Northumberland Holiday Guide 2009
watchtower near Berwick-upon-Tweed into a comfortable
country retreat. The castle was rebuilt by architectural
from the 1920 onwards, such as the Peony Border, Rose
wunderkind Edward Lutyens whilst a new Walled garden was
Garden, Oak Lawn and a 70 meter long Nepeta Border.
designed by planting genius Gertrude Jekyll.
The Dilston Physic Garden in the Tyne Valley near
Lindisfarne Castle & Gardens are now owned by the National Trust
Hexham is a contemporary interpretation of a Medieval
herbalist’s garden created by Professor Elaine Perry
and open to the public for most of the year. At one eighth of an
who researches plant medicine at Newcastle University.
acre, Jekyll’s garden at Lindisfarne is one of her smallest projects
Over 600 medicinal plants are on display and the Physic
but in this little, lovesome plot we can see all of her skill and
Garden is open during April to September on Wednesdays
artistry as a planter. Moreover, Lindisfarne Castle was not the only
and Thursdays from 11am to 4pm.
Northumberland house to be remodelled by Lutyens and Jekyll.
In 1908 Mrs Eustace Smith of Whalton Manor near Morpeth also
Mindrum Gardens are located in the Cheviot uplands
engaged the pair to redesign her house and grounds in the Arts &
on the Scottish Border where growing conditions may
Crafts style.
seem less than ideal, but Pery and Ginny Fairfax have
spent half a century proving otherwise. Their woodland
Chesters Walled Garden & Hexham Herbs on Hadrian’s Wall
walks, emerald lawns, flower gardens and rockeries are a
is home to the national Thyme Collection, a herb garden, a
living paean to the art of the possible. Again this garden is
Roman garden and a knot garden. Chester’s is open daily from
open only by prior appointment (tel 01890 850 246) and
March to October and weather permitting during November to
on one open day under the National Garden Scheme (and
February (call 01434 681 483).
one day Red Cross Open Garden Scheme).
Garden Cottage, Bolam is not far from Jekyll’s garden at
Whalton and has two acres of horticultural heaven created
from a derelict wilderness by Heather Russell. Of particular
note are the Clematis Collection, the Gravel Garden and
the Contemplation Garden. Again this garden is open by
appointment only (tel 01661 881660).
The Garden Station is a restored Victorian railway station
set in the beautiful hills above Hexham. Besides the
wonderful upland gardens and woodland walks, there
is a cafe, nursery and regular arts & craft courses on
horticulture, painting, sculpture, woodcraft and ecology.
The Garden Station is open daily from March to December
from 10am to 5pm.
Since 1927 The National Garden Scheme has been
raising money for nursing and horticultural charities by
opening private gardens to the general public and there
are over 20 participants in Northumberland. A similar
programme is operated in aid of the British Red Cross.
Howick Hall & Gardens, Allan McPhail
A-Z of USEFUL WEBSITES
Under the Passionate Gardeners scheme, five fascinating
www.visitnorthumberland.com/gardens
private Northumberland gardens are open to the public
www.alnwickcastle.com (Hulne Park)
either by appointment or on selected days. These are the
www.alnwickgarden.com
www.chestersWalledgarden.fsnet.co.uk
Whalton Manor and Gardens, Dilston Physic Garden,
www.dilstonphysicgarden.com
the Mindrum Garden, and the Garden Cottage at Bolam.
www.english-heritage.org.uk (Belsay)
The Garden Station is also part of the scheme but more
www.gardencottagebolam.com
of this unique horticultural experience later.
www.howickhallgardens.org.uk
www.kirkharlecourtyard.net (Capability Brown Exhibition)
Whalton Manor & Gardens is the home of the Norton
www.mindrumgarden.co.uk
family and the house is not normally open to the public but
www.nationaltrust.org.uk (Lindisfarne, Wallington and
the grounds are part of Passionate Gardeners whereby Cragside)
private gardens of historic importance are opened to www.ngs.org.uk (National Garden Scheme)
groups (maximum 50) by appointment (tel 01670 775
www.redcross.org.uk (Red Cross Open Garden Scheme)
205). Visitors to Whalton can enjoy the original Jekyll
www.thegardenstation.co.uk
Walled gardens and the other horticultural features, built
www.whaltonmanor.co.uk
www.visitnorthumberland.com 25
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134