Here are some of the wonderful places we will be visiting. We will also go off the beaten path to discover some hidden gems.  If we told you what they are, it would not be a surprise!
ALNWICK CASTLE
​A grand medieval stronghold turned stately home, Alnwick Castle has guarded the River Aln for over 900 years. Still lived in by the Percy family, it’s a place of knights, rebellions, and royal intrigue. Today, its cinematic flair shines—think Hogwarts broomstick lessons and Downton Abbey elegance—while its Italianate interiors and sweeping battlements offer drama at every turn. The contemporary gardens were the inspiration of the Duchess of Northumberland. They summon up the grandeur of Versaille and the spookiness of the Poison Garden.

cragside

Britain’s original “smart home,” Cragside is a Victorian marvel nestled in a fantasy landscape of lakes, waterfalls, and towering pines. Inventor Lord Armstrong powered the house with hydroelectricity and filled it with ingenious gadgets. The gardens—rhododendron labyrinths, Italian terraces, and fern-filled rock paths—are as theatrical as the house itself, blending science, spectacle, and serenity.

​DRUMLANRIG CASTLE

​The “Pink Palace” of Dumfries & Galloway, Drumlanrig is a 17th-century Renaissance masterpiece built from warm sandstone and steeped in Douglas family history. Inside, it’s a treasure trove—Rembrandt, Boulle cabinets, and French porcelain—while outside, Victorian gardens, woodland trails, and mountain bike paths stretch across the Queensberry Estate. A glimpse into the lives of the aristocrats

GLENWHAN

A coastal Eden carved from moorland, Glenwhan is a 12-acre garden with sweeping views over Luce Bay and the Isle of Man. Rhododendrons, azaleas, and rare Southern Hemisphere plants thrive in the Gulf Stream warmth. Lochans, sculptures, and winding paths create a dreamlike rhythm, while the tearoom and tree trail add comfort and curiosity to every visit. The home and passion of two dedicated individuals who bought the property 40 years ago.

​crawick multiverse

Feels less like a park and more like a portal—an ancient landscape reborn as a cosmic map. Sculpted from a former coal mine, it channels the mysteries of the universe into stone and earth. Spiral mounds echo galaxies, comet trails ripple across grassy ridges, and a 400-meter stone avenue aligns with celestial rhythms. You don’t just walk through Crawick—you journey between worlds, where megaliths hum with forgotten energy and the land itself seems to breathe starlight. It’s a place where every path invites you to look up, and inward.​                                                

levens hall​

Home to the world’s oldest topiary garden, Levens Hall is a theatrical Elizabethan mansion wrapped in living sculpture. Over 100 clipped forms—pyramids, peacocks, abstract towers—fill the 17th-century layout designed by Guillaume Beaumont. Inside, Jacobean panelling and family portraits evoke centuries of grandeur and eccentricity.

vindolanda roman fort

A windswept Roman frontier fort just south of Hadrian’s Wall, Vindolanda offers a rare glimpse into daily life on the edge of empire. Excavations reveal layers of timber and stone forts, with hauntingly personal finds—ink tablets, sandals, and letters from soldiers and their families. The site feels alive with voices from 2,000 years ago, set against Northumberland’s rugged hills.​​

Hilltop

Beatrix Potter’s storybook retreat - just as she left it—dark wood furniture, creaky stairs, and the dresser from The Tale of Samuel Whiskers. The garden is a living illustration, with rhubarb patches and white gates straight from her books.

Beyond storytelling, Potter was a pioneering mycologist:  detailed fungal illustrations and developing theories on spore germination. She was also a visionary land steward, using her royalties to buy and protect over 4,000 acres of Lake District farmland.