Until 1 November. No pre-booking; under 15s must be accompanied by an adult.
No charge for anyone.
Cragside, home of the engineer and arms manufacturer William Armstrong, in 1878 became the first house in the world lit by hydroelectricity; its hydraulic lift and water-powered gadgets earned it the name Britain's original smart home. He and his wife Margaret turned bare moorland above Rothbury into a mountain landscape of engineered lakes, cascades, seven million trees and one of Europe's largest rock gardens, and the Powerhouse and a modern Archimedes screw show how water still lights the house. Families get a labyrinth, den building and a play area at Crozier car park, and dogs on leads are welcome outdoors. Reviewers rate the interiors as highly as the grounds and say late spring, when the rhododendrons flower, is the time to come. Tips from regulars: the house keeps shorter hours than the grounds, so come in the morning; ignore the sat nav and follow the brown signs in; and the six-mile Carriage Drive is one-way and single-track, with waymarked walks from its car parks.
Cragside's entrance
Later dates are in the calendar.
Prices, non-members
Under 5s and National Trust members are free. For speedy entry, please ensure you have all membership cards with you. No pre-booking required. Please pay or show your membership card(s) on arrival. Under 15s must be accompanied by an adult. There is no additional charge for parking once entry has been paid and/or you have shown your membership cards on arrival.
No reviews yet
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience!
5 stamps shared
No pin photos yet
No badge photos yet
Dog friendly
2 miles (3.2km), moderate, 1 hour 30 minutes, in nine stages following green waymarkers. Starts at the visitor centre, grid reference NU073022, going right uphill on the estate drive by Tumbleton Lake. Established footpaths, steep in places, with gravel track and a small footbridge. Designated mobility parking next to the visitor centre and in the main car park.
Dog friendly
3 miles (4.8km), challenging, 2 hours, in eight stages following red waymarkers. Starts at the house forecourt, grid reference NU073021, taking the Carriage Drive and then stone steps on the path signposted to Cragend.
Dog friendly
7 miles (11.2km), moderate, 4 hours, in seventeen stages following purple waymarkers. Starts at Nelly's Moss car park, grid reference NU 07849 02287, past the labyrinth entrance and its wooden archway, and passes Canada car park.
