Tag: gardens to visit

Gorgeous Gardens North East

Posted on May 15, 2024 by - North East Attractions

Northumberland has many gorgeous gardens to enjoy but if you’re travelling a little further afield and find yourself stepping over the the border into Durham, Cumbria or Tyne & Wear you’ll discover there are many more North Eastern gardens to indulge in.

alt="Ushaw formal gardens taken from above of huge rhododendrons"
Ushaw Gardens

Just 4 miles from the historic City of Durham lies Ushaw Chapel, House & Gardens which with more than 20 acres of formal gardens is a gem to visit. Expect the unexpected at Ushaw as you lose yourself in the lovely grounds, where you’ll find playful surprises, inspirational art, wildlife carvings amongst the woodland trails, wide-open spaces and vibrant floral gardens. As well as the gardens and parkland you will discover a long and rich history amongst the Victorian Gothic architecture of the house and chapel which is tied to the development and growth of Christianity in the region and that began over a millennium ago with St Aiden in Lindisfarne. You will encounter the most beautiful buildings and find yourself marvelling at centuries of art and heritage. 

Whilst in Durham and for a very different type of garden experience visit Eggleston Hall Gardens & Nursery which is described as ‘the secret garden of the north’. There have been gardens at Eggleston Hall since the late 16th century and it is very much a nursery garden that is both peaceful and relaxing with an unhurried atmosphere and a place that they dub as a ‘jewel amongst the hills’.

Eggleston Hall gardens are a bit of a plantsman`s paradise and are in no way a formal garden but are a wonderful place to visit where you can enjoy the garden trail and then pick up some new plants to take back home with you.

alt="pink and purple flowers in a deep border at Eggleston gardens"

A short 15 minute drive away from Eggleston takes you to The Bowes Museum near Barnard Castle, a superb destination which is a cultural gem that combines art, history and architecture with gorgeous gardens and although on a much bigger and grander scale is a superb place to visit and a day out that is always well enjoyed by our guests. The garden design at The Bowes Museum is in a renaissance revival style and you will find a grand terrace and parterre which then give way to less formal grassy mounds, winding paths and mature shrubs and woodland which are maintained as a public park. There are almost 20 acres of garden to enjoy alongside the wonderful chateau and more information on visiting can be found here.

alt="Front view of The Bowes Museum with blue skies and formal garden to the front"
Image credit – The Bowes Museum
alt="Lowther gardens and castle ruins and pathways and green planting"

Lowther Castle & Gardens are a great day out and one of our own favourite places to visit. Located near Penrith in Cumbria the 130 acre site comprises of castle ruins, extensive gardens, woodlands and ponds, and sits in the Lake District National Park, enjoying far-reaching views over the Lowther valley. The castle and grounds have a wonderful story to tell and in 2008, after many years of neglect, there began a 20 year plan to bring the gardens back to life. You will find ancient borders jostling with modern design with weird and wonderful summerhouses, roman pillars, rose and iris gardens, a lovely parterre, wild flowers, clipped yews and the unique garden-in-the-ruins. For more information on Lowther Castle and details on visiting these gorgeous gardens please go to their website.

Whatever type of garden you enjoy and whatever time of year you visit the North East of England you will find some of the loveliest gardens scattered across Northumberland and the whole of the north east region and all offering a very different and wonderful garden experience.

Gardens Galore

Posted on May 18, 2023 by - North East Attractions, Northumberland

In Northumberland and the North East of England there are gardens galore all just waiting to be discovered, there is everything from grand estates to hidden retreats and from naturally wild to neat and manicured and you will find there really is something for everyone to enjoy.

Howick Hall in North Northumberland, best known as the home of Earl Grey tea, is a garden lover’s dream and offers extensive gardens with everything from formal gardens with their impressive herbaceous borders and rockeries, to the bog garden, Silverwood, the sensory garden and the woodland walk. The Arboretum at Howick Hall covers around 65 acres and amazingly has almost virtually all been grown from seed collected in the wild since 1985. It boasts about 11,000 trees and shrubs and holds one of the largest collections of wild origin plants in the UK and there are paths and way markers to help you navigate your way around this wonderful botanical garden. To find out more about Howick Hall please go to their website.

alt="Front of Howick Hall with gardens"
Howick Hall

If you prefer something on a much smaller scale then The Garden Station at Langley is just a 20 minute drive from St Oswald’s and is a destination for a peaceful afternoon in tranquil surroundings. This woodland garden and beautifully restored wooden Victorian railway station sits on the former Hexham to Allendale railway. What you will find here is a rather quirky garden together with a small cafe along with a woodland walk that was created in 2003 along the old railway track between two arched bridges and it is bordered by plants which thrive in this pretty woodland. There is outdoor seating in the garden which is just perfect for sitting soaking up the peace and tranquility of these lovely surroundings that sit within the Northumberland National Park. The Garden Station does close when it hosts private events so do check they are open before you visit.

alt="Garden Station cafe"
The Garden Station
alt="langley garden woodland walk"
Garden Station Woodland Walk

Birkheads Secret Garden is another small but perfectly formed North East gem and is located in rural Gateshead halfway between Tanfield Railway and Beamish Museum. The garden sits on a sloping 3 acre site and has been divided up into 14 smaller inspirational gardens and each with a different theme to suit the planting conditions and displaying a wide variety of hardy plants to provide something for all the senses and to create year round interest. This small family run garden and nursery has been developed and grown by the owners with love and with care and has sustainability and bio-diversity at it’s core. Opening times vary throughout the year and more information on this gorgeous garden can be found on their website. Oh and if you have an old and unused key take it along and all your wishes might just come true!

alt="Birkheads secret avenue garden with lavender walkway"
Birkheads Secret Avenue
alt="Gardens galore Birkheads butterfly garden"
Birkheads Butterfly Garden

Holy Island is a well known visitor destination but perhaps lesser known is the Gertrude Jekyll Garden which lies beside Lindisfarne Castle and is located where the Castle’s garrison originally had it’s vegetable plot. This delightful walled garden was designed by gardening guru Gertrude Jekyll for her friend Edward Hudson in 1911 and was re-established by the National Trust using Jekyll’s original planting scheme when it was restored in 2003. The garden has a geometric layout of paths and beds containing hardy annuals, stunning perennials and even vegetables that ensure the garden is interesting all year round. The garden was designed to be particularly stunning during the summer months when Edward Hudson was said to visit the garden and to show it off to his visitors. Don’t forget to always check the safe crossing times when visiting Holy Island.

Gertrude Jekyll Garden at Lindisfarne Castle

For more gardens galore across Northumberland and the North East then take a look at our earlier blog posts Gorgeous Gardens and More Gorgeous Gardens.