6 reasons why you should visit Belsay Castle

Situated in the scenic northern county of Northumberland, Belsay Castle is a great day out for all ages. First constructed to house the Middleton family, the14th century grand towers and turrets stand tall in the green landscape. Once a popular spot for the British aristocracy as an entertainment venue, the castle is now owned by English Heritage and plays host to visitors of all ages. For those of you looking for a new beauty spot to visit in the northeast of England, here are just six reasons why Belsay Castle should be pencilled into your itinerary.

1. Belsay Castle’s long list of events

Aided by the English Trust, the staff at Belsay helps to make the castle and its grounds a lively and welcoming environment through an array of events throughout the year. Its typical list of events span the ages, including Jane Austen costume displays, pirates and highwaymen activities for the kids, band performances and vintage car shows. Whether you want to relive the castle’s past or indulge in some more modern entertainment, Belsay is well worth the trip.

2. Its prices and opening times

Not only is Belsay beautiful and historically important, its prices and opening times make it great value for money and easy to fit into your holiday plans. From March 29th to September 30th, the castle is open to the public every single day of the week from 10am to 6pm, so there is no need to rush to fit everything in! Adults can enjoy everything that Belsay has to offer for just £7.90 while the price of a children’s ticket is only £4.70. Alternatively, you can pick up a family ticket of 2 adults and 3 children for an affordable price of £20.50. English Heritage members can visit the site for free.

3. Belsay Hall and gardens

Once you have explored the castle’s turrets and towering walls, you can venture into Belsay Hall and around its sprawling gardens to make the most of the grand site. Belsay Hall is a Greek Revival villa built after the castle in 1807. It boasts classic features and fine craftsmanship that can still be clearly seen today. The exterior was inspired by the decadent buildings of ancient Greece while the interiors remained comfortable and traditional for the Middleton family. On the outside, the designer, Sir Charles Monk, continued to inject beauty into the estate by creating romantic gardens with exciting exotic planting and stone touches. The Quarry Garden in particular is a must-see.

4. Family-friendly facilities

This thirty-acre attraction provides a list of facilities to make your trip with the family easy and comfortable. Alongside free parking for all, picnic areas are dotted around the grounds for a spot of lunch if you don’t fancy the freshly prepared delicious treats in its tea shop. The outside grounds are also pooch-friendly provided your dog is on a short leash. There is a gift shop on hand to pick up a souvenir or some entertainment for the car journey home.

5. Nearby attractions

Bordering Cumbria, County Durham and Tyne and Wear, Northumberland boasts an array of beautiful, outdoor attractions to visit. Make the most of the area’s outstanding natural beauty with a trip to the Coquet Valley and the picturesque Cragside House in the small village of Rothbury to sample more beautiful gardens. For a touch of magic in a rugged landscape, head to the tidal island of Lindisfarne or stay on the mainland to visit the Kirkley Hall Zoological Gardens which has more than 100 animal species for the kids to enjoy.

6. Campsites galore

Thanks to the county’s natural beauty and variety of landscapes, Northumberland has become an attractive option for campers across the country. There are a variety of top-quality campsites to choose from, either inland around the towns of Wooler, Bellingham, Haltwhistle and Hexham, or towards North Sunderland and Ashington along the northeast coastline.

We have cherry picked just a few of the many reasons why you should visit Belsay Castle. The majestic grounds coupled with the beauty of the Northumberland landscape have ensured that there are hundreds of appealing treats to make a trip to the northeast an attractive option for your next family camping holiday.