Cragside

[Ann]

About once a month a friend and I meet up for an afternoon out. Today we went to Cragside, which now belongs to the National Trust and is well known for its beautiful setting and gardens.

This is the house, which we were able to go round. It isn't all that old comparatively speaking, but when you're inside, you still get the picture of an age gone by. (I have no idea who the 2 people in the picture are, I just got fed up waiting for them to move!)



This is one of the lakes.



And this is a stream at the bottom of a huge rockery.



At this time of year, Cragside is especially well known for the masses of azaleas and rhododendrons. The colours were out of this world.

[Lesley]

ann, great pictures! your 'friends that wouldn't move' add scale.
you are going to have to get a part-time job for the tourist board!
azaleas and rhododendrons are quite popular here - sometimes the colours are quite bright. 'flaming orange are hot pink' are two colours i've seen often. funny how they stand out in the spring and fade the rest of the year.
what is the inside like?

lesley

[Ann]

The inside's late Victorian. Below stairs, you can go round the kitchen, scullery and storeroom, butler's pantry and sitting room. Above stairs there are some beautiful living rooms and a number of bedrooms. The original owner was ahead of his time and it was the first house in the country to have its own electricity supply, hot and cold running water and a hydraulic lift!

[Lesley]

smart homeowner! it is always interesting to read about victorian times (and earlier) and fun to imagine living then, however, i'd never make it without modern plumbing!

lesley

[SaffiandJasmin]

What a lovely place! I'd like to visit it!
Lesley t xx

[gill]

I can thoroughly recommend it Lesley

Neil and I were totally blown away by it when we first went inside as it IS an amazing house!
We haven't been for a couple of years so I think a visit is overdue Perhaps the week after next as next Thursday is already sorted