Gibside

We're now open for longer on Friday and Saturday evenings. Explore the gardens, stay for a pint with the pooch and catch up with friends until 9pm. All of the grounds are open, except the chapel and stables which close at 6pm, so perhaps it's round to Strawberry Castle play area for an adventure? Then back to the cafe for a relaxing drink or two. (Free for National Trust members or normal admission charges apply).

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).

Make the most of the summer and enjoy some culture al fresco. Chapterhouse Theatre Company will perform Wuthering Heights and The Secret Garden in the walled garden. Bring along a picnic rug or deck chair and relax with a glass of fizz.

Embrace your inner creativity and join a range of workshops and courses taking place within this 18th Century landscape garden. Based in Garden Cottage, each workshop is hosted by a local creative business so you can learn a new skill with an expert and enjoy a chat with others. The first is an abstract botanical flower collages workshop on Saturday 6 July.

Give yoga and mindfulness a try with your little one(s). Starting on 30 July and running every Tuesday and Thursday for four weeks, Kalma Baby yoga sessions are child focused and all about making development fun for young bodies and minds.

Join an experienced coach for a holistic bespoke mindful walking and running course. It’s inclusive, gentle, and ideal for beginners. The group stays together and runs or walks in a small area on the Avenue.

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.