Belsay / Prudhoe
Prudhoe Castle · Photo: Chris Tweedy
Two very different castles: a medieval tower castle in the grounds of Belsay's Greek Revival hall, with a quarry garden of rocky ravines and a Wild Man play trail, then the gatehouse and keep of Prudhoe above the Tyne. Finish with a run-around at a riverside country park.
Castle · 10:00–13:15 (3h15m)
Tower castle, mansion and quarry garden; Wild Man play area; lunch at one of the cafes.
An English Heritage estate combining a Greek Revival mansion, a medieval tower castle and 30 acres of gardens, including a dramatic quarry garden of rocky ravines. Children have the Wild Man play area and trail, and there are two cafes on site.
Photo: english-heritage.org.uk
Castle · 13:50–15:00 (1h10m)
Gatehouse chapel and keep in the free outer grounds.
A medieval castle above the Tyne crossing at Prudhoe with a gatehouse chapel and keep. The outer grounds are free to wander daily, while the inner ward opens on the first Sunday of selected months.
Photo: Chris Tweedy
Park · 15:20–16:45 (1h25m)
Play area and flat surfaced paths for scooters; two cafes; free parking.
Reclaimed riverside land on the Tyne at Newburn with flat surfaced paths for scooters and bikes, a good-sized play area and two cafes, linking upstream along the Wylam Waggonway. Free parking makes it an easy outdoor morning on the west side of Newcastle.
Photo: Andrew Curtis
North EastBishop Auckland
A morning in the former palace of the Prince Bishops, with its walled garden and free viewing tower, then out to County Durham's biggest forest for picture-book trails, a play area and gentle bike routes.
Auckland Palace → Hamsterley Forest
North EastBellingham / Cambo
A Kielder-country alternative: follow a wooded gorge from Bellingham over footbridges to a 9-metre waterfall, keeping an eye out for red squirrels. Then drive to Wallington for a zip line, play fort and dragon cycle trail in a big National Trust estate.
Hareshaw Linn → Wallington
North EastTynemouth
A classic North Tyneside coast day: a ruined priory and castle on the headland, a sandy horseshoe bay with rock pools for the afternoon, then fish and chips under the white dome at Whitley Bay. Short hops keep little legs fresh.
Tynemouth Priory and Castle → Northumberland Park → Cullercoats Bay → Trenchers Spanish City
