Useful information for planning your visit to Cragside

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 4 satellite car parks are available at named points around the Carriage Drive. They are called Crozier, Nelly’s Moss, Moorside and Canada.

What is the Carriage Drive?

The Carriage Drive is a 6-mile, 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 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 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.

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.

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-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.

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 (re-opens on Monday 20 November) and the Still Room.