Views of Cragside walk
Explore the grand designer garden that wraps around Britain's original smart home and encounter amazing views across the Northumberland Valley as you follow the waymarkers through the grounds.
Total steps: 14
Total steps: 14
Start point
Next to the House archway.
Step 1
Walk from the main car park towards the House archway. Don't walk through the archway, instead take the waymarked path leading down the stone steps through the Rock Garden. Follow this stone path to the Iron Bridge.
Step 2
Cross the Iron Bridge and keep following the path straight on. You will come to a set of stone steps. Take the steps up hill. When you reach the top, turn left and go through the gate into the Formal Garden - please help us care for the plants by closing the gate.
Step 3
As you walk through the gate you will pass an arched Yew Tree, with a bench underneath which is perfectly located to rest your legs following the climb up hill if needed. Shortly after Yew Tree is a path on the left. Follow the path around the side of the gardens, keeping the fence on your left. Pass the huge copper beech trees and bear right. Go through the gate in the middle of the fence - please close the gate behind you to protect the grazing animals in the Parkland and stop rabbits getting into the garden. Follow the mowed path through the Parkland until you reach another gate.
Step 4
Go through the gate and follow the path to a small wooden bridge. Once you have crossed the bridge turn left and walk along the path until you see your next waymarker and signs for the Gorge and a black, metal, kissing-gate. Go through the gate and follow the path through the dynamited ravine.
Step 5
As you reach the top of the Gorge, you will see another black kissing-gate. Go through this, and turn right over the small stone bridge. Go straight on, following the path under the tall trees of the Pinetum. You will come to another set of stone steps that climb back through the Rock Garden. Follow this path until you reach drive. Walk towards the House on your left.
Step 6
Once on the forecourt of the House, take a hair-pin bend on to the Carriage Drive - please be aware of car on busier days in this area. Take the first path on your left up the stone steps. When you reach a wide track at the end of the path, turn right.
Step 7
Walk along the track until you reach Slipper Lake, a small lake nestled in a clearing on the hillside. There's plenty of picnic benches here, if you'd like to stop for a little while.
Step 8
Keeping the lake on your left, follow the track straight on. It bends round to the left as you climb the hill. Once at the top, you will see Trim Trail 1 - the first set of a series of climbing equipment. Keep left and follow the wide track. From here you will see views of the rolling hills of Northumberland. At one of the highest parts of the grounds, you are above many of the trees, and able to see for miles. You will be on this track for a while, but there are waymarkers along the path so you know you're heading the right way.
Step 9
You will eventually see an arrowed sign for the labyrinth with a waymarker pointing right. This path leads to Nelly's Moss car park. On entering the car park, turn right and follow the waymarker to the Carriage Drive. Cross the tarmacked road and follow the path to the banks of Nelly's Moss Lakes.
Step 10
When you reach the banks, turn left and keep to the path that hugs the banks of the twin lakes until you reach part of the Carriage Drive once more. Cross the drive on to the path ahead of you.
Step 11
Follow the path until you reach a bench with views over the Northumberland Valley. Once you have had a breather, carry along the same path down to Cragend Quarry. This part of the walk downhill is a bit of a scramble. Please take care.
Step 12
Keep following the waymarkers until you reach Cragend Quarry, where stone was blasted to build the House and create the Rock Garden.
Step 13
From here, look out for waymarkers that hug the cliff. Keep following the path straight on. On this stretch you will walk past giant boulders and journey through gaps in the rock. After a while you will see a waymarker pointing up a grass track which brings you back to Slipper Lake.
Step 14
Keeping the lake on your right, follow the wide track straight on between the trees. As you approach the House, you will uncover a picture-perfect shot of the House framed by the surrounding trees. As the towering chimneys come into view, this starts to signal that you are approaching the end of the walk. Keep walking until the gravel paths starts sloping downhill. The bottom of this bank, ends the walk.
End point
The bottom of the bank, between the House and the main car park.
Trail map
