Cragside House, Gardens and Estate

Described in 1880 as 'a palace of the modern magician', Cragside House, Gardens and Estate is a truly unique visitor attraction in the heart of Northumberland.

Situated near Rothbury, it was the family home of Lord Armstrong, Victorian inventor and industrialist.

Cragside was the first building in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity and a walk around the National Trust property reveals a wealth of ingenious gadgetry including fire alarm buttons, telephones, a passenger lift and a Turkish bath suite.

As if that wasn't enough, the grounds of the Cragside Estate offer up a host of activities that will keep you and your family busy and fit.

There's a play area, a rhododendron maze, a waterfall and the Trim Trail, where the whole family can test their agility. The estate has more than 30 miles of footpaths and lakeside walks.

If it is raining, head inside to the Power House which has interactive models which children can use to generate their own electricity. There is also a children's guide to the house with I-Spy factsheets.

Outside Cragside is one of Europe's largest rock gardens sloping down the valley to the Debdon Burn. The Iron Bridge, one of the oldest of its type in the UK, crosses the burn. Armstrong was a landscape genius and constructed five lakes and planted over seven million trees and shrubs.

The estate can be explored either on foot or by car and look out for the increasingly rare red squirrel that has made the gardens of Cragside its home.

The revolutionary home of Lord Armstrong, Victorian inventor and landscape genius, was a wonder of its age. Built on a rocky crag high above Debdon Burn, the house is crammed with ingenious gadgets and was the first in the world to be lit by hydro-electricity. Cragside is a garden of breathtaking drama, whatever the season. Armstrong constructed 5 lakes, one of Europe's largest rock gardens, and planted over 7 million trees and shrubs. Today this magnificent estate can be explored on foot or by car and provides one of the last shelters for the endangered red squirrel. Children will love the tall trees, tumbling streams, adventure play area and labyrinth.

Gardens and estate open 15 March - 2 November 10:30 - 19:00, last admission 17:00. House open 15 March - 5 October 13:00 - 17:30. 7 October - 2 November 13:00 - 16:30. Winter opening gardens, estate, restaurant and shop open Wednesday to Sunday only, 11:00 until 16:00.