Useful information for planning your visit to Cragside
Cragside is a big place and we want everyone to feel welcome and prepared for a visit to Cragside. In this article you will find some useful tips for planning your trip including where the nearest toilets are on arrival, how to borrow a wheelchair, details on how to navigate the grounds and useful information for exploring.
The House is now open
All rooms are open at Cragside House. The Billiard Table in the Billiard Room and a statue of Undine in the Drawing Room are temporarily covered in protective boxing while some remedial work is completed in the rooms.
If you need further assistance, guidance, or feel that this page is missing information that would be good to know, please email cragside@nationaltrust.org.uk.
You can use the helpful 'Jump to' links to take you to the section you need on this page.
Useful downloads for your visit
Main opening times
Until Sunday 3 November
Cragside main entrance 10am-4pm
Cragside House (partially open) 11am-4pm
Shop 10am-5pm
Tea room 10am-5pm
Quieter days to visit
If you would like to plan a trip to Cragside on a quieter day, we recommend visiting on a Monday or Friday (excluding bank holidays).
Wifi and phone signal
There is limited phone signal and 4G/5G at Cragside. If your group is planning to split up, we recommend setting a time and meeting point. If you find that a member of your group is missing, children or adults, please alert a member of staff or call 07818 240 068.
Some wifi is available at the visitor centre. Log in to ‘National Trust Free Wifi’ using your mobile device.
Emergencies
We hope everyone has a happy and safe visit, but if you require emergency assistance, please call 07818 240 068 which is staffed 24 hours a day.
Getting to Cragside
By Bus
The Arriva X14 service begins at Newcastle Haymarket and continues on to Regents Centre before joining the A1 to Morpeth. Then from there, it travels to Cragside, Rothbury and Thropton. View the X14 timetable.
The Liberty 471 (starting on Monday 25 March), has stops at Thropton, Rothbury, Cragside, Edlingham and Alnwick. View the Liberty 471 timetable.
Both buses drop you off at the main entrance where the welcome team will greet you. Plus, until 31 December 2024, it's only £2 per single as part of the government's price cap scheme.
By car
From the A1, follow the signs for the A697. Follow the A697 through the villages of Longhorsely and Longframlington. After approximately 4-miles, take a left turn on to the B6341 at the Moorhouse Crossroads. Cragside’s entrance is 3 miles along this road on the left.
Your SatNav may try to bring you through Cragside’s main exit. When approaching Cragside, please follow the brown signs to the main entrance.
Visiting with a motorhome
There are a limited number of spaces for motorhomes and campervans at the Formal Garden car park that are available on a first come first served basis. The welcome team will direct you on arrival. Please do not attempt to drive around the Carriage Drive in your motorhome or campervan. The road is single track and too narrow for safe passage. Maximum dimensions for vehicles 8’8 (264cm) x 6’6 wide (195cm).
Unfortunately, due to narrow roads and natural infrastructure, we are unable to accommodate caravans or cars with trailers on site.
Top tips for your arrival at Cragside
Arrival
Cragside’s welcome team will greet you on the driveway on to the grounds. It’s good to have your membership cards or payment methods to hand in the car.
Parking
All parking is free. The largest car park is the main car park situated between the House and the visitor centre.
A further 7 satellite car parks are available at named points around the Carriage Drive. They are called Dunkirk, Cragend, Blackburn, Crozier, Nelly’s Moss, Moorside and Canada.
What is the Carriage Drive?
The Carriage Drive is a 6-mile, one-way, single-track road around the grounds. Originally create for Margaret Armstrong to view the estate while horse riding and driving, this scenic route gives you access to the upper estate, the satelite car parks and Cragside’s extensive network of walks. Maximum dimensions for vehicles 8’8 (264cm) x 6’6 wide (195cm).
Where are the toilets?
On arrival, your nearest toilets are located at the visitor centre, next to the Stables. There is an accessible toilet and baby change.
Navigating Cragside
Signage
On arrival you will be given a pocket-sized Explore Cragside leaflet. Inside this leaflet is a map. While it’s not to scale, it will help you locate key features and landmarks across the grounds. Click here to pre-download a copy.
Look out for the wooden arrowed signs at footpath junctions. These will help you find your way around Cragside on foot.
All traffic signs are dark green and white.
Walking
If you are feeling adventurous, you can off course choose your own route around Cragside but, if you’d like to follow a set walk, you can. In your Explore Cragside leaflet on the map page are four recommended walks to choose from. If you have completed these or would like to try a different route, it’s well worth visiting the map room at the visitor centre where you will find a display of all seven waymarked walks on the wall. You can also view all waymarked walks on our website in advance of your visit here.
Look out for the starter markers at the beginning of each walk and follow the waymarkers along the route. They are circular with coloured arrows associated with your walk. They also have the title of your walk on them too.
