhibitions, the collections, tours, talks and facilities together with a packed programme of events ensure a great day out.

alt="Woodhorn museum main building"
Woodhorn Museum

Many of the colliery buildings still remain and are open for you to explore and each of these buildings tell their own fascinating story. Stand above the staggering Heapstead, find out what steam power did in The Jack Engine House, sniff out the Stable Block, see the only remaining Cappell Fan in existence in the Cappell House and Motor Room and discover the vital role of the winderman in The Winding House.

There are many exhibitions and collections of interest on offer at Woodhorn Museum. Coal Town is one of the permanent exhibitions and this interactive and thoroughly moving exhibition takes you on a journey where you’ll discover the true story of coal mining in Northumberland and of a way of life that has disappeared forever.

Take in the unique art collection by the amateur yet famous art group The Ashington Group, also known as the ‘Pitmen Painters’. They began as an art appreciation group in the 1930’s and then went on to meet weekly over the next 50 years and produced hundreds of paintings depicting what life was like for the men and women who lived and worked in the mining communities in Northumberland.

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Pitman Painters Gallery at Woodhorn Museum

You can enjoy the museum at your own pace or if you prefer there are tours and talks that take place daily to help you explore the various parts of the museum. Please check the website or ask staff about times and how to join these tours and talks.

At Woodhorn Museum the much loved heritage blends seamlessly with more modern development and The Cutter Building which is home to exhibitions and collections includes a wall which features a moving sculpture of 98 birds made from moulded miners’ gloves with each one sadly representing the lives lost at the colliery throughout it’s history. Woodhorn Museum is informative, interactive, cultural, hands on and at times really quite thought provoking but more than anything it’s a really enjoyable day out.

alt="woodhorn museum the cutter building"
The Cutter Building at Woodhorn Museum

If history, heritage and culture is what you enjoy then look no further and book your stay at St Oswald’s Farm and discover all that Northumberland has to offer.

A Haven for Wildlife

Posted on January 20, 2022 by - Northumberland, St Oswald's Farm

If you’re wild about wildlife then Northumberland is most definitely the place to be. Our diverse countryside of rolling hills, dales, moorlands, woodlands, forests, rivers, lakes and our coastline are teaming with wildlife and any drive or walk through Northumberland will undoubtedly mean you can easily spot some of our slightly wilder residents.

alt="Hauxley view of the coast great for wildlife"
Coastal dunes
Rolling hills and woodland
Perfect for spotting resident wildlife

Our nature reserves are second to none, and each one with it’s own unique offering. Kielder Water & Forest Park provides a huge variety of habitats from marshy grasslands and bogs to woodland which attract an impressive amount of wildlife including badgers, roe deer, otters, red squirrels, shrews, pine martins, foxes, several species of bat, woodland birds and birds of prey, including ospreys. Of course the offering doesn’t stop at birds and animals, the insects, grasses and wildflowers come into their own at certain times of year, don’t be surprised to see the likes of yellow rattle, bird’s foot trefoil, and a variety of orchids. 

The Kielder Water website is packed full of information on all their ‘residents’, their ongoing projects, such as the ‘restoring ratty project’, their own Bakethin Nature Reserve and check out their nature calendar for what you’re most likely to spot during your visit.

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Roe Deer

In North Northumberland Hauxley Nature Reserve is right next to the beach and offers one of the best wildlife watching spots in the North East. The reserve is renowned for it’s bird life and regularly attracts 140 different species a year including tree sparrow, reed bunting and bull finch to coot, moorhen and curlew. The summer offers spectacular wild flowers including viper’s bugloss, bloody cranesbill and northern marsh orchid and of course where there’s flowers you will find variety of butterflies and the reserve attracts species such as the common blue and wall brown and you may see dragonflies and damselflies on the ponds, including the common hawker and the common darter. The reserve has a circular path leading to it’s wildlife hides and lots of information boards if you’re unsure what you might have spotted.

