Gibside

Autumn heralds moody misty mornings, gorgeous fiery hues and a non-stop performance from nature itself. And enjoying a self-led or downladed walk is the best way to look out for fungi, atmospheric spider webs, ducks returning for winter and more.

Join us to celebrate the almighty apple on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 October from 11am. You can see over 70 varieties of apples on display. Try squeezing your own juice using a traditional press and apples from the garden, and admire artwork created by Gibside's Sewing Circle.

One of the National Trust's founders, Octavia Hill (1884-1945) fought to ensure the preservation of wide open spaces and the great outdoors for everyone to enjoy. Today, we're continuing her legacy by offering a variety of ways to explore this 600 acre landscape garden.

Gibside pub is open every Friday and Saturday until 9pm serving a range of drinks and snacks, plus there's delicious wood-fired pizzas on offer from Earth & Fire. The log burners will be lit indoors and fire pits outside. Plus, there are blankets available to borrow (for a small deposit).

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.

With wide open spaces and plenty of woodland here, Gibside is ideal for a game of 'tag' or 'hide and seek'. You can also discover a wooden fortress at Strawberry Castle Play Area where there's also a zip wire, swings and a water feature. At the low ropes course build up the courage to make your way across to the other side.

This Hallowe'en we're exploring what can be gruesome creepy crawlies on the new trail, there's pumpkin carving plus Beer and a "Fright" night. Scary costumes are encouraged for the duration of the half-term holidays.

The Cafe in Market Place is the main eatery within Gibside offering sandwiches, salads, scones and cakes. At the Stables, there is a wonderful little coffee shop where you can indulge in some treats too, and during the school holidays and weekends there is a kiosk open at Strawberry Castle play area. Perfect for ice cream.

Every first and third Saturday of every month we host Gibside Market. As an added bonus, on the third Saturday we also host Beer and a bite night. The day starts from 10am and there's plenty to keep you entertained until 9pm. Think lots of indulgence, fun and food.

We welcome some gorgeous visitors to Gibside, especially once the warmer weather makes an appearance. Now is the perfect time to survey moths. So, the ranger team are setting up moth motels every Tuesday evening, and on Wednesday mornings at 10am, they have a look to see who has checked in. You can join them by the cafe to hear all about these wonderful creatures.

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.

As part of a national initiative, Green Academies at Gibside is aimed at helping young people become passionate about the environment, helping them prepare for work or education, and taking their new skills back to their local green spaces.

Gibside is the ideal place to celebrate your special day, in the great outdoors; packed full of adventure, discovery and lots of fun. We have four themes on offer, with each one lasting for two hours. Which one will you choose?

If you're looking for somewhere to sleep over and would like it to be really special, how about in a grand stable block nestled within a Georgian estate?

Have you been tasked with booking the next staff or group trip? If you're looking for room hire with a difference, we can offer you a variety of rooms all within a historic estate. There are different room sizes to choose from and you can also order catering too.