FAMILY HISTORY
NATIONAL TRUST SITES OFFER OUTDOOR SPACE, TASTY TREATS AND A WINDOW INTO THE PAST FOR BOTH OLD AND YOUNG
FROM little ones on wheels and mini explorers, to adventurous teenagers and big kids, there are lots of National Trust places in Yorkshire and the North East that the whole family can enjoy.
With the weather warming up and the school holidays approaching, it’s time to plan your family adventures. By enjoying a day out with the National Trust you’re also helping Europe’s largest conservation charity to look after the nature, beauty and history of each place.
NORTHUMBERLAND Cragside, Rothbury
Enter the world of Lord Armstrong: Victorian inventor, engineer and landscape genius. The gadgetpacked house is surrounded by a woodland landscape with gardens, lakes and footpaths that criss-cross the rugged hillside.
Don’t miss the play area, perfect for children of all ages, and a walk around Nelly’s Moss Lakes – suitable for pushchairs.
Wallington, Cambo
Discover Wallington, where a historic house meets rolling hills, woodlands and a walled garden. Take your bike or hire one from Wallington and head out across the countryside on the family-friendly Dragon cycle trail. If you’d rather stay on two feet, try the River or Farm walk – both circular walks of not much over an hour. Look out for the resident red squirrels or deer. There are also three play areas, including a wooden fort.
Seaton Delaval Hall, Seaton Sluice
Explore the gardens and grounds with picture-perfect views and places to picnic and play. Discover two playful interventions, the Mirror Cube and Dark Matter Cube, and the Delaval Playdium play area in the north west woods.
Indoors, the newly re-opened West Wing and creative installations are a great way to experience the playful Delaval family home.
TYNE AND WEAR Gibside, Rowlands Gill
Gibside is one of a few surviving 18th century designed landscapes and was fashioned with two things in mind: spectacular views and ‘wow’ moments. There are gardens, woodland and countryside to explore, ideal for wildlife spotting.
Enjoy family fun on the explorer trail and compete in a game of woodland disc golf, zoom across the zip line at Strawberry Castle play area, build dens and take on the low ropes challenge.
TEESSIDE Ormesby Hall, Middlesbrough
Discover a green oasis in the heart of industrial Middlesbrough. The classic Georgian mansion is surrounded by 240 acres of parkland and farmland, with family-friendly walks and a colourful garden to explore. There’s also a natural play area, rope walk and even a barefoot walk for families to enjoy.
YORKSHIRE Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal, Ripon
The ancient abbey ruins and awe-inspiring water gardens at this World Heritage Site make it one of the most popular places the National Trust cares for in the North.
Green lawns stretch down to the riverside, a great spot for a picnic, and paths lead along the water’s edge to the deer park, home to red, fallow and sika deer. The play area, which is a two-minute walk from the visitor centre, has things to wobble along, jump over and climb on. You’ll find a wooden abbey, a woodland house, scramble nets, swings, fireman’s poles, a slide, a roundabout, a gigantic rope bridge and a huge zip wire for daring adventurers.
Wentworth Castle Gardens, Barnsley
Colourful gardens, woodland and parkland await you at Wentworth Castle Gardens. A great place for family walks, lazy picnics and taking part in the National Trust’s ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾’ challenges. Stop off at the play area to burn off the last bit of energy before heading home.
Nostell, Wakefield
Explore this spectacular Georgian mansion surrounded by landscaped gardens and parkland. Inside, discover the much-loved dolls’ house, or unleash your wild side with 300 acres of gardens, parkland, wildflower meadows, lakes and woodlands to explore.
Young adventurers will love to jump, swing and slide in the popular adventure play area, while the family-friendly cycle trails are a great way to explore the parkland.
For more adventures visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/north-east and www.nationaltrust.org.uk/yorkshire