Cragside family fun

A family strolling through rhododendron at Cragside — Go on an adventure at Cragside this half term

The play area may be closed but there's still lots to see, do and explore at Cragside with the kids.

Go on a sculpture hunt and see if you can find the wise owl in the Formal Garden, 'Douglas' hiding in the Pinetum and the wizard guarding the labyrinth's entrance. Bring your binoculars for wildlife spotting at Nelly's Moss - look out for frogs and toads on the lakeside and the Graylag Geese family paddling across the water. You could also see how many activities you can tick off the 50 Things to do before you're 11 ¾ list. Pre-booking essential this half term.

A child running out of Nelly's Den at Cragside

Explore the labyrinth

Enjoy the ultimate game of hide and seek in the labyrinth - a maze of tangled rhododendrons. We're expecting the rhododendrons to burst into bloom during the half term week so bringing your camera is a must as purple flowers cover the labyrinth walls. Fun for all the family, investigate all of the twists and turns and discover a few surprises along the way. Only those skilled enough will discover Nelly's den at its centre.

Nelly's Moss nature adventure

Take a stroll around Nelly’s Moss – a duo of lakes on the upper estate. This flat, family-friendly path will take you on a 1.5 mile loop of the lakes. Journey through blossoming rhododendron and look out for Cragside’s resident wildlife along the way. Keep your eyes peeled for the family of Greylag geese swimming by and frogs and toads hopping on the footpath a head. You may even spot the resident heron standing tall on the lake, looking for something tasty to eat.

Families meeting Douglas in the woodland at Cragside

Go on a Cragside sculpture hunt!

Using the map to guide you, discover new corners of Cragside you may never have seen before on the Cragside sculpture hunt. See if you can spot the wise owl of the Formal Garden, William the wizard guarding the labyrinth and 'Douglas' welcoming you to the Pinetum.

50 Things to do before you’re 11 ¾

50 Things is a handy guide to activities for the whole family to bring you closer to nature. It’s jam-packed full of creative ideas to enjoy in the great outdoors throughout the year and it's perfect for giving you some inspiration to keep the kids entertained while out and about. Here’s our top 3 for the week.

No. 1 Get to know a tree

With 1000 acres of woodland and an estimated 7 million trees and shrubs to choose from, Cragside is a great place to get to know a tree. We recommend heading to the Pinetum where you’ll discover some of the tallest trees of their kind in the UK. How tall do you think they are? How old do you think they are? What kind of leaves do they have?

A girl running up the stone steps of the Rock Garden

No. 28 Climb a huge hill

Clamber up the stone steps of the Rock Garden from the burbling stream that runs through Debdon Burn. Look out for butterflies and bees flying through the azaleas as you journey to the House. If you're feeling adventurous, choose a walk from one of 14 waymarked routes which weave across the estate.

A family following a map around the estate

No. 45 Find your way on a map

Calling all budding explorers! Discover Cragside using our map. Follow the path to the Formal Garden to see the spring flowers, journey through the Debdon Valley to find the Iron Bridge, go on a hunt for the wizard in the Labyrinth or find the water wheel at the Powerhouse. What else can you see?

Even more adventures See the full 50 Things list

Spot garden wildlife (PDF)

Gardens are vibrant with colour and buzzing with life during the summer months. Use this spotter's guide to discover garden wildlife like bees hovering around flower heads and birds perching on fences.

A honey bee on white flowers in the Formal Garden

Spring Wildlife at Cragside

The flowers are blooming, we can hear the return of bees to the estate, there’s a hint of warmth in the air and the lighter nights are here. Spring is a great time to spot seasonal birds and discover insects and animals. Here's a top five of what to look out at Cragside and near you this spring.