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Common Blue

If you’re visiting Holy Island, the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve offers 3500 hectares of dunes, saltmarsh and mudflats and is home to a fascinating array of wildlife. The Reserve can be enjoyed all year round with Winter being the best time to see the visiting waterfowl, Autumn and Spring are the best for spotting rare birds on migration and with Summer best for the stunning flowers, butterflies and insects.

alt="wildlife ringed plover"
Ringed Plover

We couldn’t talk about nature in Northumberland without mentioning The Farne Islands. For any bird and wildlife enthusiast a boat trip to The Farne Islands is simply a must. The Farne Islands are home to 100,000 seabirds ranging from Eider Ducks to Artic Terns to Puffins and then if that wasn’t enough there’s the thousands of grey seals. Each Autumn hundreds of seal pups are born there and rangers are on constant ‘pup watch’ as the keep an eye on the numbers born each year! The National Trust wildlife calendar is really useful to check the best times of year to enjoy your favourite.

alt="wildlife seal at the Farne Islands"
alt="wildlife boat trip to Farne Islands"
Images: Serenity boats
alt="wildlife puffin at Farne Islands"

If you prefer something smaller that can be found while exploring the open countryside there are plenty of small reserves dotted all over Northumberland. Druridge Pools, Cresswell Pond, East Chevington, Falstone Moss, Whitelee Moor, Butterburn Flow, Greenlea Lough, Grindon Lough, Beltingham River Gravels… to name but a few. If you’re looking to pack a flask and sandwich and head on a quiet wildlife hunt then there’s lots of information on where to go and how to access them on the Northumberland Wildlife Trust website.

Even a relaxing day spent enjoying St Oswald’s Farm can bring some wonderful wild finds, heron, curlew, woodpecker, buzzards, lapwing, a huge array of garden birds and if you’re lucky you may spot a barn owl. We encourage and protect our environment however we can and in the Spring it is heartwarming to see our bird boxes being put to good use. A quick peek out of the bedroom window in Heavenfield Cottage might just bring a glimpse of a busy little wren and we’re slowly in the process of creating a stumpery and are looking forward to seeing who joins us and makes St Oswald’s their home.

Charming Villages – Allendale

Posted on October 1, 2021 by - Hadrian's Wall Area Attractions, Northumberland

Our villages may be less well known than our main visitor attractions and some may be small, but they are oh so perfectly formed with plenty of charm, character and they are ideal for a quieter and a more relaxed day out. A visit to any of the villages dotted around our remote countryside will offer the opportunity to see the affection with which these villages and hamlets are held and give you a glimpse into Northumbrian life as these small local communities go about their everyday lives.

The pretty stone built village of Allendale lies in the heart of The Allen Valleys in the breathtaking Northumberland AONB. The area is perfect for walking and enjoying the beautiful countryside, take in a stroll along the tranquil River Allen and relish in the sights of waterfalls, stunning moorland and the resident wildlife. The village itself is set around a Market Square with St Cuthbert’s Church tucked in one corner, country pubs, a tearoom and a small selection of shops including the very lovely The Allendale Forge Studios which is an Art and Media Visitor Centre where visitors can meet local artists, shop, enjoy exhibitions and workshops and enjoy delicious home-cooked food. If you’re a sci-fi lover this sleepy little village even boasts it’s own Sci-fi Museum with over 200 original props, costumes & artworks from classic SF film & television. Pack a picnic and head to the river for a relaxed lunch or The Square is perfect for sitting with a coffee and watching the world go by…but keep your eye out for daleks!

