Things to do on the estate at Cragside

The Pinetum

“What’s a Pinetum?”, we hear you say. A Pinetum is a collection of non-native coniferous trees. At Cragside the Armstrongs planted their very own collection in the Debdon Valley. They were chosen especially for their size once at maturity and now this peaceful corner of grounds is home to some of the tallest trees of their kind in the country.

On a sunny day during the winter months, the sun sweeps across the treetops and golden rays shine through the branches creating a dancing shadow display on the forest floor. As you follow the path that hugs the Debdon Burn, you’ll hear the calming sound of water flowing by.

Discover ‘Douglas’

If you’re a regular to Cragside, it’s highly likely that you will have come across ‘Douglas’. This friendly face peering out from between the trees was carved from a fallen Douglas Fir tree which gives him his affectionate nickname. He is officially called the Green Giant and was carved by local wood sculpting artist Tommy Craggs. He’s nestled up the bank shortly after the timber bridge which leads to the Pinetum. You can get up close to him for lots of photos. On a cold day, ‘Douglas’ has a frosted white beard too. 

Nelly’s Moss Lake

Nelly’s Moss is a pair of lakes on the top of the estate. They were sculpted into the landscape and used to store the much-needed water for William Armstrong’s hydroelectricity creation. There’s a path that runs around both lakes that’s roughly 1 and half miles. It’s a great place to take the kids after lots of running around at the play area. Park at Crozier car park and follow the blue waymarkers.