With half term approaching (or here, depending whereabouts in the North East you live) here are 10 of our favourite places to visit at this time of year (in no particular order!).
Wallington National Trust
This is a great place to visit all year round but February is the time things are starting to bloom in the gardens. Since 2015, Wallington have been asking visitors to get involved planting 100,000 snowdrops each year. This half term (22 February – 2 March), the final batch will be planted, taking them the grand total to an incredible one million snowdrops! There’ll also be snowdrop crafts each day and a snowdrop parade on the 2nd March.
Following swiftly on from the snowdrops, will be the famous crocus lawn which is an amazing sight. After having it on my radar for the last few years, I finally managed to see it in full bloom last year. If you’d like to see it yourself, keep an eye on Wallington’s social media as the peak purple only lasts for a few days. Last year we hit the peek when we visited at the end of February. The year before, it was just past it’s best when we visited mid March but like all natural events, it’s hard to predict exactly when it will be this year.
As well as the flowers, there are several play areas in the West Woods, the Walled garden, lots of paths and scenic ponds to explore on foot and you can also hire bikes at the cycle centre. The house is worth exploring, with the cabinet of curiosities appealing to younger visitors and of course there is a cafe and gift shop.
Durham City Centre
Durham City Centre is a convenient option when you fancy getting some steps in but the kids need some extra motivation. The riverbanks are not too muddy and there’s lots of options to expand or reduce how far you walk. If you need to break up the walk (or shelter from a rogue shower), there are plenty of shops to pop into or you can explore the castle or cathedral. We recently called into the Archaeology Museum in Palace Green Library which is free to visit and had a lovely little trail on for the kids. Of course, there’s plenty of choice if you need a snack or a meal. Some of our favourites are Tealicious, Vennels and The Pancake House. There are also lots of ‘Treasure Trails’ to do around Durham City Centre, which can be purchased online and either printed out at home or completed on your phone.
Derwent Reservoir
Derwent Reservoir is the second largest reservoir in the region (after Kielder). Surfaced multi user paths alongside the reservoir from Pow Hill to Millshield make this a great option for a mud free, scenic walk or bike ride. There’s lots of wildlife to spot, including, if you’re lucky, red squirrels at Pow Hill (my children have not yet been quiet enough for us to see any though!).
There’s also a great play area, shop (selling snacks and drinks as well as toys and fishing gear) and toilets at Derwent Waterside Park (near the dam wall). There are various car parks around the reservoir (some are free, others require payment. Please check, but I think if you buy a ticket in one of Northumbria Water’s car parks they are transferrable to the others so you could park at Millshield, have a walk and then drive down to Derwent Waterside for a play and a snack).
Seaton Delaval Hall National Trust
Definitely a family friendly National Trust property – there’s lots to keep the young and young at heart entertained here from exploring the grounds (including the ‘Playdium’ play area) to the hand on theatre, upside down room and games in the house.
Over half term (22 Feb-2 March), there are lots of activities on the theme of ‘For the love of a good book’. You can create your own adventures using story dice in the South East Gardens, try shadow puppetry in the Basement, cosy up in the reading corner or find a new book in the second hand book shop. There will also be storytelling sessions on on 28 February and 1 March.
If the weather is kind, why not combine your visit with a visit to the beach at Seaton Sluice or have a ride to Newcastle and back on the newly opened Northumberland Line?
Raby Castle
As well as the castle (which reopens on 1st March), deer park and Plotter’s Forest, you can also explore the recently opened The Rising development.
Over half term, The Plotter’s Forest will feature a Little Astonomers trail, where children can learn facts about space whilst having fun climbing and sliding around the adventure play area hidden in the Christmas Tree forest. You can enjoy a walk around the recently remodelled walled gardens or 200 acre deer park, home to herds of red and fallow deer. There are a wide range of dining options available and the Coach House offers a variety of homewares and gifts to take home.
South Shields
The beaches are a great place for a half term walk and you can spot lots of ships coming in and out of the Tyne but there’s plenty more to fill your day at South Shields. Marine Park offers a cafe, play areas, a boating lake with pedalos and of course, you can have a ride around the park on the miniature railway. Ocean Beach Pleasure Park reopens on 22nd February with a range of rides, crazy golf and amusements. Of course, no visit to South Shields is complete without fish and chips (we love Colmans) and an ice cream. We always enjoy a visit to the swimming pool at Haven Point. The water is reasonably warm and there are slides, a bubble pool and a little climbing frame in the Leisure Waters. There is also the South Shields Museum and Art Gallery or Arbeia Roman Fort to visit or why not pop down the coast to visit Souter Lighthouse?
Hall Hill Farm
Fresh off the back of winning Best Open Farm in the UK (which I wholeheartedly agree with), Hall Hill Farm reopens on 22nd February for half term. They are then open weekends only during March and fully reopen on the 1st April. Having a farming background (my grandad was a farmer and I grew up next door to my godmother’s farm), I feel that Hall Hill retains some authenticity as an actual working farm as well as providing lots of extra, fun, activities such as the new mega slide, bouncy pillows, sledge run, crazy golf, indoor and outdoor play areas, tractor rides, barrel train and mini jeep safari. Of course, they have a variety of animals you can meet and you can hold rabbits, guinea pigs and chicks, feed the sheep and goats and during the spring, bottle feed the lambs – my favourite!. A word of warning though, watch out for Mr Pickles – he likes to eat the paper bags as well as the animal feed!
Gibside National Trust
There’s lots to do in Gibside’s estate. Although the hall itself is a ruin, you can visit the chapel, walled gardens, old stables, Strawberry Castle play area or explore the many paths across the vast estate, including the famous ‘Avenue’.
The Explorer Trail is a 2.2 mile circular walk in Gibside’s 600 acre woodland which takes in the walled garden, stables area and play area. Along the way, there are animal sculptures to look for, a low ropes course, trim trail and a rope swing.
Over half term (22 Feb-2March), you can celebrate the early signs of spring by making clay models of snails, planting snowdrops and learning about Mary Eleanor Bowes and her love of gardening, on a treasure trail around the walled garden.
There is also a cafe, gift shop and second hand book store on site.
Ushaw Historic House
Once a Catholic Seminary, Ushaw is a beautiful historic house with spacious grounds, just a few miles west of Durham city centre. Indoors you can learn about the history of the estate, visit the stunning chapel designed by Pugin and explore the temporary exhibitions. Outside, there are paths to explore the landscaped gardens and the ‘bounds’ (the old recreation area). There is a small children’s play area near the car park and some smaller activities such as the stepping stone circle to keep children entertained as well as the animal sculptures to spot.
Over half term, there are a variety of Space themed activities, from making your own bottle rockets, paper crafts and an indoor ‘Searching for Stars’ trail (please check online as some activities require booking and different activities take place on different days).
You can also visit FEAST, an interactive artwork celebrating the history of the President’s Feast, which was held at Ushaw each January.
The Story
Opened last summer in the recently restored and extended manor house at Mount Oswald, on the edge of Durham, The Story offers a gateway to the history of County Durham and its people. As well as the permanent and temporary exhibitions (many of which are interactive), The Story is home to the records office and collections archive. You can either make an appointment to see a particular item or digitally explore historic maps and research your family tree online. Staff and volunteers are on hand to assist with this.
There is a light trail on over the start of half term (now sold out) and on the 25th and 26th February there are free family workshops about the Colour of Light, where you can explore how people used to colour black and white photographs and even have a go yourself. There will also be craft activities and the opportunity to handle prisms and rocks found around County Durham.
The cafe serves light meals and snacks and there is a small shop selling toys, books and locally made gifts.