St Cuthbert’s Church
Allendale Forge Studios

For a small and quiet village Allendale holds a few surprises and none more spectacular than the annual Allendale Tar Bar’l which is Northumberland’s New Year’s Eve ceremony that has been celebrated here since 1858. This weird and wonderful tradition involves forty-five local men (known as guisers) that carry whiskey barrels filled with burning hot tar in a procession through the town. The men dress in colourful fancy dress and have soot-blackened faces. Locals and visitors alike flock to the town for this night of revelry as music and dancing fill the small streets. At midnight, they arrive at the Bar’l fire in the centre of the village. The test of strength and courage ends in spectacular fashion as the guisers toss their barrels onto the ceremonial Bar’l bonfire to welcome in the new year as everyone shouts “Be damned to he who throws last!”

alt="allendale moor near to villages"
The Moors
Allen Valley

Allendale is a relaxed 30 minute drive from St Oswald’s Farm passing through the prettiest of scenery and if you happen to visit towards the end of August you’ll be met with a landscape of heather in full bloom. Northumberland holds so many hidden surprises for it’s visitors and the sleepy village of Allendale is no exception. Book now to enjoy all Northumberland has to offer, or perhaps book to stay with us for New Year to enjoy the most elaborate New Year celebration you may ever encounter, it really does have to be seen to be believed!

Discovering Morpeth

Posted on May 4, 2021 by - North East Attractions, Northumberland, Visitor Attractions

Northumberland is home to a number of market towns, each one boasting it’s own unique charm, character and many steeped in Northumbrian history. The town of Morpeth sits on the river Wansbeck and is only a half hour’s drive from St Oswald’s Farm. Morpeth is a bustling market town where history and traditional market town charm and independent retail meets with modern shopping centres and trendy wine bars. The cobbled streets, the markets, the walks and the park area together with a unique heritage all give the town an irresistible beauty.

A visit to any market town must include a spot of retail therapy and Morpeth doesn’t disappoint. You will find the Farmers’ Market in town on the first Saturday every month and the weekly charter market in the Market Place each Wednesday. As well the markets the town is packed with retail offerings, the Sanderson Arcade and the charming precinct together with Rutherford’s department store are perfect for browsing and picking up lovely gifts. There is a superb mix of independent shops together with some of your high street favourites.

River walk
Carlisle Park

If you’re seeking a green space Carlisle Park is centrally located in the town and is open every day so it’s always a great time to visit. It includes the William Turner Garden, tennis courts, bowling green, aviary and is home to one of only four working Floral Clocks in the country.

Take a walk up to the castle or there is mature deciduous woodland with lovely, but also very hilly woodland walks, there are even rowing boats if you fancy taking to the water and testing your rowing skills. Or of course Carlisle Park is the perfect spot for a picnic and to sit and watch the world go by!

If you visit in Spring Morpeth’s Bluebell Woods are beautiful when the woodland floor becomes carpeted with bluebells. Properly known as Howburun Woods are names for the How Burn which flows through them into the River Wansbeck. As well as the bluebells, expect to see an array of woodland plants, red squirrels, birds – and the occasional deer.

alt="bluebell carpeted woodland in Morpeth"
Bluebell Woods

As with all Northumbrian Market Towns there is a unique offering of history to enjoy and Morpeth is no different. Northumberland is the only county in England with its own dedicated musical instrument and Morpeth is home to a museum that celebrates and plays homage to our Northumbrian Pipes – a unique part of the heritage of Northumberland. Tucked away in a stunning 13th Century Grade 1 listed building is The Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum which boasts a treasure trove of instruments and along with the fascinating displays, the museum often comes to life with regular live musical performances and ‘meet the piper’ sessions. The Chantry is also home to the Northern Poetry Library and Craft Centre and even the building itself has a story to tell, with townspeople once over having to pay a toll to the local priest to cross the river! You can still see the foundations of the town’s Medieval bridge in the river today.

alt="northumbrian pipes in museum in Morpeth"
The Chantry Museum – Home of the Northumberland Pipes

The town has plenty of free parking and with a great choice of places to eat or grab a coffee it’s the perfect destination for a day out. For more information on visiting this lovely Market Town please go to the More in Morpeth website.

If you enjoy the buzz of a market town just take your pick, as whichever one you choose you’ll be sure of a warm Northumbrian welcome.