The weather in Northumberland can be a little changeable so it good to come prepared. Please wear weather appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear during your visit. The terrain is varied, with steep drops in places. Paths can be muddy and slippery underfoot. Don't forget bottles of water.
Shuttle Bus
Cragside offers a free shuttle bus service between February half term and October half term. It runs approximately every 30 minutes and stops at the visitor centre, main car park, Dunkirk car park, the Formal Garden and Coach Park.
The bus is available for all visitors to use. If you are a wheelchair user, have limited mobility, the kids have tired legs, or perhaps it's just started raining and you're caught without a coat.
The bus is dog-friendly and it has a tail-gate lift. Look out for the red bus stops signs.
Wheelchairs
There are some steep gradients at Cragside and the terrain is varried. Between the visitor centre and House is tarmacked, however most of the paths are gravelled.
Wheelchairs are available to borrow. We recommend booking these in advance of your visit by calling 01669 620 333.
Walking Cragside with your dog
Dogs are very welcome at Cragside but they must be kept on a lead at all times, in all areas. By keeping your dog on a lead, you are helping to protect resident wildlife, supporting those who are wary of dogs, keeping your dog safe from steep drops and craggy edges on the grounds and assisting other walkers you may meet while exploring with anxious dogs.
Further information about visiting Cragside with your four-legged friends can be found here.
Helping you explore the House
Rucksacks and backpacks
If you are carrying a rucksack or backpack the team at the House will ask you wear this on your front or carry it by your side. Bags with a cross-body strap such as handbags and satchels are fine to wear as normal. If these are fairly large you may be requested to position these across your front.
Stairs and levels
The House is over 5 levels and includes some stairs. There is no lift. Most of the stairs are carpeted however the steps that lead to the ‘Turkish Bath’ suite in the basement are stone and uneven. Visitor seating is available on each floor to assist with your visit.
Buggies and baby carriers
Due to narrow corridors, we are unable to accommodate buggies and pushchairs in the House. Due to limited head space and to protect the items on display, please use a front carrier or we can provide a Hippy Chick baby carrier.
Calm Corner
We have a Calm Corner at Cragside House. The room has been specially created to allow visitors who may require a moment of privacy or calm to decompress in a comfortable and calm space, away from the hustle and bustle of the House.
The room has been decorated in a soothing colour palette with comfy chairs, it’s lit with soft lighting and a large window brings in lots of natural light. Ear-defenders are available to borrow and there are a selection of books and children’s toys too.
The Calm Corner can be used by anyone who needs it. It can be found between the Kitchen and the Dining Room on the ground floor of the House. Simply remove the rope across the door and enter the room for as long as needed. You can either replace the rope or close the door entirely for privacy.
Braille Guides
The information boards in the House have been translated into Braille. Please ask a member of the team on arrival if you would like to borrow a copy.
Guides in other languages
We have a selection of House guides available in other languages including French, German, Portuguese, Italian and Japanese. Please ask a member of the team on arrival at the House if you would like to borrow a copy.
Virtual Tour
Within the House entrance is a laptop displaying a virtual guided tour of Cragside House. It includes subtitles and British Sign Language (BSL) translation.
No barbeques or campfires
Please do not light barbeques or start campfires on your visit as these can spark fires that spread quickly. If a wildfire starts, not only will it be a danger to others, it can also destroy wildlife habitats, and cause damage to the historic buildings and wider landscape.
We have lots of benches available to use so you can enjoy a cold, preprepared picnic. Lunches and light bites are available from the tea room and the Still Room.
No drone flying
Private drone flights are not permitted at Cragside. Because of our terrain and tree line, it is not always possible to maintain line of sight while flying. If control of the drone is lost, it could cause injury to a visitor, volunteer or member of the team. It could also cause damage to one of the historic buildings, part of the Grade 1 registered landscape, or heritage trees in our care.
Further information about the National Trust drone policy can be found online here.
Family fun at Cragside
Enjoy a jam-packed day with the kids on your visit to Cragside. There is lots to see, do and explore, for a fun-filled day out.
Things to do outdoors at Cragside
Whether you’re looking for a peaceful stroll or a challenging hike, there is a waymarked walk for everyone at Cragside. A network of 40-miles of footpaths will take you under the canopy of towering trees, across timber bridges, between rugged rocks, along the banks of sparkling lakes and under arches of rhododendron.
Visiting Cragside with your dog
Cragside is a two pawprint rated place. With over 40 miles of footpaths, Cragside is great place to stretch your legs with your dog. Read our top tips to help make the most of your visit.
Shopping and eating at Cragside
Break up your day by visiting one of the eateries at Cragside, and pop into the shop, set in the old stable block near the tranquil Tumbleton Lake.