Belsay Hall, Castle & Gardens

Take a trip to Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens in Northumberland and enjoy one of the best value days out in North-East England. Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens are the creation of the Middleton family, over more than seven centuries. First came the castle, still dominated by its massive 14th Century defensive 'pele tower'. It was built as a refuge at a time of Anglo-Scottish warfare, it was also designed to impress: it is still displaying rare traces of elaborate medieval wall paintings. In more peaceful times a Jacobean mansion wing was added: here the family lived until Christmas Day 1817, when they moved into Belsay Hall.
Belsay Hall is an austerely Classical Greek Revival villa and now is displayed without furnishings to reveal the fine craftsmanship of its construction. It begun in 1807, it was designed by Sir Charles Monck (formerly Middleton), a man inspired by Ancient Greece and the buildings he had seen on his honeymoon in Athens.

You can spend hours exploring both inside and out on fair and wet weather days, the Hall is an unfurnished architectural perfection inspired by the temples of ancient Greece, with it fabulous pillars. Explore the great room of the destroyed medieval castle and don't miss the stunning views from the top of the tower.

Outside, there are extensive more than 30 acres of landscaped grounds, a Grade I Registered heritage garden, lovingly restored and packed with an impressive array of shrubs and flowers which changes with the different seasons. The high point of any visit to Belsay is the unique Quarry Garden, a fantasy of ravines, pinnacles and exotic plants. No wonder Belsay Hall is one of the most loved visitor attractions in Northumberland. The monumental gardens which provides a magnificent setting for the Castle and Hall which are also largely Sir Charles's work. His romantic Quarry Garden, created where stone was cut for his Hall. has ravines and sheer rock faces inspired by Sicilian quarries. His grandson Sir Arthur Middleton, likewise a revoluntionary plantsman, and further embellished the Quarry with the exotic species which progress in its micro-climate, and added the Winter Garden, Yew Garden and the Magnolia Terrace,