ENJOY A ‘RHODIE RAMBLE’ AMONG CRAGSIDE’S RIOT OF SPRING COLOURS
Engineer and industrialist Lord Armstrong chose the steep valley near Rothbury in Northumberland to build his family home, Cragside. The dramatic garden that surrounds the house is also home to Britain’s tallest Scots Pine.
Between late May and mid-june, white, pink and purple rhododendrons create a riot of colour along the estate drive, a dramatic contrast to the year-round greenery of this landscape. The flowering azaleas dotted around the grounds give off a beautiful scent and showcase vivid yellow and bright orange flowers.
The ‘Rhodie Ramble’, through the Rock Garden, is the place to find some of the most unique rhododendrons in the collection. Then head to Iron Bridge for a dramatic view of the house, perched above this colourful display.
The south facing Formal Garden covers a three-acre area of the estate and overlooks the Coquet
Valley. Spread over three levels, it has one of the largest surviving glasshouses dating from the 1870s. The elaborate heating system meant fruit could be grown and helped shelter trees from the climate. Today pear, fig and plum trees grow in Armstrong’s original rotating earthenware pots, allowing every side of the plant to catch some sun.