Cragside - Northumberland Walk
Sunday 2nd November 2025
We are in Northumberland for my niece's wedding and my daughter wanted to visit Cragside as she spent many school holidays here visiting her grandma who used to run the estate for the National Trust. Having visited the house ourselves last year we decided to use the time to explore the grounds instead and set off to follow the Hydro-power Trail through the grounds.
Start: Cragside car park (NU 0725 0248)
Route: Cragside Main car park - Middle Drive - The Flume - Nelly Moss North Lake - Nelly Moss South Lake - Carriage Drive - Crozier car park - Basin Tank - Cragside Main car park
Distance: 3.25 miles Ascent: 161 metres Time Taken: 2 hrs 15 mins
Terrain: Clear paths
Weather: Cold and sunny
Pub Visited: None Ale Drunk: None
Leaving my daughter to go and explore the house we took the footpath uphill following the purple markers for the Hydro-power Trail.
The route took us uphill and away from the house.
We soon reached Middle Drive and turned right looking out for a sign on our left.
Upon reaching the track we followed it through a wood which took us to Canada car park.
Walking along Carriage Drive for a short while we suddenly found ourselves with a view across Bieldy Pike.
We soon reached the Timber Flume, which is the start of Cragside's hydro-power system.
The walk next to the Timber Flume was delightful under all the trees.
Looking back as the flume comes to an end.
The flume fed water into this stream which we followed until we reached Nelly's Moss Lake.
When we reached Nelly's Moss North Lake we suddenly found ourselves back amongst the crowds.
We also found that the sun had disappeared and without the shelter of the trees it was time to add a layer.
As we walked around the lake the sun had another go at putting in an appearance.
Having walked around the north lake we now had to walk around the south lake.
Walking around the lakes the sun kept disappearing behind clouds, but when it did come out the scenery really changed.
We rejoined Carriage Drive for a short while before turning towards the play area where both my children remember their grandma taking them when everyone else had gone home.
Just after the playground we found a seating area where we could enjoy a view through the trees whilst we had lunch in comfort.
Back on the Hydro-power Trail we were once again rewarded with views of the surrounding area, this time Rothbury Terraces and Cartington Hill.
Looking in the opposite direction we had a view of the Simonside Hills.
Whilst following the route past an empty Basin Tank my daughter rang and we arranged to meet up so we were soon following the track behind the house back towards the car park.
Whilst heading along this track we saw the view of the house that is on one of the walls in the cottage we rent.
Stood above the house looking at Rothbury Terraces you begin to realise that before all the trees were planted the house must have enjoyed fantastic views of the surrounding countryside. All that we needed to do now was to see if we could find my daughter at the Visitors Centre.
All pictures copyright © Peak Walker 2006-2025