Parks and Gardens
You don't have to go far to chill and relax in NewcastleGateshead. There are parks and gardens within the city itself and glorious green spaces and countryside just beyond.
Close to the city centre is Leazes Park, the oldest city park in Newcastle and the perfect place to recharge your batteries after a hectic day in the city. Exhibition Park got its name from the Jubilee Exhibition of 1887 and includes a boating lake, crazy golf, a skate park and playgrounds.
Just one mile from the centre of Newcastle is Jesmond Dene, a wonderful wooded valley with the Ouseburn gurgling happily along the bottom. There's a pets' corner for the kids, cafe and a series of bridges and walkways to complete the adventure. The Armstrong Bridge craft market every Sunday sells unusual local goodies.
If you're feeling romantic you should investigate Gibside 18th Century Pleasure Grounds and Chapel, a park once owned by the late Queen Mother's family, the Bowes-Lyons. Now owned by the National Trust, it includes a Palladian chapel, a ruined 18th century house and acres of parkland. Best of all, it's just 15 minutes from the city centre.
Equally close to the city centre is Saltwell Park, with grade II listed Saltwell Towers, just re-opened after a major restoration which includes a cafe and visitor centre. There's a delightful fairytale mansion, monuments, pavilions and a series of garden rooms ranging from the Italianate to the rustic.
The Alnwick Garden is approximately a 45 minute drive from NewcastleGateshead. Created by the Duchess of Northumberland for everyone to enjoy, The Alnwick Garden is breathtakingly beautiful. It's also breathtakingly large - over 65,000 individual plants make it one of the biggest European plant collections in the UK, there are 10 miles of paths and the whole garden covers an incredible 40 acres. Look out for a fabulous new addition - The Treehouse - it's one of the world's largest wooden treehouses, the size of two olympic-sized swimming pools floating in the trees.
In Northumberland, Wallington Hall has an enchanting walled garden and several follies in its Capability Brown designed grounds. The dramatic Quarry Garden at Belsay Hall is full of ravines, corridors and pinnacles.
For a gentle stroll and lazy picnic, Derwent Walk Country Park, Derwenthaugh and Watergate Forest Park all offer acres of woodland walks and waterside meadows within just a short drive or bus journey from the city centre. You could even see a Red Kite flying overhead as these magnificent birds have recently re-introduced to this part of the region.
A little known gem is Crook Hall, a medieval manor house just 12 minutes train ride away in Durham. Its enchanting gardens include a Shakespearean Garden, Silver and White Garden and secret Walled Garden.
