Stately Homes & Gardens : Attraction of Durham

DURHAM UNIVERSITY BOTANIC GARDEN
University of Durham, Hollingside Lane, South Road, Durham, DH1 3TN.
Tel: 0191 374 7971. Fax: 0191 374 7478.
E-mail: s.j.ansdell@durham.ac.uk Web: http://www.dur.ac.uk/botanic.garden/
The visitor centre was opened in 1988 by Dame Margot Fonteyn de Arias the then Chancellor of the university. It provides an exhibition hall, coffee shop and plant sales. The coffee shop offers a wide selection of hot and cold drinks, and light snacks, and there is an extensive range of gifts and souvenirs. The plant sales has a selection of herb’s, alpines and unusual plants, many of which can befound around the garden. During the year, the centre is the venue for talks and seminars on a variety of horticultural subjects, and a showcase for the work of local artists and photographers.

WITTON CASTLE
Witton-le-Wear, Bishop Auckland, Co.Durham, DL14 0DE.
Tel: 01388 488230. Fax: 01388 488008.
14th Century castle set in unspoilt countryside in the heart of County Durham. The summer months are full of activity at Witton Castle. The events themselves are varied, but all include one important ingredient…. FUN! All are open to the general public and single day-passed are usually available. As well as providing access to stunning local countryside walks, Witton Castle is within easy travelling distance to Durham Cathedral and Beamish Museum.

Durham College of Agriculture and Horticulture, Houghall.
Zara Grey. Tel: 0191 386 1351.
The gardens are used as training grounds for horticultural students and provide a display of gardening styles from formal beds to a water garden, arboretum and woodland garden.

Eggleston Hall Gardens
Eggleston Hall, Barnard Castle, Co.Durham, DL12 0AG.
Tel: 01833 650403. Fax: 01833 650378.

Raby Castle and Gardens, near Staindrop.
Tel: 01833 660202.
One of the country’s most impressive medieval castles set in a 200 acre deer park. Once the seat of the famous Nevills, Raby has been home to Lord Barnard’s family for over 370 years. The castle contains fine period furniture and paintings and the stables house a collection of horse-drawn carriages. Interesting walled garden.

Barnard Castle
Barnard Castle, County Durham.
Tel: 01833 638212.
E-mail: victoria.provo@englishheritage.org.uk
An imposing Norman stronghold. Extensive ruins standing on a cliff above the River Tees.

Rokeby Park, near Barnard Castle.
Mrs A Yeats. Tel: 01833 637334.
Please contact for opening times.
Palladian style country house which was the setting for Sir Walter Scott’s ballad “Rokeby". Contains a unique collection of 18th century needlepoint paintings, period furniture and an interesting “Print Room".

Bowes Castle, Bowes.
Tel: 0191 269 1200.
E-mail: victoria.provo@englishheritage.org.uk
Massive 12th century stone keep overlooking the valley of the River Greta. Built on the site of a Roman fort guarding the approach to Stainmore Pass.

Poplar Tree Garden Centre
Hall Lane, Shincliffe Village, County Durham, DH1 2NG.
Tel: 0191 3847553. Fax: 0191 3831056.
E-mail: info@poplartreegardencentre.co.uk
Web: www.poplartreegardencentre.co.uk

Poplar Tree Garden Centre has been helping people in Durham and all over the north east get the best from their gardens for over thirty years. We pride ourselves on taking as much care with our customers as they do with their gardens, and strive to be friendly and helpful at all times. We sell a wide range of gardening goods, including furniture, water gardening and Aquatics, artificial flowers, sundries, paving and gravel, garden buildings, trees and shrubs, pet care, books, greetings cards, house plants, bedding plants and much more. ALSO FEATURES: Uniquely positioned near the banks of the river Wear, a stones throw from the historic City of Durham, and inside Poplar Tree Garden Centre lies the enchanted Brambles Coffee Shop.