Northumberland Day Out

Hexam - Hadrian's Wall - Gragside Garden

Hexam:

Nice rural place to relax and enjoy the quietness of rural England. Ideal place to start a bike ride or to explore the beauty of the Northeast. Hexam is not fare away from the Hadrian's Wall. 

If you looking for extensive nightlife, then you are definitive in the wrong town. Hexam is a place to relax and refresh the mind. Ideal for a day trip.

Don't miss to visit Corbridge on your way to Hexam.

Direction to Hexam: 
Follow from Newcastle the A69 westwards and take a look for traffic sights stating "Hexam". 

Hadrian's Wall:

"One of Rome’s most northerly outposts, the Wall was built when the Roman Empire was at its height. Snaking across dramatic countryside, it remains one of Britain’s most impressive ruins. Housesteads Fort, one of thirteen permanent bases along the Wall, is one of the best-preserved and conjures an evocative picture of Roman military life". 

Opening times:
Housesteads Fort & Museum: Daily (closed 24–26 Dec & 1 Jan). Times: 1 April to 1 Nov 10–6, 2 Nov to 31 March  10–4

Entrance fee

Car and coach parks (operated by National Park Authority) at Housesteads, ½ml walk to the Fort, and at the western end at Cawfields Quarry (charge for both, inc. NT members).

Direction to Hadrian's Wall:
By car: 6 Miles NorthEast of Haltwhistle, 3 Miles North of Bardon Mill rail station; ½ Mile North of B6318; best access from car parks at Housesteads and Cawfields.
By bus: Stagecoach Cumberland 682 Hadrian’s Wall service, June–Sept only, Hexham–Carlisle (passing Haltwhistle (tel. 01670 533128)) 
Train Station: Bardon Mill (U) 3 Miles

Gragside Garden:

Beautiful Country House with a great garden. Not far away from Alnwick and Rothbury. Take a day out and have a picnic in that property. National Trust owns that property. Ideal place for short walks.

Opening times:
House: 1 April to 29 Oct: daily except Mon (but open Bank Holidays Mondays) 1–5.30; last admission 4.30.
Estate & formal garden: as house 10.30–7; last admission 5. Also 1 Nov to 17 Dec: daily except Mon & Tues 11–4.
Events: send s.a.e. for details. House available for wedding ceremonies

Entrance fee

Note: Coaches can't tour grounds as drive is too narrow in places; mini-coach available (£1.50pp) for groups visiting by coach, must be booked two weeks in advance.

Direction to Gragside Garden:
By car: 13 Miles SouthWest of Alnwick (B6341) and 15 Miles Northwest of Morpeth on Wooler road (A697), turn left on to B6341 at Moorhouse Crossroads, entrance 1ml N of Rothbury; public transport passengers enter by Reivers Well Gate from Morpeth Road (B6344)
By Bus: Arriva Northumbria 416 Morpeth–Thropton, Postbus (both passing Morpeth) with connections from Newcastle (passing Tyne & Wear Metro Haymarket), alight Reivers Well Gate, ¾ml (Tel. 01670 533128).