Gibside

From exploring the nature playscape to being the king or queen of Strawberry Castle, build a den in the woods to tacking the West Wood Workout, there are plenty of ways to play at Gibside.

Explore the woodland and parkland at Gibside on an autumn walk and see a kaleidoscope of autumn colour. Wander through the garden to the orangery, crunch through the leaves on a stroll towards the atmospheric ruins of the hall and admire the shades of orange, yellow and red as you walk along the tree-lined Avenue.

Gorgeous colours, leaves on the floor and nature all around. It's a fantastic time of year to get outdoors and do some exploring. Don't forget your camera, who knows what you might see...

With 15 miles of paths to explore, trees to sniff and grass to explore, we can guarantee that your four-legged friends will enjoy Gibside as much as you do.

Every Friday it's beer and a bite night until 14 September. There'll be a range of foodie delights on offer from street food traders, the bar will be serving Firebrick Brewery ale and lager, alongside fizz and gin or soft drinks. Free for National Trust members or normal admission charges apply (including to the café / pub).

Get crafty and find a new skill or hobby with Pattern Shed creative workshops at Gibside this autumn. Set in the idyllic Garden Cottage, explore the seasonal beauty and history of Gibside through collage and watercolour painting, mono printing, photographic printing and paper wreath making.

Join us to celebrate the almighty apple on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 October. Challenge your family to an apple bobbing competition, have a go at picking and juicing your own apples and tuck in to the variety of heritage apples grown here at Gibside.

Whether you're in the mood for a delicious homemade scone or soup, pop in and take a look at the menu. Carriage House Coffee Shop is dog friendly, so if you're visiting with your pooch head to the stables for a relaxing cuppa.

Conservation volunteer, Judy Summerson, carries out a survey of the meadow in front of the Hall. She's done this every year, for 10 years to collect data on what plants and wildlife are living in the meadow. Now, this has inspired a retail range called Gibside Grasses. Pop inside and take a look...

Whether you enjoy talking to a range of people, are looking for somewhere to put your skills to good use or simply love being in the great outdoors, through volunteering with us here you know you're helping a great cause.

Whether you're a wildlife expert or someone with a keen interest in natural history and would like to know more, come along to the Gibside wildlife group. We'll meet monthly at Gibside cafe from 7pm, where you can hear from a range of enthusiasts about a specific subject and take part in a range of outdoor activities. For the next date, read on.

Thanks to Steve Wootten and Phil Coyne, it's easy to find out what the conservation team are up to. They write a regular blog about the work they do on the estate as well as sharing beautiful pictures.

Did you know you can stay overnight at Gibside? The contemporary stable conversion, set in over 600 acres of gardens, woodland and countryside is brilliant for large groups of friends or family. It's a Grade II listed stable block with everything you need inside (and two dogs allowed as well) and outside - explore the enormous estate and its sweeping Derwent valley views.

If like us, you're never quite ready for the adventure to end, tucked away within Gibside is Cut Thorn Farm where you'll find a yurt village. Here, you can stay in a Mongolian yurt or The Shepherds Hut. They're cosy, offer cooking facilities and allow you to enjoy the great outdoors for longer.

Whether it's in the wild countryside at Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland or tucked away at Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire, you can choose from over 400 holiday cottages, bunkhouses and campsites around the UK. Think cabins by the sea, manor houses and even a lighthouse. When you opt to stay with us, you're helping to look after these special places too. Go on, stay somewhere extraordinary.