Belsay Hall features a medieval castle, and the Georgian hall, inspired by the temples of Ancient Greece. There are also thirty acres of enchanting gardens to explore, including the rejuvinated formal gardens, the open space near the castle and the much-loved Quarry Garden, which takes you on a spectacular journey through a dramatic rocky ravine. You’ll also find a welcoming new café in the old stables near the castle.

Bolam Lake Country Park is situated in the heart of the beautiful Northumberland countryside surrounded by historic landscapes and dramatic views.

A free bus leaves from Newcastle to visit both attractions, so we thought we'd take advantage and make a day of it!

We'll get the bus from Newcastle Haymarket bus station (stop N) at 11:30, arrive at 12 to spend a couple of hours at Belsay Hall, and then hop back on to the free bus over to Bolam Lake just after half 2 to take in the views. The bus back to Newcastle will leave Bolam lake at 17:11, and arrive back at Haymarket at 17:54. Alternatively, anyone that wants to meet us at Belsay hall or Bolam Lake is welcome to do so.

Tickets for Belsay hall are 20% off for anyone using the free bus service, so they'll be £10.88 without a donation, or £12 with donation. The cafe is available at Belsay for food and drink, but if you want to pack a lunch to bring with you, that'll be all you need to pay for the day!