Country walks Leaflets for self-guided walks available
About this property
The revolutionary home of Lord Armstrong, Victorian inventor and landscape genius, was a wonder of its age. Built on a rocky crag high above the Debdon Burn, Cragside is crammed with ingenious gadgets and was the first house in the world lit by hydroelectricity. Even the variety and scale of Cragside's gardens are incredible. Surrounding the house on all sides is one of the largest 'hand-made' rock gardens in Europe. In the Pinetum below, England's tallest Douglas fir soars above other woodland giants. Across the valley, the Orchard House still produces fresh fruit of all varieties, from nectarines and apricots to grapes and strawberries. Today, Armstrong's amazing creation can be explored on foot and by car and provides one of the last shelters for the endangered red squirrel. The lakeside walks, adventure play area and labyrinth are all good reasons for children to visit Cragside again and again.
